Never Understand
the first bl i read, so i read it again to jog my memory! honestly, it took a little bit of time for me to warm up to the story and the characters, but once i got to that point, i was SO invested into the story. the development of their relationship seemed to run around in circles at times, but the realization of feelings was very adorable. i'm not very familiar with stories that revolve around a character's ugliness (LOL), but this was still very cute regardless!! the mc values justice a lot, which was very admirable!! overall, this manhwa was really enjoyable and hooked you into it once you got into the story, and i would definitely reread it again (which i've done before already!!)!!!
Shucchou Host Nyu Boy
oh. my. god. this is a bl unlike any other bl that i've read. at first, i really liked it because it was genuinely hilarious, and i thought it was going to be just another light-hearted yaoi. however, i was SO WRONG. this story was emotional, deep, and unapologetically raw and honest about the realities and struggles of being attracted to the same sex in an unaccepting society. the metaphors and symbolism used also further enhance the emotions that the characters are feeling, and it was done very beautifully. not to mention the art style!! it's very unique, and the smut is honestly god-tier. this story was so refreshing and a very stark contrast against the (unfortunately) pretty toxic genre of yaoi and bl in general that i believe that everyone who enjoys bl should read this manga.
Hatsukoi Encounter
(possible spoilers ahead!) mine is a hopeless romantic who expected high school to be just like a romance movie. he's a part of his school's movie club, where he recommends romance movies under the disguise of saying that they're his sister's. after crying his eyes out during a club meeting due to a romantic film, he meets the delinquent playboy hachikaku! they get themselves caught in a difficult situation when hachikaku, who suffers from erectile dysfunction, gets hard after speaking with mine for the first time. characters: 8/10 overall, very likable! mine is an entertaining and adorable main character who, despite being a bit air-headed, isn't helpless or like he can't do anything by himself. his love interest, hachikaku, is also very enjoyable. he's a delinquent/playboy, and while he is a bit forward and forceful, he's not the typical asshole or jerk seme, which was very refreshing! he actually APOLOGIZES for his actions!! we love to see it!!! the two of them had an interesting dynamic that i was really into. neither of them are static as well, and grow as they realize their feelings and their true desires compared to the beginning of the story. the side characters were also good, not overly annoying or bothersome or anything like that. story: 9/10 i thought the premise and plot summary was very interesting, and it definitely didn't disappoint in the way it played out in the actual manga itself. the pacing was fitting for how short the manga was, and the choices made by the characters didn't unnecessarily elongate the plot with meaningless drama. the way both mine and hachikaku find what they are looking for and fulfill each other's needs and desires by the end of the story is very satisfying. well-paced, brief but does its job, adorable, but not shallow and has some real heart to it. art: 9/10 call me judgmental, but the first thing that makes me want to read a series is the art style, and that was the case for this manga as well. it DEFINITELY did not disappoint. i'm a HUGE sucker for this kind of art style (more on the simple side, but still with good looking character designs), and this is another example that shows why i love it so much. the art was so clean and simple while still maintaining a youthful look that was extremely fitting for the mood and setting of this story. it was very consistent and there were no parts of the story where i thought that something looked strange. and the smut! AAAH! sexy, cute, and the right amount of graphic. this manga was so good on the eyes. overall: 8.7/10 of course this isn't a perfect series, but it's damn good. it's short, but does the job well, and i believe that any bl fan that reads this will enjoy it.
Kitto Oujisama ga Nante
sakura is a gay man, but he seeks marriage counseling to find a spouse to make his parents happy. however, he doesn't expect for the counselor to be yousuke, the child sakura used to babysit, who also recognizes sakura's sexuality! characters: 8/10 man, these characters are so enjoyable. i love the gap appeal with sakura, how he seems like this scruffy guy, when he actually has cute and stereotypically feminine interests. his struggles as a gay man are also very real, and i really loved how the mangaka wrote his character. yousuke, on the other hand, seemed quite bland and cold at the beginning, but that developed along with his relationship with sakura. now, the side characters are no exception from my enjoyment. they're all quite realistic, like they were real people, and they truly added more to the story by enhancing the character traits of the main couple. story: 8/10 while it may not be the best manga i've ever read, it's one that i can re-read over and over again, and i think that says something. i really enjoyed the development of their relationship; it seemed natural without feeling too slow or fast. the whole "prince and princess" concept fit the characters perfectly, in my opinion, with sakura's stereotypically feminine interests and yousuke's handsome and honest character. now, i LOVE when mangakas tackle the concept of homosexuality (on a societal or cultural level, like how a gay character feels about/struggles with their sexuality), and it was done very well in this story. in my opinion, it was very realistic and effective in deepening the reader's emotional connection to sakura and his relationship with yousuke. not the best story, but it's damn good to the point where i've read it about three times now. art: 9/10 honestly, not much to say except that it's SO nice to look at. it's not overly artistic, unique, or ground-breaking, but it fits the mood of the manga and captures the emotions of the characters really well. overall: 8.3/10 this story is so, so heartwarming, and it genuinely rots my teeth every time i read it with how sweet and adorable it is. after reading it a few times, i am in love with these characters and their development, and i think that anyone else who reads this will feel the same way.
Make Me Bark