Kiss Him, Not Me Manga Volumes: All 14 Books Guide

So you want to read Kiss Him, Not Me (私がモテてどうすんだ) and you’re wondering how many manga volumes there are, what order to read them in, and which edition to grab. Good news — this is a fully completed series with a definitive ending, and collecting the whole thing is straightforward. Let’s get into it.

Kiss Him, Not Me Manga Volumes at a Glance — 14 Books of Completed Comedy

Kiss Him, Not Me is a 14-volume manga written and illustrated by Junko (ぢゅん子). It’s published in English by Kodansha USA under the Kodansha Comics brand, rated 13+, and available in both paperback and digital formats. The series is complete — all 14 volumes are out, so there’s no waiting around for new releases.

The Japanese run launched with Volume 1 on October 11, 2013, and wrapped up with Volume 14 on March 13, 2018. The English edition also covers the full 14-volume run.

Here’s the premise: Kae Serinuma is a devoted fujoshi — a term for a female fan who’s passionate about fictional romantic pairings between male characters. In practice, this means Kae is way more interested in “shipping” (imagining romantic relationships between) the boys around her than in dating anyone herself. But after a dramatic weight loss, she suddenly catches the attention of four guys and one girl, all competing for her affection. The twist? Kae would honestly rather they just get together with each other.

If you’ve heard the phrase “reverse harem” and aren’t sure what it means: a harem series is one where multiple love interests pursue a single character. In a standard harem manga, several girls compete for one guy. A reverse harem flips that — here, multiple guys (and one girl) are all pursuing Kae. The humor comes from Kae’s fangirl instincts constantly clashing with the genuine romantic attention she’s getting. The series is tagged as romance, comedy, and fantasy, with a heavy dose of fan-culture parody throughout.

At 14 volumes and a 13+ rating, it’s accessible to teen and adult readers alike. A very manageable series to collect and binge.

Story Arcs by Volume

Kiss Him, Not Me doesn’t use formally named story arcs — meaning the chapters aren’t grouped into labeled sections the way some manga series do. Instead, the narrative moves through distinct phases. Here’s how those phases group naturally across the 14 volumes.

Volumes 1–3 — The Setup and the Suitors

The opening stretch introduces Kae’s world, her transformation, and all five love interests: Igarashi, Nanashima, Shinomiya, Mutsumi, and Nishina. The first four are guys; Nishina is the lone female suitor, and her presence keeps the dynamic unpredictable. These volumes establish the core dynamic — Kae’s fangirl brain refusing to cooperate with the romantic comedy she’s now living in.

Early chapters revolve around group dates, comedic competitions, and the suitors trying to figure out how to win Kae’s heart when she’d rather see them paired up with each other. The comedy is at its broadest here, and Junko’s expressive art style makes every reaction shot land. By the end of Volume 3, you’ll know every player in the game and exactly what makes this series tick.

Volumes 4–7 — Deepening Bonds

The middle section shifts from group gags to individual character development. Each suitor gets dedicated story time that explores their connection with Kae beyond surface-level attraction. Who actually likes her, and who just likes how she looks?

Nishina’s feelings become a serious thread during this stretch — she’s not just comic relief or a side character, she’s a genuine romantic contender with a real chance at winning Kae’s affection. The tone gradually evolves as characters move past comedic rivalry into real emotional investment. Volume 7 wraps up a significant subplot, making it a natural pause point.

Volumes 8–11 — Complications and Turning Points

This is where the series gets its emotional teeth. Major conflicts test Kae’s relationships and force her to confront what she actually wants — not just as a fangirl, but as a person. The ensemble comedy format gives way to genuine romantic decision-making.

A central question emerges: who truly accepts Kae for who she is, fan obsessions and all? Her identity as someone who geeks out over fictional pairings isn’t just a running gag anymore — it’s the lens through which the series examines what real compatibility looks like. These volumes read fast because the tension builds steadily from chapter to chapter.

Volumes 12–14 — Resolution

The final three volumes bring the multi-person love story to a definitive conclusion. No ambiguous endings, no “choose your own interpretation” cop-outs. Kae makes her choice, and the series commits to it fully.

Supporting character threads get wrapped up too. Whatever you think of the final pairing, the ending is clear and satisfying on a structural level — it feels earned rather than rushed. Once you crack open Volume 12, you’ll probably finish all three in one sitting.

A Marathon Reading Plan — Natural Break Points

Fourteen volumes is a very manageable binge — most readers can get through the whole series in a weekend or spread it comfortably across a week. Here’s a session plan with natural stopping points:

Session 1: Volumes 1–3

Read through the full setup. By the end of Volume 3, you’ll know every suitor, understand the comedic dynamic, and have a clear sense of whether this series is for you. (It probably is.)

Session 2: Volumes 4–7

The character-development stretch. Individual storylines give each love interest real depth. Volume 7 resolves a major subplot and makes for a satisfying pause before things heat up.

Session 3: Volumes 8–11

Emotional escalation. The comedy-to-drama ratio shifts, and the pages fly by. Good luck putting Volume 11 down without immediately reaching for Volume 12.

Session 4: Volumes 12–14

The finale run. Three volumes, one sitting. This is where Kae’s story reaches its conclusion, and it’s best experienced in a single stretch.

At 14 volumes, the series never overstays its welcome. The pacing stays tight from start to finish — there’s no filler stretch where nothing happens for three volumes. Every book moves the story forward.

Manga vs. Anime — Why the Manga Is the Complete Experience

An anime adaptation exists for Kiss Him, Not Me, and it’s a fun watch — but it doesn’t cover the full story. The anime adapts material from the earlier portion of the manga, leaving the later volumes — including the entire romantic resolution — unadapted. The manga is the only way to experience the complete narrative from beginning to end.

If you watched the anime first and loved it, you have two good options: start the manga from Volume 1 to get the full experience with Junko’s original art (recommended, since it’s a quick read), or pick up roughly where the anime left off and read forward to the ending. Either way, the final romantic resolution is manga-only territory, so if you’ve been wondering who Kae ends up with and the anime left you hanging, the answer is in the books.

Even for scenes the anime did adapt, reading the manga has its own rewards. Junko’s art style is incredibly expressive, and a lot of the visual comedy — exaggerated reaction faces, background gags, the way jokes land from one panel (individual frame) to the next — works differently on the page than it does in animation. The comedic timing in manga form lets you linger on a punchline in a way that anime pacing doesn’t always allow.

Bottom line: the anime is a nice appetizer, but the manga is the full meal.

Which Edition Should You Buy

The English edition is published by Kodansha USA under the Kodansha Comics brand. Here’s what’s available:

Paperback — The standard single-volume paperbacks cover the complete 14-volume run. These are the primary English physical edition. The spines display nicely as a collected set on a shelf, and Junko’s cover art pops in person.

Digital — Also covers all 14 volumes. Digital is great for binge-reading, especially if you don’t want to wait for physical copies to arrive or if shelf space is tight.

As of this writing, no omnibus (multi-volume collected editions that bundle several books into one) or special collected editions have been widely released in English. The single-volume paperbacks are your go-to for a physical collection.

The series is rated 13+, so it’s appropriate for teen readers and up. The humor includes some suggestive comedy (it is a romance with a fujoshi protagonist), but nothing that pushes beyond that rating.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to grab the final volume to complete your set, this is a series that rewards reading all the way through. Volume 14 is the one that brings the story to its conclusion.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many volumes of Kiss Him, Not Me are there?

There are 14 volumes total. Both the Japanese and English editions run the full 14 volumes, so nothing is missing or cut from the English release.

Is Kiss Him, Not Me finished?

Yes — the manga is fully complete. The final volume was published in 2018. You can read the entire series from start to finish right now with no gaps or ongoing releases to wait for.

Who publishes Kiss Him, Not Me in English?

Kodansha USA, under their Kodansha Comics brand. It’s available in both paperback and digital formats.

Who created Kiss Him, Not Me?

The series is written and illustrated by Junko (ぢゅん子). She handles both the story and the art.

Is there an anime adaptation?

Yes, an anime adaptation exists for Kiss Him, Not Me. However, it does not cover the full manga story. The later volumes and the final romantic resolution are manga-only, so if you want the complete experience you’ll need to read the books. If you haven’t seen the anime yet and you’re trying to decide where to start, either order works fine — but the manga gives you the whole story in one go.

What’s the reading order?

Straightforward: Volumes 1 through 14, in order. There are no spin-offs (separate series set in the same world), side volumes, or alternate reading paths to worry about. Just start at Volume 1 and go.