Love at Fourteen, Vol. 7 (Love at Fourteen, 7) Paperback – April 10, 2018

~4 Stars(Contains light spoilers.)There's some light plot in the beginning of the volume, as the classes get together for group projects, and our characters decide to research the schools seven wonders. They're mostly either doubters or scaredy-cats, though, it seems. Throughout this, Kanata and Kazuki are still just trying to find time alone together, and Nagai is trying not to be affected by the teacher.This leads into it being time to decide on their next step in the future. They have to decide on what school to apply for, or whether they want to work or do something else. Kanata and Kazuki don't communicate it at first, but we all know they hope to stay together. There are several unrequited crushes that struggle with deciding where to go for themselves, or to find out where their crush is going. We get a little bit of development with the minor characters during this, but in the latter half of the volume, we meet a new character that ruffles Nagai a bit.Meeting this new character has me excited, honestly. I absolutely love the diversity in this series, and getting to see so many characters with such a range of interests and sexualities. This new one appears to be pan or bi, and I appreciate that. He also seems like fun, so I'm excited by that.This is a really well done series. It shows a good range, even though it's a school romance. It's thoughtful and pretty and diverse. I hope to read the next one soon.

A good continuation to the series. It's interesting because it's a very nostalgic as the various characters look forward to their futures; this volume is about them starting to recognize in themselves the adults that they will grow into, and looking at the things that shape them now. I really adore the writing of the slow romances and crushes going on here. That said, this volume especially is problematic for the number of student/adult pairings going on - I'd count at least four of them, and even though many are one-sided, unreciprocated crushes it just feels a bit too much. We see enough perspectives to know that they're not (intentionally) exploitative, but since the rest of the manga is so sweetly romantic and true-to-life, I wish the author had written some senpai/kohai relationships for the age differences instead.

It’s been just over a year since readers have been able to see Kanata, Kazuki, and all their friends and their love interests, and it will probably be a year before we see them all again. Either way, I’m sure that just like this volume, everyone will continue to be their selves even as the future gets a little closer.This volume has two major story arcs. First, the class president, Eto, decides that the main (student) characters all have to investigate the school’s rumored supernatural mysteries. It’s a subject that Kazuki really doesn’t want to do considering he hates ghost stories. Since Kanata seems fine with her investigation, he doesn’t want to admit he’s frightened. The others aren’t interested in Eto’s topic either, but at least Nagai and Shiki get closer to their crushes. (Although Nagai would deny it, of course.)Later, the students start to be questioned about their target high school and chosen careers. Kazuki and Kanata are assumed to be aiming for elite schools, and Kanata is excited by the thought of them someday becoming professionals together. She gets a rude awakening when Kazuki reveals he doesn’t think he has the brains or the money to attend a high-level school. Meanwhile, Nagai becomes frustrated when Hinohara starts spacing out and canceling lessons; Shiki and Utsumi struggle with her unrequited feelings; and Ichinose finds out that his plans of entering the workforce isn’t as perfect as he thought it was.Basically, if you’ve been following Love at Fourteen, this volume should be added to your reading list. It’s more of the same, which normally isn’t too terrible in a romance series. I’m sure we’ve all become frustrated with a couple who can’t spit it out or are facing a new rival. A new character is introduced, but it’s revealed that he’s probably less of a romantic threat and another person with a twist involving his romantic and/or sexual preferences.I am still finding it bizarre that for a series about fourteen-year-olds experiencing love, there is an alarming number of young teenagers interested in adults. Age gaps and student x teacher are one thing, but the sheer number makes it more disturbing. Shiki is currently interested in Kanata, but the series might shift her affections to the school nurse. The only other person interested in someone their age is Utsumi, but her crush, Doi, is still too busy leering at Hinohara to even pick a high school. Considering they’re third years already, that’s a big problem. I wish the manga had spent a little more time on them instead of Nagai trying to keep up his delinquent persona by acting thrilled about not having to do singing lessons. I do think the ending shows the biggest signs of his growth though, so I’m looking forward to his future developments.In addition, while Love at Fourteen hasn’t been acting too realistic with all these young teenagers x adult potential couples, the idea of choosing a high school or career prospects based mainly on being close to the one you love isn’t great either. Of course, potentially grabbing an acquaintance’s behind isn’t positive either, even if you believe that love can take any form.Still, if you are looking for more Kanata and Kazuki fluffiness or Shiki coming to terms with being attracted to girls, Love at Fourteen Volume 7 is another solid entry. Plus, if you are a fan of color images, you’ll also be pleased by the images at the front and plus a bonus color splash page. More manga could take a cue from Love at Fourteen, but Love at Fourteen could take a cue from most romance manga and have more potential couples between peers.- Krystallina