Get ready to get diabetes from how sweet Aoki and Ida’s love story is.
It can be quite hard to find a BL (Boys Love) manga that focuses on a really wholesome and funny teenage romance. The romcom genre already lacks the “comedy” element, and it’s even rare to see it perfectly implemented in a story about two boys falling in love.
However, we are here to tell you that if you look hard enough, you will find cute wholesome gems hiding in the background. One such stupidly adorable and wonderfully funny title is “My Love Mix-Up!” (Kieta Hatsukoi), a manga that you can read this pride month with a constant grin on our face.
My Love Mix-Up!
Author: Wataru Hinekure
Illustrator: Aruko
Publisher: Shueisha
Where to read: Viz Media publishes English versions of the manga volumes
Warning: some spoilers ahead!
What is My Love Mix-Up! about?
Written by Wataru Hinekure and illustrated by Aruko, My Love Mix-Up! is a romcom manga that began serialising in Shueisha’s shojo manga magazine Bessatsu Margaret in 2019. The series ended in 2022, and was so beloved that it even won the Shogakukan Manga Award in the shojo category that year. So what is this series actually about?
The story begins with our outgoing yet awkwardly funny and insecure protagonist Sota Aoki. The high school boy is depressed because he found out that his crush, a cute girl in his class named Hashimoto, has a crush on their other classmate Kōsuke Ida. Aoki finds this out when he borrowed an eraser from Hashimoto, and saw Ida’s name written on it with a heart beside it. Unfortunately, when the eraser falls under his desk, Ida himself picks it up and hands it to Aoki, accidentally seeing his own name and wrongly deducing that it’s Aoki who’s in love with him.
Not wanting to out Hashimoto, who asked him to keep her secret, Aoki admits to Ida that it’s indeed him who’s in love. However, instead of outright turning him down, Ida first asks if they could be friends, so that he can seriously ponder his decision. Thanks to an unfortunate understanding, the two of them become close… and the rest is history.
My Love Mix-Up! uses the misunderstanding trope perfectly
Misunderstanding is a very common trope in the teen romcom genre, and it can often feel overused. However, My Love Mix-Up! is one of the few instances where the trope is used perfectly to draw the reader in. We understand Aoki’s embarrassment when he has to (wrongly) admit that he’s the one in love with Ida. On the other hand, we have Ida, who is a serious and stoic guy, quite opposite of Aoki, who takes this misunderstanding way too seriously.
Although the situation is quite funny for us readers who are in on the joke, for these two teenage boys, the situation is quite crucial. Aoki doesn’t want anyone to know his secret while Ida is caught in quite a dilemma. However, things start to change for the two when they actually start spending time together. And both the readers and the characters come to the conclusion that maybe misunderstandings are not too bad.
But the misunderstanding is only the catalyst which brings Aoki and Ida closer. As they slowly get to know each other, they discover little details about the other's personality that they didn’t know before. Aoki learns how Ida has a kind and compassionate heart behind his stoic exterior and he can’t help but lend a hand when someone is in trouble. Ida learns how cute Aoki can be with his expressive face. Both of them find themselves attracted to someone of the same gender for the first time, and although it’s not easy to navigate these new feelings, they manage to do it together and give us a funny yet compelling love story.
My Love Mix-Up! doesn’t focus solely on the romance
As a voracious romance manga and anime enjoyer, I often find myself wanting some variety. Even if a romance story is good, the lack of compelling side characters and plots make it really flat. My Love Mix-Up! sidesteps this by giving us great friendships, a side couple who have an arguably funnier love story than the main one, and even a dash of realistic homophobia that gay couples unfortunately often have to face in their day-to-day lives.
Living up to its genre as a romcom, the story never delves into really dark themes. However, when a certain homophobic character shows up and Aoki feels heartbroken because it was someone he respects, we see Ida, Hashimoto, and Aoki’s best friend Aida all come together to cheer him up and stand up for him. It’s a heartwarming moment that gives you a break from the constant comedy and lovey-dovey romance, and deepens the plot into something more serious. It shows us that a good romance is not just about a couple, but it includes everything from their friends, surroundings, and who they ultimately grow up to be.
My Love Mix-Up! is a great gateway into the BL genre
If you are new to the BL genre, and want something lighthearted yet touching story to start your journey, then My Love Mix-Up! could be the perfect starting point for you. It’s easy to read, funny, relatable, and well-written. From the romance, to the friendships, to the character development, everything is meticulously collected in nine volumes. Even if you are someone that’s not interested in the BL genre, and only want a sweet and cozy romance story, this series is a great treat for you.
The manga was adapted into a Japanese live-action series in 2021, and a Thai live-action series in 2024. The Japanese drama is adorable, but unfortunately doesn’t cover the whole story. In the manga, we see Aoki and Ida graduate, go to university, get jobs, and start their lives. It helps you form a deeper connection with the characters that make you root for them until the end! Start your Pride Month 2026 with this adorable story that will leave you with a full heart.
Who is the author of My Love Mix-Up! manga?
The manga series is written by Wataru Hinekure and illustrated by Aruko.
Where can I read the My Love Mix-Up! manga?
Although the manga isn't available to read digitally, Viz Media publishes all volumes of the series in English in print format.