WANNA KNOW

It's... not really more realistic or anything, it's just more catered towards gay men as compared to yaoi. It's mostly just a sexual genre, but if you want something realistic there's a separate category for that. I can give some recommendations for that if you'd like.

https://www.mangago.me/tag/bara/
not sure what Bara is exactly, i just see buffy guys (instead of small ukes maybe?)

bara is still unrealistic as hell because not everyone who’s a gay man is walking around with a ten pack and beefy as hell. ppl say it’s more realistic because the characters are not feminized. i enjoy reading both. if u want smutty stuff go to mrm

there are also 'mild' bara, like beffy couple but not the overly buffed unpropotional ones. like third ending, walk on water, under the green light, Smyrna and capri etc (these are the ones ive read that i think are part of the mild bara but i could be corrected)

Lol whoever told you bara is more realistic than yaoi is a liar. I've seen so many bara dicks that are bigger than the characters whole arm.

I would consider these guys "gateway" bara authors:
- Mentaiko
- Penguin Frontier
They still draw stereotypically "handsome" men like you'd find in yaoi, but with some bara elements (both in art and story).

could you give me some realistic reccs?

These are, in my opinion, some good "realistic" BL manga:

https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/umibe_no_etranger/ (A classic..)

https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/ganbare_nakamura_kun/ (More comedic but deals with a gay teenager navigating his crush on a classmate, I personally relate to the mc as a queer person myself)

https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/nichijou_climax/ (gay couple that have been together for over a decade)

https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/until_i_meet_my_husband/ (based on real life story of a gay activist)

https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/gay_fuuzoku_no_mochigi_san_sexuality_is_life/ (not exactly BL but still worth a read, stories from a former gay prostitute)

https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/ways_of_parting/ (deals with breaking up with long-time partner and growing+healing, character interactions were very realistic)

https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/stock/ (gay student with a crush on his straight bestie, has to deal with shitty homophobes at school, oneshot)

https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/take_to_kota_to_aoto/ (single father, lgbt parenting, reunion)

https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/chicken_heart_serenade/ (between two gay people with conflicting feelings about identity, started out as f-buddies)

https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/aiou_futari/ (gay guy finds out his mom has a sugar baby, except he's actually also gay and his mom just wants to learn about her son more)

https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/koimonogatari/ (absolutely ADORE this, friendship between a straight teen and a gay teen, navigates different struggles in life for different kinds of people while still being united)

https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/smells_like_green_spirit/ (depressing af, deals with homophobia and bullying)

https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/shimanami_tasogare/ (not exactly BL, but deals with lgbt realities, really recommend this one)

THANK YOU!!!!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH