6. I Want to be a Wall by Honami Shirona
Synopsis: “Any love story aficionado will say that the key to a successful couple is intense desire for one another—but what if the characters in question are an asexual woman with a passion for Boys Love stories and a gay man whose heart forever belongs to his oblivious childhood friend?”
“I Want to be a Wall” subverts a complex story with endearing characters and a light comedic tone, but the more the reader digs in, the more apparent the ingenuity of the work becomes. As such, the book can be enjoyed as light reading but also as a deeper dive into the complexities of sexual relationships in Japan and their relation to the art of manga itself. A very clever and entertaining title that is certainly worth checking out.
5. Bloom Into You by Nakatani Nio
Synopsis: “Yuu has always adored shoujo manga and yearns for the day when someone might give her a love confession that would send her heart aflutter. Yet when a junior high school classmate confesses his feelings to her–she feels nothing. Disappointed and confused, Yuu enters high school, where she sees the confident and beautiful student council member Nanami. When the next person to confess to Yuu is Nanami herself, has her romantic dream finally come true?”
A well-written and thoughtful exploration of a young couple coming to terms with their feelings for one another. “Blooming Into You” is a deeply immersive read, highly emotional, and utterly rewarding. Mangaka Nakatani Nio is a masterful storyteller when it comes to exploring the challenges (and awards) of finding love.
4. She, Her Camera, and Her Seasons by Tsukiko
Synopsis: Akari is a third-year student who has spent her high school career sticking to the straight and narrow…but her attention is caught by Yuki Sendo, the short-haired, standoffish girl in her class who seems to buck the trend. Akari can't seem to stop seeking Yuki out, and her feelings rapidly develop into something more than girlish friendship. But Yuki seems to have eyes only for her childhood friend, Rintaro Kagawa…who himself seems to have feelings for Akari. It's a mess…and one that threatens to grow even messier as Akari navigates between what she wants and what's expected of her…
“She, Her Camera, and Her Seasons” is a beautiful manga that flows in a relaxed place, also acting as a celebration of photography–capturing the moment. Furthermore, the series is surprisingly mature in the way it explores young love. Its approach may not be for everyone, but this book is certainly worth giving a shot for those looking for innovation in the Yuri genre.
3. How Do We Relationship? by Tamifull
Synopsis: “Shy Miwa has always dreamed of finding love, but living in small-town Japan made finding the right match difficult—especially since she likes girls! Even going away to college didn't seem to help, until one day her outgoing classmate Saeko suggests they might as well start dating each other since it's not like either of them has other options.”
Another series slightly outside of the boundaries of familiar yuri tropes, “Bloom Into You” offers a sincere look at two college students learning to come to terms with their feelings for one another and finding love for the first time. At ten volumes and counting, the series consistently manages to charm and is an ideal choice for those who are looking for a long-run Yuri series that explores more themes than offered in the shorter or one-volume releases mentioned within this list.
2. Until I Love Myself: The Journey of a Nonbinary Manga Artist by Poppy Pesuyama
Synopsis: Nonbinary manga artist Poppy Pesuyama is excited when forms offer the option to choose “neither” for gender and thrilled about their new job working as an assistant for mangaka X! But then he sexually harasses them, treating them first like a girl and then like something less than human. It only lasts a few months, but in some ways it never ends. Born into a body they hate and still reeling from the abuse they faced seven years ago, Pesuyama begins to rail at their past, their friends, and even their mother as they try to come to terms with who they are and what happened to them.
Coming from Viz in June, the initial volume of “Until I Love Myself” leaves quite the impact in its honest portrayal of the real struggles of non-binary individuals in Japan as they come up against traditional beliefs of identity. Honest and open about their own struggles in the working world, the autobiographical work will resonate with readers in the same way that “My Lesbian Experience With Romance” did upon its release.
1. New York, New York by Marimo Ragawa
Synopsis: “Police officer Kain Walker has gone to great lengths to prevent his coworkers, family, and friends from finding out he's gay. But when Kain meets Mel Fredericks, he realizes at once that his whole world is about to change. For the first time, Kain wants more than a one-night stand, but a relationship carries risks, discovery not least among them. Battling with others' expectations and biases—and his own—Kain struggles to balance his desire for secrecy with his feelings for Mel at a time when being out could cost him dearly.”
“New York, New York” will pull at readers' heartstrings and run them through the gambit of emotions from love to outrage. Ragawa shows a deep understanding of character building and the social landscape of the era making the title a deeply engrossing read. Brilliantly written and realized, the work feels both timeless and important. A must-read for fans of BL, romance, drama, and lovers of classic manga aesthetics.
