Heuristic's (Completed and Reviewed!!) 4 and 5 Star BL Manga PART I

I describe it as unusual primarily because it felt like a erotic romantic drama in another genre. Tango dancing isn't just the setting; it's the framing metaphor. The sex isn't only there for furthering feelings of love or manufacturing drama; it's meant equally to arouse the reader and to serve as driving force for the characters, an end in itself.

The arc of the story was well-developed & satisfying, & both of the characters are extremely likeable & very human. There isn't much in the way of melodramatic conflict, and the relationship proceeds organically as both characters learn & grow. It has a lovely, slow build and takes its time to elaborate on its motifs and themes (family, desire, self-knowledge, to name a few).

This manga was fantastic. It's most remarkable feature, as a number of reviewers have noted, is its striking attention to the details of working in a hospital, and the twists and turns of this drama are only heightened by their realistic medical setting.

Beyond this, however, is a really excellent story about finding love and growing up, learning to own one's interests and passions as well as learning to let go.

I was charmed by the art (slightly above standard, and the beautiful men from the fictitious country in the story are lovingly detailed and positively radiant). But most of all, the main POV character was extremely likeable. He has aspirations of his own and a tireless optimism that makes his interactions with the culturally alien stranger compelling and, at times, the moments between them are genuinely well realized and utterly charming.

This is a really fun story and I found it unexpectedly funny. There is something so earnest and childlike about the wealthy salaryman and their budding relationship is exceedingly sweet. Whenever I see a story about a housekeeper I always worry about the power dynamics of the relationship, but in this case my fears were unfounded. Recommended for a fluffy read - absolutely no rape/dubcon.

The pacing throughout most of this manga is quite sedate. While there is an end-game romance, feelings are not immediately realized as mutual. The focus on the inner life of both characters paired with a realistic, professional setting give this story a plausibility and general pleasantness that is quite refreshing. The conflict feels organic and unforced.

While (like this mangaka's other works) it certainly has particular yaoi tropes, in this case I think they were handled sensitively and made for a really compelling story about falling in love after having experienced heartbreak. More importantly, it's about personal growth and learning from a tragedy. I highly recommend this manga if you're looking for something that is a little more mature and beautifully romantic without being saccharine or trite.

The story's themes are all about both growing up and letting go of some of the dreams of the past while hanging on to those that still matter. The art is very simple, which adds to the abstract interiority of the narrative atmosphere. This is a manga that uses its medium to wonderful effect. ead this if you're in the mood for something melancholic (with a happy ending) but ultimately beautiful, sweet, and adult.

Fundamentally, the drama stems from the fact that they are both devoted to one another, but each has a different understanding of what that means. The fact that this one fundamental difference (and not an asymmetry of feeling or maturity) causes the rift makes for cogent & compelling conflict that at a deeper level is connected to the two of them as characters & their definition of love. Recommended if you're in the mood for something tropey but still nuanced and a little mature.

This is an exceptional manga. Art is lovely, with clean lines and nice-looking characters. But what really sets this one apart is it actually deals with an abusive relationship in a serious way. Abuse isn't sensationalized and the abuser isn't demonized (nor romanticized). The abuse in the story feels mundane and plausible - very much unlike abuse as it usually appears in yaoi manga. If you can handle the subject matter, this is definitely a manga worth reading.