Ano Hi No Kimi Wo Dakishimeta Nara
Ways of Parting
I can say for sure this is by far my favorite romantic/melodrama BL manga I've read in a long time. I loved every moment with each character except for Young Dei (I have my reasons). I enjoyed how much Yoon, Taejoo or Taejung (the manga kept changing it), and Kwon-Ju were as individuals and lovers. I adored how well spoken all of them were and all of their reactions were correct, honest, heart breaking, and honestly fulfilling to read. It's so hard to find BL Mangas that take the time to let you grasp the characters as a whole. The situation from the beginning was devastating to read and how it unfolds encapsulates how hard losing and letting go of love can be. I could absolutely read this again and all honesty if this ever takes off in popularity I would love to have a series about this. And my distaste for Young Seo is simple. I do not hate him for loving Taejoo and I do not hate him for wanting to hold onto a man he watch break over and over again and just as he puts him together the one person that could do it again comes back. I hate him as a individual, I am not fond of those the cling so endlessly to what's already not truly yours that you lose yourself in the making. You could argue that Yoon was also clingy but you would be over looking that fact this man was in a coma for 5 years and that 5 years felt like yesterday to him. Young Seo was carelessly mean to a man that just wanted his life back and was just grasping his new reality that will never be. If he had just accepted that Taejoo was his in that moment and push his selfish feelings to the side he would have probably been able to salvage his relationship but that's also assuming Taejoo would have stay anyway of course. Anyway I highly recommend
Hold Me Safe/Holding room
Stigma
I found myself wanting a longer story for Boris and Seyun. The encapsulation of self harm, trauma, sex work, and rape is done well. I knew immediately why I loved Seyun, the idea of emotionally hating yourself before others can is a perfect mimic of victims of trauma. If I hate me first no one can hurt me more. I am not a fan of Michael walking around freely though. The man and his psycho "friend" just causally kidnapping Seyun again just to rape him and try to break him all over again really had my eye twitching. I wanted Boris to come swinging with a bat. I also loved the ending monologue to Tracy from Seyun as a thank you *chefs kiss*. Also the artist really needs to be hugged for giving a beautiful color cast representation of young black folks. It made me so excited to see them as characters as a black women myself!!
Ijimekko No Okada-kun