Collections of Short Stories & Oneshots (that are actually worth your time)

Truly an exemplary collection of of three shorts. As a whole, they have a degree of emotional maturity and complexity about them. The art is nice, and as a bonus it's free of dub con and rape. Really, this volume is not to be missed, particularly the third story.

See my home page for a longer, story-by-story review.

So far, the theme of these delicious shorts seems to be creative people and the people who take care of them. All are nicely drawn and beautifully realized, as is usual for this mangaka. It's also refreshing to read historical stories that are not horrifically tragic. All are light and sweet

Yet again, I find that this author has provided a dazzling assortment of oneshots in this volume (each rated individually). These stories are really quite touching, and, as I have found with her other work, have an emotional complexity and sophistication that is utterly refreshing.

Four shortish stories. All (except the final one) are notable for their nicely drawn style and their (relative) degree of realism.
If you like slightly more mature stories that (at least in passing) at least acknowledge the existence of default heterosexuality and being closeted, relatively well-realized characters and realistic settings, you'll probably enjoy these.

See my home page for a longer review of the individual stories.

None of these stories overstayed their welcome or felt perfunctory and incomplete. All are fully realized for what they are (which is an important but rare quality in short manga) and the first two stories are absolutely outstanding in their ability to convey subtlety and depth of feeling in such a short span of time. The writing is excellent throughout, and I highly recommend this volume to anyone (the art is not exceptional, but the writing is so good it doesn't really matter at all). No rape.

A gay man and the disapproving father of the bride find an unlikely companionship in the wake of the wedding. Refreshing insofar as it features a middle aged adult (who looks middle aged) and is a really satisfying oneshot. Recommended if you're in the mood for something well-realized, adult, and a little different (no over the top romance here - just a possible new beginning)

As I was reading it, the story rang very true and felt more grounded in the real world than most yaoi. If you're craving a dose of realism mixed with some sweetness and an art style atypical of the genre, this is a really quick read, an excellent palate cleanser, and a satisfyingly well-written story.

A oneshot beautifully written and drawn about a photographer and the childhood friend who has been in love with him for years. Sweet and all the better for its simplicity. No rape/dubcon.

An anthology of oneshots by talented BL mangaka featuring ideas/settings that were either rejected in the past or which the mangaka thought would be rejected. I highly recommend you check this out if you are at all a fan of BL. You won't like all the stories, but where else will you actually find a character who is intersex, old, or fat? Read it and imagine all the BL stories that could be possible if publishers were willing to take a risk now and then.

A series of three sex comedies featuring salarymen (I won't review them individually here because they are short and I don't want to spoil the punchlines). They are varied enough that they don't get tiresome, and each feels self-contained and complete. If you're in the mood for mature comedy, definitely check these out. They're fun and, if you don't take them too seriously or overthink it, lighthearted and satisfying.