tofu's manga / #Found Family(81)

I first read this when i was in hs and didn't like it so i never finished it until now. Rereading as an adult is definitely a whole different experience, however, because i LOVE this. It has a couple of cliches or tropey moments here and there, but ultimately it's a portrait of a realistic relationship between adults. Seeing both men be awkward with emotion and intimacy but still try their best to make their relationship work is just *chef kiss*. Glad i decided to reread.

Hoo boy do i have some THINGS to say about this manga. First of all, what a LONG read. Second of all, this is more of an Eldritch horror than i expected, just presented in cute and adorable way (im not kidding, there are TONS of cuddling and hugging and boys being supportive to each other). The whole time i was reading i was thinking "this would make a sick background lore for a FromSoft game" because the level of world building in this manga is insane. I'd never have thought that the main conflict was some bleak Nietzsche-ian concept of free will and all that jazz, and the fact that this is in the BL genre is AMAZING. I would love to see more works like this. I mean-- 27 volumes of BL that doesn't focus on romance or sexuality with amazing plot and world building? That literally doesn't exist (with the exception of Sankaku, but even that's only 10 volumes) nowadays. I do have some gripes with this manga though, mainly about the writing and characterization. I'm all about positivity and kindness, but it got tiring so fast seeing the MC solve problems by being a nice optimistic dude. Just a righteous speech here and there, and everything is suddenly alright. It's also very harem-esque, in which MC's kindness and good points were repeatedly praised and highlighted. Many of the side characters acted as if they were NPCs whose sole purpose was stand in the background and hang onto the MC's every word. There are glaring plot holes and it got boring in some chapters that i skipped quite a chunk of it. The ending is kinda.... anticlimactic and too happy. I mean, they literally warred against god and apocalypse but there wasnt even a single person who was at least gravely injured. Aso-- idk if im comfortable with Rakan and Chigusa's age gap? They're romantic-platonic as hell and their bond / dynamic was awesome, truly, but atst Rakan was a minor while Chigusa was mentally in his mid twenties. Idk. Anyway, still a good read. Will i ever reread it? Probably not. But i wasnt lying when i said that the world building is top notch, the visual and imagery are Great, and though i do wish that the writing and characterization were better, it's still amazing to have this manga in the BL genre.

Oooh yep there goes my tears. Reading this, especially as a gay man who went through the process of coming out and being rejected by people closest to me, was like prodding on an old injury, but also very cathartic because i can relate a lot to ML-- his situation, family, and feeling of simultant jealousy and happiness seeing MC work things out with his mom. I wish there were more development between the main couple before they got together (bc it did feel rushed) and more insight about ML's background.

Pheww finally completed! Wholesome romance between a bear-like softie farmer and a prince-like city guy set in the countryside. A heartwarming story about acknowledging the bad and the good in your life, and having the courage to choose what's best. Tbh i liked season 1 way more than season 2, but oh well. It's almost always the case for bl manhwas for me. Sidenote PLEASE WATCH THE LIVE ACTION DRAMA IT'S SO GOOD!

Main story is decent but the sides are not to my taste. Writing and pacing are a bit off.

I guess i really don't vibe with this author's works......this one's pretty wholesome and it has everything i shouldve liked in a BL manga but it still left me feeling disappointed.

On the floor sobbing right now. First of all, what's with the art, holy fuck, it's so pretty i could die. Second of all, the story????? SO pure and filled with love i could barely breathe while reading it. The heartache and comfort this manga gave me is crazy, it's so good.

I've read dozens of mangas with this exact dynamic and fall in love with every one of them every single time because honestly, this found family trope is god tier. Adorable, heartwarming, ML is pushy but i still can't hate him, and no unnecessary drama.

I was hooked right from the start. It struck me deep, and kinda hurts reading this because i know very well the feeling of seeing all your peers going up in their lives when you yourself are stagnant, or even declining.