#allthefujoshiunite answers

[allthefujoshiunite]

Entryway to heavens, a.k. the BL genre!

As requested by @weiying-tododeku-2023 , who wanted to dip their toes into the genre, I, Nora, am once again here to compile a recommendation list that you can take a peek. Most titles here won't be any news to my seasoned fujin frens, but it's always interesting to think of which manga or anime would be the best for a newcomer!

BL ANIME

We don't have many options to choose from when it comes to anime, so I might as well start from here.

Stranger by the Shore: This 1-hour, gorgeous movie is an adaptation from Kii Kanna's manga of the same name. Since it's short, I think it's better to focus on what the plot has to offer instead of expecting a deeper dive into the characters individually.

Sasaki and Miyano: Another manga adaptation, but this time it's 12-episode series (with a +1 OVA). Very sweet and emotionally rich coming-of-age story with a fudanshi as its MC. A must see!

NO.6: Less like a BL and more of a sci-fi anime with queer MCs, NO.6 is not exactly suitable for a newcomer, but I still wanted to include it because of its tender story and the companionship between Shion and Nezumi. So you shouldn't expect a big emphasis on romance.

Bonus: This Boy is a Professional Wizard: This is a 4-episode short anime. It's honestly gorgeous and cute, but not very "deep" as every episode is around 8 minutes. You can finish it in one sitting!

There are so many other popular (and great) BLs or action/sports series that have queer characters out there: Given, Banana Fish, Yuuri!! on ICE, Doukyuusei, Case Study of Vanitas, The Case Files of Jeweler Richard, The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window, Antique Bakery, Yes No or Maybe? etc. They are already popular so with a quick search you can find more about them as you finish the ones you've started!

BL MANGA

Now, this... is a challenge. There are SO MANY good stuff that it's hard to pick, so I decided to go with my gut xD

I Didn't Mean To Fall In Love (Suzumaru Minta): There's something in this series that just.. UGH! It hits me. I have reviewed it before so you can head over there to find more information, synopsis, and my thoughts.

Love Tractor (Hmmyongyong & Angrymonster): I started reading it for the sake of the challenge I mentioned above but what a joy this one turned out to be!! Has great balance of fun and drama, gorgeous to boot. The main story is finished but there'll be a continuation! Here's my review.

Here and There and Us (Thanat): This is a very interesting work (as any other Thanat work, I'm a huge fan of the artist) and it's less focused on the romance and more on the main characters and their friend circle navigating their high school life and the the ever-changing relationship between them. If you're looking for something that's more slow burn, this should be your go-to BL.

Under My Skin (Usui Iroha): People tend to stay away from spicy recommendations for newcomers but I say, why not give it a go! Usui Iroha has a way of drawing sultry gazes that'll make your heart skip a beat! I'm taking a break now, but I normally review a new BL title every Friday, and I've also reviewed Under My Skin before because it's THAT good.

Dream Away (Hana Lee): If you like a sprinkle of supernatural on your plate, then this is for you. The art style is simple yet eye catching, it's short and completed, the characters are wholesome; what more you could ask for!

Bonus - Swing Baby (Mudan): This manhwa, again, is a bit different. It does feel like it has supernatural elements at first and is a bit confusing (bc there's an interesting stylistic choice in narration) but it'll feel worth sticking to! Here's another Friday BL review if you'd like to check some screenshots out and read the synopsis.

And that's it! Welcome aboard and hopefully, at least one of these titles will be to your liking. Thank you for sending an ask, see you around!

#allthefujoshiunite answers #bl manga #yaoi recommendation #yaoi manhwa #i didn't mean to fall in love #love tractor #dream away #here and there and us #swing baby #under my skin #stranger by the shore #no.6 #sasaki and miyano #this boy is a professional wizard #bl anime

[bts0715]

Greetings!! I just wanted to say I appreciate the work you do!!! Even though their pieces (especially the ones they wear for events) are not really affordable most of the time, I really enjoy keeping track of their clothes!! As a side note: yes, Tae's safety pin earring is from Alexander Mcqueen and is out of stock no matter where I looked... :,( Take care of yourself dear!

Someone sent me the link and yes it is! :D I’ll make a post soon. and thank you so so much! I love doing this 

#answered #allthefujoshiunite

[bsinoranges]

Tagged

I was tagged by @lethesomething, so heyy.

10 Random Facts about myself:

I play the violin. But I’m a beginner that’s still stuck on scales and twinkle twinkle little star.

Way back in the fifth grade, I once won an award for being Most Industrious, and I still don’t know how and why I was given this.

I got my phobia of spiders from when a kid placed a rubber spider on top of my head as a prank. It got tangled in my hair and i was never the same since.

There are a pack of morning glory seeds I have yet to plant lying somewhere at home.

The first language I learned was English, as opposed to my country’s national language, which I learned when I was five or six. (Shocking but not really, since I live in a bilingual country. But still.)

My first phone lived for a week before it died because I accidentally dropped a cow-shaped sharpener on the screen.

My friends tell me that one of my special skills is my uncanny ability to trip over anything and nothing at random times.

When I was still a first year in college (which is to say, last school year) I bought one whole rotisserie chicken and ate it by myself. Worst choice ever. But my favorite food story to tell. Strangely enough, this experience hasn’t stopped me from wanting to eat a bucket of chicken on my own.

I have kept a writing/drawing/creative journal for the past four years, I’m on my fourth journal I think?

The first story I ever wrote was Barbie Princess and the Pauper fan fiction. I think it was about the magical power of friendship embodied in a magical staff. There were royal sleepovers, singing, kidnapping, self-sacrifice, and great magical defense type moves. I never finished it.

5 OTPS/SHIPS:

(in no particular order, also Mustang/Hawkeye for life)

YachixEveryone except the Karasuno third years. (HQ!!). Shocking.

Alice/Oz/Gilbert (Pandora Hearts)

Lissa/Lon’qu (FE: Awakening)

Yato/Hiyori (Noragami)

Mitsuhide/Kiki (Akagami no Shirayukihime)

Lethey’s Eleven Questions:

Which piece of fiction do you wish you’d written, and why? Hmmm. Mine? Because no amount of love for any series will make me wish I created it myself.

Coffee or tea? Tea. I like coffee too, but tea.

What’s your favourite game of all time and why? It’s a tie between Harvest Moon and Fire Emblem. I would say Zelda, but I watched my brother play it more than I’ve played it. Harvest Moon because it’s aesthetic, and I love how I can bounce between really relaxed to I-really-needed-to-buy-some-turnip-seeds stressed. Fire Emblem, because trying to be a badass strategist is awesome. Also turn-based games are my jam. (I can’t decide, so uh, have 2-3 of my favorite games of all time)

If you could have any kind of hairdo, what would it be? It’d be like Kill La Kill’s Ryuko’s hair when transformed, except less blown away, less flashy and longer. Also, I’d dye my hair grey, and blue in the inside (probably).

Your de-stress method of choice? Lying in bed and thinking of everything and nothing (or food and the various methods of preparation, presentation, and taste). Also listening to EDM or Classical Music.

Favourite guilty pleasure? That book, film of album that you really love but kinda have to hide when the cool people come over? I immensely enjoyed the first arc of Sword Art Online, because of all the things that could have happened. Also, I played Hakuoki and loved the hell out of it.

Biggest anime crush? Do I even. Eliot Nightray from Pandora Hearts. I love him so much.

Which dish or recipe do you wish you knew how to prepare flawlessly? Macaroni Soup. Or any kind of soup for that matter.

Chinese or western horoscope? Western. Only because I’m not really exposed to the Chinese one. I’m a scorpio? I was probably a sheep.

Is there a song that inspired you in life? If so which one? You Raise Me Up from Romeo X Juliet. The Japanese and the English Versions. Also I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You just sets  off millions of feels in me.

Is there a historic figure you’d like to have coffee with? Who? I’d drink coffee with uh, Shakespeare. I can ask what made him write them grim plays. And whether or not he liked Romeo and Juliet. 

My 11 Questions

Do you have any morbid or weird fascinations? For example, I have this weird fascination with the idea of human sacrifices, vessels, and stuff like that.

Favorite flower, and why?

Do you like puns? Why or why not?

How do you describe stuff/ what’s your favorite descriptive style in writing? (e.g. very detailed, with light, color, etc.)

Swords, lances, or axes?

Which do you prefer: soup, sauce, or a soup of sauce?

*eyebrow wiggle*, *finger guns*, or *winks*?

That color you say you hate but actually like.

What’s a hobby that not many people know you dabble in?

If you were going to be executed, would you rather face a firing squad or drink poison?

If you were given a chance to live again what would you want to be? (e.g. athlete, musician, ballerina, etc.)

I’m tagging @haruhi02 @smeboo1004 just because. Also, I like bothering you guys. So eh. @allthefujoshiunite if you don’t mind. @24-7-drunk-bangtan, heyyy. @usualcassey, hi jags. Do this if you want to. Happy answering!!

[allthefujoshiunite]

Sorry I hit the ask button before finishing. My fav trope are age gap ( > 5 years and even more), height difference and teacher-student relationship. Do you have any BL that fits either or mix of the above? I don't mind smut (explicit) but not a fan of pwp (just smut story).

Again, sorry if I'm too demanding, hope you have a good day @allthefujoshiunite 🍀🌼

Aaand we’re back. You literally listed some of my fave tropes there so BOY do I have recommendations! Not a fan of PWP either, so rest assured.

Let’s get this party started ~

Age gap + height difference + teacher/student

Young Bad Education (Dayoo): I fell in love with Mizusawa’s eyes on the cover and bought the volume in Japanese years ago without an ounce of idea what the story was about. No regrets. Young Bad Education and its continuation Young Good Boyfriend will feed your soul. You can read it on Manga Planet (Futekiya).

Hitorijime My Hero (Memeco Arii): This title is a classic so you might have already seen it but just in case. Hitorijime My Hero has an anime adaptation as well (I’m anime-only) and the manga has a spin-off with the side couple as far as I know. The height difference is less pronounced here but if you’re like me and you love delinquents as well, this will be your jam.

The Trees in Spring (Nakaoka Naka): I’m kind of cheating but I’ll do anything to recommend this title! MCs here are a teacher and student, but the teacher isn’t teaching the student, they meet each other in a different way. I have reviewed this title before and take any chance I can get to recommend it, so there you go!

Age gap + teacher/student

Warbler, Sing of Spring (Nago Nayuta): I felt like they don’t have height difference (and checked the first chapter again) but the MCs are always drawn in weird angles so I’m not sure. Another title with the delinquent sprinkled on top. Really enjoyed reading this, Nago Nayuta’s works have a cuteness I like and the uke in Warbler is kind of unhinged xD Love him!

The Neighbor I Desire (Makoto): This one started off a bit weird for me but I can assure you it’s super cute! I have written a review before so if you want more details, here you go.

The Good Teacher (Eeej): Another title I reviewed before. It’s pretty, fun but short and while the plot is not this series’ strongest point, I think it’s worth giving a shot.

Age gap + height difference

Love for Sale (Dal Hyeon-ji): It’s official, you guys. I will literally disintegrate if I don’t recommend Love for Sale, the doctor said it not me. But honestly, do yourself a solid one and read it if you still haven’t. The pinnacle of ultimate goodness. I wrote on LfS before but since the post contaşns spoilers and is more about sugar dating than a review, I’ll spare you the link. On Lezhin.

Love Me Doctor (ANA): Another series I constantly recommended on Twitter and got a couple of unassuming, kind-hesrted people to read it with me as well. Focuses on a university student and a urology doctor he had tovisit for his ED. If you’re comfortable reading a title where a doctor kind of uses his position to get to know a patient and stepping over boundaries, please give it a chance! TOTALLY worth the time. On Lezhin.

On or Off (A1): Can’t say I understood the drama with the artist and the series being wrapped up rather quickly, but I read this popular webtoon with joy! Not as big of a fan as the rest of the BL fans but if youdig these two tropes I think it’s worth checking out. On Tappytoon, but I think TOKYOPOP has released it in print.

Metro (Chika Hongo): This is more of a dramatic title, where a high school student is being touched regularly by the same man on the train and he likes it, until one day he follows him home upon being invited. If you prefer a story that’s laced with trauma and flawed characters, this is for you! On Manga Planet.

Pound Cake on a Sunday (Amida Shizuku): Man this series is SUPER funny that I had to reread today! A father and son lives alone after the mother’s passing and one day, out of the blue, the father starts complimenting the new transfer to the company about how he’s so beautiful or saying how shiny his hair is. Is his father gay? Did he finally lose it? Read and find out! Very different from your usual BL, worth your time!

Bonus - I’m a Dom and I Want You To Stroke My Head (KINACO): Has dom/sub universe (a big fan) height difference as well, but it’s a teacher x teacher pairing.

Whew! Sorry it took a lot of time to write because it’s not so easy to format these posts on the app, it seems. I hope you like my selection and as always, let me know if you liked anything from the list! I’m always eager to know what people think after reading something I’ve recommended. See you around!

#allthefujoshiunite answers #bl manga #bl manhwa #yaoi recommendation #yaoi manhwa #bl recommendation #yaoi manga #metro #on or off #love for sale #love me doctor #the good teacher #the neighbor i desire #warbler sing of spring #young bad education #hitorijime my hero #the trees in spring

[allthefujoshiunite]

Have you ever thought about red flag uke? Sure, it's easy to find red flag seme, but the uke.... Do you have any BL recs about red flag uke?

Also, can I ask BL recs that kinda remind you of Bokuto x Akashi from Haikyuu? Where one is oblivious, loveable, straight forward person and the other is quite, serious but always looking after the other?

Sorry for this random ask, thanks if you want to answer.....

Hi! It really is easier to find red flag seme (makes sense since the word means “to attack” or “to be on the offence”) but the way authors/ artists depict uke characters have been changing as well ~ I currently don’t have access to my computer, so I’ll just list the titles I have in mind and update if I have any additions next week (ish). Enjoy!

Research is serious business, you guys.

What people consider a “red flag” differs to be honest, some people draw the line at cheating while others may or may not excuse murder depending on the situation. Some want the character to be sweet to their partner but be toxic otherwise, while others want the relationship itself to be toxic. I don’t know which case you feel drawn to, so I’ll be going with my gut (again) lol

Checkmate (Tan): He’s manipulative! He’s petty! Everything you need in a toxic uke, Soohyun has it. And interestingly, Eunsung is not exactly put off by it. I was asked whether I know another title like Checkmate and I honestly don’t. I have reviewed it in the past (now the main story is completed and side stories are being released) so if you want more info, I suggest you check it out.

Wonna Do It? (Cho Sangduck): Another title I mentioned in the answe I linked above. Can be found in Lezhin’s library. This is a very short, unhinged story that I need continuation of immediately!

Liveta (muzi): I have briefly read this one and liked it, you might want to check it out on Lezhin.

Mad Place (Junah): Tbh I was very enthusiastic going into this series and read 30+ chapters but my interest fizzled out. The uke in this title is scheming something (I didn’t stick around long enough to find out) and you can consider him a tad manipulative. There’s crime and investigation and you might find it more intriguing than me! On Lezhin.

Pornographer + Pornographer Playback + Mood Indigo (Maki Marukido): All three are in Manga Planet’s (Futekiya) library. The main character Kijima is an author, and while Pornographer (Playback is the continuation) focuses on him and Haruhiko, Mood Indigo is Kijima becoming an author and his relationship with his editor. I suggest you read Pornographer first and then read Mood Indigo for better context! Kijima will frustrate you to the max skcjdnjc.

A Lotus Flower In the Mud (Tamekou): This is not just a red flag uke but a red flag all over fkfnfj. Be mindful of the tags before you go in!

The King of Home Cooking (Lee Hyun-joo): The uke in this is one of the most frustrating characters I’ve ever read, he’s so unlikable and remains that way until the very end and that’s kinda why I like this series xD It has a very interesting theme as well, highly suggested! Can be read on Tappytoon.

A s for titles similar to BokuAka. I have a previous list that would kind of fit what you’re looking for (except the first and the last one). Here’s another list with puppy seme x cool(-ish) uke types.

That’s all I have for now! Hope you like the recommendations.

#allthefujoshiunite answers #bl manga #yaoi recommendation #yaoi manhwa #bl recommendation #yaoi manga #checkmate #a lotus flower in the mud #wonna do it #pornographer #mood indigo #the king of home cooking #liveta #mad place #red flag uke

[allthefujoshiunite]

Thanks Nora, because of you I followed Overtake. And it's so good, I almost missed it.

Have you seen anime called, "My New Boss is Goofy (Atarashii Joushi wa do Tennen) "? At first I thought it was BL, but atcually it's shoujo. There are so many cute moments between mc (male) with his boss (also male). Also there are "Apothechary Diaries" & "I'm in love with the Villainese" ..... I think this fall 2023 is the best anime season.....

UGHHHH OVERTAKE IS THE BEST THING HAPPENED TO ME RECENTLY!! So you liked it toooo TvT I never thought I'd be this invested in an F4 anime but I'm literally obsessed. Shipping Haruka and Madoka doesn't help my case either..... :,) I love age gap and normally prefer when both of them are of age, but I just can't get enough of these two!

I'm also watching the three animes you mentioned (and many others) weekly! My New Boss is Goofy is so relaxing and despite the cuteness, it actually does a great job of portraying Momose's traumatic experience in his old workplace. I wish him the best (✿◡‿◡)

I'm also looking forward to The Yuzuki Family’s Four Sons each week. Another series that lured me in with the cuteness and I tear up at least once every episode... How dare they make me sad?!

#allthefujoshiunite answers #overtake! #the yuzuki family's four sons #my new boss is goofy

[allthefujoshiunite]

Hi, Nora.....do you mind if I ask for BL recs? A few of my favorite ships are Damen/Laurent from 'Capive Prince' novels (kind, protective, bigger build seme x clever, kuudere, beautiful uke) and Andrew/ Neil from from 'All for The Game : Foxhole Court' novels (both have strong personalities, can be reversible couples, looks weak but actually strong)?

Sorry for this long ask, but can I ask, for BL recs that have the same vibe as one or a few of them (up above)?

Feel free if you want to answer or not....

Thanks so much for your blog, that have become like my guideline (because I'm quite new in BL)....

Thanks again....

Hello! No worries, it's a joy for me to recommend BL and if people enjoy my selection, it makes me all the more happy! However, unfortunately, I haven't read the novels you mentioned... So I feel like my recommendations will be way off the mark but I'll try my best ~

My Dear Agent (Ebino Bisuke): This one has bigger, kind, and protective seme and a cool, beautiful, and funny uke (not a kuudere, though). I not only enjoyed but laughed a lot, and the art is gorgeous so highly recommended! Can be read on INKR (or you can buy it from any place you can get TOKYOPOP titles).

Lullaby of the Dawn (Ichika Yuno): Another bigger, protective, puppy seme with a reserved/detatched, beautiful uke pairing with fantasy elements. I've only read the first volume so far but it's super emotional and beautiful inside and out! Can be read on Bookwalker (or any other place where you can get ShuCream titles).

Our Paradise (Greeneer): My last big & cute, puppy seme with reserved, beautiful uke recommendation that I'm nowadays going crazy over is Our Paradise. You won't regret giving this webtoon a chance! Not only the main characters, but their friend circles and the second couple we started to explore more in 2nd season are also fun & really interesting! And obviously, I need MOAR people to scream about it with me. Can be read for free with daily pass on Webtoon.

Just Love, The Monster (Tsukizuki Yoshi): This is a high school delinquent x honor student kind of story. Both MCs are headstrong and fight a lot obviously, but it was fun to read! It's in Futekiya's library, can be read with your subscription plan.

Total Submission (Tsushiko): This is another delinquent x honor student story with dom/sub element that I love! If you're okay with spicy BL and you love seeing hotheaded characters getting tamed by their sweet and kind senpai, this is for you. Available on Futekiya's subscription plan.

We Aren't Secure (Sojima Yuco): This title is an Omegaverse set in high school. MCs are childhood friends and the story has a bittersweet tone to it, and it's definitely nice to read characters who are on more equal terms in Omegaverse instead of an apparent power hierarchy in between. Available on Futekiya's subscription plan.

BONUS

God is Probably Left-Handed (Mushiba): If you've read any of Mushiba's works before, you might know it takes time to warm up to their stories. They are full of surprises, wacky coincidences, and interesting characters that you don't usually see in BL. But these are the exact reasons why I love Mushiba's works so much, and they are quite unforgettable. God is Probably Left-Handed fits into only one of the criteria you're looking for (I won't mention what it is so I won't spoil the story) but I was sooo surprised the way the manga ended! If you're looking for something different to read, Mushiba is your artist. Highly recommended!

As I have said, I haven't read the novels soI just went with whatever seemed suitable to the dynamics you mentioned, hopefully you'll find something that'll be of interest to you. Thank you so much for the ask and have a nice day!

#bl manga #bl manhwa #allthefujoshiunite answers #my dear agent #lullaby of the dawn #our paradise #just love your monster #total submission #we aren't secure #god is probably left handed #mushiba #ichika yuno #tsushiko #ebino bisuke #greeneer #sojima yuco #yaoi recommendation #yaoi manga #yaoi manhwa

[allthefujoshiunite]

Hi, Nora....My friend and I made a list of ace and aro characters from BL, and then we get to Love For Sale. We think Sieon is aro, based on he never regret his previous relationships until he is with Namwoo. And how he felt so indifferent about them. But what do you think? Also, do you have any BL characters that you think are ace or aro?

Great question! And thank you for giving me a chance to talk about Sieon. I'm always happy to do so. If you want the tl;dr answer, I don't consider him to be one. However, as is always the case on Wild Wild Web when you express a thought or preference, people take it as me condemning all the other thoughts/preferences. So here's a PSA: if you consider him Aro, good for you! You can interpret him however you like.

Also, lots and LOTS of spoilers for the uninitiated.

As for how I read his character. I think Sieon is hard to understand for a lot of people because they expect him to be either this or that and try to put him into categories he doesn't fully belong in. It's one of the reasons why I'm so enamored with Love for Sale as a whole, and Sieon in particular. Dal Hyeonji, even though this is their first commercial BL work, does an absolutely fantastic job in this character study.

Back to the point. When the story was still being released, I entertained a similar idea myself about him that, maybe he's demiromantic. Not a romance-aversed aromantic, but still a part of the spectrum. Then I kind of abandoned that as well.

We are a melting pot of our environments, cultural codes, family, and our characteristics. That's why most of the time, it's hard to make out whether you've become something due to some external force or you were that something before anything else. A very lame example would be, do I find red lipstick sexy because I find it arousing, or is it because it was marketed in such a way that I am conditioned to think it's sexy? Similarly, it's not always easy to tell apart whether your feelings are genuine, you feel like you have to feel certain ways towards certain people, or something impacted you in such a way that you don't feel a certain way anymore. I know I'm being vague but hopefully, it'll make more sense now.

Sieon, having to shoulder her mother's emotional well-being and their reversed parent-child roles, has found himself in a position where he seeks gratification through the things he can provide to his partners so he can feel 'needed'. The comfort he can provide for his partner becomes his purpose to be in that relationship. I was throwing him bombastic side-eyes very early into the story where he never expressed any type of preference and was very evasive whenever Namwoo tried to probe. Naturally, it was quite frustrating for Namwoo. As for me, it was as if Sieon was trying to erase himself from the relationship and be there for Namwoo as a combination of 'bank account + lips to kiss + a hand to hold' and blend into the ether as a person.

That's also why his relationships ended the way they did. He knew his mom wasn't happy, and even if he tried to alleviate her pain, it ultimately didn't work, thus, the one last good deed he could do for his mom was to let her go. To not be greedy. To not be selfish and say "I need you, don't go." This is the root of his letting go of his exes 'too easily', rather than him not 'loving' his partners.

Here's where things get tricky. Ideally, a romantic relationship requires you to be vulnerable, communicative, diplomatic, etc. Ideally. But none of us are exempt from carrying our baggage with us into the next relationship, no matter how big or small. In that sense, should we say that just because Sieon hasn't been perfectly vulnerable or has been avoiding conflict, he was never in a real relationship before? I don't think we can. 

One of the moments my heart ached for him was during his conversation with his close friend. He reiterates it later on when they're having the talk with Namwoo, but he desperately tries to convey that, no matter what his partners felt, whether they were satisfied on their own account or not, he was always genuine. Has always been. It may not fit the mold of grandiose, shouting-from-the-mountaintops, I'd-swallow-a-sword-for-you kind of love we are constantly sold in the romance genre, but that doesn't mean he isn't capable of love either. On the contrary, I think he does look for romantic companionship, but he just doesn't know how not to intellectualize his feelings.

So, in my opinion, "he didn't love anyone else before Namwoo" is not exactly the correct way to read him. Up until Namwoo decided that he was going to hold onto Sieon and 'show him a selfish love' in Sieon's mom's words, their relationship was following the pretty much same direction as the others. At first, Namwoo is content with what Sieon provides, but then he develops feelings for him and expects Sieon to return them in a way he can't. The same old story that is bound to end with a break-up.

Emphasis on 'in a way he couldn't'. The way I read it, his way of loving is different from what others deem as 'romantic love', so he's convinced that he can't reciprocate others' feelings. If that's love, and his feelings don't look like that, then he must not be in love after all. And when Namwoo shows Sieon that it's okay to be needy and selfish at times, and it's okay to be vulnerable and honest, we see that was the wake-up call he needed all along. 

The verdict? If you consider his past partners through the "he wasn't able to genuinely love them" lens and interpret his "not being able to reciprocate romantic feelings" literally, you can think of him as an aromantic who's not really averse to dating. But as I've tried to elaborate, rather than not feeling romantic love, he does feel love and seek companionship but doesn't know how to handle conflict and can't break free from the behavioral patterns ingrained in him in childhood. 

About aro/ase characters in BL. There's only one work that comes to mind which, interestingly, makes asexuality/demisexuality one of the core themes it explores and that's This is Love by Ziki Masaya. I have reviewed it before (click me) and I highly recommend it! I can maybe mention Sangwoo from Semantic Error, but then again, I think he's just autistic and his approach to romantic love for another guy is different from his normie boyfriend Jongchan because of that. I can't really think of any other works with Aro/ace characters as there's always romance/sex involved. Or maybe I just haven't paid enough attention! Let me know about the list you two came up with ~

PSA: I added the intro because the original link needs you to login to Lezhin as it's a Mature title, but you know the drill. Read on the official platfrorms!

#allthefujoshiunite answers #love for sale #dal hyeonji #bl manhwa #yaoi manhwa #lezhiin #spoilers

[allthefujoshiunite]

This is the first time (for me), that I found someone thinks therapy game is bland. Sorry, I did not mean anything negative, @allthefujoshiunite. I just find it interesting. Maybe therapy game is popular because of the uke (sorry if I'm mistaken). At least for me, the part that I find most interesting is the uke.

If you don't mind me asking, who are your favorite power bottoms?

Tbh?? I was surprised myself! xD I expected to be blown away after seeing all the love and I even asked opinions of my mutuals multiple times over at Twitter (i even made a poll lol). Lots of praise but it fell flat for me. :(

My favorite power bottoms, hmm...

I have recently finished Merry on the Rocks (INGZIG & Moscareto, on Lezhin) and it was very short, but liked it. Other than that, u-pi's both works have bottoms that are on the dominant side. DOYAK's Wet Sand (on Tappytoon) is another good example. XXX Buddy (daki, Tappytoon) and Woof Wolf (Magu, Lezhin) are fine. And Only Virgins Left Alive (Sanzang, on Lezhin) is another fun & steamy example!

So I guess I could say; both story and character-wise, I like u-pi's works (Pizza Delivery Man & My Way With You) and Sanzang's Only Virgins Left Alive. For Wet Sand and XXX Buddy, I like the characters but I'm on the fence story-wise.

#allthefujoshiunite answers #the pizza delivery man and the gold palace #my way with you #only virgins left alive #xxx buddy #wet sand #power bottom #merry on the rock #woof wolf

[allthefujoshiunite]

hey there! may i request some recs? i’m looking for sweet, fluffy stories with a lot of pining, whether or not they realize their feelings. high school stories are preferred.

fav manga include: sasaki and miyano (love love love this one!!! the way sasaki will make a bold move and then secretly get really embarrassed…it’s the best (๑>◡<๑) ), hidamari ga kikoeru, the two lions, never understand

Hiii! Except Never Understand, I'm familiar with the rest of your favorite series and LOVE them! And if you liked The Two Lions by Furuya Nagisa, I'm sure you'll love the rest of their works as well. The Summer Of You and its continuation (Kodansha) is already out, and Number Call is finally picked up by Kodansha again! Not sure if it's out yet though. I think Suzumaru Minta has a similar tone to their works, you might want to check their releases in English.

You can find some other works that I love after the jump!

I don't do single volume purchases of manga as much as I did in the past, so most of my recommendations will come from Manga Planet! I'll mention if it's from a different publisher/platform. Starting with *drum rolls* high school sweethearts!!

Advice for Mutually Unrequited Love (Aniya Yuiji): Cute and quite different from the usual childhood-friends-turned-lovers story!

Hello (Kouda Miu): Anything Kouda Miu draws, I read. Another friends-to-lovers story full of future worries, insecurities, and questioning sexualities.

My Best Friend♂ Confessed to Me in a Dating Sim (Fujitobi): Two best friends find themselves transported into a dating sim. Fujitobi is another artist I like and their works always contain a supernatural/fantasy element. Super cute!

We Aren't Secure (Sojima Yuco): Omegaverse. Two close friends (one omega and the other alpha). I think the dynamic was included responsibly into the story and I enjoyed the conflict it brought.

Welcome Back, Aureole (Takatsu - TOKYOPOP): From the artist of Skip and Loafer. More soul-searching than the usual romance tropes but definitely worth the read!

Super Morning Star (Aomiya Kara - Kodansha): How can I NOT recommend a title that's dear to my heart and is finally in English??!! While it isn't really out of your ordinary high school BL, I don't know, I just have a really soft spot for this one!

I have additional titles that are, again, all works that I have reread again and again. The childhood friends trope is still here, but the stories are set in adulthood (college/working). All from Manga Planet, all highly recommended!

See You Later, Mermaid - Hayane Dento

Paint Love and the Colors Will Bloom - Shota Kon

Perfect Propose - Mayo Tsurukame

Aaand that's it! Hopefully these recommendations will be to your liking and don't forget to let me know what you think if you pick either of these series up. See you around ~

#allthefujoshiunite answers #bl manga #bl recommendation #yaoi manga #yaoi recommendation #Advice for Mutually Unrequited Love #My Best Friend Confessed to Me in a Dating Sim #Kouda Miu #Welcome Back Aureole #We Aren't Secure #Super Morning Star #high school bl

[allthefujoshiunite]

Hi, I hope you're okay.... Please just answer my ask whenever you're free....I just read your blog about BL manga koimonogatari, and really loved your writing....also I agree with you, I wish yuiji and yamato just end up as friends...But I think it will end up with yuiji x yamato (based on the mangaka's author note in vol 2)? It is the first manga where I want the mc and male lead not end up romantically (even though I know it's BL)...Do you think it's weird? Have you ever read a BL manga where you don't ship the mc with male lead?

I hope you're safe and sound with your loved one....

Hello, thank you for the message. I and my loved ones are safe, but being okay is a different matter because the situation somehow keeps getting worse.

About my post on Koimonogatari. It was a post that I forgot about until I received two hostile comments under it in 2021. Back in 2015, my level of English proficiency was much lower than it is today, and rereading it now, there are two points that I don't agree with my past self, and some other parts I still think the same, but I'd make sure to word my opinions much differently. After those comments, I decided to write another post on this topic but I didn't have the time. So thank you for asking about it and giving me the chance to go back.

One opinion I'd word better now is that even though my blog is my own space and I'm free to voice my personal opinions however I wish as long as I maintain a respectful tone, the line between something being wrong and something that doesn't appeal to me seems blurry in the post.

I have to emphasize that the creator(s) is the sole person who's in charge of their creation. If they themselves search for reader comments/reactions and change the course of the story of their own accord, fine. But readers should never tag the artists or comment under their tweets when their work is not going the way they personally want. You can read more on Japanese fandom policy "don't like/don't read" here.

I keep saying this like a broken record, but I CRAVE for variety. Commercial BL is highly satisfactory when it comes to tropes or settings, but I still feel like there's a lack of experimentation when it comes to interpersonal relationships, specifically romance. If I were to lay it out more openly, even though two BL titles can focus on completely different settings (let's say one is a yakuza and the other is a high school BL) and the intricacies of the plot would progress differently, the relationship still goes from point A to B and then to C, or start from B, go back to A and arrive at C. This is not me boasting or being full of myself, but it's very rare for a BL title to truly impress me with its plot structure, the way it deals with the age-old tropes, or introduce a nuanced look into relationships. This holds true regarding friendship/allyship as well. Now, it's a no-brainer that by definition, BL is a genre that focuses on male/male romantic and/or sexual relationships. So at first, it seems contradictory to expect a story to focus on the friendship between a straight-identifying and an LGBTQ+ person.

Why should this be considered "contradictory", though? Why can't friendship between a straight-identifying and an LGBTQ+ person be worthy enough to study both queer and non-queer relationships in fiction? Back when I first read Koimonogatari's first volume in 2015, I was SO mesmerized by the way Yuiji and Yamato were introduced, the way they, just by being themselves, were holding mirrors to each other, the way Yamato gained strength just by being accepted and heard and in contrast, Yuiji questioned his own stance on romantic love because, in the heteronormative world he lives in, he never suspected the typical flow of his relationship with his girlfriend before.

I understand that this is partially a "me" thing. Friendship is extremely important to me to the point where I may be bold to say it's sacred. That puts shipping in an awkward position for me; on one side I love the dynamic two characters have and I immediately want to ship them, but that also means I love them as friends as well and, as I have said in my old post, why shouldn't two people just get along well? Throughout my adolescent life, I was frustrated with other friends immediately wiggling their eyebrows at me whenever I got close to a guy. Just because I identified as a woman and my friend identified as a man and we stood next to each other and got along meant that something romantic had to develop between us, and that mindset, for me, devalued friendship.

Because of my personal views and values, and the beautiful and delicate approach to Yuiji and Yamato's friendship, Koimonogatari was a very special title for me. That post, although the language sounds brusque, was meant to underline this: friendship is valuable in and of itself and shouldn't be regarded as anything but a stepping stone toward romantic feelings. I couldn't see a romantic relationship blooming between Yuiji and Yamato in such a short span of time, and I had wished for things to stay the way they are. Despite what that commenter thinks, I'm allowed to expect whatever the F I want out of a fictional work. The creator's intentions and my engagement with the said work is a completely different matter.

I've recently reread the first two volumes and admittedly, I can picture budding romantic feelings between the two if the series were to be stretched out to four volumes in total. Another point I disagree with my past self is that, if a fandom readily jumps at the Shippy Bandwagon just because two characters stand next to each other, they can ship them. I was wrong to say fandom shouldn't ship and if something annoys me or makes me uncomfortable, it's my duty to remove myself from the circle and not the fandom's job to comply with my needs/expectations. Other than these two points, I stand by my expectations of Koimonogatari and the questions I asked back then are ideas that I still play around with in my head.

In the end, we are free to expect whatever we want from a story, and the creators are equally free to do whatever they want.

Have you ever read a BL manga where you don't ship the mc with male lead?

To answer your question, there have been such works, yes. This is usually the case when there's a love triangle is introduced, and having a Second Lead Syndrome, I usually ship the MC with the person that comes along to create strain between the MC and his unrequited love. To give an example, this always happens when the MC is childhood friends with the guy whom he has had a giant crush on for years, and one day, the second love interest comes into play. MC's feelings sway but he ends up with the childhood friend in the end. I personally hate this plot structure with every fiber of my being for several reasons, thus I avoid reading series with the love triangle + childhood friends combo. But I won't go into detail here.

Sorry, l rambled too much but as I have said I've been meaning to write about this topic. Koimonogatari will forever be a special series and ever after all these years, I'm looking forward to its completion. And it goes without saying but I fully respect Tagura Tohru's choice of ending.

Have a nice day!

#koimonogatari #tagura tohru #bl manga #bl meta #yaoi manga #allthefujoshiunite answers

[allthefujoshiunite]

Hi, Nora.... I know you have fav ship from Haikyuu. But do you have any ships from other shounen series?

Right now, I'm deep in the satosugu ship from JJK. How could a ship be this tragic yet so beautiful.....

Yeaah with the second season starting, everyone's lost their minds haha! Not blaming them though ~

Hmm, some of the other ships I enjoy from shonen series would be Nanami x Gojo (JJK, i also love Tojo x Gojo), Yoshida x Denji (Chainsaw Man), Rengoku x Uzui (Demon Slayer), Zeke x Levi (AOT), Reigen x Serizawa (Mob Psycho 100). I always fall for the side ships xD

Have a nice day!

Ughhhhhh love them so much....

#allthefujoshiunite answers #shounen anime ships

[allthefujoshiunite]

Hello... can I ask a link to your review on anime, "Buddy Daddies"? Sorry I can not find them, or are you writing them in your twitter? I just finished the anime, and now I can say it's one of my top favorite anime ever....! Can I ask for your BL recs that have the same vibe as Kazuki/Rei, please?

Also from Sk8 between Reki/Langa and Joe/Cherry and Adam/ Tadashi, who are your favorite ship? And why? Whichever your answer is, can I also ask BL recs that have the same vibe as them?

Sorry if I ask too much, please feel free if you want to answer them or not....Thanks for sharing your recs and reviews, you are my best guide on BL manga/manhwa...... I knew you first time from your A to Z BL challenge and then I found your blog. I hope you know that founding your blog and tumblr means so much to me.... Please just answer (if you want) any time you want whenever you're free....🙏

Hi again! I answer these asks whenever I have time & energy, so no need to apologize. ^^ Time to recommend some BLs and answer your questions!

As to why you couldn't find Buddy Daddies (BD from now on) review on my blog; because I haven't reviewed it. Neither on my blog nor my Twitter. When I was about to finish the seasonal first impressions (I had two reviews left, BD and High Card), the major earthquake happened and I took a break. After that, the political climate and the economy have been so bad that I didn't have the energy to spare for my blog. I still write reviews (mostly of books, on my Instagram, but in Turkish) and occasionally talk about stuff on Twitter but that's it. One other minor reason that made me feel reluctant to write on BD was because my thoughts on the series is quite negative. I didn't finish it, and not sure if I ever will. But I did like Kazuki and Rei together, the mighty "sunshine x emo" trope, and happy to hear that you've found something you felt so passionate about!

I'll recommend 3 titles that have a similar pairing. I'll also add my reviews from my blog, you can head there to find additional information such as the publication status, where to read, screenshots etc.

It's Just a Dream... Right? by White Eared: If you like supernatural elements, are okay with reading ongoing, mature content, then I highly recommend this one. I've reviewed it before, you can check it out here.

The Neighbor I Desire by Makoto: If you like the "I just can't leave you alone, I have to take care of you!" trope and when characters share a table, eating together, this might be up your alley. Another title I've reviewed for my Friday BL corner.

Oh! My Assistant by MILA & AngryMonster: You said you've found me through my A to Z Challenge so you've probably have seen this but in case you haven't. Another puppy seme with an uke that's not exactly an emo, but fails to convey his emotions. Here's my review, but Tapas has removed this one from their library and now it's on Lezhin. You can find it here (All Ages) and here (Mature).

As for Sk8. It was a fun show to watch but I wasn't deep in their fandom. I can understand the appeal behind Adam/Tadashi and found Joe to be really cute ~ Joe/Cherry have that enemies to lovers vibe that starts off as something strictly physical. Hence, I can recommend Glasses Cloth & Playlist. I know the name is weird but it's short & completed, and I highly recommend it. You can find out more about it here in my review.

That's all I have for you! Hopefully you'll find something that suits your taste and my recommendations were at elast close to the vibe you're looking for. Enjoy, and let me know what you think of them if you ever get to read one!

#allthefujoshiunite answers #glasses cloth and playlist #it's just a dream right? #the neighbor i desire #oh my assistant #makoto #gwak jongpil #white eared #angrymonster #mila #bl manga #bl manhwa #yaoi manga #yaoi recommendation #matcha blossom #kazuki x rei

[allthefujoshiunite]

Hello, I'm the one from twitter yesterday....Do you mind if I ask for BL manga/manhwa/manhua recs? I already seen the Bl recs you gave to anon some time ago, is it better to give my favorite BL manga like that? (Sorry if I get this wrong.... )

My favorite themes are : childhood friends to lovers, enemies/rivals to lovers, taking care of child/children, happy ending....

Sorry again if the themes are too much, if you want to pick either one, I'm really happy....

Welcome back! Actually, people being specific about what they're looking for (theme, platform, tropes, dynamics etc.) makes it easier for me to narrow titles down. I have my own favorites so obviously those are what comes to mind immediately, but when people come to me asking for something specific, I go back to digging old stuff back! Some series provide a good read, but not to a point where I remember them, let's say, 6 months down the road :,) It's also a by-product of reading a lot. N e gays, let's dive!

Enemies/rivals to lovers is a trope I love as well, and I actually have made a short list of titles I like with that trope. Putting that one here in case you have missed it.

Childhood friends is not a big favorite (if it's a childhood friends + a love triangle I avoid it like plague 😣) but there are series that I loved available on Futekiya:

Love and Howling (Masa Masaru) - This one also contains some supernatural elements, overall, it was an interesting read.

Perfect Propose (Tsurukame Mayo) - Has dubious consent BUT older bottoms are chef's kiss imo and it's sooo pretty. If you love domestic life, this will be up your alley.

I'll Make You Cry (Nozomu Hiiragi) - I'll never shut up about this one!!! Sooo cute and extremely funny! I personally love delinquents with an attitude 💞

Revival Blue (itz) - I have my own reasons for avoiding childhood friends that include a love triangle and this one avoids that route BUT the rivalry part still feels a bit forced and bland. Yet! This one has age gap and a bit of angst sprinkled with a happy ending, it was sooooo good!

Life in Our Hometown with Me and You (Isino Aya) - This one is as slice-of-life as it can get. Very chill and perfect for a comfort read.

Not from Futekiya but Living With Him by Miyata Toworu is another chill, very sweet childhood friends-to-forced-to-live-together-bc-of-their-mothers-to-lovers story! Just reread it today 💞

Also, here's a very interesting manhwa on Lezhin (free to read) called Count Tachibana. Love the historical aspect and love the expressive art style with bold colors more! (The list was getting long so I cut it short but if you need more childhood friends recs hit me up again ^^)

Now, BL with kids is less of a favorite. I don't avoid them completely, but don't go into them excitedly as well. Looking for Omegaverse titles would be more likely to find such titles. I'll list a couple that I found cute (despite the kids xD):

Our Dining Table (Mita Ori) - Another down-to-earth, cute and chill title. The kid in the story is actually the brother of one of the male leads (they have a big age gap) but the story is centered around their domestic life and food, super sweet.

Would You Like to be a Family? (Koyama) - I remember reading this on Futekiya, it was a single dad story I believe.

Sorry I don't have a lot of recs that have children in them, the one's I've read are titles that everyone know. For the rest, I tried to go for titles that I don't see circulate around as much, hope they'll be to your taste as well. See you around ~

#bl recommendation #yaoi recommendation #allthefujoshiunite answers #count tachibana #our dining table #revival blue #i'll make you cry #perfect propose #love and howling #would you like to be a family #living with him #life in our hometown with me and you #manhwa recommendation #manga rec list

[allthefujoshiunite]

hi, is the anything like Checkmate [TAN] where the uke is possessive and yandere ?

I have already read Boss baby bitch but didn't like it as much.

Hello! Agreed, I wasn't very interested in the couple of chapters I've read from BBB as well so I dropped it.

As for titles similar to Checkmate; I don't read a lot of BL with manipulative characters and obsessive ukes are quite rare. I don't think I've read another title that's similar to Checkmate. I checked out some of the manga I've read with such characters that I really liked, but it was almost always the seme who were possessive. I'm going to list a bunch of titles but please don't expect too much :,) They are all great though!

With manipulative/possessive uke:

Under The Green Light (Tapas): The first title that came to mind. This series is still on hiatus and isn't finished, but Matthew is waving all the possessive red flags his hands can hold! I decided to drop it after the season ended but there are a lot of people who like it!

Yuki and Matsu (Manga Planet/Futekiya): This manga is superb, although it doesn't exactly fit in this list. The uke is kind of unhinged, but we love him that way.

Wonna Do It? (Lezhin): This is a very short series, very instense and UGHHH it left me wanting for more! The uke is quite manipulative and sexy.

I Love You Anyway, Mr. Kasahara: This title jumped from one platform to another so not sure where it's available now (I got my digital copy from Bookwalker). It's a great & toouching Omegaverse story with a (kinda sorta) scheming Omega who pesters an alpha colleage to bite his nape and mate with him. (I think I reviewed it somewhere.)

With manipulative/obsessive seme:

Fish Tied with Fate (Manga Planet/Futekiya): Arai Niboshiko's works always have this eerie undertone and I love it. Beware of the tags though.

How to Kill a Heart (Manga Planet/Futekiya): THIS!! Honestly, I loved this title a lot because it's almost a step-by-step guide to how to break a person; both mentally and physically. I was enthralled by how careful the artist's approach to the subject was.

Kakine and Keidai (Manga Planet/Futekiya): This one is kinda fukked up but it's my kind of fukked up. Loved the tension and mystery throughout the volume, it was intense. From Omaru, the artist of I Love You Anyway, Mr. Kasahara.

I'm sorry it wasn't much, like I said, I don't read a lot of stories with possessive characters, and even when that's the case, I tend to look for some type of substance to the story. I hope you were able to find something you can enjoy, have a nice day!

EDIT: Forgot to add two series...

Well Done (Lezhin): This is not something I've personally read but I have it on my TBR list because a friend with a similar taste said good things about it. It's less about uke being the manipulative one but both sides apparently are trying to manipulate & bring the other down. I dig it!

Liveta (Lezhin): This is kind of similar to Checkmate with puppy seme x scheming dark-haired uke. I've read only 10 chapters and it was interesting, although I had to put it on hold because no money, no coins TvT AHAKUSHD

EDIT 2: I TOTALLY FORGOT MATTHEW WAS THE SEME IN UTGL xD where the heck is my mind… So sorry.

#allthefujoshiunite answers #under the green light #yuki and matsu #wonna do it #i love you anyway mr kasahara #how to kill a heart #kakine and keidai #fish tied with fate #liveta #well done #bl manga #bl manhwa #yaoi recommendation #webtoon recommendation #yaoi manga

[allthefujoshiunite]

Do you know this movement in twitter, Nora? That there is this "rediscovering CLAMP yaoi in 2023". So, I skim the some manga like, "X/1999", "Tokyo Babylon", and "Tsubasa Reservoir", and wow... The tragedy of them all. All of them have a bad ending, either one of them died (killed by the other) or both of them died. Last year, I also finished older BL from the 70's and 80's and it's so depressing.

As much as I appreciate the history of BL and the older BL generation, but I love BL modern more (2015-now). It's okay right? Cause one of my moot just said how the older is superior, but it's just a matter of taste right, Nora? Also I think the modern BL is more realistic than the older ones....

Sorry for my rambling. Do you also love CLAMP? The only clamp that I finished and own is Cardcaptor Sakura...😂

One of these days people will be able to differentiate their opinion from objective truth and we'll advance as a society, but today's not that day I guess...

Anyways. Cardcaptor Sakura screams "nostalgia" for me! I was a huge fan when it aired on the local TV when I was a kid and still remember it fondly. As for other works from CLAMP, I have seen Chobits and xxxHolic, I'm also currently watching X, but it's a slow progress. I haven'tread the manga for any of these titles, though.

CLAMP has a very distinct style to their works, which I find very pleasing. However, when consuming older series I get this sense of "watching/reading a more simpler version of today's series". Which is actually the reverse, the tropes and themes we see today are the refined/subverted/developed versions of the past. Even though I know, I can't seem to shake that feeling unfortunately and I occasionally find myself not being able to fully immersemyself in them.

I wasn't aware of the movement you mentioned, but I find it a bit... questionable, since CLAMP's works are not intended to be BL. Historically that's where BL comes from, yes. Genres are bound to evolve, also yes. But I think it's quite the stretch (and probably not quite correct) to call those titles BL. I'd call them shojo titles with a dash of homoeroticism in them. But yes, they are tragic af.

And, of course it's okay to like whatever you like! You owe no one an explanation or apology. I prefer newer titles like you, or at least titles that are released after 2000 and beyond (which is still a 20 year period!). This obviously doesn't mean I'm not critical of how certain tropes are incorporated or evolved, but you naturally get more variety and depth over time. The doctor recommends you kindly step away from people who try to dictate their taste over you. Thank you for sending the ask, have a nice day!

#allthefujoshiunite answers #clamp #boys love