Re-re-re-read faves (BL)

Takes a premise done a million time before in yaoi (best friends jerking off together) and does it just beautifully. Himari's blunt personality balances Gaku's tendency to overthink, they're perfect for each other. Also, we love to see an uke this into sex.

Includes a fairly cliche conflict for drama (due to said overthinking) that gets resolved quickly thanks to Himari's "fuck this, I'm not letting it end like this" attitude. Also, they're like 15-16.

Probably my favorite yaoi series out there, there's not much I don't love about Asahi and Masato. I love their dynamic, how they complement each other and heal from their pasts together.

Because of my bias I'm generally more forgiving for this title, but it's still mostly healthy fluff (and smut). Includes a flashback (not shown on-page) to non-con with Masato's ex, and an age gap of 8 years (but they're like 30 and 38, so).

The direct sequel/continuation to Love Nest, the lovebirds have a place of their own now but are still navigating issues relating to Asahi's trauma, coming out and lifelong commitment. I still love these two to death and wish I could read a hundred books about them being domestic and growing old together.

Mostly same notes as the previous one.

5/5 jockstraps

Slight dubcon warning for alcohol I guess.

There's just something I love about the atmosphere of this manga, the small seaside town, their friend group and of course Camilo is just *chefs kiss* of a seme.

I've become obsessed with the entire Cinema Club series from Janome, I love all the characters and their relationships so much. Just beautiful, sensual, fluffy and satisfying.

Hisashi and Mao are the OG cinema club couple, I love how Hisashi has insecurities and abandonment issues but doesn't take them out on Mao, like his "testing" of Mao's feelings would be so much worse in many other yaoi manga tbh. They're just so soft.

More Hisashi/Mao fluff-smut. Love Mao's BL manga inspired attempt to seduce Hisashi (and Hisashi's strong anti-pants stance, lol).

Rivals to lovers between Ichikawa, the 2nd year cinema club team leader (and BL manga enthusiast) from Tasogare, and Jin, the 3rd year club president, an oresama type on the surface but with hidden insecurities (& a chronic inability to wear jackets properly).

I love these two so much, they're somehow both so damn extra and yet so loving and soft. And Ichikawa is just the right amount of tsundere for me, just a bit so it doesn't get annoying (I have tsundere burnout).

Cool computer whiz X passionate crybaby! I actually adore Rei&Shion together, they're both taking their first steps in being more serious about life and love. The cool, apathetic character falling in love is 100% my jam. When Rei chases after Shion after Jin's pep talk? Ngh.

Also, Eguchi Takuya as Rei in the drama CD is just perfect.

This series seems to have a theme of the semes being inspired by the more passionate ukes and I dig it.

I love stories spanning years, seeing how Chika and Natsuki grow together and how devoted they still are to each other, without much drama to mess with them. I mean, they grow! From high schoolers to university students, they feel like the same people while still noticeably maturing.

I also love most of the side characters (and hope Haru-chan finds happiness!).

So, so soft. Also made me cry for personal reasons (but is perfectly fluffy with a happy ending!). The only teeny tiny minus is that I'm not a huge fan of teenage Tane's implied crush on Yutaka, even though I saw it coming - it's just not a trope I'm fond of despite how common it is, it messes with the brothers' relationship. (Also any potential cockblocking is cute when he's 4 and oblivious, less cute if he's 14 and doing it intentionally...)