Manga Review | My Beloved North Star by Ayu Sakumoto

Title: My Beloved North Star



Yuri Mizutani is just trying to live a good life as your average student. Every day is no different from the next until he encounters a foreigner who seemingly can’t speak Japanese. The guy seems to need help getting to Yuri’s high school. Despite his better judgment, he helps the foreigner find his way. The guy is so happy that he kisses Yuri on the cheek as thanks before disappearing onto campus. Yuri is shocked but brushes it off as a strange encounter and moves along with his day.

To his surprise, in class, the strange foreigner is back and is introduced as Kei Satono, a transfer student from the United States. As it turns out, he can speak perfect Japanese and, later admits, only put on an act in hopes of ingratiating himself with the women who have a thing for foreigners. Unfortunately, Kei thought Yuri was a woman, which plays on deeply rooted insecurities Yuri has about his looks, which are more feminine than most. Yuri does his best not to get upset, especially since he assumes Kei will leave him alone once he reveals his gender, but upon telling Kei he’s a man, Kei just seems all the more encouraged to pursue him.

Is there a way to get Kei to focus his attention somewhere else? Or is Yuri doomed to be the object of Kei’s affection forever?

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Manga Review | Mr. Mini Mart by Junko

Title: Mr. Mini Mart



Nakaba has become a NEET. He dropped out of school due to intense bullying and has spent every day at home ever since. He would be in right now, but the thought of returning to that situation is too much to bear. But being stuck in his room for the rest of his life is neither feasible nor ideal. So when the opportunity to work at a relative’s comes up, he takes this chance to get back out into the world and start a new life for himself.

Unfortunately, it isn’t all that simple. His coworker, Yamai, is a big tough guy, and even though they are close in age, Nakaba can’t help feeling intimidated by him. Nakaba also can’t help hating him, even just a little bit. That is until he catches Yamai saving a kitten in a busy street. Yamai smiles so gently and tucks the kitten into his jacket. Nakaba isn’t sure he’s looking at the same person. Now that he knows that prickly exterior is hiding a much softer inside, Nakaba wants to get to know this sweet Yamai. But will getting close to another person lead him to a devastating end like his school life had?

There’s only one way to find out.

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Manhwa Review | Behind the Desks by Day7

Title: Behind the Desks



Lee Taesung just got a job at his former . Naturally, he’s a bit nervous about returning to a place after so long, but he’s also nostalgic as he walks through its familiar gates. One key memory that still brings him joy is when he was in the infirmary, slacking off and napping. He woke up briefly to find a stranger sitting by his bedside. The stranger covered Taesung’s eyes, keeping his identity somewhat vague and prompting Taesung to fall back asleep. From then on, Taesung was in love with this stranger, and even today longs to reunite with him.

To his surprise, while trying to find the main for his first day, he runs into someone who looks very similar to his first love. He’s not totally sure it’s him, but he can’t help but feel drawn to this fellow teacher because of their similarities. The teacher’s name is Seo Sunny, also part of the science faculty (Taesung is the physics instructor, and Sunny is the chemistry instructor). Whether or not Sunny is the man Taesung has longed for all this time doesn’t matter in the end. Taesung wants Sunny and will do what he can to get close to him.

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Manhwa Review | Wouldn’t It Be Nice by AM

Title: Wouldn't It Be Nice



Hyobin and Gichan have been best friends for a decade. There are no signs that that will change anytime soon, especially when another girlfriend dumps Hyobin. As usual, there is Gichan to pick up the pieces and help Hyobin nurse his broken heart. The two are nearly inseparable, and they know everything there is to know about each other. At least, that’s what Hyobin thinks.

What Hyobin doesn’t know is that Gichan has been fostering a secret, unrequited crush all this time. From the day Gichan met Hyobin, he loved him. Though it’s painful to see Hyobin get his heart broken repeatedly through the years, Gichan is happy to be by Hyobin’s side until Hyobin catches Gichan kissing a man. Realizing that he may not know everything about Gichan, Hyobin feels compelled to take their relationship beyond friendship.

But once they cross this line, will they ever be able to return to the close relationship they’ve had all these years?

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Manhwa Review | Melting Point by Chamji

Title: Melting Point



Hyun has desperately been trying to get a job. He’s been trying to get a stable job since he graduated, and since he’s nearing his thirties, he’s more desperate than ever to finally succeed in his career. Unfortunately, after many failed interviews, Hyun is down to the last company in the area and is determined to get in this time. Unfortunately, while heading to the interview room, he bumps into someone he hoped never to see again: Myungook.

Hyun fully accepts that he probably won’t get the job because of Myungook, but to his surprise, he gets hired thanks to Myungook putting in a good word for him. While thankful for the job, he can’t help but wonder why Myungook would go out of his way to help him. They didn’t end their friendship on the best terms in , and Hyun considers them enemies. Does Myungook not feel the same way?

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Novel Review | Until I Meet My Husband by Ryousuke Nanasaki

Title: Until I Meet My Husband


This is the story of . From the time he was small, he always knew he was different. Whether it was the way he spoke, the way he walked, or the things he enjoyed, he never could mesh with what the world expected him to be as a little boy. This only became all the more apparent when he began going to school and was incessantly bullied for being a “girly-boy.” Whether it was by adults or his peers, he was always treated as an “other” until he met Tsukasa. Of course, Tsukasa was Ryousuke’s best friend, but more than that, he was his unrequited first love.

This starts a journey of self-acceptance, self-love, and the journey for true love for Ryousuke Nanasaki. Ryousuke has never been what the world perceived as normal, but that would never stop him. He wants true happiness with the one he loves and wants that for everyone, no matter who you choose to love.

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Manga Review | Golden Sparkle by Suzumaru Minta

Title: Golden Sparkle



Himari Uehara has a fear of women. It all started when he was a child, just before starting school. He has a mother and a sister. His father left to work overseas, so he assumed all women were exactly like his mother and sister, with no one to tell him otherwise. When he starts school, he finds that women can be pretty terrifying and bullies, and as such, he fears all women outside his family. To keep himself safe, he makes himself less enticing, bleaching his hair to look like a delinquent and being unapproachable in general. So when he gets the chance to attend an all-boys school, he jumps at the opportunity, able to finally relax.

Unfortunately, due to his avoidance of women and his father being out of the country, Himari has never really had the “talk,” nor has he had any interest in sex. This all comes to a head when he begins to have wet dreams but has no clue what they are or what they mean. While in class, his classmates discuss porn, sex, and the like, all of which fly over his head. While alone with his closest friend, Gaku Asada, Himari takes the opportunity to figure out what all of that stuff means. Shocked and intrigued by his naivety, Gaku invites Himari to his dorm room. There, Gaku takes the time to teach him exactly what sex means, and while they enjoy the lesson and continue enjoying each other’s company, this only complicates their relationship.

Can two friends do things like that with each other and still be friends?

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Manhwa Review | Talk to Me Tenderly by SingSing

Title: Talk to Me Tenderly



Gabriel Kee doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life. Having graduated without ever confessing to his crush, his best friend Ray, and still in the closet for the most part, he escapes to the military before coming home and taking a dead-end part-time job at a . Realizing his life is going nowhere fast, Gabriel decides if he’s going to be alone, he might as well do something with his free time.

So, he buys a special vibrating toy to help stave away the loneliness and his backdoor virginity. Unfortunately, though, the moment he takes his new playmate out for a spin, it dies on him. In the throes of sexual frustration, Gabriel calls the customer support line for the website he purchased from, only to find his lust reignited by a sensual voice on the other end. He ends up doing just fine without the vibrating toy, thanks to the mystery voice man and finally understands the allure of toys.

However, due to his enthusiastic session, he finds that his little soldier doesn’t want to stand up anymore. Fearful that he’ll never get an erection again, he goes to work and mourns his short and lonely sex life. To his surprise, though, while working the bar, he runs into the very man who put him into this predicament in the first place: Luke, the customer support guy with a sexy voice. Thankfully, all it takes is hearing that voice again to stir those feelings. Now that he knows exactly who this person is, Gabriel must do all he can to make that voice his.

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Manga Review | Raveled Tightrope Knot by Ship Hita

Title: Raveled Tightrope Knot



Natsuki has carried a torch for Haruomi since they were in together. Unfortunately, due to his own insecurities, Natsuki rejected Haruomi when Haruomi confessed to him, and from that point on, they never really spoke again. Years pass, and at a wedding, Natsuki runs into Haruomi. However, Haruomi is no longer the shy, nerdy kid he knew in high school. Instead, Haruomi has become alluring and hypersexual. He’s nothing like the innocent Haruomi he tried to protect by rejecting him all those years ago.

To make up for lost time and for his regret over rejecting Haruomi, Natsuki is determined to get close to Haruomi once again. Though Haruomi still cares for Natsuki, he’s no longer the shy and innocent boy. He’s got jealous lovers Natsuki has to contend with, plus Haruomi is quick to put up a wall between them. Can Natsuki win back a distrustful Haruomi’s heart? Or will a decision he made in high school ruin any chance he has with his long-lost love?

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Manhwa Review | Escape into Oblivion by Gawee

Title: Escape into Oblivion



Woojin is willing to do anything to escape. Escape from what? His family, school, his lovers, and life in general. He’ll do whatever it takes to escape, whether through sex, alcohol, moving away, hiding from school, or anything else. It’s almost like a game to Woojin, and it’s one that he wins often. That is until he meets Hwon.

Hwon does anything Woojin asks, even when Woojin does everything he can to either run from Hwon or hurt him. This intensity of love is new to Woojin, and it scares him. What scares him even more, though, is who Hwon might be. Part of why Woojin feels the need to escape is that when he was a child, his friend was beaten by a homeless boy they would occasionally pick on and whom Woojin would confide in. Rather than save his friend, Woojin ran away, never to see the friend again.

Could Hwon be that friend seeking revenge? Or could he be the homeless boy, finally back to take what belongs to him, Woojin? Woojin’s not sure which he would prefer, but he knows one thing for sure. No matter who Hwon ends up being, Woojin has fallen hopelessly in love with him, which is something he can’t escape.

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