At first, I didn't know what all the hype was about regarding this series, but now, I can't seem to get enough of it. I had a wonderful time reading it and I'm sorry that it ended. Each volume was amazing, and Shimizu Yuki did a good job in telling each person's, each couple's stories that you just can't help but fall in love with each character. Also, illustration got better and better with each volume, and you can see that mangaka grew along with the characters. Now I just gotta figure out what to read after reading something amazing as this.

It's very true about the later volumes just getting better. Just finished vol 8 & 9 and had to increase the original rating I gave this. Even so, Shimizu sensei is a master of story plotting and development. This series skips regularly between the two(?) main storylines in the present, flashbacks from the past, and numerous side stories, and between very serious stories and comedy, but still manages to never, ever feel unbalanced from volume to volume.

I've been waiting to read this for two, but considering Love Mode's reputation, i wasn't very impressed by the first volumes. But it managed to keep me connected and intrigued so i continued to read it to get my answers, which makes it a good story. I expected to cry a lot though and it wasn't really the case. Even if it has some complicated feelings and sad memories, i wasn't REALLY aggrieved. So it wasn't too memorable for me.
The art wasn't that bad. Takamiya has an awful hair style, but some characters are really hot, and some scenes are priceless.
The best things were the slow development between Reiji and Naoya - not that usual in yaoi, and how the characters are connected, making possible to see how their loves progressed.

Am I the only one who thinks this series is kinda boring?
I've read all the books since everybody is always raving about it but I just don't get it (and it's not that I don't like BL or shonen-ai, I usually love it!) It's kinda cute at times but that's it...
I've read senseis other mangas and those I like more... just my two cents on the matter ~.-

aaaaa I love this one. It complete, with drama, fun, love. cuteness, and smex as well!!! so good read... very addictive... only 11 volumes can't satisfy me.
ps.: I cried a river 'cause the last volume...

There's no way i can avoid saying what everyone else already said: this is a classic, people. Read it.
LETTING YOURSELF BE PUT OFF BY THE ART WOULD BE THE STUPIDEST MISTAKE IN YOUR LIFE! >_<
Seriously. Read it. Enjoy it. Love it. Reread it. Adore it.
It's a PURE CLASSIC. I can't believe i never read it before T-T

All 11 volumes of this has been scanned get it at community.livejournal.com/yshare. I also had a hard time getting past the artwork but once you do you get hooked on the characters..poor Naoya kid had a rough life...read this and you'll get hooked on the more adult themed yaoi.."Tsumasaki ni kiss" comes to mind as a good read with 2 other books in the series "Zettai unmei houteishiki" and "gravity eyes". Also "Hisho to yajuu and Suit wo kita akuma" are good. And for more smexy and artwork with intense story try "Can't help getting hurt". And finally for just smexy try the good doctors in "Shihaisuru Yubisaki" and "Kogaerur Yubisaki"

... Last updated on June 21st, 2008, 7:50pm

Believe it or not, I've picked up and dropped this series for ten times or so. Probably more. I just couldn't get past the art for the first volumes. I just didn't like the art. Also, I wasn't at all blown away by the story in the first volume. I repeatedly shuffled it in my Reading List to Unfinished List. But oh my gosh, not reading Love Mode would probably be one of the bigger mistakes of my life! I I didn't persevere in reading it, I'd have missed one of the most excellent yaoi classics!

The story was just great. What did it for me was Kiichi's story. He was just so pretty. I coasted reading through the first 8 volumes and just read the stories which I thought were interesting and had pretty characters. But as I went through the later volumes I noticed the art getting better and the story as really connected, not just a series of disjointed but somewhat related stories. Kiichi's and Haruomi's story was my top pick. I also got intrigued by the history of the Aoe household so I read back from the beginning, never missing a page. Ah, what nice story.

There were some things that were still unclear for me though. The motivation of the Aoe patriarch for his treatment of his first son wasn't made very clear. Sure, I have my ideas but I hope the author explicitly showed it to us. Oh well. And what happened to Nishiki? There's another, oh well.

Well, anyway, this has been really long alread. I just wanted to say that I'm so glad I persevered in reading Love Mode. It is a heart-wrenching beautiful story of love. Until now my heart is still heavy from sadness (I just finished reading it yesterday after reading it on and off for 2 years).

So read on people, this is one excellent read. Just have a bunch of happy mangas to read after so you don't dwell on the beautiful drama like I still do. ;D

The description put me off a little bit, since i wasn't sure if I could put up with a whole 11 volumes of "mistaken identities, bizarre accidents and pratfalls, tragic pasts and plenty of broken hearts", but it does have its light-hearted moments mixed in to balance perfectly with the drama.

As everyone says, don't miss out on it.

This isn't just a series of oneshots or one story with a good plot and two good main characters stretched out over 11 volumes. Shimizu-sensei wasn't content to do that. She/He has created a world populated with three-dimensional people, a wide complicated range of emotions (not just romance), and intricate plot, relationships, and love and hate that connect the storyline across 11 volumes. Oh, and there's character growth, which is sometimes rare in yaoi. This is one of my favorite yaoi series now. This is one that will keep you thinking after you put it down. You'll want to read it again and again, and get something more each time. If you like series that stimulate your mind as well as tug at your emotions, this one's for you. Oh, and the art is pretty, too. No need to fear mixing up character (except for Tien Lii and Tien Shue, but they're twins). The only problems I saw is that the last volume is filler, meant to be an epilogue/djs/oneshots to the main storyline. I wanted more story on Tien Lii. *cries*

... Last updated on January 26th, 2008, 4:24am