Hi! Welcome back to my site. More importantly, welcome to my BL library. I am your BL librarian.
Today, to ring in the new year, we will be going through my library’s archives and finding all of my favorite BL reads over the past year, 2025. These are what I have read and reviewed over the year, not what came out that year. I’ve split it between the various forms of BL, such as manhwa, manga, novels, and others when applicable, and I’ve linked them below so you can navigate to your preferred format:
One last thing: throughout this post, I have linked each entry with the full review, so if you want more information, you can check those out. With all that being said, let’s get started.
Manhwa
Legroom by Dacto
To start off with this one is to put the rest of the list to shame, and that is saying something, because there are amazing titles throughout this list. This came as a surprise. I read it randomly since it was a short story, and it has changed me entirely. This story is beyond powerful and is an expert demonstration of how to write ultra-short fiction well. It has a huge twist, delves into humanity’s pain and perseverance, and even features amazing smut. This might not only be the best I read last year, but the best I’ve read entirely. It is certainly in my top three, if nothing else. I can’t sing its praises enough.
In Cold Love by 10min
This isn’t the prettiest title on the list, but as a self-professed art snob, even titles with poor art can still win me over. This is actually a blend of modern and historical elements, with the historical flashbacks framed within the contemporary story. You can tell the creator took immense time crafting the parallels and foreshadowing between these two timelines, which leads to reveals that hurt as much as they impress. It’s beautiful, truly.
Walk on Water by Jang Mokdan
Jaxx is the artist of this series, and though it is older, it has all of the core elements that make Jaxx the amazing artist they are in more modern titles today. It is sketchy and inconsistent, but it has beautiful sex scenes. Alongside the art and the sex, there is a narrative that delves beyond the pleasure of the porn industry. It highlights the positive and negative aspects, giving us a fair view of sex work that many other titles neglect. It is powerful in so many ways, and that’s why it is a favorite.
4 Week Lovers by Maroron
This is stunning. The art style is so soft, smooth, and delicate, and it truly has the most beautiful sex scenes in all of manhwa. The art in this is some of the best out there, and for those who haven’t read it, you really should, because it can be breathtakingly beautiful. Narrative-wise, it is very strong until a weird tonal shift in the last arc, but overall, it is a solid manhwa. If you’re a degenerate like me, this is undoubtedly a must-read.
Low Tide in Twilight by euja
This is the perfect title to round out the manhwa section with. Omegaverse is probably my favorite BL setting of all time, and with the influx of titles getting licensed, there is unfortunately a lot of mid and trash stories to wade through. However, this is probably one of the best omegaverse titles of all time. It is chock-full of darkness, but within that darkness, there is immense strength, sorrow, retribution, growth, and ultimately domestic bliss. This is a story about change, and it is amazing. It isn’t for the faint of heart for sure, but if you can stomach the darker stuff, and you love the omegaverse, this is the one for you.
Manga
Takara’s Treasure by Suzumaru Minta
Suzumaru Minta is always an amazing way to start the year, and this title was no exception. It has some of my favorite elements, such as a country boy falling for a city boy and an airheaded cutie pie who can soften even the coldest love interest. It gives all the warm fuzzies, and I love it. It is a bit lacking in the smut department compared to other Suzumaru Minta titles, but it’s still Suzumaru Minta – so, it’s good.
Penetrate Me With Your Eyes by Naomi Aga
While the previous title may have been lacking in the smut, this title doesn’t have that problem whatsoever. On the contrary, this features one of the hottest power bottoms I’ve seen in manga. Really, the art in general is absolutely stunning. It leans more into realism than your standard manga art style, and that is to its benefit. It’s unique, and I think you’d really be missing out if you didn’t check this one out.
How My Daddies Became Mates by Mikkamita
Child-rearing is one of my favorite things in omegaverse, and since this title starts off with them already having a child and working their way back, we get lots of sweet child-rearing early on. The structure of framing the main story in the future and retelling it adds a unique element that I really enjoyed. I am always biased toward omegaverse titles, but I think this one is something special.
Touch Within the Abyss by Moyori Mori
This is beautiful in the most painful way. It is a dark story, but the main relationship itself is not dark. On the contrary, they are sweet, delicate, and fluffy, which only makes the stark difference in their surroundings all the more terrifying. It is narratively beautiful, but the art is stunning as well. This is no doubt a must-read for too many reasons to list here.
Brat Tamer / King by Kitahala Lyee
Dom/sub universe titles are rare, so when I see one get an official English release, I jump on it. I am not always satisfied with what I read, but when I am, it is exciting, to say the least. This one, thankfully, was a treat. It is a unique take on the universe, treading closer to its omegaverse predecessor with pheromones. But it is ultimately a very soft look at it, and that’s why it was a favorite.
Healing Paradox deeper by Hirune Cyan
It’s rare for any series to get a sequel or spin-off, and it’s even rarer for the sequel to be a favorite when the initial series was not. So this one is a rarity in several ways. The entire series is a delicious showing of some of the loveliest smut out there, despite the sketchy art style, and this sequel in particular is written exceptionally well. It takes characters we already know and love by this point and elevates them, which is something amazing to see. That is why this is a favorite.
I’ll Make You Cry by Hiiragi Nozomu
I’m not a fan of 80s and 90s manga art styles, but while this is a modern take on them, it only makes it all the more endearing. This one might end up being the most controversial on this list, not because of the content, but because most people will disagree that it’s good. It is very low on content, and what content it does have does feel a bit unfinished. But there is a slow, soft romance and yearning between the two main characters that is just too good. At its core, BL is all about the relationship between two men, and when that is as strong as it is here, how could I not favorite it?
Gal-kun Will Definitely Fall in Love! by Akasaka
This is My Dress-Up Darling, but make it BL. As a fan of My Dress-Up Darling, I couldn’t have loved this more if I tried. This is a super cute, opposites-attract, friends-to-lovers story about an upbeat gyaru boy who, deep down, is hurt and scared, and a seemingly aloof classmate who, deep down, wants to learn how to love. It will give you all the warm fuzzies, and while it may not have any sexy time, minus the extras at the end, it satisfies the more innocent and romantic cravings BL lovers may have. I highly recommend it.
Conclusion
And those are all of my favorites from the 2025 year. Have you read any of these? Are any of them on your favorite list? Let me know, and comment below.
Otherwise, I’ll catch you next time. Bye!
