#fallfrecs

[fallloverfic]

School Boys Love and M/M Part 2

This is a recommendation list of BL and m/m involving school/education/university/teaching. This list will focus primarily on things that have official English translations (even if it's just of an adaptation) or are otherwise originally available in English.

남친 있어요 | I Have a Boyfriend by Pibi

"A campus love story that is more lovely because it's clumsy! Hyunho, who belongs in the university soccer team goes into a breadth class and encounters the person he went to middle school together with and was his first love, Gyul. To avoid the regret of not properly conveying his feelings again, Hyunho approaches Gyul, but after losing his parents and left in a relative's house with a younger brother, he works hard in part time job and doesn't give his heart easily. But due to Hyunho's persistent advances, Gyul slowly opens his heart…"

클라우드 | Lost in the Cloud by Paskim

"Skylar has a secret: he’s been covertly snapping photos of his crush, Chan-il, and storing them in the cloud. He thought they were safe—until the photos vanish, and an anonymous text exposes his secret.

The blackmailer? Chan-il’s sharp-tongued best friend, Cirrus. Instead of outing Skylar, Cirrus proposes a deal that pulls him into a web of awkward encounters, close calls, and a deeply personal game. What does Cirrus really want, and why can’t Skylar shake the feeling there’s more to this game than meets the eye?"

Available in print from Seven Seas, and digitally on Lezhin

지고지순 | Love So Pure by Plan B

"It's easy to get laid when you're a pretty, sassy bartender working at a popular gay bar. This lifestyle suits Jihyun just fine since he loves casual hookups without any intimacy… That is until he meets Yohan—his big, scary-looking classmate who's actually a pure-hearted sweetie. Can Yohan's simple love help commitment-phobic Jihyun heal from the traumas of his past?"

美しい彼 | My Beautiful Man by Yuu Nagira, light novel art by Rikako Kasai, manga art Megumi Kitano

"Kazunari Hira is not what you'd call popular. In fact, he's basically on the lowest rung of the social ladder, due largely to his stutter that tends to flare up when he's anxious. And then there's him: Sou Kiyoi, leader of the pack and the most beautiful man Hira has ever seen. When Hira is made the popular group's gofer, he realizes that he doesn't mind his lowly position so much when the orders are coming from Kiyoi's lips. In fact, Hira treasures every order Kiyoi gives him and every bit of change he's handed to run errands. Could he actually be… in love?"

Available as a light novel, and adapted into a manga and a live-action drama.

최애가 나타났다?! | My Bias is Showing?! by Nabit, with art by Eol

"High school teacher Na Aejoon has a secret obsession. He’s a total simp for the handsome Choi Siyeol from the popular idol group, A-One! Na Aejoon is so enamored with Siyeol that even his weekends are devoted to fanboying over—and dreaming about—the pop star. While he’d give anything to meet Siyeol even once in his lifetime, he’s accepted the fact that it’s not going to happen one day. Until it does.

Cast in a variety show, Siyeol is slated to be at Aejoon’s school for filming. And what’s better than seeing his idol every day? Catching his attention! Suddenly cast as Siyeol’s co-star, Aejoon must put on the ultimate act: not showing his rabid fan side, lest he creep Siyeol out. But as the two grow closer, keeping secrets will become more of a challenge—for both of them."

Available digitally on Tappytoon. Available as a paperback with Seven Seas.

恋人がウブすぎて困る | My Lover is Just Too Innocent to Handle by Hiroka

"Hasegawa is a bit of a high school nobody. He’s plain, quiet, and unassuming…so it’s a huge shock when Hiyama, the sunny social butterfly of their class, suddenly confesses to him! But how do you date a classmate you’ve never even spoken to before? By starting a good old-fashioned diary exchange, of course! Entry by entry, two romance novices find a way to bridge the gap between them—and maybe even discover love along the way…"

온 오어 오프 | On or Off by A1

"Yiyoung is building a startup with his college friends. They get a chance to present their proposal to SJ Corporation, one of the leading companies in the country. But in the meeting room he sees Kang Daehyung, the extremely handsome company big shot that's so very much his type, and Yiyoung's heart starts to race…! Can pretty-faced Yiyoung win both in love and his career?"

Available digitally on Tappytoon. Available physically and as an ebook with Tokyopop (Volumes 1-4). It also has an ongoing sequel, Work Love Balance (Tappytoon) (Lezhin)

パーフェクトアディクション | Perfect Addiction by Kaoruko Miyama

"Akihito is a college student obsessed with good looks and carnal pleasure, but he can’t stand the handsome-yet-aloof Sae. Things come to a head when Akihito is shot down at a singles mixer by a girl who’s set her romantic sights on Sae. Furious, he follows Sae to the hotel district where he learns Sae’s secret: he’s gay, and he’s having trouble enjoying himself in the bedroom. Breaking through Sae’s mental barriers is exactly the sexy challenge Akihito needed. It awakens something in them both. Will they ever be able to control themselves again?"

시맨틱 에러 | Semantic Error by J. Soori, adapted into a manhwa by Angy

"Reason, routine, and rules. These are the tenets that computer science major Sangwoo Choo lives by, so when the rest of his teammates fail to contribute to their group’s presentation, he cuts their names from the project—including that of a complete no-show, whose plans to graduate and study abroad have gone down the drain as a result. Not that that’s any of Sangwoo’s business…until he realizes that Jaeyoung Jang, the talented design major he was hoping to hire for his video game, is: one, that very same classmate, and two, hell-bent on returning the favor and being the biggest thorn in his side! Will Sangwoo be able to debug this semantic error before it upends his entire life?"

The novel is available digitally with Publang, and as a physical release and ebook with Yen Press/Ize Press. The manhwa is available digitally on Manta, and physically and as an ebook with Yen Press. It was also adapted into a short animation and a live-action drama.

Strange Bedfellows by Ariel Slamet Reis

"In the not-too-distant future, most of humanity resides on its last-ditch effort at utopia: Meridian, a remote alien planet where you’re more likely to be born superhuman than left-handed.

None of that is important to Oberon Afolayan. Since his mildly public breakdown, his whole life seems to be spiraling out of control—from dropping out of university to breaking up with his boyfriend, it seems like only a karmic inevitability when he wakes up one day with the ability to conjure his dreams in the real world.

Oberon’s newfound powers come with a facsimile of his high school crush, Kon, who mysteriously dropped off the face of the planet almost three years ago and who is a little more infuriating (if not also infuriatingly hot) than Oberon remembers.

Kon makes it his mission to turn Oberon’s life around, and while they struggle to get a handle on his powers and his disastrous personal life (not to mention the appearance of strange nightmare creatures), it turns out this dream version of Kon has secrets of his own—dangerous ones.

Oberon might have more on his plate than he originally thought, but is giving up his dreams—even the one he might have accidentally fallen in love with—the only way to find happiness in reality?"

タカラのびいどろ | Takara's Treasure by Minta Suzumaru

"Taishin has moved to Tokyo from his hometown of Fukuoka in order to reunite with Takara, a stranger who had consoled him in his grief the year prior. However, despite finally getting a chance to express his gratitude to Takara at college, he is given the cold shoulder! But Taishin, undeterred, decides to pursue Takara anyway, and Takara finds himself becoming more and more enchanted by Taishin’s straightforward and earnest gaze."

The manga was also adapted into a live-action drama.

寺野くんと熊崎くん | Terano-kun & Kumazaki-kun by Yoriko

"Meet Terano, the student council president and all-around popular guy at school, and Kumazaki, the scariest bad-boy at school. You would think guys like these have no reason to cross paths, but they've actually just started dating! Terano attempts to move past first base, but before he even gets the chance, the inexperienced Kumazaki shoots him down and takes off, leaving Terano worried about the future of their relationship. That is until Kumazaki invites Terano over and bashfully shares that he's been 'getting ready' for tonight."

위험한 편의점 | The Dangerous Convenience Store by 945

"Danger can come in many shapes and sizes, and the kind of danger Yeo Eui-joon has to deal with comes in the form of buff, brash, belligerent gangsters. He knew that working nights in a shifty neighborhood wouldn’t be the safest job on the planet, but reality sure does exceed expectations. However, Eui-joon’s days as the neighborhood punching bag look like they’re coming to a close when Gunwoo steps into this small store. Gunwoo, gruff as he is, genuinely seems to care about Eui-joon’s well-being, so it doesn't take long for Eui-joon to fall for this charismatic giant."

Available digitally on Lezhin and Manta, and physically and as an ebook with Seven Seas. The series is being adapted into an animated series by Laftel, though it's available only in Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia.

となりのメタラーさん | The Metalhead Next Door by Mamita

"Impoverished graduate student Kento nearly freezes to death outside his new, cheap (unheated) apartment during a blizzard. Luckily, he’s saved by neighbor Soushi, a quiet and somewhat frightening young man who dresses in all black. Although he exudes an aura that screams “keep away,” his eyes, hidden behind long rocker hair, plead for something else. Over the following year, the two share meals together, but as the time passes, the closeted Kento finds it increasingly difficult to ignore his growing feelings. Will he choose to maintain the peaceful, happy times he’s grown to love or risk it all for the possibility of something more?"

人渣反派自救系統 | The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System | The Legend of Cang Qiong Mountain by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Summary: "Half-demon Luo Binghe rose from humble beginnings and a tortured past to become unrivaled in strength and beauty. With his harem of over three hundred wives, and dominion over both the human and demonic realms, he is truly the most powerful protagonist—in a trashy web novel series!

At least, that’s what Shen Yuan, online alias “Peerless Cucumber,” believes as he finishes reading the final chapter in Proud Immortal Demon Way. But when a combination of rage and a poor meal choice leads to his death, Shen Yuan finds himself reborn into the world of the web novel, in the body of Shen Qingqiu—the beautiful but cruel teacher to a young Luo Binghe. Although as Shen Qingqiu, he now has incredible power and abilities as a cultivator, he’s destined to be horrifically punished for crimes against the protagonist, so this new Shen Qingqiu has only one course of action: get into Luo Binghe’s good graces before the young man’s rise to power. That’s the only way he’ll escape the awful fate of a true scum villain!"

Available as a novel, and partially adapted into a donghua

黄昏アウトフォーカス | Twilight Out of Focus by jyanome

"Film enthusiast Mao Tsuchiya and his lone wolf roommate Hisashi Otomo make three promises:

1. That Mao will never tell anyone that Hisashi is gay and has a boyfriend, 2. That Hisashi will never approach Mao “in that way,” and 3. That they’ll respect each other’s “private time.”

The second-years’ ground rules should ensure a peaceful life together in their dorm, but reality is never as simple as it seems in the movies, and some things are not so easily promised…"

Available as a manga and partially adapted into an anime

エロ夢アクアリウム | Ero Yume Aquarium | Wet Dream Aquarium by non food

"I, Yuri Hiroto, have apparently turned into a pervert. I’ve been having dirty dreams lately–about getting groped by sea creatures! And even worse, these dreams include someone staring at me during my filthy fish time: the marine biology nerd from my class, Ogasawara-kun! The guy is so obsessed with undersea life that honestly, he kinda weirded me out at first. But now that I’m deep in the closet pretending to be “normal,” I think it’s attractive that he can be true to himself without caring what other people think. Of course, the moment I realized I like him, my dreams became even more obscene! Cut to our hang-out at the aquarium, and while I’m looking at fish with Ogasawara-kun, I actually get turned on?! Seriously, what is wrong with me?!"

世界一初恋 ~小野寺律の場合~ | The World's Greatest First Love by Shungiku Nakamura

"Ritsu Onodera quit working for his father’s company and transferred to work at the publishing company, Marukawa Shoten. To his dismay, he's assigned to edit shojo manga in which he has no interest or experience. He works with a strict boss, Takano, that he has trouble getting along with from the beginning. But, Onodera later discovers that he knows Takano from his past…"

Available as a manga, a light novel (only in Japanese), and an anime

ヤンキーとキャラメリゼ | Yankee & Carameliser by Chiuko Umeshibu

"Take one influencer and one bad boy extraordinaire, whisk in a sprinkling of sweets, add a scoop of social media, and you get…? Maki and Akito’s love story, hot out of the oven! After all, even though Maki has a bit of a bad rap, the guy must be just as gooey on the inside as the glorious goodies he posts on social media. So when Akito gets a taste of how dangerously delicious his desserts are, he can’t help wanting a taste of the man himself…"

Part 1 and Part 2 (you are here)

[fallloverfic]

Hello. Can I ask for BL recs that somehow the couples' dynamics remind you of either Ivantill, or HJYJ or Joongdok? Thx 🤩

There's nothing that's going to be exactly 1:1 because the context is very informative for what makes the pairings what they are, and at least in the case of Ivan/Till, I don't tend to read or watch things that sad. But I do have some things with similar vibes.

Ivan/Till (Alien Stage):

Midnight Rain by CTK: two desperate people from difficult situations who get involved by accident, and become kind of obsessed with each other

My Beautiful Man by Yuu Nagira: two people with self-image issues and trauma who both want to be and fear being seen for who they are. They both want love.

Lover Boy by ZEC: Eunho's devotion reads similarly to me as Ivan's on some level, whereas Jaeha feels, at times, a little like Till

Jealousy by Scarlet Beriko: Uichi's obsessive and sometimes self-harming devotion to Akitora reads similarly to Ivan and Till for me

I Want to Be a Big Baddie by Mu Huoran and Zhong Yun: similar veins of obsessiveness and devotion and self-esteem issues leading to destruction, while both characters are trapped in horrible lives, manipulated by systems they can't really control, in part due to basically space capitalism

My Bias is Showing?! by eol and Nabit: Siyeol is convinced that Aejoon is in love with someone else, and it becomes increasingly a problem for him, even though Siyeol is quite confident in his romancing skills.

곽하준 관찰일지 | Kwak Ha-jun's Observation Journal by 콤: This just feels like an Ivan/Till high school AU. The characters look near-identical (though Kwak Ha-jun has slightly curlier hair than Ivan). Their personalities don't exactly match, either, but there are elements there, particularly with Cha In-woo.

Sung Hyunje/Han Yoojin (My S-Class Hunters):

Netkama PUNCH!! by CHIMA, adapted into a manhwa by bongee and gongben: Heejae is an obsessive sugar daddy wannabe who also wants to take Seyeong apart to see what makes him tick, and Seyeong is a lonely guy with trauma and neglectful/abusive parents who is rather competent at certain things and also has anger management issues.

Blind Play by YD, with art by Like: Ilmo comes from money with at least implied abuse, and Ah-in is an orphan angry at the world and trying to scam his way to financial security and happiness. Both of them use each other and want to be used (Ilmo wants to be a sugar daddy and also take Ah-in apart). They've got that really aggressive towards each other but still in love with/obsessed with each other energy than Jinje has, though it's really bitter. At the end of the day it's sort of a, "You're the only one for me until we both die" vibe.

HONBUL: Flame of the Soul by toldju: Taehee is a wannabe sugar daddy who also wants to see what makes Jaegyum tick, and Jaegyum is a terrifyingly competent gwijae who will destroy anyone at a moment's notice if they harm people he cares about. They're both hypercompetent, terrifying, and constantly on the offensive around each other. They're also very ridiculous in that Jinje vein.

Jealousy by Scarlet Beriko: Uichi is world-weary in his own way and obsessed with Akitora, though he also tries to make his own way in the world outside Akitora, while Akitora keeps getting involved with Uichi and becomes obsessed with him, too, and tries to figure out his own feelings.

I Want to Be a Big Baddie by Mu Huoran and Zhong Yun: Both leads often fight each other in a sort of lovingly antagonistic relationship and they work to tear down unfair systems so they can be together and with the people they care about.

Thousand Autumns by Meng Xi Shi: Yan Wushi is a wannabe sugar daddy and he and Shen Qiao have this kind of lovingly obsessive antagonistic relationship and most of the story is about Yan Wushi wanting to figure out what makes Shen Qiao tick, while Shen Qiao saves Yan Wushi a bit, too, despite the world being after him.

Once Upon a Deal by Guzi: Besides the fact they look very similar (especially Baek Hajin), there's just certain things that Ju Yunseong does, physically, that remind me of the physicality of Hyunje and Yoojin's relationship. Baek Hajin is also very territorial, Ju Yunseong's bodyguard, and has a little brother who looks nearly identical whom he doesn't get along with.

Traces of the Sun by Dohaeneul, adapted into a manhwa by Merin: Hyeon really wants to be Yiseon's sugar daddy, and Yiseon is a heavily traumatized hunter with a dark past who's extremely good at what he does. He has a messy relationship with Hyeon.

The Demon Venerable's Wistful Desire by Mo Xi Ke: Chi Muyao appears useless and weak to most people given the group he trained with, but is actually deeply competent, smart, and terrifying when need be. Xi Huai keeps trying to kidnap him, romance him, and be his sugar daddy/cauldron. The most fun he has is when he's around Chi Muyao or watching Chi Muyao be badass.

Yu Junghyeok/Kim Dokja (Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint):

Mo Dao Zu Shi by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu: Love that lasts beyond the boundaries of death, with two characters in a somewhat antagonistic but loving and obsessive relationship, dealing with a messy, horrible world, and trying to do some good in it, and always coming back to each other.

Heaven Official's Blessing by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu: Again, similar to the above, but Hua Cheng has that single greatest believer/fan energy. They keep running into each other and care deeply about each other. They will also both destroy anyone who hurts the people they care about. Xie Lian has a lot of elements of Junghyeok (and Dokja's) self-sacrifice.

My Beautiful Man by Yuu Nagira: Both leads have trauma in their pasts, and Hira in particular is extremely devoted to Kiyoi and would Never View Him Any Other Way (but also loves him more than anyone else).

The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter by Yatsuki Wakatsu (novel) (manga) (anime): Aresh is really just Junghyeok but without the trauma. Seiichirou is what if Dokja was a couple years older, had no issues with his family, and had no hobbies (and was Japanese). Their dynamic is just... it's not 100% Jungdok but it's possibly the closest thing, with plenty of threats and exasperated fondness and forceful attempts by Aresh to get Seiichiro to enjoy his life rather than overworking.

Melting Point by PIBI: There's a kind of tension between Ian and Eunsan that really gives off Jungdok vibes to me, especially when it gets kind of antagonistic. And they have a mutual respect for each other's capabilities that feels similar. They also get really exasperated with each other, Eunsan has anxiety and trauma related to one of his parents, and Ian struggles to find where he belongs and what he's allowed to have.

Oni to Tengoku by Aga Naomi, with art by Oyoshikawa Kyouko: the older lead has trauma related to his mother and the younger lead is quite confident and wants to pick his partner apart, but he's also very guarded.

Northern Duke's Hamster by Plutori: the protagonist reminds me of Dokja, if he had less autonomy, but he's also very creative. Kyle reminds me of Junghyeok if he was kind of stuck in one job. Kyle is seen as cold and terrifying, but the protagonist doesn't view him that way (or at least he comes to not view him that way because Kyle is kind to him).

The Troublesome Guest of Sotomura Detective Agency by Sakae Kusama: There's like an antagonistic loving nature to the leads' relationship. Kei kind of hates Kamiko's guts and finds him exasperating, but they keep sticking together and work really well together. Kamiko at times has Dokja's seeming blase attitude towards their work, but you can tell there are layers to it and he cares deeply about Kei.

I Want to Be a Big Baddie by Mu Huoran and Zhong Yun: Two people with complicated history who keep being stuck together and have to fight an awful system together.

Yes, No, or Maybe? by Michi Ichiho: Kei is all about putting on a front for his job, so he pretends to be someone he is not, and he is mortally terrified of that mask being broken by anyone, and letting people see all the ways he is not perfect or amiable, etc. Ushio wants honesty and will get mean when Kei acts like a dick, but he's got Kei's back through thick and thin, and respects what Kei feels he has to do for his own happiness, accepting the many sides of him and even enjoying the awful ones.

[fallloverfic]

Webcomic Day 2026 Recommendation List Part 2

Another year, another list of the webcomics I'm currently reading/recently read/reread! Some stuff here should be free to read online in one form or another, but obviously if you can tip folks, use subscription services, support patreons/ko-fi's/etc., or just buy ebook and/or physical copies to support the artists/writers, that's awesome! Also, except for Mr. Villain's Day Off, these are all boys love.

This is too long for tumblr apparently, so I've split it into two parts. Part 1 contains ongoing free webcomics. Part 2 contains partially free/paid ongoing webcomics. Part 3 contains completed paid webcomics and completed webcomics with completed/ongoing collected releases in English (e.g., physical volumes/ebooks).

Partially free/paid ongoing webcomics

(Guide for how to read for free/cheap on Lezhin, Tappytoon, and elsewhere)

애욕 | Cry Me a River by Majjip

"Desperate to save his father from crushing debt, Mi-eum is compelled to accept a risky offer from a ruthless loan shark. The terms are clear: assume the role of a house servant and get close and gather vital information about the enigmatic young master of the house, Baek Jitae. Upon entering his new workplace, Mi-eum's mission takes an unexpected turn as he's assigned to assist Jitae with an unusual task - his bath. Mi-eum understands that this unique opportunity is his key to getting closer to his target. Yet, the moment their eyes meet, Mi-eum realizes that no matter how much he may cry and weep, there is truly no turning back now."

The main story is complete, and Side Story begins in June 2026!

I wrote a Jin/Jian fanfic for this.

드레드풀 나잇 | Dreadful Night by moan

"Wanna play a game? The only catch is, you’re not just playing it, you’ve got to play your way out of it. That’s exactly what is happening to Bada. And he’s been at this for a while, trying to gather clues and items to find a way out of this damn horror RPG. The killer, the NPCs, the setting, Bada’s now familiar with them all. He’ll just have to endure a couple more games, maybe get killed a few more times… But in this session, Nam Doha, someone who Bada thought was just an NPC, is suddenly acting strange. Has he been another player this entire time? Bada has to be tortured to end this storyline and start over and Doha has volunteered to do it, but the look in his eyes suggests he has other, even more sinister intentions in mind… What sadistic horrors must Bada endure to break free from this Dreadful Night?"

The main story is complete, but Side Stories are planned!

I wrote a Nam Doha/Pi Bada fanfic for this.

엔네아드 | ENNEAD by Mojito

"The once peaceful land of Egypt has been stained with blood under the tyrannical rule of Seth, the god of war. Horus, son of the god Isis but not yet one himself, rises to challenge the throne and put an end to the chaos and destruction. Although the confrontation between Seth and Horus began with hatred, in time it becomes blurred by obsession and desire... The ancient mythology of Egypt comes to life as you've never seen it before in this compelling fantasy BL."

All the different ways to read. The manhwa is currently available in digital and physical release in Korean, Chinese, English, French (digital only), German, Italian (physical only), and Japanese.

I've written a ton of fanfics for this, mainly for Horus/Seth, but also some for Anubis/Khnum and Anubis/Seth.

처음의 여름 | A First of Summers by Pppanghouse

"Lim Hyeonseon has lived an ordinary life, and now, as he reaches his forties, he feels an urge to start something new before it’s too late. He decides to take guitar lessons and joins a music academy. There, he meets Cha Yeoreum, a young and passionate guitar instructor. As their friendship grows, Hyeonseon begins to rediscover a sense of vitality and excitement in his life. But life is never without its surprises. When Yeoreum starts to reveal his tender affection for Hyeonseon, their relationship takes an unexpected turn, bringing new challenges and emotions to the surface."

징크스 | Jinx by Mingwa

"Physical therapist Kim Dan has been down on his luck for as long as he can remember. Between an ailing grandmother, menacing loansharks, and an old boss making it almost impossible for him to find work, Dan is truly running out of options. Naturally, it feels like a dream come true when he’s finally hired to treat top-paid MMA fighter Joo Jaekyung, especially when the man then calls him out for a treatment the night before a match with an oh-so-tantalizing offer of five thousand dollars. He claims to have a “jinx” in need of a particular type of “treatment," but it's one that Dan isn't quite prepared to offer… You see, Jaekyung may be a beast in the ring, but he’s even rougher in the bedroom, and Dan’s not sure he can survive Jaekyung at his most primal. Nevertheless, the promise of much-needed cash has Dan agreeing to this ill-fated deal… Could a night together be the thing to help Jaekyung break this jinx once and for all?"

I've written a ton of Joo Jaekyung/Kim Dan fanfics for this.

小蘑菇 | Little Mushroom by Yi Shi Si Zhou (manhua adaptation)

"Decades have passed since the Earth's magnetic poles disappeared, changing the balance forever. As the last remnants of humanity huddle in their bases, the remaining lifeforms have mutated into so-called xenogens and taken over the outside world.

In the midst of this war for life or death, a sentient mushroom lived his little life in the forest. That is, until humans came and took something precious from him — his spore. With his life's purpose gone, the young xenogen is ready to risk his life to reclaim it. So, donning a dead boy's face and calling himself An Zhe, the little mushroom makes an attempt to infiltrate a human base.

To get inside, he must first get past the Supreme Judge Lu Feng, whose job it is to detect and kill any mutants who try to sneak through the gate. It is said that nothing can escape his cold sight, which is now locked on An Zhe..."

The manhua is ongoing digitally only in Chinese on Bilibili, but is being released in English in hardcover. The novel was originally translated by Peach Flower House, who have gone out of business, but Seven Seas has picked up the license and will be releasing a new translation as an ebook and hardcover starting in August 2026.

I wrote a couple Lu Feng/An Zhe fanfics for this.

해빙곡선 | Melting Point by PIBI

"After twelve years, a former teammate—no, a thorn in his side—suddenly reappears. Eunsan isn’t thrilled to be working with Ian again, having long buried both his ice hockey past and any memories of him.

Unlike Eunsan, who hopes their meeting will be a one-time thing, Ian insists on keeping him around with an offer he can’t refuse. With his beloved younger sibling caught in the middle, Eunsan reluctantly agrees, but he can't shake the feeling that Ian has an ulterior motive.

Why does Ian keep pulling him closer? There’s no way this guy actually has feelings for him…right?"

Pibi also has two completed manhwa, I Have a Boyfriend, and Unintentional Love Story, which is on Part 3 of this.

I wrote a Ryu Ian/Baek Eunsan fanfic for this.

休日のわるものさん | Mr. Villain's Day Off by Yuu Morikawa

"One evil supervillain spends most of his time hatching nefarious plots to take over the world-but on his days off, nothing gets between him and the cute pandas he adores! This fresh, charming comedy series answers the age-old question of what a villain does off the clock!

The mysterious and dastardly man known only as the General within the evil organization plotting to take over the world is one of the top targets of Earth's defensive unit, the Rangers. But on his precious days off, he's more likely to be at the local zoo staring at his beloved pandas or trying out new ice cream flavors! Will his secret hobbies be jeopardized forever when his natural enemy-a Ranger hero out to save the Earth-catches him in the act?"

Available as a physical manga and ebook via Square Enix. Extra comics and art are available on Yuu Morikawa's pixiv. There's also a completed single season anime adaptation.

I've written a number of fanfics for this.

설화적 비즈니스 | Once Upon a Deal by Guzi

"Ju Yunseong thought getting a job at JH Soft was the start of a normal office life—until he noticed his cold, intimidating CEO, Baek Hajin, glaring at him every time they crossed paths.

“Why is the boss always staring at me? Did I do something wrong on my first day?”

Determined to avoid him at all costs, Yunseong keeps his head down… until he stumbles upon a mysterious employee ID and uncovers a secret: his boss isn’t just intense—he’s a nine-tailed fox.

And to make things worse? Hajin’s fox bead ends up lodged inside Yunseong’s body. Now the CEO won’t leave his side, and “normal” has left the building.

“Mr. Ju, you have two choices: stick close to me and do as I say, or I cut you open and take it back.”

Excuse me?! Are those really my only options?!"

I wrote a Baek Hajin/Ju Yunseong fanfic for this.

연애편지 대신 써드릴까요? | Shall I Write Your Love Letter? by Yutae, adapted into a manhwa by Nickup

"Employee-of-the-Month champion and service-industry all-rounder Lim Seongshik thought he’d seen everything, until he wakes up inside a bleak BL novel as none other than Elliot Brown, a minor villain doomed to die. In the original story, everyone meets their end at the hands of the protagonist, Arzen Theron. So Elliot decides to keep his past life as a writer hidden, lie low, and quietly avoid the one event that triggers the tragedy: ghost-writing a love letter.

But life—and his cat—have other plans. A desperate situation forces him into becoming Arzen’s personal bed attendant, of all things. To make matters worse, his “secret identity” as a writer gets exposed to the novel’s original love interest. Before he knows it, Elliot is back to ghost-writing letters… this time for Arzen himself! But something’s off. The Arzen in front of him doesn’t match the cruel lead he remembers…

Can Elliot keep faking those letters just enough to dodge his scripted death ending? Or has the story already started to change?"

Korean novel episodes, Korean novel ebooks, Korean novel Side Story. As of writing, there is no official English translation of the novel.

플레이어로 살아남는 방법 | Surviving as a Player by shamrock, adapted into a manhwa by sambaek

"Trapped in the gaming world of Elix, Sehyun’s once mode of solace is now his prison. Here, one must conquer empires or be conquered. What’s more, dying in-game means dying in real life. Stuck in a perilous reality, Sehyun must save his empire while facing the effects of his corrupt past. To do so, he must regain the trust of his Grand Duke, Ruhak. But since he has so much resentment toward Sehyun, the only way to appease Ruhak is to succumb to his needs, no matter how immoral or carnal they are."

Korean novel episodes, Korean novel ebooks, Korean novel Side Story. As of writing, there is no official English translation of the novel. The manhwa is on hiatus after the conclusion of season 3, so it's a good time to get into it!

I wrote a Ruhak/Do Sehyun fanfic for this.

2024 Rec List, 2025 Rec List, 2026 Rec List Part 1, 2026 Rec List Part 2 (You are here), 2026 Rec List Part 3

[fallloverfic]

National Anime Day was a couple days ago, but here's a belated post for it with some stuff I'd recommend that I've watched/rewatched in the past year. This is not necessarily stuff that came out in the past year (though a lot of it is), but just stuff I've seen and would recommend.

薬屋のひとりごと | Kusuriya no Hitorigoto | The Apothecary Diaries based on the light novel by Hyuganatsu, with art by Touko Shino, which was also adapted into a manga by Nekokurage (Square Enix) and Minoju Kurata (Shogakukan)

Light novel summary: "In the East is a land ruled by an emperor, whose consorts and serving women live in a sprawling complex known as the hougong, the rear palace. Maomao, an unassuming girl raised in an unassuming town by her apothecary father, never imagined the rear palace would have anything to do with her-until she was kidnapped and sold into service there.

Though she looks ordinary, Maomao has a quick wit, a sharp mind, and an extensive knowledge of medicine. That's her secret, until she encounters a resident of the palace at least as perceptive as she is: the head eunuch, Jinshi. He sees through Maomao's façade and makes her a lady-in-waiting to none other than the Emperor's favorite consort... so she can taste the lady's food for poison!

At her lady's side, Maomao starts to learn about everything that goes on in the rear palace-not all of it seemly. Can she ever lead a quiet life, or will her powers of deduction and insatiable curiosity bring her ever more adventures, and ever more dangers?"

The light novel and first manga are available in English via Square Enix. The second manga, Maomao's Notes on the Inner Palace, is available via Viz. The anime is ongoing, with season 3 to be released in October 2026, and an anime film also planned for release in December 2026.

黄泉のツガイ | Yomi no Tsugai | Daemons of the Shadow Realm based on the manga by Hiromu Arakawa

Manga summary: "In a world where certain humans command mighty supernatural duos called Daemons, it is the birthright of "the children who sunder day and night"—twins Yuru and Asa—to rule over these powerful entities.

Separated from a young age and unaware of the truth of their birth, brother and sister must fight to make their way back to each other, claim their birthright, and save the world..."

The manga is available in English via Square Enix. The anime is currently airing.

I wrote an Ivan/Asuma fanfic for the series.

葬送のフリーレン | Sōsō no Furīren | Frieren: Beyond Journey's End based on the manga by Kanehito Yamada and illustrated by Tsukasa Abe

Manga summary: "Decades after their victory, the funeral of one her friends confronts Frieren with her own near immortality. Frieren sets out to fulfill the last wishes of her comrades and finds herself beginning a new adventure…"

The manga is available in English via Viz, and is currently in indefinite hiatus (though the English translation is ongoing). Season 2 of the anime recently concluded, and is available to stream on Crunchyroll. Season 3 is set to air in October 2027.

I wrote some fanfic for the series.

やか貴族の休暇のすすめ。 | Odayaka Kizoku no Kyūka no Susume | A Gentle Noble's Vacation Recommendation based on the light novel by Misaki, with light novel illustrations and character designs by Sando, and adapted into a manga by Momochi

Manga summary: "When Lizel mysteriously finds himself in a city that bears odd similarities to his own but clearly isn't, he quickly comes to terms with the unlikely truth: this is an entirely different world. Even so, laid-back Lizel isn't the type to panic. He immediately sets out to learn more about this strange place, and to help him do so, hires a seasoned adventurer named Gil as his tour guide and protector.

Until he's able to find a way home, Lizel figures this is a perfect opportunity to explore a new way of life adventuring as part of a guild. After all, he's sure he'll go home eventually... might as well enjoy the otherworldly vacation for now!"

The light novel is free to read in Japanese (there is no official English translation). The manga is available to read in English via Tokyopop (Volumes 1-10). The anime concluded and is available to stream on Crunchyroll (it stopped around chapter 33 of the light novel/volume 6 of the manga).

I wrote a Gil/Lizel fanfic for this.

ギヴン | Given based on the manga by Natsuki Kizu

Manga summary: "Ritsuka Uenoyama is bored with it all—with school, with his basketball club, and even with his one true passion: playing guitar. That is, until the day he finds his favorite hidden napping spot occupied by a strange boy cradling a broken-stringed guitar. At first, Uenoyama is nonplussed by Mafuyu Sato and his slightly odd behavior, but when, on a whim, he asks Mafuyu to sing, the power of that song pierces him to the core."

The manga is available to read in English via Sublime, and has been adapted into an anime and three animated movies, as well as a live-action drama.

I wrote a crossover fanfic for this with Wing (Hunter X Hunter)/Murata Ugetsu.

ガンバレ! 中村くん!! | GANBARE! NAKAMURA-KUN!! | Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! by Syundei

Manga summary: "Nakamura is a shy and painfully awkward boy who has fallen in love at first sight with his dreamy classmate, Hirose. But there’s one problem: they haven’t even met! And that may be for the best, at least in Nakamura’s eyes. After all, he’s a total klutz that could totally bungle things before they even begin! But when he finally gets a chance to speak one-on-one with Hirose, will his worries cease or will he make a spectacular mess?"

The manga is available in English via Seven Seas and the anime is currently airing.

I wrote a Nakamura Okuto/Hirose Aiki fanfic set after the end of volume 2 of the manga.

カラオケ行こ! | Karaoke Iko! | Let's Go Karaoke! and 夢中さ、きみに。 | Muchū sa, Kimi ni | Captivated, by you based on the manga by Yama Wayama

LGK manga summary: "Nothing worries Satomi Oka more than the upcoming final choir competition of his middle school career -- right up until he is accosted by a stranger from the shadows who demands, “Let’s go karaoke!” As a yakuza, Kyouji Narita doesn’t scare easily, but a terrifying prospect has driven him to seek Satomi’s help. The boss is holding a karaoke contest, with the loser forced to get a tattoo to be selected and torturously applied by the boss himself! Oka has been to many vocal rehearsals over the years, but never one-on-one karaoke sessions with a gangster!!"

CBY manga summary: "Hayashi’s frank, guileless demeanor quietly draws the attention of classmates and strangers as he counts all the stairs in school, photographs street signs, and dries sweet potatoes on the classroom balcony. In a world shaped by conformity, Hayashi is refreshingly and unapologetically true to himself. Conversely, Nikaidou has worked very hard to perfect a gloomy, dour façade that keeps his classmates far, far away. While much of the school regards Nikaidou as a bad omen, one student catches a glimpse behind the mask and-undeterred by rumors of bad luck and supernatural powers-begins to pick away Nikaidou’s carefully crafted persona…"

Let's Go Karaoke! is available as a manga via Yen Press, as is Captivated, by you. The anime adapted both manga into one series, and is complete. The sequel to Let's Go Karaoke!, Famiresu Iko, is complete and available in Japanese. There's been no announcement that Yen Press will translate it. Let's Go Karaoke! was also adapted into a live-action movie.

I wrote a fanfic set after the end of Famiresu Iko.

夏目友人帳 | Natsume Yūjin-chō | Natsume's Book of Friends based on the manga by Yuki Midorikawa

Manga summary: "When Reiko was Takashi's age, she bound the names of demons and spirits in her Book of Friends, enslaving them to her capricious whim. Now Takashi is the owner of the book, and the creatures will do anything to get their names back."

The manga is ongoing and available in English via VIZ. Season 7 of the anime aired in 2024.

異世界の沙汰は社畜次第 | Isekai Office Worker: The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter by Yatsuki Wakatsu, with light novel illustrations and character design by Kikka Ohashi, adapted into a manga by Kazuki Irodori

Light novel summary: "One day, twenty-nine-year-old accountant Seiichirou Kondou is accidentally transported to another world. As compensation, the Romany Kingdom promises to take care of all his living expenses, but the workaholic Seiichirou still asks for a job. Once he’s placed in the Royal Accounting Department, he starts whipping his lackadaisical colleagues into shape. But when he gets in over his head and nearly dies from overwork, the handsome Commander Aresh steps in to save him, and the two develop a unique physical relationship… as a form of medical treatment?!"

The light novel (volumes 1-3) and manga adaptation (volumes 1-6) are available in English via Yen Press. Yen Press has not yet said anything about translating light novel volume 4, which released in Japanese in April 2026, or manga volume 7, which released in Japanese in October 2025. The anime adaptation is complete (though it only adapted part of light novel volumes 1-2/manga volumes 1-6).

I've written a couple Aresh Indolark/Kondou Seiichirou fanfics for this.

プロメア | Promare

Summary: "Thirty years have passed since the appearance of the Burnish, a race of flame-wielding mutant beings, who destroyed half of the world with fire. When a new group of aggressive mutants calling themselves Mad Burnish appears, the epic battle between Galo Thymos, a new member of the anti-Burnish rescue team Burning Rescue, and Lio Fotia, the leader of Mad Burnish, begins."

I saw this in theaters when it first came out, but I rewatched it again recently and it's still a lot of fun :3

나 혼자만 레벨업 | Solo Leveling based on the light novel by Chugong, and adapted into a manhwa by Dubu

Light novel summary: "E-rank hunter Jinwoo Sung has no money, no talent, and no prospects to speak of-and apparently, no luck, either! When he enters a hidden double dungeon one fateful day, he’s abandoned by his party and left to die at the hands of some of the most horrific monsters he’s ever encountered. But just before the last, fatal blow… PING! [Congratulations on becoming a Player.]"

The light novel is complete and available in English via Yen Press. The manhwa is complete and available online via Tapas and Tappytoon, and as an ebook and physical release via Yen Press. The sequel, Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, is ongoing and available as a novel via Tapas. Its manhwa adaptation is available online via Tapas and as an ebook and physical release via Yen Press. There are two video games for it, as well. Seasons 1 and 2 of the anime are complete, and there's been no announcement on the release of further seasons (season 2 concludes in light novel volume 4/manhwa volume 7).

I've written a Sung Jinwoo/Choi Jongin fanfic for this.

Spy x Family based on the manga by Tatsuya Endo

Manga summary: "Not one to depend on others, Twilight has his work cut out for him procuring both a wife and a child for his mission to infiltrate an elite private school. What he doesn’t know is that the wife he’s chosen is an assassin and the child he’s adopted is a telepath!"

The manga is ongoing and available in English via Viz. Season 3 of the anime aired in 2025, and an OVA for the series aired in 2023. There's been no announcement about season 4.

I wrote a Loid/Yuri fanfic for this.

この男子、魔法がお仕事です。 | This Boy is a Professional Wizard

"Chiharu is the wizard in charge of the magical crisis counter-measure division. His days are stressful until he meets Toyohi at his favorite bar, and the two hit it off. The two begin a budding relationship, until an accident at work causes Chiharu to devote more time to his work, and begin to push Toyohi away."

とんがり帽子のアトリエ | Tongari Bōshi no Atorie | Witch Hat Atelier based on the manga by Kamome Shirahama

Manga summary: "In a world where everyone takes wonders like magic spells and dragons for granted, Coco is a girl with a simple dream: She wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic. Resigned to her un-magical life, Coco is about to give up on her dream to become a witch…until the day she meets Qifrey, a mysterious, traveling magician. After secretly seeing Qifrey perform magic in a way she’s never seen before, Coco soon learns what everybody “knows” might not be the truth, and discovers that her magical dream may not be as far away as it may seem…"

The manga is ongoing and available in English via Kodansha, along with the spin-off series, Witch Hat Atelier Kitchen. The anime is currently airing.

イエスかノーか半分か | Yes ka No ka Hanbun ka | Yes, No, or Maybe? based on the light novel by Michi Ichiho, with art by Lala Takemiya, and adapted into a manga by Yukimura

Light novel summary: "Kunieda Kei is the up-and-coming Prince Charming of the evening news. Inside, he’s the opposite: brash, hot-tempered, and prickly as can be. For years, Kei has successfully juggled his private and professional personas—until a chance meeting with a stop motion animator threatens to bring it all crashing down. But is that really as frightening as the possibility that someone might love and accept both sides of who he is?"

The light novel is complete at three volumes, and available in English via Seven Seas. The animated movie adapts light novel volume 1, and is available in English. The manga is ongoing, and also available in English via Seven Seas.

鎧真伝サムライトルーパー | Yoroi-Shinden Samurai Troopers

Summary: "When the seal of the Demon Realm shatters, demon soldiers surge into the Human World, tearing through everything in their path. Five young warriors rise to meet the invasion, summoning their legendary armor and charging headfirst into battle. With every clash, they cut through the invading demon hordes, unleashing their power to drive the invasion back. They are… the Samurai Troopers!"

YSST has one completed cour and is available on Crunchyroll. Cour 2 is planned to release in July 2026. The original series, Yoroiden Samurai Troopers, is available on multiple platforms, including Tubi. YSST is the sequel.

I wrote several fanfics for this.