Hachi-chan is constantly reminded that she is cute, but not a beauty. When she falls for Mizuno-kun, her classmates are quick to tell her that he is out of her league, and they are happy to remind her frequently that she is unworthy of such an attractive boyfriend. But Hachi is persistent and determined to get what she wants, and the criticism of her peers is of no concern. Like most high school girls, she is worried about her weight and her appearance, and her grades are not in the same high category as Mizuno's, but she has an inner strength that keeps her going.Hachi-chan never gives up, and her underdog status just makes her even more loveable.

What makes this shoujo romance a little different, is that Hachi-chan and Mizuno-kun actually do become a couple midway in the story. And so we get to enjoy watching their development as lovers. We see how their status and relationships change at their high school. We see them go through the expected trials of awkward high school kids figuring out how to date, how to love, how to fight, how to forgive.

Koi no Hajimari is one of the most realistic high school romances you will ever read. There is a very accurate portrayal of the role of social media in the lives of teenagers. The characters are flawed, and they make silly mistakes just as you might expect of such young lovers. And this is the essential joy of the story. The characters are believable. It is a wholesome slice of life for any romance lover. And we are left wanting to follow our protagonists into adulthood, convinced that they will grow up to be good people, the kind of adults you would want as friends.

To say more would be to give real spoilers, so I will just leave it at that. If you want romance that at times may seem a little too sweet for real life, but rings true on every page, you will fall in love alongside Hachi and Mizuno, and you just might find yourself returning to their story whenever you need a little love in your life.