In the first chapters, Shiharu really looked like a young woman on the cusp of adulthood. Seeing the budding romance between her and an older man, I felt that this was very appropriate. Now, in chapter 42 in particular, she looks very childish.

The whole way she's drawn now (rounder face, etc.) makes her seem years younger. I think this is a pretty negative thing, how am I supposed to be comfortable with her potential relationship to Matsunaga if she looks like a kid?

What do you guys think?

Deal with it.

Extremely well said! On that note, I'll be changing this avatar soon. I feel like this will happen again if I don't. Thanks for the laugh though.

Seriously, anyone has something else to say than an amusing pun?

she was (and is) a kid so I don't see the problem...

I understand your problem with the age difference, but wasn't that obvious from the start?

in need of romance?
uncommon, sad, sweet

The age difference doesn't bother me that much. To be honest, I think she was drawn more much carefully in the beginning. I'd like to think that an author's art would improve as the manga progresses. In this case, I feel like Shiharu's appearance is neglected in later chapters.

I don't think I've been clear enough in my initial post. The age difference thing was merely a side effect, my main gripe is that I really liked her earlier appearance. So I think it's a shame that she degraded over time (this is my opinion, of course).

I guess I should just "suck it up"?

usagi drop was one of my favorite romantic pairings, so I kinda doubt I can understand your problem with it >_>. As for the change in appearance it could have been intentional just to make the reader more aware of the large difference in age. Personally I enjoy age gaps so I'm rather happy about it, but you have my sympathy. Also yeah, "suck it up" is probably the best option, no use dropping/losing interest in such a cute romance story for such a small thing.

Few favs
Comedy:
Kyou kara ore wa!!, Mx0, Angel Densetsu, Skip Beat, Ai Kora, The Devil King is Bored

Romance:
Hana to Akuma, No bra, Shinigami Trilogy, kindan no koi de ikou, Usagi Drop, Threads of Time, Girl Friends

Most under rated:
Kindan no koi de ikou, kyou kara ore wa!.
m0r l83r... maybe >_>

Ugh, really? At a certain point it looks like the Usagi Drop pairing could work adorably, but by the end of that manga there is NOTHING romantic about them (in my opinion). Their daily lives look completly platonic and family based, so it makes their decision to be together turn really weird.

Anyway, I think the art does have a huge affect on Love So Life. When I look at Mat, I don't see anything astonishingly different about his appearance that sets his age apart from everyone elses. All the guys and girls in this manga look like they're the exact same age to me (save for, ya know, the kids). That makes me forget that Missy is supposed to be nine years younger than him. It also doesn't help that she automatically became such an integral part of their family that there was never a moment when I conciously thought of her as just, "the baby sitter." All of these factors dull the actual age difference/circumstance. Aside from a few fleeting jokes from Mat's friends, the issue of the age difference isn't pointed out either.

. . . And writing this just nailed the coffin shut on this manga for me. As far as I'm concerned it ended at chapter 42 and everyone lived happily ever after (like I'm 100% positive they will do anyway.)

I just read chapter 55 and I got stuck on one page thinking that she looked really young for her age. I mean she didn't even look like a teenager, maybe 10 at the most. I'm fine with the age gap, but it's uncomfortable when she's being drawn as a little child. Just for reference sake I'm talking about page 30, top right.

I don't feel she looks young in every drawing, it's just the occasional one. It almost feels like she draws her differently, though it could just be the clothes. Meh, it doesn't really bother me that much. Just causes a double take.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift. That is why we call it the present.

I was looking through the top rate manga on this site and saw that i'd put this series on hold, and was confused why as I remembered really liking it.
Now I remember it's because the main character was made more and more juvenile/dematured over time. Which was counter to one of the most appealing parts of this manga, how mature for her age she was. :/
Maybe I'll go back to it now that it's finished.