Jul 4, 2024
First, my review is for the light novels-- the manga hasn't even been officially released in English yet (though volume 1 is available for pre-order). I was able to buy 3 novels at my local bookstore in English which follow the synopsis of this listing.
I liked all three books I read. I think the humor and pacing of the story was great. The first novel, in particular, had me laughing out loud at multiple points. The sex scenes typically contain an accompanying illustration, but there's nothing explicit in them, though the written text is. If you don't want to read erotica, this series isn't
...
for you.
The basic premise is that Kei presents a polished, professional persona at his newscaster job but in reality is grouchy and relishes in being a slobby, mean man. His life becomes intertwined with Ushio's through work and an after-hours encounter. They fall in love (as you'd expect from a BL) and their life continues from there.
Novel 1: How they meet and fall in love. Obligatory story about a potential romantic rival that could spell an end to their relationship (which is handled in a rather funny manner rather than intense melodrama).
Novel 2: Kei's having some work issues that put a lot of pressure on him, and as such, there's strain in the relationship. He and Ushio sort things out, but then an unexpected issue arises.
Novel 3: Ushio's past he hasn't talked about comes back and Kei must be the one to provide comfort and support to his partner.
Pros:
- I think Kei's personality is very fun. It's rare in BL to have such an unapologetically two-faced character, and he is the uke of the relationship, which adds extra fun to the dynamic.
- The story is engaging and is focused on two adults in their late 20's, which I think is a refreshing change of pace compared to a good chunk of BL I've consumed.
- The artwork is nice, when present
Cons:
- Kei's one of those "no means yes" sorts of characters, which can cross into dubcon, especially in the first novel. It never crossed the line, for me, into SA, but the first couple sex scenes were a bit touch-and-go for me.
- I'm not the biggest fan of how the erotica was written, at times, but that's more so because certain phrases or wording doesn't appeal to me. They never ruined the pacing or story, and relationship development does happen during these scenes.
- Especially in the 3rd novel, there's A Lot about Japanese government and culture that kind of went over my head. It didn't especially detract from my enjoyment, but some of it can be a bit dry.
If more novels release, I have every intention to buy them!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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