Is First Love Monster Manga Finished? Status in 2026

If you’ve been eyeing First Love Monster (初恋モンスター) and wondering whether the story actually wraps up — or if you’ll be left hanging — here’s the direct answer: the manga is not finished. Is First Love Monster manga finished in any meaningful sense? No. The series is on hiatus, meaning the creator stopped publishing new chapters without officially ending or cancelling the story. Eight volumes exist, and the story is incomplete. It’s better to know that upfront than to find out after reading all eight books.

Let’s break down exactly where things stand.

First Love Monster Is Not Finished — The Manga Is on Hiatus With 8 Volumes

First Love Monster is not finished. The manga is on hiatus — a publishing pause where new chapters stop appearing, but the series hasn’t been formally cancelled or concluded — with eight published volumes and one final chapter that was never released. The story is incomplete.

Written by Akira Hiyoshimaru, the series ran chapter-by-chapter in ARIA magazine and later on pixiv Comic ARIA (an online manga platform), with chapters collected into book-format volumes published by Kodansha in Japan. The eighth and most recent volume came out on February 7, 2017 — and nothing new has followed since.

For anyone unfamiliar with the premise: First Love Monster is a romantic comedy about Kaho Nikaido, a high school girl who moves into a boarding house and falls for a tall, handsome boy named Kanade Takahashi. The catch? Kanade is actually an elementary school student. The entire series runs on that absurd gap between appearance and reality, wrapping it in slapstick humor and surprisingly sweet moments.

Genre-wise, it blends comedy, romance, and everyday-life storytelling — heavy on the comedy. The humor is broad, sometimes crude, and very much in on its own joke. It’s the kind of series where you’re either laughing along or completely baffled, and that polarizing quality is part of its charm.

But the big takeaway here: eight volumes exist, the story hasn’t concluded, and the series has been sitting in limbo for years.

Does the Romance Get a Proper Ending?

This is the question that matters most for romance readers, and unfortunately the answer is no — the central love story does not reach a definitive conclusion.

Because that final chapter was never published, volume 8 doesn’t serve as a planned ending. It’s simply the last volume that came out. The story pauses rather than ends. There’s no confession scene that ties everything together, no climactic resolution to the relationship dynamics the series spent eight volumes building.

That said, the eight volumes that do exist contain a lot of romantic comedy content. Kaho and Kanade’s relationship develops across those books, and there are genuinely funny and heartfelt moments throughout. If you enjoy the ride more than the destination, there’s plenty to like here. The comedy is consistent, the supporting cast is entertaining, and the romance — while unconventional — has real warmth to it.

But if you’re someone who needs a satisfying ending to feel good about a series, you should know what you’re getting into before starting. First Love Monster gives you a lot of laughs and a lot of sweetness, but it doesn’t give you closure. That missing final chapter hangs over the whole experience, and it’s fair to factor that into your decision about whether to start reading.

The humor can be crude at times, and the premise — a high schooler falling for someone who looks older but is actually much younger — is played entirely for comedy. Parents considering this for a younger teen may want to preview volume 1 first, though the English edition carries a T (Teen) rating from Yen Press, meaning the publisher considers it appropriate for ages roughly 13 and up.

For what it’s worth, many readers still consider the series worthwhile despite the incomplete status. The comedy is strong enough to carry the experience on its own, even without a final bow.

How Many Volumes and What Does a Complete Set Look Like

Eight volumes — that’s the full count in both Japanese and English. There are no additional side-story volumes, no omnibus editions (collected books combining multiple volumes into one), and no alternate formats to track down.

Here’s what you’re looking at:

Detail	Info
Total Volumes (Japanese)	8
Total Volumes (English)	8
English Publisher	Yen Press
English Formats	Paperback and digital
Age Rating (English)	T (Teen)
Latest English Paperback	November 14, 2017
Latest English Digital	March 26, 2019

In Japan, volume 8 also received a special edition that came bundled with an original anime DVD episode — a bonus item packaged with the manga, which is a fairly common practice for popular Japanese releases. It’s a collector’s item aimed at the Japanese market.

One important distinction: because the series is on hiatus rather than officially cancelled, these eight volumes represent everything currently available, but not necessarily the complete story. If the series were ever to resume, additional volumes could follow. Whether that will actually happen is another question entirely (more on that in the FAQ below).

If you’re building a physical collection, all eight Yen Press paperbacks are what you need. At eight books, the set is compact and straightforward — no hunting for special editions or tracking down out-of-print extras on the English side. For readers weighing the investment, eight individual manga volumes at typical retail prices is a relatively modest commitment compared to longer-running series.

First Love Monster, Vol. 1 is the starting point and a good way to test whether the humor clicks for you before committing to the full run.

The Anime and Other Adaptations

First Love Monster received a 12-episode TV anime that began airing on July 2, 2016. The anime covers material from the manga and serves as a decent companion piece — though, like the manga, it doesn’t resolve the larger story.

A bundled anime episode was also included with the special edition of volume 8 in Japan, released on February 7, 2017. This was a separate, standalone episode packaged with the manga volume rather than a continuation of the TV series.

Beyond the anime, a novel adaptation exists as a separate work retelling the story in prose form. It’s a companion piece rather than a replacement for the manga. The novel is a Japanese-language release; it has not been published in English, so Western readers won’t find it at English-language retailers.

Here’s the thing to keep in mind: none of these adaptations fill the gap left by the manga’s incomplete status. The anime aired while the manga was still running, and the novel is its own entity. If you’re hoping one of the adaptations wraps up the story that the manga left unfinished, that isn’t the case.

That said, the anime can be a good entry point if you want to sample the series’ tone before investing in the manga. Twelve episodes is a reasonable commitment, and it’ll give you a clear sense of whether the comedy style works for you.

Where to Start Reading

The reading order for First Love Monster is as simple as it gets: volumes 1 through 8, in sequence. No branching storylines, no required side stories, no extra books you need to read between certain entries. Just eight numbered volumes, front to back.

All eight English volumes are available from Yen Press in both paperback and digital formats, rated T (Teen). Digital editions are convenient if you want to start reading immediately, while the paperbacks make for a tidy shelf set at just eight books.

There’s no collected edition combining multiple volumes into one — the individual volumes are the only format available.

If you’re on the fence — especially given the incomplete status — grabbing volume 1 is a low-risk way to find out whether the comedy style resonates with you. The premise is established quickly, and you’ll know within the first volume whether the humor lands or bounces right off.

FAQ

Is First Love Monster manga finished?

No. The series is on hiatus — meaning publication paused without an official ending — with one final chapter unpublished. Eight volumes have been released, but the story is technically incomplete.

How many volumes of First Love Monster are there?

Eight volumes in both Japanese and English. Volume 8 was the last released — in Japan on February 7, 2017, and in English on November 14, 2017 (paperback).

Who publishes First Love Monster in English?

Yen Press. The series is available in paperback and digital formats, rated T (Teen).

Is there a First Love Monster anime?

Yes. A 12-episode TV anime aired starting July 2, 2016. A bundled anime episode was also included with the special edition of volume 8 in Japan.

Will First Love Monster ever be completed?

There has been no official announcement about the series resuming. The last volume was published in February 2017, and the manga has been on hiatus since around 2020 with one unpublished final chapter. The gap between the last volume and the formal hiatus status likely reflects the period when chapter publication slowed and eventually stopped entirely. Whether the series will ever be completed remains unknown.

Is the anime a good substitute if the manga is unfinished?

The anime adapts material from the manga but doesn’t resolve the overall story either. It’s a fun watch and a good way to sample the series, but it won’t give you the ending the manga is missing.

Is First Love Monster appropriate for younger readers?

The English edition is rated T (Teen) by Yen Press, which generally indicates content suitable for ages 13 and up. The humor can be crude at times, and the premise — a high schooler falling for someone who looks older but is actually much younger — is played for comedy. Parents may want to preview volume 1 first.