Knock on Wood
Jiho reunites with an old high school friend, Eunchae, while in uni. Eunchae, weird as ever, asks Jiho to hit him with a strange stick (he's a big believer in Shamanism) but they soon find out who likes hitting whom. Quickly falling into a relationship with each other, they were little prepared for the trials and tribulations ahead!! It was obviously good, no denying that. But it was also an uncomfortable read, at times. Triggering, even. While the first half was fun, and the over the top comedic situations refreshing, I was really thrown back by how easily they could break up with each other. And how, even though at that point, they had thought Jiho might have been taken advantage of while blackout drunk, Eunchae treated it more like Jiho was cheating and less like he had been raped by someone he had trusted!! And when Jiho was not enjoying the kinks and still going along with them, it was kinda traumatizing? The mangaka tried to play it off afterwards and it mostly worked, but, ugh. And Hyun was just, such a terrible person, but I still hated his first love more. What an absolute bag of dicks. I'm glad Hyun's getting therapy and I'm glad the boys became strong enough not to let Hyun impact their relationship anymore. Also kinda also bummed we didn't get to see Jiho's results. Still. It was good, really. Just, kinda sad, too. The sort of sadness that creeps up on you. 4.5
Serious Voice (Worship My Voice- 5 -)
Sequel 4 of Voice series 1: Shogo, the voice actor, is a kiss demon when drunk, and what's worse is, he forgets all about it when he sobers up the next day! When his new coworker, Yu is reserved and hesitant around him, while getting flustered at the mention of kissing, Shogo simply has to learn the reason why... It was okay. Nothing problematic, at least. Though, I did think Shogo was too pushy, and a tad unnecessarily mean, I do think he didn't intend to be cruel and he does care about him. So it works out. I'm also kinda happy with him confessing to Yu without beating around the bush. 4.4 4: Continuation of Takafumi and Kazumi's story. They went to a hotspring, Kazumi wants to thank Takafumi for the wonderful time, but ends up acting sulky and grumpy. He finally comes clean with his feelings and things get steamy. If nothing else, I can definitely at least appreciate Kazumi being a bit more honest. 4.1 5: Continuation of Oikawa and Tomomori's story, where they're invited to perform on a late night show. You can't just date someone who is physically interested in you and continue to reject them like this. It's wishy washy. 3.5
Complicated Voice (Worship My Voice- 6 -)
Sequel 5 of Voice series 1: Continuation of Mizushima and Inaba's story. Mizushima is obsessed with teasing the people he loves and making them cry. When he finally succeeds with the unflappable Inaba, it doesn't really feel good. Ffs! Not in a million years would this dude deserve Inaba!! I get so mad at how callous and mean he is, sometimes. And the nerve! To mistrust him like that! But at the same time, this guy is so gone on Inaba. It's hard to hate someone whi clearly lives Inaba so much. Ah, the conundrum. 4.3 3: Continuation of Kazumi and Takafumi's story. Rather, telling us how they met and became sex friends. This story certainly does not endear Kazumi to me. He's so quick to judge and distrust. I don't like that. But he's certainly had character growth to some extent, so ther eis that. 4 5: Continuation of Norihisa and Wataru's story. About Wataru praising how kind Yu is and Norihisa trying to copy Yu's mannerisms and style, so that Wataru doesn't get bored of him. But Wataru reassures him that all he needs to be is himself. Was okay, one more chapter would have been nice. 4.3
TALIM - Dare mo Shiranai Ryu no Hanashi -
1: After getting hurt in the woods, Tatsuro is tended to by Talim, who is a dragon. Isolated Talim, who can't live with humans due to being unable to control his transformation, loves spending time with Tatsuro and learning about the human world. Tatsuro finds himself falling deeper and deeper for the innocent and kind Talim. I mean, this is just really nice. No problematic elements and a sweet love story. No, that's too simple a descriptor. It's a "love for the ages" kinda love, I can tell. I like how devoted Talim is and how gentle Tatsuro is. And their baby was so adorable! I just. I can't help but think about how Tatsuro will die one day and leave him behind for eternity. I'm glad they're trying to make the most of the time they have. 5 4: Takami joins the design club at university and a weirdly socially awkward senpai Hinata, imprints on him immediately. Takami doesn't mind taking care of Hina, but doesn't feel much more beyond that, or so he thinks. When he goes to meet Hina, only to see the awkward Hina being fed by and interacting with a hot guy, it makes all sorts of unpleasant feelings bloom in his gut. Liked it. Was cute and sweet and just a light read. Liked also that the brother wasn't one of those annoying siblings who meddle in their siblings affairs for no good reason. 4.6 4: About Hina's older brother Ichikawa (who is a famous and brilliant designer) and Yugo, a new hire at his company (whi happens to be a huge fan of him). I just really like the both of them. The gaps in how you first perceive Ichikawa and how he really is, is elso endearing. Yugo is so great because he's so damn self aware and outwardly perceptive, as well. They're just great people and great for each other. 4.8 Overall: Well done. 5
Amanojaku ni Koishite!
A collection of stories that are silly, fluffy, smutty and mindlessly fun. 1: An amanojaku yokai who has always been isolated and alone due to his yokai nature of being unable to speak the truth, finds himself being protected and cherished by a karasutengu yokai who has never had a problem reading amanojaku yokai's true feelings. Smut, but cute smut. We stan cute smut in this house. 4.7 3: Retelling of Momotarou, the folklore story. Momotarou goes on a wild rampage to defeat all the devils in Devil Island and his troubled companions hurry him back home with the riches to prevent for carnage. Most of them go their own ways but the dog remains by his side, because he has ulterior motives. Kinda meh, ngl. Also, the fact that he drugged him without knowing Momo's feelings, bruh. 3 4: Inoue is in love with his cute coworker Minami, but he keeps getting thwarted by the licentious Section Chief, Tagami. Seems, though, that Minami doesn't seem to mind the intrusion, or Inoue's reactions to Tagami at all. Inoue finds himself in the middle of an unexpected sandwich. Hmm. Was okay. Hot. Shallow and mindless. But hot. 4.4 5: Follows Yuuki around his first attempt to give his boyfriend Tadayoshi chocolate on Valentine's day. Fluffy and cute. 4.4 6: Koutarou is targeted by Takutou, who cleans the windows of the building where he works. Koutarou finds Takutou's intense gaze leaving him more and more flustered. Hmm. Didn't really see how their attraction could have developed. Was hard to get into. And why was that chief such a loose and shady dude. Really puts me off. 3.5
I'm Mediocre ♂, But I'm Loved in A Different World Anthology Comics
Right, right, right. So, first of all, brilliant idea for an anthology. Just, excellent. 1: Reborn as wife to the unloving Leocigil, Fineric just tries to live his best life loving his child, but ends up having the dude fall in love with him. I don't really know about this one. Why did he not love his "wife", to begin with? Because he enjoyed flirting with him? That's just super weird. 4.3 2: Johan is born as a super powerful character into an otome game he is familiar with, but ends up getting together with the main and having the main female lead and main female love rival cheering him on. Genuinely so happy because everyone's so nice! This one's a winner! 4.8 3: Kobayashi ends up in bl Ouran High Host Club and tries to help the mains get together but instead ends up catching the student council president's eye himself! Fun little read! 4.7 4: Haine is reincarnated into the story of one of his favourite bl games and acts the villain so that Miko, the summoned hero (who has no memories of Earth or his previous life) can end up with the prince. Things get convoluted halfway through. Unexpected ending and I kinda enjoyed it, along with leaving the prince behind in the dust (even though Haine was being cruel. I don't care. Sue me). 4.45 5: Yoda ends up in a game he often likes to play. Can he let the unfortunate main character, Michael, have a the happy ending that doesn't seem to be programmed into the game? Off putting because he raises him. It's just weird. 3.8 6: Okay, wow. Hurier, who died tragically in his teens with an unrequited love, decides that in his new life as the mediocre son of a ducal household, he'll take in an orphan and spoil them rotten so that he'll be loved in return. But when he meets little Altheo, his plans go out the window. I am pretty disgusted with this one, ngl. He didn't go through with it, but he definitely tried to groom a kid, which is portrayed so lightly here??? 2.5 7: Boy reincarnates as Leth, the villanous brother in a video game, but ends up being too kind to the MC Canan, who was bullied by Leth in the OG gameplay. The results are far from Leyh's expectations. It's weird that they grew up together? But I'm glad Leth is himself who remembered a past life and not some random person in Leth's body. 4.4
Secret Fetish Anthology
It's so-so
NAZELOVE: When a Student Council Member Educating(?) Their Junior Somehow Turns Into a Romantic Comedy
4 Yeah, these are just not for me? Not interested in high school love stories. Especially not ones where the characters seems like elementary school kids.
Mori no Animal Company
Super weird yet entertaining. Old school yaoi with multiple, connected stories. Some are so half assed and unfinished, though. 3.9?
Yoake no Joshou