librarian-ing this series as of writing this because Storygraph doesn't have (but soon will!) all the volumes listed but oh god I just needed to shower my love for this series because it's so... soft.. and fluffy... and comforting.. <3

this isn't a groundbreaking shoujo romance story. it's tropish and almost formulaic but it uses ALL THE RIGHT TROPES!!! preppy girls' school vs. frowned upon boys' school, shy but secretely foodie girl X gentle giant delinquent-looking-but-actually-cinnamon-roll guy, jealous best friend who actually hates herself but learns to have friends, feelings realization, summer festivals and fireworks, teenagers being teenagers,, just . it's like all the fluffiest and best ao3 tags combined into one manga with a beautiful - and although very shoujo-like, unique - art style.

it's just so satisfying to read a love story between two people who actually deserve and care for each other, yk? it shouldn't be that hard but honestly most romance manga are either "harem of hot girls for an average-looking horny dude" or "dumb miscommunications and 8538493 chapters for The Confession and another 23349859 for The Kiss Scene" so i'm just glad that this author is a cultured person who knows what the good stuff is <33

i read most of this at 2am to calm down because i actually have a college decision coming up today and this outdid the job so well... love may not exist irl  but at least it's manga like this that makes me all giddy and happy inside lmao