gay fiction

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Lenni Reviews: “May I Have a Taste?” Vol. 2, by Amidamuku

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Minoru is gravely injured trying to save Yamadera after he risks his life trying to become a vampire. An older vampire, Mire, comes to assist Minoru.

I like that the world is expanding. I don’t like Yamadera, so spending time with any other character is a net positive. We do get some backstory for Mine, another new vampire, Itachi, and introduce Mei, who reminds me of Kiku from Call of the Night. I’m glad what seemed to be a predatory version of Ko annoying Minoru, who just wants to live his life, is shaping into something more. 3.9 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Forest of the Rabbits” Vol. 1, by ENJO

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+

Shunta and Tamaki were childhood friends who reconnect in high school. While Shunta realized his attraction to his friend early on, Tamaki’s tumultuous upbringing has him clinging to traditional expectations. But Shunta doesn’t want to waste any more time before fulfilling his dream of dating Tamaki.

This is rough since it starts with them as young kids, and Tamaki is clearly not only neglected by his mother, but he’s also exposed to things a child shouldn’t because his mother is a sex worker. We are pro-sex work in this house, but not with your child in the next room or watching your clients as they go in and out of the home. That’s a dark cloud lurking behind this budding romance, making it hard to enjoy Shunta being a goofy simp for his crush. I almost don’t want them to get together until Tamaki has had a few months of intense therapy to deal with his clear trauma. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Rainbows After Storms” Vol. 10, by Luka Kobachi

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

While Nanoha has decided to attend confectionary school in Tokyo, Chidori is still unsure. She is only certain she wants to follow Nanoha to Tokyo.

If Chidori isn’t able to get into a school close to Nanoha, it brings the possibility of having to be in a long distance relationship. I have to say, they’re being very mature for a YA manga. I suppose since this has been a fairly cozy slice of life so far, it’s not going to make a pivot to big dramatics. Which is great! It’s a healthy relationship and they’re adorable together. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “May I Have a Taste?” Vol 1. by Amidamuku

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is for mature readers only.

Minoru Sato is a 40-year-old virgin salaryman who was turned into a vampire. His coworker, Yamadera, finds out Minoru’s secret and wants to be a vampire, too.

If this didn’t end on a cliffhanger, I’m not sure I would want to continue, since this is the second comic I’ve read in a row where the dynamic makes me uncomfortable. Yamadera is really creepy. He’s not like Ko from Call of the Night, who had this innocent charm. Yamadera is clearly not someone who should have any power, let alone be a vampire. He’s a manipulative twatwaffle who will use Minoru to get what he wants and Minoru doesn’t deserve that. 1.7 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Confessions of a 35 Year Old” by TEI

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Jason (Junren Liu) is a single office worker who is also a virgin. When a new co-worker, Frank (Qianfan Ye), needs a place to stay, Jason offers his spare room. Over time, they grow closer, and Jason wonders if this will be a chance at love.

While I am loving bisexual men representation, even for a one-shot, this felt too short. Just when things are getting good, we’re getting to know our MC’s, their relationship is growing, the conflict is established… Then it just stops. And on a cliffhanger at that! I mean, it’s easy to assume what the outcome will be, but still. What the heck? I think this would have been better if it were a little longer. It’s a cute story, I love the art style, but it needed more. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “You’re All Mine Tonight” by Takiba

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+ and trigger warning for sexual assault.

Kanzaki is a straight-laced, dependable businessman who has kept it hidden that he had a long-standing tryst with a male sex worker who called himself “Nagi,” whom he still longs for. Five years later, Kanzaki meets Futagami at a work assignment, who looks just like him.

The art is beautiful, expressive, and lewd when it needs to be. However, as much as I was rooting for our main couple to be happy, I came away from this with the feeling that this was problematic. Nagisa’s character is made to actually not properly experience sex except with Kanzaki once they meet up again, but it is CLEARLY a trauma response from his time doing sex work and a sexual assault. Since this was never addressed, it felt tacked on to elicit emotion for the character rather than something he works through. Kanzaki just presses his feelings on him until poof, they’re in love. Nagisa’s rejection felt less like “I’m hiding my feelings” and more like a definitive NO that wasn’t listened to. I don’t like the idea of harassing someone until they date you. 2.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Love on the Horizon” Vol. 1, by Machi Yamashita

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Nagi Hitagawa is in love with Yu Yamasaki. Not only are they in the same folk song club at school, they are also neighbors. Nagi doesn’t think Yu would be interested in him because Yu is so popular, but when Yu gets drunk enough that Nagi helps him get home, Nagi ends up trapped in Yu’s drunken embrace, making his unrequited feelings grow stronger.

This is a cute story about how these two get together. It’s low angst, the smut is implied, not graphic, and is overall refreshing. It’s sweet and to the point. If you’re in the market for a swoony, romantic, first-love story, this is perfect, especially if you’re not comfortable with super graphic sex. It’s also beautiful to look at. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “23:45” by Ohana

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Iku has been in Tokyo for 2 months and is content with his otaku lifestyle. The most excitement he is forced to deal with is his ability to see ghosts. One in particular, Mimori, follows him home. As they grow closer, Iku knows Mimori will have to eventually move on.

This was cute. It’s a little slow, and I didn’t feel like I got to know these people as deeply as I’d like to, but this felt like a nice setup for a climax later. Iku is smitten pretty quickly, and when you think it’s going to be bittersweet, things get very… Convenient is a good word for it. Not bad, but nothing really new here. It’s not smutty as sex is implied, not graphic. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Sleeping on Paper Boats” Vol. 2, by Teki Yatsuda

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Kei and Yoichi reunite after some time apart, helping to heal each other’s deep wounds and hopefully move forward towards a brighter future.

While the word “maudlin” is a perfect way to describe this book and what our couple goes through, I am happy to report it’s a wade through the muck to reach the light. In the end, it’s beautiful and not that explicit at all. If you’re looking for a m/m romance that focuses deeply on the characters overcoming what has weighed them down, this is a nice story that rewards the heartache you may feel. 4.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “My Noons and Midnights Are for You” Vol. 1, by Luria

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+

Mayu is a v-tuber who goes by “Mihiru” and while his online persona is outgoing, in real life, he is shy. His manager, Mr. Ogino, is under strict rules not to get involved with his client, and the company sets up same sex managers in order to maintain that, but that doesn’t work when Ogino develops feelings.

Okay, even the Goodreads entry references dubcon, kink, depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and alcohol use. I even felt blindsided by the first sex scene, which I thought was Mayu’s fantasy. He’s clearly depressed and anxious, isolated due to the nature of his job and past traumas. His relationship with Ogino is a bit toxic, but at least the manager is legit helping with some of Mayu’s depression behaviors, like taking care of himself and his living space. This is absolutely graphic smut with a plot that’s not your fluffy romance. It’s messy in multiple ways. Not for the faint of heart, but not super dark. 4 out of 5.

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