It's a cute typical shoujo. The art may take some time to get use to, but otherwise it's funny in its own way.

About the Manga I liked it but I don't think that there is a girl that is that stupid and a boy who is that perfect
About the anime I looooove it but sometimes I felt really irritated with the hero, I mean can she really fall in love with such a cold and heartless man. I don't think I can

I can't help it. I just can't help it. I hate this manga. I wanted to like it, I really did--with the title of "mother of shoujo manga" and with the author's tragic death, I really had hope for it. In essence, the plot wasn't too bad and didn't deviate too far from the shoujo cliche.

But I abhor the main characters. Kotoko is some kind of horrid offspring between Bella Swan and the girl from Fushigi Yuugi. I was sure the plot had a massive twist near the end in which Irie would be revealed to be a robot. I could see the author's idea behind it--two polar opposites becoming a couple. But that isn't a good reflection of reality. I don't want to be with someone who's the complete opposite of me--who would?? But let's delve in here:

Kotoko is by far the worst. Dumb, lazy, and so clingy to Irie that she deliberately, disturbingly follows him in whatever path he follows in life. She has no dedication to her convictions in the slightest (unless it adheres to Irie)--one moment she's ready to move out, yet one word from Irie has her moving back in before she's left the lot. The worst trait? Stringing along her high school buddy. Why doesn't she like him? Even though he's completely devoted to her and never even looked at another woman, he's not bishie-robot enough.
But she's just so stupid. It's not endearing, not in the slightest, and like another commenter said, she doesn't even try to improve herself. Temporarily, perhaps, but there is no character development whatsoever, start to finish.

I also hate that it is her *goal* (though never stated, but so shoved in your face that I don't know how you wouldn't notice) to marry Irie, like it's the be all and end all accomplishment. Work hard, do well, live fulfilled knowing you got as far as you did with your own efforts? No! Just marry that hot smart guy, he'll pay for your life.

Irie, well, can you say abusive? Not to mention ridiculously childish. He has no emotions whatsoever except anger, and he takes it out on Kotoko all the way through. How anyone could like someone with that kind of personality I'll never know. He can't admit that he likes her, either, and just bullies her like a five year old. It's so repetitive and bland, and has the worst plot devices to keep the two living under the same roof.

I wish I could like it, but I just can't. The pros-- I think the art's cute, though old fashioned. It had an okay concept, but like I said, poorly executed.
However I believe myself to be a minority. If shoujo is your one-and-only genre, you'll probably love it!

... Last updated on April 27th, 2013, 11:01pm

if you liked lovely complex, there will be a very high chance that you will also like this manga ^^
love it, RIP to tada kaoru

best shoujo manga. it has been made into live-action by the taiwanese, entitled IT STARTED WITH A KISS

i didnt really read the manga cause it has no ending... R.I.P Tada Karou. but i did watch the anime and i must say i had mixed feeling most of it was good. like other people sometimes i did get like okay kotoko we get it your stupid in love gosh! but it was nice i guess it taught me to fight for love. i dont know if im right to say this but you should read or watch. Also R.I.P. Tada sensei

... Last updated on April 8th, 2013, 7:08pm

For the most part this is a great story. It's sweet, adorable, and funny; you cry when they cry and you squeal when they get married.

The only downpoint I noticed was that the main character just can't get ANYTHING right! She can't cook, she can't study, she falls down all the time. I think I'd have been much happier with the story if she hadn't been a total ditz, because while it was endearing at first, it grows old, especially when she graduates highschool and enters college. Without Naoki as a foil, you start wishing she was actually competent at -something-.

Other than that, this manga is fantastic.

... Last updated on March 8th, 2010, 9:57pm

I don’t understand why people hate the manga. I really enjoy it. Yeah, irie might be a jerk, but it’s as if meeting a celebrity and kotoko see him that light. As that a good relationship? Well. Who knows. And yeah kotoko is stupid but I feel that’s the charm about her. I mean how many main characters aren’t stupid. Usagi from sailor moon, naruto, heck even Goku from dbz is no different so why be upset about this one? Their relationship changes throughout the series and I can’t help but enjoy it. Some of the moment where I think it’s a typical never give up moment and it turns into something haliorious. It’s a shame about the authors death and we will never know how it will end but it was enjoy to read. Rip.

Very good manga, also love the Anime. I read somewhere that the producers of the anime plan to bring the title to a conclusion based on notes left behind by the author. Not sure how they plan on doing that in one season, it was a long manga as it is.

Overall id say it's funny with good pacing and side characters that keep things interesting but the main characters (MC and ML) are terrible. MC is stupid and by the end, I just felt bad for her but the ML is horrible, he stings MC along for years and whenever she's about to move on he makes her follow him again and in the end he only agreed to go out with her because she was gonna move on again with someone else. He doesn't even seem to like her properly but more like he's found her less annoying now and just want that wholehearted person to continuously follow him cuz his pride won't allow her to leave.
MC is incredibly stupid for following him around for so long but she did try to stop yet ML gives her hope while his parents also want them to end up together, MC's dad was the smartest as he was kinda against it for hurting MC but that didn't last long. Also felt bad for the guy who was in love with MC as he was practically in the same relationship boat as her...
Basically it's about a delusional girl obsessed with a prideful pr*ck

... Last updated on January 22nd, 2022, 11:01am