Trying to get people into webnovels is like I swear once you get past the questionable translation, weird writing style, and strange formatting it gets REALLY good after the first (couple) hundred chapters
Kim Soleum is such a good protagonist because he's genuinely just a nice guy, which is pretty refreshing when most horror webnovels I read have mcs that only care selectively. But Kim Soleum cares a lot! He's terrified out of his mind and wants to escape so badly but he still tries to save as many people as he can. He still considers these horrors as people, and when he's able he tries to meet them as people. He's not hopelessly and recklessly dedicated to being good or making the most moral choices, people will die and he can't do anything about it, but there's no reason for him not to try to understand and help others when he can and that's so lovely to read.
Reading a xianxia novel and I fucking choked when suddenly this elderly cultivator threw something to the ground which exploded and his enemy was like IMPOSSIBLE YOU CAN'T USE YOUR SPIRITUAL ENERGY RIGHT NOW and the old man went that's because that was gunpowder
I am thinking about an unlimited flow novel where mc's friend died/disappeared under mysterious circumstances and it's only when mc begins going through these worlds that they realize oh. this is what happened. Has anyone read one like that?
...that I'll actually admit to having read anyway lol. There are other criteria for what's on this list (trust me I definitely read wayyy more than this) but mostly it's just stuff I read last year that I like enough to post about.
For all you people who would rather be reading bl on Valentine's Day. Only linking manga/webtoons.
Webnovels
The 11th School Trip - superpower/abilities setting, MC is stuck in a time loop where he and his classmates get trapped and killed by monsters on their school trip and every time ML dies, the loop resets. In the eleventh loop where the story happens, MC focuses on keeping ML alive so they can just get through this damn trip.
MC to ML: you got a scratch? don't you know that a scratch can lead to tetanus which can lead to DEATH???????
Their classmates: hey is anyone else seeing this
Despite MC being singlemindedly obsessed with keeping ML alive he is somehow nevertheless the one with the healthier mindset between the two of them. Really funny and I do love a weird ass guard dog dynamic. This is probably my favorite bl I read last year. There's also a webtoon currently being released and the art is REALLY good. Novel extras are 🔞
If You Don't Become the Main Character, You'll Die - medieval fantasy setting, MC transmigrates with a "system" telling him to become a more relevant character by helping the main character or else he'll completely disappear.
I know, I know, any seasoned bl webnovel reader has probably read this but I only read it last year so I added it. I actually turned my brain on for this one. There's a lot of commentary on not just storytelling but also acting, particularly stage acting, as well as possession and possession relating to transmigration which was SUPER interesting. I wrote down a ton of quotes. Main couple is guy who doesn't know who he is x betrayed mercenary-turned-hero who wants to crack him open and live inside his ribcage (not entirely metaphorical). Fun stuff! Any issues I had with it are largely just a matter of personal preference. I'm ngl the main reason it's not my fav is probably bc one of the main characters shares a name with a relative of mine so I can't read it without picturing them.
Hold On, You're Something Else - Omegaverse OK HEAR ME OUT guy transmigrates into an omegaverse as an alpha but he doesn't know shit about omegaverse and it's actually pretty entertaining. The guy he transmigrates into is an aspiring actor and the second son of a rich family, and ML is a famous omega actor who is trying to find the strange alpha (MC) that didn't do anything when he suddenly went into heat.
Storyline gets slightly unhinged at certain points (there are fantasy/supernatural elements that suddenly become very relevant) but overall I enjoyed it. MC was actually very attached to his previous world and it shows but him becoming attached to the new world felt pretty natural and understandable to me.
Seize the Throne - MC is imprisoned and forced to watch a transmigrator take over his life, then time resets back to a year or two after the tmger took over and MC is able to break out and get back. Meanwhile ML had to deal with an impostor in his house with him and his child for many years bc he didn't know wtf happened to his real husband but didn't want to tip off the transmigrator. They're both crazy.
It's a short read only ~45 chapters and enjoyable if you're in the mood for a couple that's... violently in love? Some mildly interesting stuff wrt forces beyond your understanding forcing you into compliance. This isn't exactly lighthearted but it's a happy ending. CW non-explicit rape and torture (not between the main couple)
The Domineering Boss' Assistant Refuses 007 - MC transmigrates into a dog blood ceo bl novel as the ceo's assistant, ML also transmigrated as the private doctor. They are eating popcorn and watching the show and just in general are so done with this shit.
I'm not sure what exactly has me so enamored with these guys but I really like it. Lot of side characters are also eating popcorn and rolling their eyes at the ceo and his white moonlight substitute's bullshit, including the white moonlight herself. MC and ML are both so boyfriend-brained and I especially like how both of them choose to respect the og people they transmigrated into by fulfilling their wishes and not trying to live their lives for them.
The Applauding Extra - harem slice of life, MC transmigrates into a high school bl novel with the school's Great Kings who everyone is obsessed with. You know, that kind of high school setting. MC avoids the plot by acting as one of their fans who just mindlessly praises them, and actually succeeds. Multiple love interests but none of them are one of the Great Kings.
This one is currently being updated so who knows how I'll feel about it in later chapters but right now I'm enjoying the hell out of it. I need more MCs who successfully avoid the plot. He's very much an oblivious MC but I'm not really annoyed by it somehow (despite me threatening to kill him every week). He's actually friends with his love interests too which is very nice. The ~Five Great Kings~ are so unimportant it's hilarious.
Manga/Webtoons
Who Can Define Popularity? - Egotistical guy who transformed himself to become handsome and popular gets so mad that there's another guy at his university who is also very handsome and egotistical. They fall in love.
This is actually a really good story about learning to love yourself, and there are also really good friendships between characters outside of the romance. MC's little sister gets a lesbian crush on one of his friends in her own little sideplot which I also enjoyed. Overall just such a nice comforting read, definitely one of my favs.
Breathless Momentum - Two guys are in a friends with benefits relationship except neither of them have slept with anyone else in like five years. Also they're part of the same woodwind choir.
Ok my description is lacking but it's a fun story. Sorta chill guy who only cares about pleasure x guy who looks neat but is pretty messy in his own way. Both of them are like damn we were kinda assholes to our ex-girlfriends huh... There's also a scene where one of the guys is crying in front of a love hotel and then the next day this teenage girl who's also in the woodwind choir is like "hey... so... I live across the street from a love hotel and uhhh I saw that" which is just one of many funny scenes in this. Despite the premise and both guys being chronically horny it's not actually nsfw.
My Bias is Showing?! (🔞) - MC's favorite idol comes to the school he teaches at to film a variety show and starts coming on to MC, who is trying really hard not to let him know that he's a hardcore fan of his. ML on the other hand thinks MC is a homewrecker and is trying to get revenge for his crush by seducing him and breaking his heart. MC is not a homewrecker. MC's cousin who is part of ML's idol group broke up with ML's crush (also a member of the group) for unrelated reasons.
It's so fucking funny. MC's a normal guy who's just a little bit off. Choi Siyeol is The pathetic ML of all time making up problems for himself, I love watching him cry. That's all I have to say.
Netkama PUNCH!!! - MC tries to catfish ML in an online game after ML destroyed his guild a year before. This leads to ML stalking him and forcefully moving in together.
Listen ok listen MC and ML are both terrible dudes. This is one of those where they just suck so much and they should never date anyone except each other. Their relationship is healthy by their standards. They're both total losers. Another one that's just absolutely hysterical for lovers of terrible guys dating each other.
Off-Stage Love Side (🔞) - Idol is obsessed with just a normal ass guy he met once in high school before he became an idol. Said guy then becomes his bodyguard.
Short and sweet, there's one volume and the sequel spin-off. Guy who is obsessed with just some guy is always funny. Not much more to say about this.
This novel is making me realize it's been a while since I read just a sweet romance that made me feel good. I like that even though fl didn't initially like ml, she's realized that they're arranged to be married and even if it's not love there should still be respect, it's really nice
There's a ton of great things I could say about gdcg but other people are already doing that and will do it much better than I can. What I will say is this: I hope one day an eldritch horror calls Kim Soleum "dad"
