If you’ve been following my socials, you already know that after gaming my biggest obsession is manga, specifically BL manga. My Instagram is pretty much just pictures of all the manga I buy, and at last count I own over 550 volumes of manga, with about half of them being boys love titles. So I figured, I should make use of my obsession by curating a list of BL manga titles I think you should be reading!
All of these titles are available in English, either digitally or in print–no non-licensed titles–and are among some of my favorites.
Classmates
Hikaru always thought his classmate Rihito was kind of a snob, until he stumbles across Rihito secretly practicing a song in an empty classroom. Hikaru agrees to become Rihito’s music tutor, and with each lesson the two boys grow closer. But when Hikaru realizes that he’s fallen for Rihito, will they stay classmates or become something more?
- Genre: Slice-of-Life | Shounen-ai | School Life
- Author: Asumiko Nakamura
- Publisher: Seven Seas
- Price: $12.99
- Length: 4 Volumes (ongoing)
Super sweet shounen-ai perfect for newbies! First love romance stories are a dime a dozen, but so hard to get right and that’s what makes Asumiko Nakamura’s Classmates so special. This series perfectly captures the cute, awkward, and bittersweet moments that make up the budding romance between two high school boys—from their first confusing kiss to their first fight and all the moments in between. I fell in love with Classmates at first read, and I know you will too, this is just a sweet heartwarming story that’ll have you remembering your own experiences with first love.
I Hear the Sunspot
Stunningly handsome Kohei Sugihara was outgoing and popular with the girls at school. But when a sudden illness left him with partial hearing loss, he grew quiet and reluctant to engage with others. At college, a chance encounter with an ever-optimistic classmate named Taichi Sagawa helped Kohei open up once more. And over time, the two began to develop feelings for each other. As the story continues, the pair tries to balance their budding relationship alongside Taichi’s inspiring new career and Kohei’s continued studies. But things don’t always go as planned. One day, seemingly out of nowhere, Kohei announces that maybe they should spend some time apart.
- Genre: Slice-of-Life | Drama | Romance
- Author: Yuki Fumino
- Publisher: One Peace Books
- Price: $12.95
- Length: 5 volumes
Nice balanced read for newbies and seasoned BL fans! I Hear the Sunspot is one of my favorite manga series of all time, depicting the relationship between a hearing impaired college student and his cheerful and outspoken classmate. This is a bit of a slow burn, focusing on the friendship between the main leads first before things get romantic. I Hear a Sunspot is as much about romance as it is about the individual characters and the many obstacles they face in their lives. Throughout the story as you see the ups and downs the characters face, you get so attached to everyone and you genuinely want them all to be happy.
Twittering Birds Never Fly
Yashiro is the young leader of Shinseikai and the president of the Shinseikai Enterprise, but like so many powerful men, he leads a double life as a deviant and a masochist. Chikara Doumeki comes to work as a bodyguard for him and, although Yashiro had decided that he would never lay a hand on his own men, he finds there’s something about Doumeki that he can’t resist. Yashiro makes advances toward Doumeki, but Doumeki has mysterious reasons for denying. Yashiro, who abuses his power just to abuse himself, and Doumeki, who faithfully obeys his every command, begin the tumultuous affair of two men with songs in their hearts and no wings to fly.
- Genre: Drama | Mature
- Author: Kou Yoneda
- Publisher: June
- Price: $14.95
- Length: 6 volumes (ongoing)
A sexy, angsty read for more seasoned BL fans. Twitter Birds Never Fly is a wild ride—drama, action, passion, and a heaping helping of angst. I recently binge read all 6 available volumes and I could not put them down! It’s easy to get caught up in the fast paced world of these characters and the instant attraction between Doumeki and Yashiro. Their relationship is anything but easy, both men struggle to move on from their pasts and forge a new future for themselves together.
Bad Boys Happy Home
Life sucks, and high school bad boy Akamatsu needs an outlet for his pent-up frustrations. Seven, a homeless guy living in a nearby park, is just the outlet Akamatsu is looking for. Soon, he finds himself heading to the park every day just to pick a fight, even though he never wins. So when Seven ends up kicked out of his favorite sleeping spot, Akamatsu decides there’s only one possible solution to retain his fighting partner—invite Seven home to live with him!
- Genre: Slice-of-Life | Comedy | Romance
- Author: Shoowa
- Artist: Hiromasa Okujima
- Publisher: SuBLime Manga
- Price: $12.99
- Length: 3 volumes (complete)
A largely wholesome romance, with some heavy themes. Bad Boys Happy Home is one of those series that I picked up on a whim, but I’d be lying if the idea of a BL series drawn by a shounen artist didn’t pique my interest—and surprise, it works. This is one of my new fave boys love series and if you haven’t read it yet, you need too! Bad Boys Happy Home is a wholesome story about two delinquents living together, becoming friends, and falling in love—it’s awkward and funny and downright sweet as heck!
Coyote
In order to conceal that he’s a werewolf, Coyote avoids getting too involved with humans. But Marleen, a pianist at a bar he frequents, is interested in him and just won’t take no for an answer. When Coyote unexpectedly goes into heat for the first time, Marleen catches him while he’s unable to maintain his human form and offers up a tempting invitation. Coyote wants to resist, but can he?
- Genre: Supernatural | Drama | Mature
- Author: Ranmaru Zariya
- Publisher: SuBLime Manga
- Price: $12.99
- Length: 3 volumes (ongoing)
A sexy supernatural Romeo and Juliet romance. If you have no idea who Ranmaru Zariya is, you need to drop everything you’re doing and go find out, because everything this author creates is GOLD—and the start of my Ranmaru Zariya obsession is absolutely Coyote. This manga is one of my favorites, I’ve re-read it several times and each new installment is better than the last! A forbidden romance between a werewolf and a human set against the backdrop of a inevitable civil war between their families… I eat stories like this up!
Deko-Boko Sugar Days
Yuujirou Matsukaze has been close friends with Rui Hanamine since the two of them were children, and at that time, Yuujirou was the one who stood up for and took care of his adorable, soft-hearted friend. But as it turns out, Yuujirou’s childhood dreams end up growing a little too big to handle — or, rather, too tall!
At over six feet in height, the cheerful and happy-go-lucky Rui towers over his would-be protector… and still has no idea Yuujirou’s had a crush on him since they were kids!
- Genre: Slice-of-Life | School Life | Mature
- Author: Atsuko Yusen
- Publisher: TOKYOPOP
- Price: $12.99
- Length: 1 (complete) + Sequel
A short cute romance between two equally cute friends. Deko-Boko Sugar Days is another cute high school romance story, about two childhood friends who have no idea how to take the step from buddies to lovers. Chock full of silly misunderstandings, raging hormones, and a whole lot of awkwardness, you’d think Deko-Boko Sugar Days would be just another cliché story, but it has a lot of heart and the relationship between the leads is just so dang cute!
Given
Ritsuka Uenoyama is bored with it all—with school, with his basketball club, and even with his one true passion: playing guitar. That is, until the day he finds his favorite hidden napping spot occupied by a strange boy cradling a broken-stringed guitar. At first, Uenoyama is nonplussed by Mafuyu Sato and his slightly odd behavior, but when, on a whim, he asks Mafuyu to sing, the power of that song pierces him to the core.
- Genre: Music | Drama | Slice-of-Life
- Author: Natsuki Kizu
- Publisher: SuBLime Manga
- Price: $12.99
- Length: 6 volumes (ongoing)
Love and music, what’s not to like?! Yes, I jumped right onto the Given bandwagon, what can I say, I’m a sucker for music series. I loved Beck Mongolian Chop Squad back in the day and in it’s own way Given kind of reminds me of it—a group of amateur musicians trying to make it big while working through their own personal dramas—but with a delightful boys love twist.
Hitorijime My Hero
Masahiro Setagawa doesn’t believe in heroes, but wishes he could: he’s found himself trapped in a gang of small-time street bullies, and with no prospects for a real future. But when high school teacher (and scourge of the streets) Kousuke Ohshiba comes to his rescue, he finds he may start believing after all … in heroes, and in his budding feelings, too.
- Genre: Slice-of-Life | Romance | Comedy
- Author: Memeco Arii
- Publisher: Kodansha Manga
- Price: $12.99
- Length: 11 volumes + 1 prequel (ongoing)
A cute teacher/student romance that’s pretty tame by BL standards. I dunno what to say, I really just love Hitorijime My Hero, it’s funny, and cute, and has just the right amount of spice—it’s kinda perfect. The age gap romance might not be for everyone, but Masahiro is just so cute you can’t help but root for him and his relationship with Kousuke (even though we all know Masahiro is waaaay too good for Kousuke).
10 Dance
Shinya Sugiki, the dashing lord of Standard Ballroom, and Shinya Suzuki, passionate king of Latin Dance: the two share more than just a first name and a love of the sport. They each want to become champion of the 10-Dance Competition, which means they’ll need to learn the other’s specialty dances, and who better to learn from than the best? But old rivalries die hard, and things get complicated even further when they realize there might be more between them than an uneasy partnership …
- Genre: Drama | Romance | Dance
- Author: Inoue Satou
- Publisher: Kodansha
- Price: $12.99
- Length: 6 volumes (ongoing)
This series will make you fall in love with slow burn romance. While most boys love series like to skip straight to the hanky panky, 10 Dance is all about the foreplay—the most the characters do is kiss, but when they dance, it’s better than any sex scene! 10 Dance is a slow burn romance set in the world of competitive dancing and between the gorgeous art and intense sexual tension between the two Shinyas, you won’t want to put this down!
Our Not So Lonely Travel Guide
Super serious Asahi Suzumura and laidback, easy-going Mitsuki Sayama might seem like an odd couple, but they made a deal; they’ll vacation around the world and when they get back to Japan, they’ll get married. As they travel from country to country, the different people, cultures and cuisine they encounter begin to bring them closer together. After all they’re not just learning about the world, but about themselves too.
- Genre: Slice-of-Life | Adventure | Shounen-ai
- Author: Mone Sorai
- Publisher: TOKYOPOP
- Price: $12.99
- Length: 2 volumes (ongoing)
A super fun story about a couple traveling the world! I’ve said it before, but Tokyopop has been knocking it out of the park with their LOVExLOVE manga line! There are just so many amazing stories to fall in love with and Our Not-So Lonely Planet Travel Guide is one of their best! Boyfriends Asahi and Mitsuki decide to drop everything and travel the world together, so they set their sights on parts unknown! Along the way they visit iconic locations, meet new people, experience new cultures and each new stop on their journey brings them closer than ever before. It’s a super fun premise and story and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for the pair!
Give one (or more) of these series a read, you won’t be disappointed!
There are so many great boys love series out there to discover, these are just some of my favorites! So, if you’ve been looking or something new to add to your reading list, whether your into slice-of-life, slow burn, or something with a bit more spice, you can’t go wrong with any one of these great reads!
Of course, I’d love to hear about some of your must read boys love recommendations, so don’t forget to drope some of your faves down in the comments!
“I Hear The Sunspot” was one of my favorite reads from last year. It was so good~
I’ve heard a lot about “Coyote” so I should probably get to it soon! As well as “10 Dance”, I’ve seen that title all over bookshelves for awhile now, and I’m a sucker for dance themed stories… More to my plan to read list!