I own a lot of illustrated media (manga, comics, doujinshi, etc.) I figured I'd post recs and reviews of the ones I have. Main genre is Yaoi (18+), but I also like a wide variety including action, horror, and the like. Maybe you'll find something you like?
Playboy Maya catches studious Nemugasa cheating on a test and, to ensure his silence, blackmails him into doing whatever Maya wants. Twice a week, Nemugasa must go to Maya’s room for some steamy action, but as dense and oblivious as Nemugasa is, he fails to notice Maya’s true feelings for him. With college entrance exams around the corner, Nemugasa must focus on his studies, but Maya won’t stop distracting him, causing him to finally snap! Can a relationship built on blackmail ever become something more?
Okay, let's get this out of the way right at the beginning. This is one of my favorite yaoi. There, I said it. Will my review be a little biased? Maybe? But, I think it's still a must read for any fan of yaoi.
Art: 10/10
Everything in this manga is good looking. The characters, their outfits, the scenes - *chef's kiss* You can tell the mangaka has put in a lot of care and thought into making the art hot, adorable and visually stunning. I'm telling you, the characters (well, Maya and Akira lol) have better style than me...
And *spoilers*
One of the characters goes through a visual glow-up around volume 4 and my god-
Story: 10/10
There is blackmail and dub-con elements in the beginning. Can it be tough to read through - yes. When I first read it, I was a little off-put. However, the story does actually address it later in the plot. Does that excuse it? Not really. Is it as bad as Caste Heaven? Definitely not.
Now the main flow of this series is really well paced. The plot is clear, thought out, interesting, and enjoyable. It does fall into the classic angst drives the plot though...
There's a disagreement or issue that can be solved by talking
No one brings it up
They fight/almost break-up
They make up and have sex
Repeat
Does that mean it's bad? Not necessarily. In fact, I quite like it. They have angsty moments that make me clench my chest. They have cute moments that make squeal out loud like a guinea pig waiting for lettuce. They have moments that make me swoon - eh, you probably get it. Good story + hot guys = mmmm.
The Couple(s): 10/10
I love the dynamic in this series. The classic "out of his league" falls for a "plane Jane." Maya is gorgeous (with his black hair) and popular with everyone. Despite this, he only has eyes for nerdy Nemugasa.
Sigh~
Their differences tend to be the crux of the angst though. Their insecurities about each other get explored as the grow as a couple.
Nemugasa is academically inclined - Maya, not so much.
Maya is really fucking attractive - Nemugasa is a mob character.
Maya is a romantic hot-head - Nemugasa is as dense as a rock...
Sex Scenes: 10/10
The most important - well, maybe important for only me... If I buy an explicit content manga, I'm looking to dine well, okay? In this case, you shall not starve. This story covers all sorts of shit. You will not get bored.
I foam at the mouth whenever I think about Maya.
Overall Rating: 10/10
There are 10 main volumes so far. They are fantastic.
There are also 3 side volumes
Akira's Side Story - If you like Akira/Shimakawa and Jutta. I think this is worth the buy. Do you need it to enjoy the main couple? No. Is it nice? Yes.
Don't Be Cruel +Plus 1 - Just side stories that take place between volumes 1 & 2 of the main series. Cute one shots and little bits. Worth a buy? Not really.
Don't Be Cruel +Plus 2 - Same as above, except spans a time frame later in their relationship. Unlike the first one though, this one I feel is worth the buy. It has cute stories (like one of Maya as a toddler puppy/pet - fuck it's so cute), and it also has some HOT sex scenes. If you like the series a lot, you should consider it.
