My Little Monster, Vol. 12

I am not really big into romance manga, especially high school romance, but this one hooked me and wouldn't let go! I fell in love with the characters in this one, especially Haru and Shizuku. They are so unique and their romance was a great balance between heart pounding first love and learning what it means to be in a relationship, and the ups and downs that come with that. I loved how their love changed them in positive ways and how they learned to accept each other as they were and it wasn't about changing to make the other person like you, but about understanding each other - that's rare, especially in teen romances. Their group of friends also became dear and I felt like a part of their oddball group as they grew and faced challenges and reached goals and just had fun. I never expected to like this as much as I did, but it quickly became a favourite. I cried, laughed and felt emotional through it all and those all count as the highest praise I can give a story that touches me deeply enough to go through all those emotions. I definitely highly recommend this series, even if you're not into romance - it might change your mind about that!