found family / family of choice in BL

[18+, drama, action]

TW: rape between MCs, toxic relationship, scum MCs, incest main couple (half-brothers), yakuza, violence, torture, child neglect and abuse, mother complex, homophobia

THIS IS A MANGA FULL OF FUCKED UP PEOPLE DOING FUCKED UP THINGS!

Why i still like it:
- rape wasn't romanticized
- abusive behavior was recognized as such
- author didn't change the course of the relationship to a fluffy one like many did, but instead leaving it as toxic and problematic as it should be

☆ 5/5

[18+, slice of life, found family]

TW: violence, yakuza, prostitution, period-typical sexism, sexual favors

+ strangers to lovers
+ growing old together
+ domestic
+ agender MC & transgender representation
+ pretty art and good writing

I've been postponing reading this for so long because I thought it wouldn't be my cup of tea but...how wrong was I. This is a beautifully written story about two lost people who found home in each other with so many favorite quotes and moments.

[18+, drama, found family, psychological]

TW: prostitution, child prostitution and abuse, pedophilia, dubcon, blackmail, manipulation

[18+, smut, romance, kids]

TW: dubcon

Everything except the sex is great. Really moving, i even teared up at some scenes. I wish it focused more on the plot rather than the porn.

☆ 4.5/5

[PG, slice of life, drama, coming of age, found family]

TW: suicide attempt, depression, underage (17x20), abusive family, violence, bullying, homophobia, sexual harassment (not between MCs), murder

+ strangers to friends to lovers
+ growing up tgt
+ affectionate couple
+ reversible couple

Another adaptation of a great slice-of-life / coming-of-age novel by WuZhe! The pacing of the manhua can be a bit disorienting but overall the story is great. I want to keep reading it forever.

[18+, slice of life, found family]

TW: pedophilia, child prostitution, child abuse, mafia, crime, dubcon, noncon drugging, rape attempt, threat of rape, homophobia, murder, insect

I'm in love with this manga since chapter 1, what with the art style and unique premise. It's funny and entertaining as hell, but beneath everything lurks something sinister (and nauseating). I'm super happy that everything ends up okay considering the real fucked up things that went on in the background.

[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+, slice of life, romance]

TW: homophobia

I always love stories with established couple because most of the time they focus less on the sexual/fetish-y aspect of being gay and more on the important aspects of gay relationship like dealing with homophobia, coming out to the family and the consequences, struggling to be each other's next of kin legally, etc. This manga does have a fairy tale-ish happy ending, but overall it's a good, comforting read for a closeted gay man like me.

[18+, slice of life, hurt/comfort]

TW: toxic workplace, child neglect, dubcon, age gap

The confession scene is my favorite in a while. And man, hirokuni's fear of leaving his toxic workplace because it was his only source of self-assurance is too close to home. Not really a big fan of the dynamic of the couple but everything else made up for it. A good hurt/comfort story.

☆ 5/5

[PG, supernatural, slice of life, drama]

TW: non-sexual non-con, manipulation, child abuse, cult, ghost, murder

+ bromance
+ AMAZING writing and characters
+ interesting plot and good world building

"Not a horror movie, but a profound study of human relationship". That's how one of the MCs described the movie "exorcist", and that's also how i'd describe this manga. The more you read the story, the more you'd realize there's nothing like it in the BL manga scene. It's just Super Good.