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A lot of BL does the "I had gay sex while drunk and woops I like it" thing, but in this story line between consenting & non-consenting blurs in a more nuanced way. This nuance, combined with the way the manga incorporates the Teo's struggle with what being in a relationship with a man might cost him socially, stunning illustrations and atmosphere, and excellent pacing make for a relaxing and more in-depth story about a straight man coming to terms with his feelings for his childhood friend.
The highlight of the story is the dynamic between Sei and Misumi. Misumi is gay, comfortable in his sexuality, loves sex & is far more open with his body than his heart. Sei is is tender & caring, & his backstory is handled well. The buildup to their romance is developed beautifully. Well-paced, with somewhat genre atypical characters, lovely art, and a romance with plausible chemistry, I recommend this to any and all BL fans.
This is a melancholic story that deals seriously with the aftermath of a lover's death and the difficulty of moving on, especially with a young man. This manga is at its best when it deals with the messy and imperfect - even ugly - side of mourning and recovery. Recommended if you are in the mood for a rougher sort of romance set against a backdrop of deep mourning that is both plausible and sweet.
A sequel - read the original manga first.
A story tackling the difficulties that arise w/in an established relationship. Conflicts emerge organically from the character's personalities and their shared history. It also deals with the difficult decision of whether or not to come out to one's parents. Well-paced, sweet, and romantic, I recommend this if you're in the mood for something heartwarming about the problems facing a couple who already know they are in love.
I'll be honest: this has four stars from me because it is so rare to see a BL about two people who are both sexually promiscuous and (at least initially) not interested in pursuing a romantic relationship. It's such an unusual dynamic and, even if the conclusion is in line with what one would expect from more traditionally romantic BL, it's refreshing. I recommend this if you want some rolicking good times with two sluts within the context of a story with a fairly conventional end game.
A manga that grounds its drama in Yoshirou's own neuroses and fearfulness, traits that stem organically from his life experience, lending psychological complexity to what could be a lighter, simpler story. All the sweetness comes from Waki, a ray of sunshine who has the courage to venture where Yoshirou fears to tread. Their interactions are a delight. Add to this excellent pacing and you have a pleasant manga that is perfect if you're looking for a story about overcoming deep personal sadness.
A heartwarming manga centered around social eating; a perfectly paced, slow-burn story about found family. It takes its time getting to romance, since a lot of the conflict has to do with overcoming loss and feelings of profound loneliness. It unfolds exquisitely, and its sweet moments are earned through careful buildup and storytelling. Recommended if you want a heartwarming story that is done right, with a perfect blend of backstory and development that leaves so many similar manga in the dust
In addition to being really well put together on all fronts (art, pacing, characterization), this hits a lot of my personal sweet spots: folklore & mystery. The individual cases that they investigate are foregrounded in the narrative, which makes the development of their mutual feelings more satisfying, co-existing as it does alongside standalone supernatural mysteries. It gets added credit for being mature in its understanding of relationships and sex. All in all a criminally underrated manga.
Dedicated to domestic life, punctuated the challenges of being seen as a proper family. Tooth-rottingly sweet, but it's rare to read BL that 1., starts with an established couple; 2., features the mother of a child who as an interesting human being, and 3., is more centered on family (inclusive of the mother) than the sex or romance. Recommended if you want some sweet domestic fluff featuring a likeable gay couple, their free-spirited friend, and their adorable daughter.
None of these short stories overstayed their welcome or felt perfunctory and incomplete. All are fully realized for what they are (which is an important but rare quality in oneshots) and the first two are absolutely outstanding in their ability to convey subtlety and depth of feeling in such a short span of time. The writing is excellent throughout, and I highly recommend this volume to anyone (the art is not exceptional, but the writing is so good it doesn't really matter at all).
Liquor & Cigarette