stressedpenguin's manga / #drama(101)

Really interesting concept. The only thing I wish was different was that they both had friends outside of each other. That's a common problem with romance stories. The story-telling in this was fascinating. We saw the first chapter and then again with more context and then again with a different perspective. Really well done. Solid 9/10 story

Suit shop and kimono shop. 6/10

Cliche drama. How many times can they fight and make up in 6 chapters 4/10

Uke's entire family died in a tragic accident, and now it's just him and his nephew trying to survive life together. The hot and mysterious guy running a small restaurant in the town they move to takes in interest in them and they start building a relationship. The overall tone is melancholy as all three main characters are suffering from painful experiences, and it's sweet how they fumble through supporting each other in their developing relationships. There's some angst, some drama, and some ghosting, and there's a This story gets two big pluses from me: 1) The kid actually has agency. He's not used as a plot device. The story takes him seriously; it doesn't do that thing where they just call him cute and ignore that he's a real person with real feelings. Still looking for a story where the adults validate even the silly things kids get upset over because... like it's silly to us but very impactful to them and--I'm getting worked up lol. Anyway, this story did the kid justice. 2) The single mom the uke makes friends with is amazing and feels like a real person. For all the degrading the seme did of women, I was worried this would be another BL where everyone woman is shitty. But this mom was incredible and her handling of her son was incredible. I know this is like almost the bare minimum, but I'm happy to see it. Also a plus is the sex is consensual. Aside from the somewhat dubious bit because alcohol, the seme doesn't force the uke into anything sexual. I appreciate it. This is an 8/10. Would be 6/10 but it gets +2 for the kid and mom friend

....So it's a collection of one shots that are largely inconclusive and kinda unsatisfying or boring, imo. Ch 1: Guy gets saddled with a freeloader who legitimately cannot do anything. Guy had to pick up extra work to take care of them both which is mmmm Ch 2: Guy watches his two friends be in love, is reluctantly supportive (cus homophobia but kudos to him for grappling with it). Pretty okay. Not much you can do with one chapter. Ch 3: Rich guy gets bored waiting for the guy who stood up his sisters arranged marriage and runs away. Encounters another runaway who invites him to tag along and have fun. Turns out Runaway 2 is the guy who stood up his sister and now is announcing he likes our Runaway 1. We basically end there. Ch 4-5: Guy starts dating his senpai who secretly works at a crossdressing maid cafe. Things are going well until suddenly senpai breaks up with him over text and completely disappears only to return 3 years later with amnesia. Turns out senpai had a stalker who hit him not hard at all, giving him amnesia, and also that's why senpai broke up with our guy?? Didn't really explain much and I got kinda irritated cuz I personally hate ghosting. Overall verdict: 2 or 3/10 depending how annoyed this makes me if I think about it.

Woman is in love with her boss who is married to some shitty guy who's probably cheating on her. She and her boss start an affair of their own. There's some angst, a lil bit of drama, and a cheesy happy ending. There's a bit of sexism and traditional patriarchal ideas thrown around that the characters have to deal with. Didn't really get into those, but I appreciate that they brought them up and treated them seriously This didn't really grip me much. The plot was pretty standard for an office romance. As a minor gripe: why did they not have nipples? 6/10. I felt absolutely nothing reading this but plus points for having women who look like grown adults and not children. My expectations are rock bottom.

The angst is strong with this one. Seme took advantage of uke's break up back in high school. They started a messy friends with benefits relationship until they graduated. Seme was and still is in love with the uke. Four years later, uke seeks out the seme and they have a lot of angsty back and forths. There's a fine line between understandable, character-driven drama and annoying, unrealistic miscommunication plots. This manga walks that line. It works just well enough and the characters are just forgivable enough that I could indulge in the angst without wanting to peel my face off over the fact that neither of them bothered to clarify their relationship for like, what, 1 year? 2 years? 6/10

Two guys get isekai'd into a bl game. The uke has to fall in love and fuck someone before they can get out. He spends the whole time bouncing btwn the game's love interests and his friend and being too nervous or smth to get with the friend. Then they resolve the emotional issue, confess, fuck, get back to their own world, and immediately recreate almost the same love triangle drama. These characters were hella annoying. 2/10

So many misundsrstandings =_= Bro this uke cannot just TALK about his goddamn feelings. The constant back and forth was beyond frustrating. So these two guys are dating, just moved in with each other, and cant talk about romance stuff without the uke freaking out and running away or jumping to conclusions. And then the SEME jumps to conclusions all the time and UGGGGHHHHHHHH 3/10.

Ima just... leave the timeline of my comments as they are. Currently foll0wing the side story (ch 107) and not really liking it. The brother is a bit more... well... I wish this was a separate upload so I could rate these differently. Dojin's possessiveness is a no go for me Update ch 13. Very smutty but surprisingly cute so far! Even better--the dialogue feels like real people are talking and the art direction is solid Update ch 20. LMAO the here's johnny meme Update ch 34. THE FANFIC they actually read it omg "So much literary a analysis for a porn fic" LMAO BEOM YOU'RE KILLING ME Update ch 49. Don't like the possessiveness I'm seeing from Dowon here. Listen, no one needs or deserves to be confined to just one person. That's just toxic Update ch 50-51. 10/10 BDSM smut here Update ch 66. Been feelin a bit mmmmmmmmm with these recent episodes. I want Beom to get out and I also REALLY dont want Dowon to go full possessive crazy seme... I like Dowon infinitely more when he has those gentle expressions Update ch 69. He chose the wholesome option! Also YASS sue that motherf*cker. This is such a satisfying villain take down Update ch 72. Lmao the actually broke the bed