To Love Ru Review: An Alien Princess Crashes into a High School Boy's Bathroom and Declares She Will Marry Him
by Saki Hasemi / Kentaro Yabuki
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Quick Take
- A classic ecchi harem comedy with a distinct energy — Lala's genuine enthusiasm and Yabuki's exceptional art make it more visually appealing than most in its genre
- The series does not pretend to be more than it is, which gives it a certain honesty compared to harem manga that claim the romance is the focus
- 18 volumes complete in English; the foundational modern Shonen Jump ecchi harem series
Who Is This Manga For?
- Adult readers who want a classic ecchi harem comedy in its complete form
- Anyone curious about the series that defined a specific era of Shonen Jump
- Fans of Kentaro Yabuki's art in a less serious context than Black Cat
- Readers looking for a complete series with alien-comedy elements
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: M (Mature) Content Warnings: Significant ecchi content throughout; harem comic premise; fanservice-heavy; accident-based comedy that relies on accidental nudity and physical contact
M rating — this is not appropriate for younger readers despite the school setting.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★★★ |
| Character Development | ★★★☆☆ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★★★ |
| Reread Value | ★★★☆☆ |
Story Overview
Rito Yuuki wants to tell Haruna Sairenji how he feels. He has wanted to tell her for years. He has not told her.
While taking a bath and thinking about how he has not told her, an alien girl materializes in his bathtub. She is Lala Satalin Deviluke, princess of the most powerful alien empire in the galaxy, who is running away from an arranged marriage and has decided that Rito — who touched her — must be her fiancé.
Rito is now engaged to a galactic princess. His attempts to confess to Haruna continue. Lala's father sends increasingly powerful entities to test Rito's worthiness. Lala's inventions malfunction in ways that are consistently embarrassing for everyone present. The harem expands.
Characters
Lala Satalin Deviluke — The series' most vivid character — her alien enthusiasm, her genuine affection for Rito, and her complete absence of any human social awareness make her consistently funny even when the comedy around her is formulaic.
Rito Yuuki — A protagonist defined almost entirely by his reactions to things happening to him and his inability to confess to Haruna — the series is honest that this is exactly what he is.
The expanding cast — Various girls whose connection to Rito is established across the series' run, each providing a different flavor of the harem comedy.
Art Style
Yabuki's art is exceptional — he was one of the most technically skilled artists in Weekly Shonen Jump during To Love Ru's run, and the character designs, particularly Lala's, are among the most distinctive in the harem genre. The fanservice is drawn with care that distinguishes it from lesser work in the genre.
Cultural Context
To Love Ru ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2006-2009 and was one of the defining ecchi harem series of its era, continuing in spin-offs and sequels. It represents a specific moment in Shonen Jump's willingness to publish content that pushed the magazine's traditional limits.
What I Love About It
Lala is genuinely fond of Rito, and the series doesn't undercut that. She is not pretending or being strategic — she decided he was someone worth choosing and that decision is real throughout the series. In a genre where affection is usually performance, her sincerity is the series' most honest element.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Western readers describe To Love Ru as exactly what it is — a classic of its genre with exceptional art and no pretension to being more than a well-executed harem comedy. Yabuki's art is consistently cited as the primary draw, and the complete availability in English is noted as making it easier to engage with than it was during its original run.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
The moments when Rito's inability to confess to Haruna becomes something more interesting — when his relationship with Lala complicates what he thought he wanted — are the series' most honest uses of its actual romantic content.
Similar Manga
- Rosario + Vampire — Harem comedy with supernatural elements and similar structure
- High School DxD — Mature harem comedy with more action content
- Nisekoi — Harem comedy, lighter fanservice, more romance focus
- Black Cat — Yabuki's earlier serious work for contrast
Reading Order / Where to Start
Volume 1 — Lala's arrival and Rito's situation are established immediately.
Official English Translation Status
Yen Press has published the complete English series. All 18 volumes available.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Yabuki's art is exceptional — among the best in the genre
- Lala's genuine enthusiasm distinguishes her from typical harem leads
- Complete — the full story is available
- Honest about what it is
Cons
- Heavy ecchi content — not for all readers
- Rito's passivity can be frustrating
- Story depth is minimal
Format Comparison
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| Individual Volumes | Yen Press; complete series available |
| Digital | Available |
Where to Buy
Get To Love Ru Vol. 1 on Amazon →
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Written by
Yu
Manga Enthusiast from Japan
I grew up in Japan and manga literally saved me during a tough time in elementary school. My English isn't perfect, but my love for manga is real — and I want to share it with you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.