you could do worse

first three chapters and extra are about machido and aihara, schoolboys. pretty cute. next is about a runaway, moves fast but is kind of sweet. 'us, blooming' is the standout- really funny and continued in 'mankai darling' (which i wasn't crazy about). decent art.

read for the smut, but it was actually pretty plot-oriented, especially the last few chapters. pretty interesting take on relations between east and west and self-identity/self-righteousness during the crusades. pretty sexy and decent art.

fairly gripping to watch the plot unfold, but didn't really hit the emotional depths i wanted it to. some of it i think has to do with sensei's drawings, she does nonplussed and annoyed faces well, but her other expressions are lacking. i am also annoyed that chris' history was not divulged more when that was the emotional crux of the story and the plot. also, the old 'love heals all' resolution was disappointing. wanted more about alex's relationship with his father & his emotional development.

for kind of a cliched idea, surprisingly sweet and sexy. nice art, love the uke's faces in the first few pages when he's doting on his friend.

students- kind of tsundere, passive aggressive-ish uke and bashful, anxious seme. liked the development from friends to lovers and exploring the relationship with such an insecure person. some very nice passages in the writing explaining the characters' thoughts and feelings for each other. smexing was pretty good, art is decent, but i sometimes had trouble telling the characters apart without the seme's glasses.

was a little meh at first, but got better. worked out pretty neatly at the end, but there were some pretty good bits along the way. nice art, but the uke is pretty young and girly-looking.

friend reveals groom's homosexual past in front of new father-in-law, who then pursues the friend under the guise of checking up on his new son-in-law. i love seeing older men in yaoi, and i think this story does a decent job reflecting the freedom and fear that comes with reclaiming your own life after your children are grown. nice art.

each MC comes to terms with their own insecurities and learns to trust themselves and their partner. warm and sweet, like a latte; cute art.

kinda predictable, but sweet. gay x straight, gay guy worries about getting involved, wants to pull the friend card to be together forever kinda stuff. art is cute, and some nice words/genuine feelings are exchanged.

The translation is not great, but it's enough to convey that it's pretty cute. Lonely college student helps a stray cat, and that cat takes human form to repay his kindness (allegedly). Two lonely, tired people get together and navigate a relationship and it's kinda warm, although catman has a pretty high libido. Nice art.