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蓮住荘のさんかく [Renzu-Sō no Sankaku] #1-3
Love in Focus Complete Collection
A teenage girl whose passion for photography leads her to a new school, a new dorm, and a new love triangle. This new edition contains all three volumes of the acclaimed romance manga, a complete shojo story in one book, from the creator of The New York Times bestseller That Wolf-Boy Is Mine! and the ongoing Those Not-So-Sweet Boys!
A YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens pick!
Mako's always had a passion for photography. When she loses someone dear to her, she clings to her art as a relic of the close relationship she once had...Luckily, her childhood best friend Kei encourages her to come to his high school and join their prestigious photo club. With nothing to lose, Mako grabs her camera and moves into the dorm where Kei and his classmates live. Soon, a fresh take on life, along with a mysterious new muse, begin to come into focus!
Contains Vol. 1-3 of Love in Focus-the entire series!
A YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens pick!
Mako's always had a passion for photography. When she loses someone dear to her, she clings to her art as a relic of the close relationship she once had...Luckily, her childhood best friend Kei encourages her to come to his high school and join their prestigious photo club. With nothing to lose, Mako grabs her camera and moves into the dorm where Kei and his classmates live. Soon, a fresh take on life, along with a mysterious new muse, begin to come into focus!
Contains Vol. 1-3 of Love in Focus-the entire series!
512 pages, Paperback
Published October 19, 2021
29 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
June 1, 2022
i like the story but it felt a little rushed overall it was cute and i think if they made it into an anime and extended it and went into more detail/take more time with it it would be a very good romance anime
December 15, 2022
Got bored
April 14, 2022
It broke my heart... 💕
June 11, 2023
That was cute. I would recomend it to everyone who want just a short story and not ready to star a whole 20-30+ volume series. While I admit it cuold be even better if it had more time for story to progress and some things wouldn't have to happen so sudden. It still was a very cute story and I really love the art style (not my first work by same artist).
July 3, 2025
SHE GOT WITH AMEMURA WAHOOOO i feel so bad for kei though bro waited FOREVERRRRRR 3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2022
3/5 Stars: ‘Love in Focus’ by Yoko Nogiri.
→ Age Range: Young Adult.
→ Genre: Slice-of-Life, Romantic Contemporary.
→ Book Type: Manga.
Favourite Quote: ‘I wish I could live my life without making a single mistake. But I don't think that's possible. Even so, I have friends to lift me and people to watch over me.’
In-depth Rating:
→ Plot: ★★★
→ Character Development: ★★
→ Setting: ★★
→ Entertainment Level: ★★★
→ Writing: ★★
General Comments: Translated by Alethea and Athena Nibley. A good old-fashioned love triangle. It isn’t groundbreaking, nor is it particularly compelling. Where the artwork is concerned, it is crisp and cute, typical of Shōjo Manga. It starts as a slow-but-steady romance; with inevitable heartbreak that comes with unrequited romance. It is sweet, as it is realistic; addressing the topic of jealousy in an honest and roundabout way, with pleasing results. Pure innocence wrapped up nicely in with a bow.
Time Read: One Day.
→ Audiobook: No.
→ Audiobook Narrator: -
Re-Read: No.
→ -:
→ -:
Trigger Warnings:
→ Grief.
→ Isolation.
→ Verbal Abuse.
→ Age Range: Young Adult.
→ Genre: Slice-of-Life, Romantic Contemporary.
→ Book Type: Manga.
Favourite Quote: ‘I wish I could live my life without making a single mistake. But I don't think that's possible. Even so, I have friends to lift me and people to watch over me.’
In-depth Rating:
→ Plot: ★★★
→ Character Development: ★★
→ Setting: ★★
→ Entertainment Level: ★★★
→ Writing: ★★
General Comments: Translated by Alethea and Athena Nibley. A good old-fashioned love triangle. It isn’t groundbreaking, nor is it particularly compelling. Where the artwork is concerned, it is crisp and cute, typical of Shōjo Manga. It starts as a slow-but-steady romance; with inevitable heartbreak that comes with unrequited romance. It is sweet, as it is realistic; addressing the topic of jealousy in an honest and roundabout way, with pleasing results. Pure innocence wrapped up nicely in with a bow.
Time Read: One Day.
→ Audiobook: No.
→ Audiobook Narrator: -
Re-Read: No.
→ -:
→ -:
Trigger Warnings:
→ Grief.
→ Isolation.
→ Verbal Abuse.
March 3, 2022
I'm crying
November 21, 2023
AHHHHH This was everything!
I love Mako so much! She made me want to go and grab my camera and just start taking all the photos!
I do wish this story had been a little bit longer because some parts did feel a bit rushed but all in all I was really happy with the storyline and the characters.
The only character that was getting on my nerves a bit was Kei but in the end he was alright. I really enjoyed the side characters and I feel like they were in the story just enough that it was enjoyable and made sense.
The art style was the main reason I picked this up in the first place and I loved it even more while reading it.... I'm definitely going to have to read That Wolf-boy is mine!
I love Mako so much! She made me want to go and grab my camera and just start taking all the photos!
I do wish this story had been a little bit longer because some parts did feel a bit rushed but all in all I was really happy with the storyline and the characters.
The only character that was getting on my nerves a bit was Kei but in the end he was alright. I really enjoyed the side characters and I feel like they were in the story just enough that it was enjoyable and made sense.
The art style was the main reason I picked this up in the first place and I loved it even more while reading it.... I'm definitely going to have to read That Wolf-boy is mine!
June 17, 2022
Mako starts a new life at a boarding school away from home, following her lifelong best friend and living in the same boarding house as he. Her love of photography above all else, though, gets her into some awkward situations, and she finds herself in a bit of love triangle with the BFF and another new student living in the house.
Adorable story and gorgeous art. It's simple and yes, predictable, but none of that takes away from the loveliness of it. Reading it felt like getting a big, beautifully drawn hug.
Adorable story and gorgeous art. It's simple and yes, predictable, but none of that takes away from the loveliness of it. Reading it felt like getting a big, beautifully drawn hug.
July 23, 2024
very cute!
the change at the end was a little abrupt, and the fact that they broke up and the very same day she’s walking around holding hands with a different guy was kinda icky. i guess maybe the series could’ve been a little longer and things wouldn’t have felt so rushed. i was looking forward to reading a short and sweet manga, but perhaps this could’ve benefited from at least a little more time passing, even without necessarily making the story any longer.
the change at the end was a little abrupt, and the fact that they broke up and the very same day she’s walking around holding hands with a different guy was kinda icky. i guess maybe the series could’ve been a little longer and things wouldn’t have felt so rushed. i was looking forward to reading a short and sweet manga, but perhaps this could’ve benefited from at least a little more time passing, even without necessarily making the story any longer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2022
A very cute series that you can read in an afternoon! The art and story pacing are wonderful, and the characters are well rendered. Character motivations are clear but, more importantly, it really shows the delicate heartache that can come with navigating your first love. I'm very glad I gave it a shot!
August 28, 2022
It's short and sweet, and was a perfect little read as a break after finishing heavier books.
I don't like love triangles but it was handled quite well here; realistic without being too dragged out or angsty. I also appreciate that the romance wasn't the only focus; friendship and family are important themes throughout the story too.
I don't like love triangles but it was handled quite well here; realistic without being too dragged out or angsty. I also appreciate that the romance wasn't the only focus; friendship and family are important themes throughout the story too.
March 12, 2022
This was super cute and wasn’t cringy like most romance manga in my opinion. The love triangle also want super drawn out and *overly* dramatic.
Abs who doesn’t love when the story is finished and neatly compiled?! I hate when I am left waiting for the next manga to come out.
Abs who doesn’t love when the story is finished and neatly compiled?! I hate when I am left waiting for the next manga to come out.
August 31, 2023
Personally I found the story adorable, the art and the characters lovely. Of course, since it was made to be a three pieces manga series I reached the probable conclusion very soon.
All together it was a sweet reading, perfect for late summer days.
All together it was a sweet reading, perfect for late summer days.
July 29, 2025
Love in Focus by Yoko Nogiri is just your typical cute and quick love triangle between two guys and one girl. I may be in the minority when I this but second lead syndrome didn't hit me this time around 🤭
November 8, 2021
Real rating: 4.5 stars, I really liked this!!!
February 21, 2023
I’m sad 🥲
December 31, 2023
Cute way to end the year 🥰
January 12, 2024
This art is incredible 😍
January 13, 2024
Ok it just made my heart hurt a bit bc of the love triangle but it was so cutie
June 21, 2024
I wish I could give this more stars it was so cute and heartwarming. Definitely got me back into my manga reading phase.
April 22, 2025
Sooo charming!!! I reminds me of a cute fanfiction I've read before.
The love triangle is cute, and I kinda feel for Mako's best friend, but also not... I'm glad where things ended up eventually!😊
The love triangle is cute, and I kinda feel for Mako's best friend, but also not... I'm glad where things ended up eventually!😊
November 16, 2022
Cute, but not incredibly memorable.
November 18, 2021
I feel like this manga would be a great starter series for anyone wanting to try a shojo manga. I do wish the series was longer so that there had been more time to flesh out all of the characters and their stories.
November 3, 2024
it felt a little rushed, but i enjoyed it overall
February 7, 2024
FMC - Mako
It is refreshing to see a FMC who has her own personality that isn’t solely focused around romance. She had her own goals and inspirations, even if she progressively forgot about her grandfather who began her journey with photography. Mako is willing to do things without letting other people get in the way and she’s unlike those FMCs who seem weak, although there’s nothing wrong with being powerless. She is a romantic person at heart, but that isn’t the sole purpose of her character.
Secondary MMC - Kei
Kei is one of those characters that help me to realise niceness doesn’t necessarily mean compatibility. Kei is nice to everyone, but that doesn’t mean everyone suits him romantically, and that includes Mako. It’s easy to see why the childhood friends don’t get together with the MC - their past experiences shouldn’t define their current relationship. People change and especially in between their child and teen years. It’s easy to fade away from their childhood friend, but it’s okay to let go of someone who no longer is apart of their life.
Out of the two love interests, I did prefer Kei over Mitsuru since Kei was much nicer at the beginning. While he’s always maintained the same level of niceness, my preference over him faded away from his sudden possessiveness when he said Mitsuru can’t have Mako. She is her own individual, meaning she can’t be chosen by another person. Relationships are an equal choice between two willing participants, not one. Although, it is sad to see his unrequited love because I can relate to his feelings that are tucked deep inside him. I can also relate to his immaturity and desperation when it comes to romance, especially when you think that a close friend would easily vanish. Out of the two love interests character development, I would have to say Kei strengthened himself greatly when he learnt how to let go of Mako.
Primary MMC - Mitsuru
I’m unsure what to think about Mitsuru as a character. While he is unique in his own way, he is also another cliche shoujo character. The mysterious black haired guy whose eyes are blue. It’s nice to see that these authors have clear preferences, but it only takes away the individuality from the character as they all seem the same. Another example is how he dresses to hide away his modelling identity, which seems cliche given that there are many movies and books where the love interest suddenly becomes attractive the moment they take their glasses off. I would be okay if he didn’t have a reason to have glasses or longer hair. In fact, I would be completely fine if he never changed in the manga. The change of physical appearance shouldn’t need to be a necessity for character development.
However, I did like how Mitsuru shed light upon the toxic culture of the modelling industry, even if it’s only for so little pages. It’s so easy for children to become hurt by it, especially when there’s fans who invade their life. His long hair only served as a defence system from the suffering that he had gone through, which is natural for depressed people to grow their hair and avoid maintaining their appearance. Throughout the manga, it seemed that Mitsuru came to understand what makes portraits meaningful, thanks to Mako. But I think they could’ve expanded on that and have a proper discussion about photography.
Overall
Love in Focus is a nice and simple shoujo manga, but that’s all I can really think of. It has all the typical cliches, for better or worse. I think it is a good starter manga for shoujo manga, which good art and story, but nothing that is overly exciting or rememberable. I think there was lost potential, especially surrounding the topic of photography. After all, it is supposed to be a story about photography. Majority of the photos taken in this manga was Mitsuru, which is okay if it weren’t for the fact it’s just to progress their love connection. Yet if you take away a few photography scenes, it’s easily another cliche romance story.
-
I loved her smile.
If what I’m doing…
…Ends up taking it away…
Then it defeats the whole purpose. - Kei
It is refreshing to see a FMC who has her own personality that isn’t solely focused around romance. She had her own goals and inspirations, even if she progressively forgot about her grandfather who began her journey with photography. Mako is willing to do things without letting other people get in the way and she’s unlike those FMCs who seem weak, although there’s nothing wrong with being powerless. She is a romantic person at heart, but that isn’t the sole purpose of her character.
Secondary MMC - Kei
Kei is one of those characters that help me to realise niceness doesn’t necessarily mean compatibility. Kei is nice to everyone, but that doesn’t mean everyone suits him romantically, and that includes Mako. It’s easy to see why the childhood friends don’t get together with the MC - their past experiences shouldn’t define their current relationship. People change and especially in between their child and teen years. It’s easy to fade away from their childhood friend, but it’s okay to let go of someone who no longer is apart of their life.
Out of the two love interests, I did prefer Kei over Mitsuru since Kei was much nicer at the beginning. While he’s always maintained the same level of niceness, my preference over him faded away from his sudden possessiveness when he said Mitsuru can’t have Mako. She is her own individual, meaning she can’t be chosen by another person. Relationships are an equal choice between two willing participants, not one. Although, it is sad to see his unrequited love because I can relate to his feelings that are tucked deep inside him. I can also relate to his immaturity and desperation when it comes to romance, especially when you think that a close friend would easily vanish. Out of the two love interests character development, I would have to say Kei strengthened himself greatly when he learnt how to let go of Mako.
Primary MMC - Mitsuru
I’m unsure what to think about Mitsuru as a character. While he is unique in his own way, he is also another cliche shoujo character. The mysterious black haired guy whose eyes are blue. It’s nice to see that these authors have clear preferences, but it only takes away the individuality from the character as they all seem the same. Another example is how he dresses to hide away his modelling identity, which seems cliche given that there are many movies and books where the love interest suddenly becomes attractive the moment they take their glasses off. I would be okay if he didn’t have a reason to have glasses or longer hair. In fact, I would be completely fine if he never changed in the manga. The change of physical appearance shouldn’t need to be a necessity for character development.
However, I did like how Mitsuru shed light upon the toxic culture of the modelling industry, even if it’s only for so little pages. It’s so easy for children to become hurt by it, especially when there’s fans who invade their life. His long hair only served as a defence system from the suffering that he had gone through, which is natural for depressed people to grow their hair and avoid maintaining their appearance. Throughout the manga, it seemed that Mitsuru came to understand what makes portraits meaningful, thanks to Mako. But I think they could’ve expanded on that and have a proper discussion about photography.
Overall
Love in Focus is a nice and simple shoujo manga, but that’s all I can really think of. It has all the typical cliches, for better or worse. I think it is a good starter manga for shoujo manga, which good art and story, but nothing that is overly exciting or rememberable. I think there was lost potential, especially surrounding the topic of photography. After all, it is supposed to be a story about photography. Majority of the photos taken in this manga was Mitsuru, which is okay if it weren’t for the fact it’s just to progress their love connection. Yet if you take away a few photography scenes, it’s easily another cliche romance story.
-
I loved her smile.
If what I’m doing…
…Ends up taking it away…
Then it defeats the whole purpose. - Kei
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2023
Mako is your classic sweet and passionate protagonist who seems to be oblivious when it comes to romance, but a natural when it comes to photography. When her heart is captured by both Kei and Mitsuru she finds herself sorting through some new and confusing feelings, which she actually wraps up quite nicely at the end!
Now, it was not necessarily the love-triangle aspect that kept me reading but rather the chemistry the characters had with each other. Yes, it can be predictable with the love interests being the 'childhood friend' and 'mysterious stranger', but I found myself enjoying how they all interacted. Reading it reminded me of why I liked love triangles in the first place.
Although that may just be because I'm a sucker for romance stories in general, I found that this story is the right amount of bitter and sweet. It may not be extradonary, but it's something I'd recommended if you ever need something to read one afternoon.
TL;DR : A love triangle. Does Mako find her picture-perfect romance? Yes.
Now, it was not necessarily the love-triangle aspect that kept me reading but rather the chemistry the characters had with each other. Yes, it can be predictable with the love interests being the 'childhood friend' and 'mysterious stranger', but I found myself enjoying how they all interacted. Reading it reminded me of why I liked love triangles in the first place.
Although that may just be because I'm a sucker for romance stories in general, I found that this story is the right amount of bitter and sweet. It may not be extradonary, but it's something I'd recommended if you ever need something to read one afternoon.
TL;DR : A love triangle. Does Mako find her picture-perfect romance? Yes.
March 19, 2024
i’m crying my eyes out. this was so beautiful 😍 😢🥹🥹🥹⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 6, 2024
This is cute. Just a short, sweet read about first love and being true to yourself.
Love triangles are always hard because there's always going to be a 'loser', which makes the story bittersweet at best. But I think the author handled it well, giving them enough space to be sad and happy and confused all at once.
The three main characters were well fleshed out and had good relationships/dynamics between them. They make mistakes, they apologise, they learn and grow. There's an appropriate amount of dramatic backstory to overcome, and a good amount of conflict/complications for the characters to resolve. It's a believable story of adolescence.
I also really loved the focus on photography. It made it more than just a love triangle, but also a story about Mako and who she is an independent person, not just a girl falling in love.
Overall, really smooth. Everything works together, and there's no aspect that feels out of balance. I enjoyed myself the whole time, but I don't think it will stay with me as one of my favourites of all time. Really good, not great. (To be fair, I was reading this in hospital with appendicitis, so my judgement could have been impaired).
Love triangles are always hard because there's always going to be a 'loser', which makes the story bittersweet at best. But I think the author handled it well, giving them enough space to be sad and happy and confused all at once.
The three main characters were well fleshed out and had good relationships/dynamics between them. They make mistakes, they apologise, they learn and grow. There's an appropriate amount of dramatic backstory to overcome, and a good amount of conflict/complications for the characters to resolve. It's a believable story of adolescence.
I also really loved the focus on photography. It made it more than just a love triangle, but also a story about Mako and who she is an independent person, not just a girl falling in love.
Overall, really smooth. Everything works together, and there's no aspect that feels out of balance. I enjoyed myself the whole time, but I don't think it will stay with me as one of my favourites of all time. Really good, not great. (To be fair, I was reading this in hospital with appendicitis, so my judgement could have been impaired).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews