- Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan by Sahara Mizu
- lit. Our Happy Time
- genre: angst, drama
- trigger warning: suicide, status discrimination, character death
- comment: a personal favorite; i read this manga every time i want to do self-harm. i could say it saved me several times already.
- Kashikomarimashita, Destiny by Sachimo
- lit. Yes, My Destiny
- genre: yaoi, omegaverse, drama
- trigger warning: rape, suicide, character death, status discrimination
- comment: a personal favorite; this manga fueled my interest in omegaverse. i also love that although the title has the word 'destiny' in it, the story is about how the characters' choices influence their own fate--in a way that they create their own destiny. the butlers' story is dramatic and made my heart ache in a good way.
- Kokoro wo Korosu Houhou by Kashio
- lit. A Method to Kill the Heart
- genre: yaoi, psychological, drama
- trigger warning: rape (lots of it), suicide, emotional manipulation, homophobia
- comment: i've always had a thing for psychological stories. this manga gave me chills of excitement. this is a story that tells of the struggles that a victim of sexual abuse goes through, as well as the doubts and willingness to help of the people around him.
- Hadakeru Kaibutsu by Ogeretsu Tanaka
- prequel:
- lit. The Unraveling Monster
- genre: yaoi, drama, psychological, slice of life
- trigger warning: physical abuse, self-harm
- comment: honestly, i hated the main character here while i was reading sabita yoru but eventually after reading his side stories (azami and renai rubi), I came to love him. he's one of my favorite sons right now and all i wish is for him to be able to forgive himself and move forward with the man who is willing to wait and endure for him.
- Shimanami Tasogare by Kimatani Yuuki
- genre: slice of life, seinen, drama
- trigger warning: homophobia, sexual harassment
- comment: this manga has realistic depictions of the struggles of lgbt, especially in japan. i rarely come across manga that present lgbt in a realistic light, and this manga presents the different aspects of transgender people (people who have gone through actual physical transition), crossdressers, lesbian and gay couples. i especially love how the main character who had admitted to be gay, acknowledges that he has yet so much to learn about the lgbt community. so far from what i've read, there are no asexual and bisexual people mentioned yet.
- Hidamari ga Kikoeru by Fumino Yuki
- lit. I hear the sunspot
- genre: slice of life, shounen ai, drama
- trigger warning: mentions of homophobia, ableism
- comment: a personal favorite; this manga is a masterpiece. i rarely come across manga that depicts the struggles of people with disabilities. this manga is also quite informative especially with the differences between the deaf and the hearing-impaired people. aside from the physical aspects, the romance part taught me that a couple doesn't have to be perfect, but should complement each other.
- Gelateria Supernova by Kitahala Lyee
- genre: yaoi, romance, drama
- trigger warning: food play
- comment: i am a fan of romance stories where the couple start as fuckbuddies then slowly develop feelings for each other until they become mutual. i also love the fact that their development was quite slowburn.
- Hanazono no Kioku by Hino Garasu
- lit. Memory of the Flower Garden
- genre: yaoi, drama, psychological
- trigger warning: drug abuse
- comment: this manga surprised me because i thought it would be another uke-falls-in-love-with-seme's-persistent charm. i love the fact that drug abuse wasn't romanticized in this story and that the characters found redemption in each other.
- Mou Ichido, Nando Demo
- lit. Once More, Many Times Over
- genre: yaoi, drama, psychological
- comment: this is a story of how a couple struggle to keep their relationship from falling apart after having one of them lose their memories. i really admire the other boy for loving his boyfriend despite the latter losing his memories that included how they started.
- Kowagaranai de, Soba ni Ite
- lit. Don't be Afraid, Stay by My Side
- genre: yaoi, drama, psychological
- comment: this is also another amnesia story. this almost broke my heart but luckily, the seme recovered his memories but the good part is that even without his memories, the seme still chose his uke.
- 23:45 by Ohana
- sequel: 23:45 Re
- genre: supernatural, shounen ai, yaoi (for the sequel)
- trigger warning: implied character death, mentions of suicide
- comment: i can't believe it took me months to reading this story. i was instantly enamored by it after picking it up. the sequel seemed a bit rushed but nonetheless, this story is heartwrenchingly beautiful. so glad it had a happy ending.
- Smells Like Green Spirit by Nagai Saburou
- genre: shounen ai, psychological, drama, school life
- trigger warning: attempted rape/SA, mentions of suicide, homophobia
- comment: this had a bittersweet ending and i felt sad about it, but this story depicted how different people face the consequences of being true to themselves, as early as their youthful days.
- Kyuuso wa Cheese wo Yume Miru by Mizushiro Setona
- lit. The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese
- sequel: Sojou no Koi wa Nido Hateru lit. The Carp on the Chopping Block Jumps Twice
- genre: yaoi, drama, slice of life, romance
- trigger warning: rape, cheating, mentions of homophobia
- comment: this is among my favorite slice of life romances. the characters are so imperfect and they struggle with attaining their ideals of love. made me cry a lot.
- Tenjou no Shita ni Koi by Ichikawa Ichi
- lit. Love Under One Roof
- genre: yaoi, romance, comedy, slice of life
- trigger warning: drug abuse
- comment: Ichikawa Ichi's works always depict the sweetness of life, and this manga never disappoints. I honestly thought this is going to be another BL harem manga but I am glad that the protagonist is a strong character who is able to choose his own definition of happiness. Also, I couldn't resist same sex parents and a child who is so cute :">
- Kimiiro Eden by Aomoto Sari
- lit. Eden in Your Color
- genre: yaoi, romance, slice of life
- trigger warning: mentions of homophobia
- comment: Aomoto Sari is good with smut but this is one of her softer and sweeter BL manga. This is about falling in love slowly.
- Kare no Shousou to Koi ni Tsuite by Aomoto Sari
- lit. About His Irritation and Love
- prequel: Kedamono Kareshi! lit. Beast Boyfriend!
- genre: yaoi, smut, romance, drama
- trigger warning: age difference, bondage
- comment: Another addition to my favorite younger seme/older uke trope. Though the uke had a fetish for older men, he came to fall for this persistent younger uke who was initially hired by his former love to get rid of him. It's a fun story with some dramatic and smutty scenes.
- Koishite Daddy by Kitazawa Kyou
- lit. Please Fall in Love, Daddy
- genre: yaoi, comedy, drama, slice of life
- trigger warning: mentions of homophobia
- comment: I have a soft spot for Single Dads who find a new love in another guy kind of romance.
- Gochisousama by CJ Michalski
- lit. Thanks for the Meal!
- genre: yaoi, comedy, drama, slice of life
- comment: the seme is a bit of a playboy until the uke entered his life and started to change his way of living. also this is another single dad manga, plus the dad is a pilot (shshshs I have a fetish for pilots)
- Oya no Kao ga Mite Mitai by Tsugaru
- genre: yaoi, comedy, drama, slice of life
- comment: another Single Dad manga. the uke is a bit of a hopeless romantic, and i love that the seme is an uptight, serious person and eventually, upon falling in love, begins to change for the better. the son was trying to act like an adult following the separation of his parents, which was sad but this began to change for the better by the power of love.
- Ookami Papa wa Hitsuji Tsura Shite Yatte Kuru by Kurusu Haiji
- lit. Wolf Papa in Sheep's Clothing
- genre: yaoi, comedy, drama, slice of life
- comment: a Single Dad manga. but this time, (spoiler!) the child is not biological. what i love about this is that it has a theme of love transcends blood relations.
- Kodomo x Otona no Houteishiki by Mayami
- lit. Child x Adult Formula
- genre: yaoi, comedy, slice of life
- comment: a single dad manga. the dad was initially strict but is very affectionate for his child, and the child's kindergarten teaches him how to show this affection in proper ways. this also includes a spin-off of their child's story.
- Soukyoku by Megu Iroha
- lit. Bipolar
- genre: yaoi, drama, incest
- comment: one of my favorite incest BL. this is a story of manipulation and twister love.
- Yowamushi Danshi, Renai Hajimemasu by Haruyama Moto
- lit. A Coward Begins to Love
- genre: yaoi, comedy, slice of life, romance
- warning: dubcon
- comment: this is a really cute and hilarious romance featuring a deliquent-looking coward and his double-faced hero.
- Hana to Junketsu by Katsura Komachi
- lit. Of Flowers and Purity
- genre: yaoi, drama, romance, supernatural
- warning: rape, blood
- comment: this is one of the vampire BL that I love. at first, the characters were just using each other to satisfy their own needs, but over time, they learned the proper way of loving each other.
- Seinen wa Ai o Kou by Hino Garasu
- lit. The Youth Yearns Love
- genre: yaoi, romance, slice of life
- comment: I've always loved the slow yet gentle development in Hino Garasu's works. this manga features a school romance between two boys who thought their love was unrequited.
- Oboreru Hitomi by Hino Garasu
- lit. Eyes Addicted to Love
- genre: yaoi, romance, drama, slice of life
- warning: prostitution, mentions of homophobia
- comment: what i love about this story is that the protagonist struggles with accepting his femininity. he ends up falling in love with his customer, a straight man who accepts him as he is.
- Renai Kidou by Hino Garasu
- lit. Orbit of Love
- genre: yaoi, romance, drama, slice of life
- warning: mentions of homophobia
- comment: a college BL. both characters struggle to settle in a form of love that doesn't hurt one another. also, a slowburn.
- Koi ni mo Naranai by Hagi
- genre: shounen ai, drama, slice of life
- comment: a story about two youthful boys who seek forgiveness and acceptance.
- Kimi to Parade by Kojima Lalako
- lit. A Parade with You
- sequel: Paradise View
- genre: yaoi, romance, drama, slice of life
- warning: homophobia
- comment: this is one of those manga where i came for the smut but end up crying over the angst instead. i especially love the sequel, where you can see development from both characters on a personal level and how their love transforms them.
- Doronuma | Doronuma ーBecause I Love Youー by Tomochi
- genre: yaoi, romance, drama, slice of life
- warning: rape, cheating, physical abuse
- comment: another of my favorites. the protagonist suffers from his bastard boyfriend who is manipulative as hell. i am relieved that he finally found someone who could love and treasure him. honestly, this was one dramatic ride because the protag is indecisive but eventually he found his answer. i want to hate his abusive boyfriend but somehow i'm wishing for a spin-off featuring him as the main character.
- Secret XXX by Hinohara Meguru
- prequel: XXX Allergy
- genre: yaoi, romance, drama, slice of life, fluff
- comment: this is one of those fluffy BL that's light on the heart.
aug 12 2017 ∞
jan 14 2018 +