BL (WEBTOON): Hollow Lovers/Honey Catch

WEBTOON: Hollow Lovers/Honey Catch by Wang Tao

STATUS: Completed

SYNOPSIS: On the day he lost his job, Chu Lin was dumped by his current girlfriend... again. Although he was never single from the time he turned 14, he could never hold onto relationship for his reason being dumped is always the same; he doesn’t like them enough. Not only he’s jobless, he’s also homeless so it’s imperative he quickly find a job and a place to stay. While he was downing his sorrow at the bar, he was picked up this time by an intense good looking guy who was looking for a one-night stand. Chu Lin was able to avert disaster when he has a short moment of of clear consciousness, but he ended up spending the time at the stranger’s home as he was too drunk to leave. The stranger, Ziming turned out to be an aspiring fashion designer who is building his own brand, and Chu Lin was envious for he never has any aspirations or ambitions and he began to wish to change his life around. Luck was on his side when Ziming offered to host Chu Lin for a short period while he got back on his feet. Unbeknownst to Chu Lin, this kindness is completely out of character for Ziming for he usually doesn’t care much for people in general. 

PERSONAL NOTE: A little intense at times, but a good read. There’s characters development and by the end of the story, both has gone through a lot of hardship and still be together. 

Shall We Have Dinner Tonight?

WEBTOON: Shall We Have Dinner Tonight? by Park Seein

STATUS: Completed

SYNOPSIS: Three months after being dumped by her boyfriend of 8 years, Woo Doe-Hee decided to treat herself to a good steak. While waiting to be seated, there’s a man sitting alone playing some childish game on his phone. When the waitress mistaken them as a couple and told them about the couple special, Doe-Hee took a bold step to invite the stranger to join her at the table. Since that day, they became meal buddies, trying different restaurants as they confide with each other and commiserate over their failed relationships.   

PERSONAL NOTE:  A relationship between 2 person that started as platonic and slowly turned into romance. 

WEBTOON: A Country of Maestri

WEBTOON: A Country of Maestri by Muhwa

STATUS: On-going

SYNOPSIS: Baek Beom is a gifted sculptor who spent most of his days perfecting his craft. He also had a little secret that he kept from everyone; that he’s able to freeze an object or create a snowflake at will. After a night out meeting with a friend, Baek came home to find his home invaded by a knife wielding stranger who sprouted nonsense about being a maestro and whose cut healed by itself. Baek promptly kicked the guy out and thought nothing of it. And because his mother has been nagging for him to check on his sister, he decided to drop by her apartment only to find her lifeless body on the floor. In the midst of his grief and shock, the stranger, Gino appeared only to announce that the body is not the real body. With the hope of his sister is still alive and being kept hostage by some unknown person, Baek set out to find and hopefully rescue his sister.... preferably without Gino for he couldn’t decide whether he’s a friend or a foe.

PERSONAL NOTE: This is not a fluffy webtoon nor is it a romance. It’s more like a horror supernatural thriller... so there’s gore.. lots of it... not really my kind of thing... but like a train wreck.. you can’t look away. Gore or not.. I’m hooked lol. 

SLICE OF LIFE: Ensemble

WEBTOON: Ensemble by Yubi

STATUS: Completed

SYNOPSIS: If there’s one word to describe the relationship between Bohm and his detective father, that would be strain. Their relationship was further tested when Detective Ghim was entrusted of protecting an important witness for an upcoming trial. The witness, Mahnsu was an orphan who has been living on the street since young, had requested to attend school as part of his witness agreement. While Bohm resented the fact that he has to babysit Mahnson, he also couldn’t stop himself from getting involved. For Mahnsu, this was his one and only chance to experience life as a student and with a family, so he was making the most out of the opportunity. 

PERSONAL NOTE: A comedy-thriller that borders slapstick and quirky. Entertaining read. 

SLICE OF LIFE: Hinekure Shisho no Mikaiketsu Jikenroku

MANGA:  Hinekure Shisho no Mikaiketsu Jikenroku by Kinashi Rumaru

STATUS: Completed

SYNOPSIS: Akira Bundo is a very skillful book restorer who works at a private library managed by Kanako Katagiri and her father. Unfortunately his work is often interrupted by Eiji Yonehara, who shamelessly recruit or threaten (if need to) Bundo into helping to solve crime with his special ability. 

PERSONAL NOTE: I like this story.. it’s quite charming and entertaining. No romance, just crime solving with a little paranormal  

SLICE OF LIFE: Nanohana Boys

MANWHA: Nanohana Boys by Pyong

STATUS: Completed

SYNOPSIS: After an accident that caused Onishi Yuu a permanent lost of sight on his left eye, he decided to turn his life around, leaving his delinquent past behind. He was surprised to learn he wasn’t the only disabled in school for one of his classmates, Ishida Kenji is deaf and mute. Unlike Onishi who kept his disability a secret, Ishida’s disability was known, making him an easy target for snide remarks and bullying in school. Onishi reluctantly agreed to be Ishida’s friend in return for his phone, which was confiscated by his teacher but Ishida’s stoic demeanor doesn’t help in making the process easier. Through Ishida, Onishi learned to face his disability head-on, and make the most out of the 2nd chance given. Through Onishi, Ishida learned he no longer had to go through challenges alone and that there are people who cared about him. 

PERSONAL NOTE: I love this story... a story of a beautiful friendship between 2 boys and how they help each other to grow and become stronger. I’m so glad they found each other. 

BL (WEBTOON): At the End of the Road

WEBTOON: At The End of the Road by Haribo

STATUS: Completed

SYNOPSIS: Just when Yoon Tae Min are almost done with his loan repayment and could start living his own life, he got distracted while crossing the road and his last memory was an in-coming truck heading his way. When he next opens his eyes, he found himself in a body very much different than his own and he is now known as Han Si Won. Fortunately, Si Won was also involved in an accident earlier and his unfamiliarity with his surrounding was diagnosed as amnesia by the doctor in charge. That gave Tae Min a breathing room to plan his next move in finding out what had happened. 

Tae Min soon found out Si Won is a victim of bullying in school and even with the public knowledge of what happened to Si Won, the bullying did not stop. If the bullies thought the new Si Won is going take in everything like before, they had it coming for if there’s one thing that Tae Min hate the most, is being the victim. But dealing with bullies aren’t Tae Min’s only problem for he also had to deal with his new brother who seems to hate him and the unwanted reunion with his childhood friend, Min Woo Jin who disappeared years ago without a word. However, the now Woo Jin is much colder and harsher, not the same brat that used to follow him around. Worst, he seems to have the notion that Si Won is not Si Won and is bend on making Tae Min confessed the truth.

PERSONAL NOTE: The bullying is a pain to read especially what happened to the real Si Won. Other than that, it’s quite entertaining to read how Tae Min deals with the 2nd chance life has given him. 

Perfect World

MANGA: Perfect World by Aruga Rie

STATUS: On-going

SYNOPSIS: A company’s dinner party is the last place Kawana Tsugumi expected to meet her childhood crush, Ayukawa Itsuki. Although it shouldn’t come as a surprised as Ayukawa has always made known of his dream to become an architect and it seems he has achieved it. Being an interior designer herself, there’s always a chance of them bumping into each other but that chance meeting was a little unsettling, especially when she discovered Ayukawa is now confined to a wheelchair. 

Seeing Ayukawa again still send a thrill through her  just like years before, Kawana couldn’t help wondered whether she will be able to accept being in a relationship with a disabled person. That meeting at the party rekindled their friendship and they began to spend more time together as friends and work partners. Just like years ago, Kawana found herself falling in love with Ayukawa again.  

PERSONAL NOTE: Initially I was reluctant to read this as I always avoid reading tragic story but I’m glad I gave this a go. The overall storyline is quite realistic and it really shows some of the challenges faced being in love with a disabled person and also being a disabled person. 

BL: Collection of New Year Illustrations 2019

Takasaki Bosco (Source)

Kusabi Keri (Source)

Fujitani Youko (Source)

Ichikawa Ichi (Source)

Minaduki Yuu (Source)

Takamura Anna (Source)

Tenzen Momoko (Source)

Conro (Source)

Amoto Sari (Source)

Hidaka Shoko (Source)

Machiya Hatoko (Source)

Aki Ueda (Source)

Abe Akane (Source)

Matsuo Isami (Source)

Asou Mitsuaki (Source)

Furuya Nagisa (Source)

Sakurai Ryou (Source)

Amamiya (Source)

Shimizu Yuki (Source)

Yoneda Kou (Source)

And because I cannot resist the cutie twins.. here they are, sneaking in..

Tokeino Hari (Source)

BL: Collection of Christmas Illustrations 2018

Shimizu Yuki (Source)

Abe Akane (Source)

Kusabi Keri (Source)

Ichikawa Kei (Source)

Takasaki Bosco (Source)

Scarlet Beriko (Source)

Fujitani Youko (Source)

Norikazu Akira (Source)

Miki Laika (Source & Source)

It’s not you, it’s me, Men’s life by Watanabe Ayu

Men’s Life

MANGA: Men’s life by Watanabe Ayu

STATUS: On-going

SYNOPSIS: Due to a trauma happened in middle school, Mio has chosen to seclude herself at home; taking online courses and only interacting with family members. Her twin brother Yuuta, on the hand, is the opposite of her, always the life of a party and had chosen to live in the dorm. However, Yuuta came back one summer and begged Mio to take over his place at his school so he could follow his crush who is going to study in Australia. To Mio, being in the vicinity of people is impossible but Yuuta is not giving up without a fight. Mio agreed to go to the school for one day just to show Yuuta fulfilling his impulsive request is impossible. While Mio almost had a panic attack just walking around the school compound, it got worst when she was discovered by Yuuta’s volleyball teammates who has a bone to pick for disappearing without a proper explanation. When Mio got home, after overhearing a conversation between Yuuta and her mother, plus her own conversation with Yuuta’s senpai, Rin Kashiwabara who somehow managed to calm her panic; decided to do the switch and thus began her life as Yuuta in Tensei Academy.

PERSONAL NOTE: I really enjoy the story... the characters are all very lovable and I love their interactions with each other. I just hope it keep up and doesn’t go the way of sensei’s other work; L-DK (interesting start but went downhill not long after that). 

YAOI: Nichijou Climax

MANGA: Nichijou Climax by London Pariko

STATUS: Complete

SYNOPSIS: Mikuriya Tsubasa completely blindsided when his lover of 15 years, Kusaka Yuu asked to break-up one morning. The reason? Mikuriya has failed to keep a promise. As they had been together ever since they ran away from home at the age of 17 and had made many promises along the years, Mikuriya has no idea which promise Kusaka refers to and had to dig deep into memories to find it. Little did they know, this incident was the catalyst they needed to move their relationship to the next stage. 

PERSONAL NOTE: I love this story... the 2 of them are just so lovable, especially Mikuriya, he’s soo goofy in his love for Kusaka. A mature love story. 

MANHWA: The Country is Saved!

MANHWA: The Country is Saved! by Lee Sang-Eun

STATUS: Completed

SYNOPSIS: Miss goodie-two-shoes and nerdy Hwang Min-Seo has come a long way and is finally where she’s meant to be; a promising career as a public prosecutor. On top of that, as bonus, it seems her unrequited affection for her high-school crush, Special Cases Prosecutor Kang Jun-Hyun is about to be reciprocate. Unfortunately, before she could hear the awaited confession from Jun-Hyun, the prosecutor’s office landed a high-profile case involving her former school’s most famous and notorious bad boy, Yu Sang-Woo. While visiting her old school during the investigation, she caught sight of Sang-Woo and in the midst of apprehending Sang-Woo, she ended up time traveling 10 years back. Back to her dark-period; a period which Min-Seo rather not lived through again. However, being the pragmatic that she is, she decided to use this time to find out what happened to Yu Sang-Woo, that he ended up being one of the country’s most notorious gangster 10 years later. 

PERSONAL NOTE: I’m not a big fan of Korean manhwa except for a handful, maybe it’s because the first Korean manhwa that I read is by Hwang Mi-Ri and her male MC tend to be quite rough with the female MC. When I first read this, it was tough to wade through the pages but once I get used to the art, I started to enjoy the story. The female MC is hilarious as she constantly had to remind herself to be 18, instead of 28; her good intentions often backfired and she sure is not the passive type who sits around, do nothing but mope and cry. Do give this a chance. 

YAOI101: RELATIONSHIP STATUS

“I may be a dog god, but I won’t mix-up the difference between kissing you and licking your face!!”  Kamisama x Oresama x Oyomesama  by Kurahashi Chouko  

YAOI: Kamisama x Oresama x Ojosama

MANGA:  Kamisama x Oresama x Oyomesama  by Kurahashi Chouko

STATUS: Completed

SYNOPSIS: Now that Haruma is in college, he wanted to live by himself in the city. Unfortunately, his parents refused to support him and he ended up staying at the old family home belonging to his late grandmother. He stumbled upon an old abandoned shrine on his way to school and decided to give it a quick clean-up and small offering. After all, his grandmother had instilled into him the need to show respect to gods. Little did he know, his deed brought the God of Better Harvest, Aoba into his life. While Aoba may not be able to give Haruma abundance of good harvest as he is not a farmer, he is here to fulfill Haruma’s other wish: a lover. 

Kuro, the Dog’s God who is also the God of Safe Birth was peeved that his brother has now paired up with a human for he totally hates mankind. On top of that, due to a mishap, he has temporarily lost his power and is now reduced to a puppy. Worst, on his way home from a family dinner, thanks to his other brother’s carelessness, he found himself catapulted into a lake and was saved by a human. As a god, he is bound to repay the human and it was just his luck that he ended up having to live with a human as repayment. 

PERSONAL NOTE: I really enjoyed the stories; fun and entertaining. Wish there’s more. 

TENDER MOMENT Watashi ni xx Shinasai! by Tooyama Ema