m/m erotica

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Lenni Reviews: “Ask and You Will Receive” Vol. 3, by Niyama

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

Shinobu and Hikaru have moved from one night stand to a more exclusive relationship. When Hikaru’s mentor – Osuke Ikurumi –  shows up, Shinobu is scared that Hikaru’s new interest in men will lead him to fall for the mentor Hikaru still idolises.

Okay, I’m spoiling it! This volume keeps up with the light tone, and Osuke is genuinely looking out for Hikaru and cares about him as a mentor. He wants Hikaru to be happy like a father figure coming in to make sure Shinobu is a guy good enough for his son. This gives Shinobu the push to make things more official. I hope there’s more of this series so we get more of them as an official couple. There is a tiny bit of angst, some cute and funny bits, and of course, plenty of smut. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Sleeping on Paper Boats” Vol. 1, by Teki Yatsuda

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

Set in Post-War Japan (1949) Keikitahara is a popular screenwriter who decides to quit when he realizes the people who inspired his characters ended up dead. He isolates himself, believing he is cursed. One night, he’s picked up after a fight by a photographer, Yoichi. Yoichi wants to get to know him, but Keikitahara tries to keep him away, thinking he will kill anyone he allows to get close to him.

Yoichi has his own thing going on, but holy shit, this is SAD. Kei clearly didn’t have any help dealing with the horrific trauma, and he is plagued with guilt. Yoichi kinda enables his worst ways to cope – spoiler/trigger warning for consensual choking during sex. But when they are happy together, it is so beautiful. The art is amazing at conveying all the wild emotions and the smut is light and suggestive. I recommend something light to read to cheer yourself up after reading this, though. 4.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Megumi & Tsugumi” Vol. 6, by Mitsuru Si

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

Tsugumi has transferred to Megumi’s school but as an omega, he’s in danger from all the alpha’s around him and Megumi’s father hatches a plan to use a teacher to drive the couple apart.

The teacher, Mr. Nagaro, is a creep. The story tries to play it off as a joke, but nah, I wouldn’t want him around my kid. While this is about omegas in an alpha school and the school trip, the sex scene in this seems a bit forced in. I wouldn’t have minded if it had been left out to have more time with our main couple navigating this new situation, while Megumi’s father tries to interfere. The sweet moments in this are where the volume really shines because Megumi is so earnest, while Tsugumi is a food-driven, deadpan goofball. I also wish the sex scene was skipped because Mr. Nagaro spied on them. Gross. 3.9 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “The Desert Butterfly Yearns to Be Caught” by Kaede Yunami

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

Seth is the wealthy leader of a desert country, far beyond what his bodyguard, Kyle, believes he deserves, but he cannot help but desire his boss and want to claim him for his own.

When this starts, it doesn’t seem like Seth is down for whatever Kyle is doing, and it feels like it’s slipping into non/dub con territory. Spoilers (maybe?), when they get together for real, it does not feel earned. There’s mention of Seth feeling caged and wanting to do things without Kyle hovering over him but that’s never really explored in a way that’s satisfying. It’s okay but clearly the thinnest of stories to get to the smut; of which there is plenty in its uncensored glory. This was meh and didn’t have any depth. 2 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Fated NOT to Meet” Volume 1, by Ei Eijou

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

Izumi is the top salesman at his company who is doing a favor for his friend by acting as a plant for a gay dating app on the side. He ends up matching with Sendo, a rival salesman at his company who just so happens to have a lot in common with.

With this set up, I thought it’d have a lot of back and forth but it gets right to the point. Their initial rivalry isn’t too toxic that you don’t believe they could ever learn to get along, much less have a romantic relationship. It’s all about sales and the app gave them a chance to connect beyond that. While they are both stern on the job, Izumi is a bit of a goof and provides most of the humor. The smut is graphic and detailed, so this is adults only! 3.9 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “We’re Not Cut Out to Be Lovers” Volume 1, by Kou Hirokawa

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

Kumazawa moves into a new apartment, and his neighbor, Koichi, is frequently too loud as he works from home as a streamer. When their conflict grows into a physical relationship, Kumazawa resists getting involved with a straight guy, but Koichi won’t back down.

This wastes no time getting our main characters together. I’m a sucker for grump/sunshine pairings and while this moves very fast, they’re easy to get attached to since their personalities pop. There’s just enough emotional meat to chew on, but I wouldn’t complain if there was a little more. I’ve written quick smut like this and it absolutely has value, but I like more story in my erotica, especially since a setup like this would totally lend itself to a longer plot. The smut is there and pretty detailed but there is some censoring – specifically the glow-dick. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Sweet or Bitter Love” by Conro

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

Ichigi is a quiet person who is considered gloomy. He has a crush on the outgoing and popular Odajima. When, at the behest of his worried mother, Ichigi tries a matchmaking service, he is matched with Odajima. He doesn’t think someone so popular would ever be into him, so they agree to a one-year trial of living together.

This makes up for the last yaoi I read. It may have the familiar tropes, including the misheard conversations, wild assumptions, and miscommunications that lead to a temporary separation but they’re cute. We don’t get too deep into backstory but I enjoyed this so much more than Betrothed one. They have interactions that aren’t smut to build some chemistry and the smutty scenes aren’t overpowering the rest of the book. It does have the superdeformed art that tries to be cute but comes off as creepy to me. 3 out of 5.

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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: “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: “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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