criminally underrated BL

[PG, rom-com, found family, kids]

I liked it a lot! I wish the author could develop the relationship more because it did feel lacking, but it was still a decent read. Some people said that MC is annoying, which i don't understand because i think he's a really adorable character. He had this grandeur ideal for his life, and he worked really hard for it, but in the end he found that he loved the quiet and simple happiness he had with his newfound family.

4.5/5

[18+, romance, coming of age]

TW: SA attempt between MCs @ ch2

A good coming of age manga. Might seem plotless or boring at first glance but the author did a good job capturing the confusion and uneasiness of being attracted to someone of your own gender for the first time. I guess my teenage self can relate to the characters and the overall restless feelings you get from the manga. It's just so....dear and i really didn't expect it, but it truly moved me.

4.5/5

[PG, slice of life, romance]

TW: past sexual assault, fwb

I love both of the stories. I'm a huge sucker for a well written mundane slice of life, and this author did well in delivering both the easy, casual way men interact with each other AND the soft and tender feelings they have.

☆ 4.5/5

[18+, romance]

TW: racism

How can this have such low rating... I'm always cautious when a manga features an indigenous character because more often than not it comes off as fetishizing and racist. But in here, the author addressed such fetishizing and racist behavior towards the character, and how it changed him irrevocably as a person. I love how fulfilling the story is and how strong the characters (even the side ones) are considering the length of the book. What a good read.

[PG, rom-com, slice of life]

+ friends to lovers
+ manly couple
+ muscular men being awkwardly sweet with each other

Ohoho i do love it when two manly men shuffle their feet like grade schoolers because they're too awkward with their affection. And this one is a friends to lovers too! A nice read.

[18+, anthology]

TW for side stories: rape fetishization, objectification of women, transphobia, cheating, S/M dynamic

+ childhood friends to lovers (main story ch 4-5)

I will never get tired professing my love for Yamashita Tomoko and i will never understand HOW the hell are her works so underrated on this site. Each of the stories here is well written with good dialogue and characterization. I love them.

[18+, anthology]

TW for side stories: threat of rape, sexual harassment, sexual assault, S/M, dubcon, noncon, tragedy

Main story is friends to lovers. Most of the side stories aren't my taste (esp. the crossdresser one, that's just not it) but the writing in the main damn??? The longing and regret??? Yamashita Tomoko never fails to hit me in the heart.

[18+, slice of life, romance]

TW: past sexual assault

HOLY CRAP? The Communication? Validation of feelings?? The character development and pacing??? I always like works that have everything to do with people bonding over food and eating together, but this one takes it up several notches. So many encouraging quotes that make me feel validated eventhough they're just lines from a comic book. The pacing and writing are also good that the happy ending feels all the more deserved. Great read!

☆ 4.5/5 so far

[18+, romance, slice of life]

+ established relationship
+ asexual / demisexual (it's still not clear) representation

Very looking forward to this! From what i've read i think it's going to be a Phenomenal one. I always love to see established couple bicker affectionately and be domestic with each other, and this manga conveys both with great story telling and dialogues. Can't wait to read the rest.