Hi there!
Let's end this year's Pride Month with a bang — the boys' love bang! This is a very popular subgenre, and slowly but surely, even English publishers are picking up the pace.
More and more Danmei (Chinese BL novels) and Korean BL webcomics are receiving official English prints, which is pretty cool. Within the yaoi subgenre, you can find pretty much every genre — from hilarious isekai fantasy to sci-fi and the classic slice-of-life/romance angle. The themes are endless! If you've never read any yaoi, you should! This is me telling you to at least give it a try. And if you’re already familiar with the genre, maybe it’s time for something new. On a personal note, a large part of my home collection is yaoi, so let me introduce you to some of my favorites.
Given
At this point, I think everyone and their mom knows about Given. If you haven't, you might be living under a rock.
I highly recommend this boys' love (BL) series to those who haven't read any BL before, as well as to anyone else. It's more subtle for a yaoi and still touches on deep topics. The main theme is even more exciting: rock music. Do I need to say more? Still not convinced?
The series is about four main characters who all struggle in their own ways and connect with music. As the story progresses, they (re-)form their band, "Given" (what a coincidence!). Through their passion for music, they grow and build strong connections as friends, and maybe more. Who knows? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
If you enjoy anime, this is the one to watch! But read the manga first.
Given GN Vol 01
€11,69
€12,99
Sometimes a song can save your life. Love of music unites the four members of the band Given: hotheaded guitarist Uenoyama, playboy drummer Akihiko, gentle bassist Haruki, and Mafuyu, a singer gifted with great talent and burdened by past tragedy.… read more
Love in the Palm of His Hand
Now, let's move on to one of my favorite ongoing series: Love in the Palm of His Hand.
Think A Sign of Affection, but with a touching BL storyline and acting as the underlying theme. This is also a brand new release, which makes it even more exciting!
In short, our two main characters meet because one has congenital hearing loss, and the other is trying to become a great actor with very expressive facial features and gestures. They both realize that connections can form without words.
This is a good example of manga and the use of the medium because it shows the beauty of stories told through dynamic artwork. What stands out to me in this story is the insightful depiction of hearing loss and its daily impact, combined with the beautiful artwork. Sometimes, communication doesn't require many words.
Love In The Palm Of His Hand 01
€9,74
€12,99
Through sign language and acting, two young men seeking their places in the world discover a connection that transcends the spoken word.“To think that just what I’ve always wanted to hear would come from someone I just met.”Fujinaga is a… read more
Touch Within The Abyss
Ok, my final recommendation this week is a bit darker, but it features stunning artwork. You could say it's both beautiful and sad, which is one of my favourite manga combinations.
The story is about the connection formed between a blind person and a criminal. Does that sound wild to you? It is, but it’s also a very touching story that pulls off good storytelling in a one-shot format really well. This is also the debut of the already award-winning mangaka, Moyori Mori. They should be on your radar if you're into boys' love manga.
Since this is a one-shot, it's a good choice if you're contemplating trying BL again or prefer shorter reads.
Touch Within The Abyss
€13,19
€14,99
A love story between two lonely people, spun with overwhelming artistic skill. A promising debut work from a new star!"If you knew the real me... you'd be disappointed."Hitman Chinatsu once failed to pull the trigger on his target and it… read more
This is a sale too. We're offering a 20% discount on this week's collection.
But only until June 22nd! The discount will be automatically applied when you add books to your cart. You'll also find our recommendations there. So, what are you waiting for?
And if you're in need of more inspiration, check out Daniel’s latest piece on our Beyond the Panels Blog. He breaks down what the hype around Boys Love Manga is all about, with three wholesome recommendations to get you started!
I hope you enjoyed reading my Pride Month newsletters and found inspiration for your next read.
Annika
