“Thirty-five-year-old, single office worker Jason normally finds love to be elusive. He doesn't give much thought to his new coworker Frank when he joins the company. But when a chance encounter evolves into a series of shared moments, an unanticipated twist in their relationship finds Jason and Frank being roommates. Will Jason find his new normal is love?” (Media Do)
It is rare enough to find stories in the BL genre that deal with mature adult relationships, let alone ones that carry a genuine sincerity in exploring the complexities of later-in-life romance. “Confessions of a 35 Year Old” aims to fill this niche with its story of two men carrying baggage of past failures and struggling to come to terms with their feelings. In addition, the title offers a unique glimpse into Taiwanese ‘manga' and its ability to approach the genre with the same consideration and skill as its Japanese counterparts.
The writing of TEI is undeniably charming and well thought out, cautiously approaching the budding romance of two characters who can't fall aimlessly in love as often depicted in more youth-focused BL titles. The book's strength lies in navigating the pressures of being single in your 30s; office dynamics and family obligations all play a considerable role in developing the book's flow. TEI touches on so many facets of gay relationships in a meaningful manner that becomes all the more impressive in a single title release.
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This is not to say that “Confessions of a 35 Year Old” is overly serious; it understands how the genre relies on those touching moments and cute interactions. This runs from the initial confession to that awkward ‘bumping into each other' in the kitchen. The sense of sexual tension and awkward flirting is not diminished but less pronounced, considering the issues the characters face. Moreover, this all culminates in a rather touching ending that fans of BL will appreciate.
Visually, the art of TEI is serviceable to the BL genre, imbuing the characters with a lot of personality but offering little beyond that. Comparatively, the art is indistinguishable from manga, which is not necessarily detrimental when considering the popularity of the BL Genre in Japan. A degree of visual flair or overly romanticized panels could have helped further to push the vast and complex array of emotions the “Confessions of a 35 Year Old” explores, but not one will leave thinking the title fell short of its potential regarding the art.
For a single-volume release, “Confessions of a 35-Year-Old” impresses and shows manhua's ability to compete in the same space dominated by manga. Notably, the book manages to explore a mature relationship with consideration for the challenges that come with it, including delving into expectations to hide orientation for the sake of the family, often heavily emphasized in many cultures.
The visual direction may only be serviceable, and the open conclusion will leave some wishing for a multi-volume release. Still, for a singular experience, TEI's “Confessions of a 35-Year-Old” is an undeniable gem in the BL genre that fans should check out.
