bl with characters that feel like real people

an anthology of interconnected highschool boys figuring out their (queer) love lives. each character is very lovable and makes me want to be a better person (but not in a way that makes me feel bad about myself?) lol. ik they sound too perfect for the concept behind this list but idk sometimes people like that just exist ykwim. and they also of course have flaws—they’re not just sparkling epitome-of-good boys lol

starts as a comedic webtoon bl but then eases in to much more. jinhyung is so fucking relatable i want to cry when i think about his past because i know it so well

ik the author has written uyun to have flaws as well (like his people pleasing) but jinhyung’s just feel more prominent since we had an entire arc dedicated to it (ugggghhhhh so fucking GOOD. and SAD)

a beautiful and very calm, almost slow exploration of what grief drives people to do and what it leaves them with. after reading it you’ll feel like a family friend of the characters and it’ll hurt that much more

tengoku sensei’s kinda freaky (but like 15% in a genuinely concerning way) but damn he’s real for that fr

highschool teacher x highschool nurse (said freak). i think its a realistic depiction of two adults in love that communicate fairly well but are still struggling with their own flaws and shortcomings :)

adding this one here with the caveat that in order to get the whole impact you have to read the first book (Here and There and Us: https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/here_and_there_and_us/) first haha. like wow yeah that’s what unexplored sexuality and no communication can do, but it’s not blown up like in other yaoi and somehow ends in, like, a kidnapping and infiltration mission. just, normal people.

(im also not saying i dont enjoy the kidnapping and infiltration bl’s haha)

this is being written fresh off of my first complete read. i don’t know if i could say i totally *relate* to seo and/or youngchan, but they absolutely feel like real people. and spoilers kind of—i love how the last chapter lets you peek into youngchan’s POV and totally flips the narrative as to who’s desperate for who. i love them and i love their love