LGBT manga

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Lenni Reviews: “My Adorable Betrothed” by Dokueki

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

Leo is the son of a wealthy family who also adopted Sui after his parents died. They were raised together and are expected to marry, but Sui is hesitant to make that commitment despite their close relationship.

Okay, so that’s the synopsis, but it’s more like they fuck all the time, and when they’re not fucking, they wanna fuck or talk about how much they wanna fuck. The “pressure” to get married is barely a plot point. While I can get behind a “Plot? What plot?” smutfest, this was boring after a while and uncomfortable in some parts. I feel bad not enjoying this more because the art is great. If you want straight-up smut, this is it. It has the feel of a simple porn flick, breezing by anything that isn’t sex. 2 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “My Beautiful Man” Vol. 1, by Yuu Nagira & Megumi Kitano

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

Hira has a stutter and has been bullied for it. Now in the second year of high school, it continues with a group of boys led by Kiyoi, who make him do their school chores, buy them snacks, and fetch things for them. Hira lets it happen because he has a crush on Kiyoi.

I guess this is going to turn out that Kiyoi isn’t so bad, but for now, everyone but Hira and his mother (we don’t see much of his father) are so damn unlikable. And Hira is what the kids these days would call a simp; accepting whatever shitty treatment inflicted on him because he’s in love with Kiyoi, and it’s just so sad to watch. The poor kid is miserable, and Kiyoi is a jerk. I don’t even want them to get together. I want someone else to make Hira smile for once and stick up for him. And of course, there is some sort of secret Kiyoi is hiding from his douchbag friends. This volume is suggestive but not explicit. 2.9 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Pink Candy Kiss” Vol. 2, by Ami Uozumi

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

Takara has come to terms with her feelings for Ema and is hiding them to respect Ema and Hario’s marriage. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is.

Takara goes to a lesbian club for the first time with a different friend, and it’s so cute and heartwarming. She’s realized more about her sexuality and gets a ton of support. Hario is still a great guy. There’s no sudden 180 to make him a villain. making it harder to want Takara and Em to have their happy ending at his expense. That being said, this feels more like establishing that fact than moving forward otherwise. It’s tender and insightful, but just circling around what we already know. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Pink Candy Kiss” Vol. 1, by Ami Uozumi

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

In middle school, Takara was in love with her classmate, Ema. Twenty years later, they meet again after Takara is dumped by her boyfriend. Her old feelings return, but Ema is married.

This volume is very bittersweet. It touches on the cultural aspect of girl crushes as something you’re supposed to outgrow. Ema is fucking adorable, and there does seem to be some lingering feelings for both of them. But, there is a marriage to consider, and it would have been so, SO easy to make the husband a complete asshole like in Tears on a Withered Flower, but he’s a cutie patootie, too! The art is beautiful and soft, but has no trouble handling the humor in this story. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Feigning Fox with a Face Full of Flowers” by Ryo Ayamine

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

Takeru returns to his grandfather’s home after his death to take care of the property, only to be shocked when a fox spirit named Kazune comes to claim the promise Takeru’s grandfather made to the spirit.

This has all the foundations of a decent story, but it felt bland to me, even with all the smut. The setup of the back story with Takeru and his bond with his grandfather and Kazune’s shitty childhood brings us two characters who just want to be loved, but from the very first time they’re together, they don’t feel right. It’s also a bit rapey? Little dubious consent happening here? The sex in general gives off this cold, biological reaction rather than attraction or connection. I totally understand the trope to get to the smut as quick as possible (and it’s quite graphic), but this rang hollow for me. Maybe it needed more time to tell its story. 2 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Touch Within the Abyss” by Moyori Mori

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

The one time Chinatsu hesitated with a target, it cost his older brother his life and left a witness, a blind boy named Kasumi. Years later, Chinatsu meets Kasumi again.

This is a cozy read. Chinatsu’s profession as a hitman isn’t at the forefront, so the violence is heavily implied, not explicit. The art is dreamy and soft when it needs to be and just dark enough when there’s tension or darker stuff happening in the story. Everything is very effective in making you care about the couple and want to see them happy. Heck, even Kasumi’s family is supportive. A lot of these stories would either lean into the violence or make the disabled person miserable because their family is awful, but nope. Not this time. If you’re looking for something quick to read without much smut (it’s off “screen” so to speak), this is just a nice read. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Ask and You Will Receive” Vol. 2, by Niyama

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

While dating Hikaru wasn’t the plan, Shinobu finds the standoffish prince to be a better partner than he’d thought, despite the fact they still keep everything secret at work. Hikaru may still be snooty at work, but he’s shy with Shinobu in private and realizes they have never been on an actual date.

This volume hits that magical spot for me where you could toss all the smut out and I’d be just fine with the story. These two goofs are so fucking sweet, I need a trip to the dentist. This is more from Hikaru’s point of view and is focused on turning a purely sexual relationship into something deeper. The possibility of their relationship being outed (spoilers?) is more about Shinobu wanting to protect Hikaru’s golden boy reputation, so, as of now, there’s no issue with dangerous homophobia. At least not yet. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Rainbows After Storms” Vol. 4, by Luka Kobachi

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

This volume has our secret couple Nanoha and Chidori going on their first beach trip with their friends as well as introducing Igarashi; Chidori’s first love that broke her heart.

It’s interesting to see how f/f relationships are seen in Japan. I remember reading/watching somewhere that these little intimacies are seen as cutesy things you grow out of as life gets “serious,” then you go on to have a family. My mother believed something similar. It was so fucking sweet to see Nanoha put her foot down and say Chidori is her girlfriend. They’re still a secret to their friends but this isn’t a passing thing for them. While this isn’t a flash forward 20 years in the future to see they’re still together for a real confirmation but I’ll take it. They are so damn adorable. 3.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Cute but Not Cute” by Senmu Sakishita

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

Keiichi Hozumi is a success in his company; he’s popular; seemingly having it all. But deep down, he’s lonely. He can’t sleep unless there’s a girl in his bed with him, but one drunken night, he proposes a threesome with his secretary Ibuki; who has feelings for his boss.

Keiichi is the silly one while Ibuki is the stern one but I don’t like how often Keiichi gets drunk and sleeps with Ibuki then doesn’t remember what happened in the morning. But the title is an accurate assessment of how I felt by the end of this. The couple can be cute but also kinda not. I don’t really like them. Keiichi is pushy and Ibuki should tell his love interest to be with him when he’s sober. I had trouble caring if they got together by the end. It’s very explicit but I can’t even enjoy that since the consent is so iffy given the amount of alcohol. 2 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Ask and You Will Receive” Vol. 1, by Niyama

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

Shinobu Urakawa is an unsuspecting office clerk by day but off the clock, he’s a playboy frequenting a gay bar he views as his oasis from the constant fawning over his coworker, Hikaru Omoteya. Known as “The Prince” by the others in the office, he’s got a big ego, thinking he can score anyone he wants, even when he heads to the same gay bar and he’s straight. He flirts with Shinobu not knowing who he is; getting more than he bargained for.

This is an “enemies” to lovers story (I don’t think they’re really enemies; they just don’t really like each other, even though they don’t know each other by more than their work reputation) with a bi-awakening and some office romance thrown in. The relationship starts as purely sexual but this is no swoonfest. It gets to the smut quickly and it doesn’t stop or hold back. Our ego-driven Hikaru has no clue what he’s getting into but Shinobu’s plan to take him down a peg results in some feels between them. Aside for some dub-con elements because Hikaru is drunk at the beginning, this was a fun read. They’re relatably silly in some parts. 4 out of 5.

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