Manga Review: Don't Be Cruel, Volume 8, by Yonezou Nekota

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: October 2019

Volumes: 8+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1&2. 7. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

When a playboy falls for a nerd, chemistry results in an explosive reaction!

Playboy Maya catches studious Nemugasa cheating on a test, and to ensure his silence, Maya blackmails Nemugasa into doing whatever he wants! But is this merely just a ruse so Maya can spend more alone time with him?

It’s been a while since Maya and Nemugasa have had any alone time, so they can’t help but go a little overboard when they finally see each other! But later that same night, Maya sneaks out to help his friend Ruka after he’s had a severe asthma attack. When Nemugasa asks him the next morning where he went, Maya quickly changes the subject. Is a bad habit from Maya’s playboy days rearing its ugly head? And what will Nemugasa do when he finds out the truth?

Review:

Ruka is still causing drama between Maya and Nemu. His attachment to Maya is honestly a bit off-putting, and how he's deliberately trying to cause issues. Some of it might have been explained here, but I still don't like it one bit. I don't like him.

Thankfully, though, Maya and Nemu are pretty good at communicating. They definitely read each other wrong sometimes, and have their fights, but they come together in the end. They talk it out and explain and make up. Usually in a pretty hot way, too.

This is a really strong couple in this series, and I like that. They've also got pretty good friends and family around them, and I appreciate that, too.

This is always a fun series to get more of, and I'm always excited for the next one.

Manga Review: Don't Be Cruel, Volume 7, by Yonezou Nekota

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 2018

Volumes: 8+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1&2. 6. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

When a playboy falls for a nerd, chemistry results in an explosive reaction!

Playboy Maya catches studious Nemugasa cheating on a test, and to ensure his silence, Maya blackmails Nemugasa into doing whatever he wants! But is this merely just a ruse so Maya can spend more alone time with him?

After spending a blissful night wrapped in each other’s arms, Maya and Nemugasa get a rude awakening when Maya’s dad arrives unexpectedly, catching them in bed together! Unfazed by his father’s disapproval of their relationship, Maya moves out on his own, and even though he’s been cut off from his credit cards and his family’s financial support, Maya’s love for Nemugasa only grows. There’s just one tiny complication. With no place to stay, Maya is forced to crash with the last person he wants anywhere near his beloved Nemugasa—Shimakawa!

Review:

Maya's father discovers him and Nemugasa together, and thus he's forced to confess. While his father isn't necessarily against it as a homophobic thing (though he doesn't understand), he has a hard time believing it, and decides that he's not going to support Maya any longer. Which means Maya is out on his own.

Maya's father is making this hard on him, and in result also making Akira's decisions harder, but I don't think the consequences are as bad as they could be. Maya has a job, and starts working more, while deciding about school, because now he has bills. But he ends up rooming with Naoya, which actually works out well, despite their differences. They fight, but they also stay out of each others business, and I think they do actually work well together, even without meaning to. And it's hard to dislike Maya's father, because he does care and dote on Maya, and he even bonds with Nemugasa at one point over their love of Maya.

Aside from them, we got quite a bit of focus on Akira and Naoya. Akira doesn't want to discuss his feelings, and he has a hard time being open about his wants with Naoya, but he takes the opportunities that he can in order to further their relationship. There's some development in their relationship here, and I'm interested to see how he reacts to their fathers decision in the future.

Aside from the drama, this volume was very steamy. There were several really hot scenes between both couples. It was good.

This is probably one of my favorite yaoi series. It's hot, and sweet, and I love the characters. I want more like this.

Manga Review: Don't Be Cruel, Volume 6, by Yonezou Nekota

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: December 2017

Volumes: 8+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1&2. 5. 7.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A fan-favorite series by adored author Yonezou Nekota continues in single volumes.

Playboy Maya catches studious Nemugasa cheating on a test, and to ensure his silence Maya blackmails Nemugasa into doing whatever he wants!

Nemugasa and Maya are about to go on their first shopping date, so of course Nemugasa borrows a fashion magazine to do a little studying up! Clothes shopping with Maya is enough to get Nemugasa in a romantic mood, but when he spots something while waiting at Shibuya’s famous scramble crossing, his jealousy skyrockets! Just what could he have seen to put him in such a “biting” mood?

Review:

In this volume, Nemugasa attempts to update his image, and grows jealous and possessive of Maya's new modeling popularity. Nemugasa and Okino have to crossdress for their club, and Nemugasa grows insecure by how hot Maya thinks he is like that.

In the middle of the volume, we got an update on Akira and Shimakawa. Akira is a hard tsundere, maybe? He protests and says that he doesn't want to be with Shimakawa, but then he sneaks in to cuddle when he's asleep... It seems like Akira makes a step forward here, at least.

We meet a new character in this volume, who might be growing close to Okino. Okino is a bit of a spoiled brat, and so of course he's rude to the guy before changing his mind. He's also very shallow, and I hope he learns a lesson at some point.

There's a sexual harassment scare in this volume, and I absolutely love that this brings up worries for Maya, and he's reminded of his problematic actions at the beginning of the series. The fact that this is even mentioned, let alone a plot point for a few chapters, is extremely appreciated. These actions are usually completely disregarded, and even though I am even okay forgiving them, seeing them discuss it is important. Maya and Nemugasa discuss their issues—they think about them and worry, but they also bring it up to each other, talk about it, and then move forward. This is such a key point in this series.

Now it looks like a new possible worry is coming. I'm excited to see where that cliffhanger goes.

Manga Review: Don't Be Cruel, Volume 5, by Yonezou Nekota

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 2017

Volumes: 7+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1&2. 3&4. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A fan-favorite series by adored author Yonezou Nekota continues in single volumes.

Playboy Maya catches studious Nemugasa cheating on a test and to ensure his silence blackmails him into doing whatever Maya wants!

After nearly breaking up, Maya and Nemugasa finally go on their hot springs vacation, where their passions reignite! In fact, Maya becomes so besotted with Nemugasa that he gives him a couple’s ring to “ward off any poachers.” But after their return, Maya is approached by the mysterious Ruka, leaving Nemugasa as the jealous one. Is the shoe finally on the other foot?

Review:

In this volume, Maya meets an older guy on campus, who he at first brushes off and has no interest in, but soon enough is pushing Maya and urging him to find out what he actually likes and is good at. While it causes some drama between Maya and Nemugasa, it works out good for Maya in other matters. It also causes some fun in the later half of the volume.

This volume also fills in the holes from Akira's separate book, and we get to see the drama between Maya and Nemu regarding the kiss. This ended up being a push for them that they needed, and it was actually super sweet and fun to read.

I love this series, seriously so much. It was nice seeing some relationships resolve some things, and it was good seeing Maya and Nemu get to push their potential careers forward.

There's drama and steamy and fluffy goodness in these volumes, and I cannot get enough.

Manga Review: Don't Be Cruel: Plus+ by Yonezou Nekota

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: June 2017

Volumes: 7 + side stories

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1&2. 3&4. Akira's Story.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Playboy Maya catches studious Nemugasa cheating on a test and to ensure his silence blackmails him into doing whatever Maya wants!

This Don’t Be Cruel volume is a collection of the best side and short stories the series has to offer!

Maya and Nemugasa’s relationship had a rocky start. Maya, the playboy slacker, and Nemugasa, the diligent student, have two very different personalities and live two very different lives. These differences have led to some crazy misunderstandings between them. Their relationship certainly is a rough one, but it makes the good times that much sweeter. Read on for a collection of never-before-seen Don’t Be Cruel side and bonus stories!

Review:

This little book of short stories actually takes place after the first omnibus. It very clearly states when the stories take place, separating them between volumes. I like that, and it makes me want more for the later volumes. (It was kind of weird seeing Maya with his old haircut, to be honest.)

This was mostly filled with more cute and sexiness between Maya and Nemugasa. There's quite a bit of sexiness in this volume, which I like. There's some angsty stuff, which is just what these characters do, but during that, there's several cute moments. Since this is mostly during the beginning of their relationship, there's more angst than later, but it was still full of fluff and cuteness.

I'm a huge fan of this series, and this was a very nice reprieve. I can't wait for more.

Manga Review: Don't Be Cruel: Akira Takanashi's Story by Yonezou Nekota

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March 2017

Volumes: 7+ (+extras)

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1&2. 3&4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A Don’t Be Cruel spin-off story featuring Maya’s cousin Akira and his love affair with playboy med student Shimagawa!
In this Don’t Be Cruel spin-off story, Maya’s cousin Akira Takanashi is burned by love. To cope, he requires that his adult comfort come with no strings attached. But his lover, med student and notorious playboy Shimagawa, has other ideas.
Polite and proper college student Akira Takanashi has a secret. Back in high school, he fell deeply in love with his teacher but was spurned. Now, whenever the pain of his heartbreak gets to be too much, he finds comfort in the arms of med student and notorious playboy Shimagawa—very adult comfort. Shimagawa would gladly go out with him, but Akira’s past heartbreak means he insists on keeping things strictly physical—that is, until his obsessed younger brother Jutta arrives to disrupt this comfortable routine!

Review:

This volume follows the fourth volume of the original series. In that one, we got a glimpse of Shimakawa, and here we get to see when they met and what led them here. In that volume we also met Akira's old teacher and first love, and what Jutta is doing to him. Thankfully we get to see Akira deal with that in this volume, from his side at least.

Akira has been holding onto this hurt for quite a long time, and it's hurting him and harming his potential relationship with Shimakawa. I liked seeing how Shimakawa tried to help, and how Akira took it. Shimakawa and Akira get along quite well, and they have really good chemistry. I liked seeing how Shimakawa would push Akira, but how he also knew when to stop and not to go too far. It was nice to see Akira learn more about himself in their relationship, and to see him stepping outside of his box a little.

I'm seriously hooked on this series. I liked seeing this little side story, and I really look forward to reading the next one and seeing where the story goes next. It's obvious that Jutta still has something coming to him.

Manga Review: Don't Be Cruel, Volume 3 & 4, by Yonezou Nekota

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 2016

Volumes: 6+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1&2. 5. Akira's Story. Plus+.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Playboy Maya catches studious Nemugasa cheating on a test, and to ensure his silence Maya blackmails Nemugasa into doing whatever he wants!

Maya and Nemugasa are now officially lovers, but it's the summer of their third year of high school, meaning even more studying for college entrance exams. Their relationship is reduced to stealing kisses over lunch recess and the occasional sleepover. Stressed and desperately wanting some alone time, the two wind up having a massive—even dangerous—misunderstanding! Things only get worse when the two eventually end up attending separate colleges, meaning they will no longer see each other every day. How will Nemugasa handle Maya’s continued popularity with the ladies? And can Maya accept Nemugasa making a new college friend?

Review:

In the first volume of this series, we get some more angsting over not getting a lot of time together. We also get some parental drama, because Nemugasa's mom doesn't approve of Maya on first sight. (We don't get any coming-out plot yet, though.) I liked seeing how it was solved, though.

In the mix of all this, there's the underlying theme of both Maya and Nemugasa worrying about their appearance. Maya starts worrying if he looks too much like a thug, taking out his earring at one point, and even going so far as to dye his hair. Later in the book, we get to see Nemugasa worry whether his clothing choices are good enough, and if he should be more stylish, since he's never really thought about it before. It's interesting to see them both wonder and worry, and how they both just want to look good for the other.

In the second volume, they've graduated high school! Suddenly they're in the real world. Maya has a job, and Nemugasa is still in school, though he feels more alone and without friends. Nemugasa makes a gay best friend, but Maya gets jealous. It's super cute, and I actually liked seeing their fight and how they made up.

We also get to stray from the main couple for a bit, to see what Jutta is up to, and how he's tormenting one of his teachers. He gets what he deserves in return, and I hope to see him be put in his place a little more.

I seriously love this series. It's hot and sweet and adorable. I can't wait to read more.

Manga Review: Don't Be Cruel, Volume 1 & 2, Yonezou Nekota

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: SuBLime (VIZ Media)

Release Date: June 14, 2016

Volumes: 6+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 3&4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Playboy Maya catches studious Nemugasa cheating on a test, and to ensure his silence Maya blackmails Nemugasa into doing whatever he wants. Twice a week Nemugasa must go to Maya's room for some steamy action, but as dense and oblivious as Nemugasa is, he fails to notice Maya’s true feelings for him. With college entrance exams around the corner, Nemugasa must focus on his studies, but Maya won’t stop distracting him, causing him to finally snap! Can a relationship built on harassment ever be more?

Review:

I was intrigued by this series when it first came out, but didn't pick it up until just now. I didn't even know what it was about, but the artwork looked good. I'm really glad I finally picked it up, though. Once I started the volume, I just breezed through it, and it was over much too soon.

Nemugasa is on a scholarship, and he cheats on a test in order to keep it. Maya sees it and blackmails him. Nemugasa goes along with it, but all he sees of their relationship is that he's being used, even as it grows into friendship.

Normally I wouldn't like these kinds of plotlines, but their relationship quickly grows into a friendship, even if Nemugasa doesn't realize it. Plus, given how obvious it is that Maya has feelings for him, and how much of a teddy bear Maya really is, it's hard not to like him.

Nemugasa goes along with it for the most part, and he's actually the harder one to like in their relationship. He's worried more about studying and school than he is Maya's feelings, and he pushes him around quite a bit. In the second volume, he finally sees Maya's and his own true feelings.

This series is quite fun. There are a lot of sexy times, and they are quite hot. But there's also a good mix of humor, and the development is really nice. I liked most of the characters pretty early on, and the art is pretty inside.

I really can't wait to get the next one.

Wishlist Thursday[163]: The Geek’s Guide to Unrequited Love by Sarvenaz Tash

The Geek’s Guide to Unrequited Love by Sarvenaz Tash

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Release Date: June 14, 2016

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository.

Goodreads Synopsis:

John Hughes meets Comic Con in this hilarious, unabashedly romantic, coming-of-age novel about a teenager who is trying to get his best friend to fall in love with him from the author of Three Day Summer.

Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy...
Archie and Veronica...
Althena and Noth...
...Graham and Roxy?

Graham met his best friend, Roxana, when he moved into her neighborhood eight years ago, and she asked him which Hogwarts house he’d be sorted into. Graham has been in love with her ever since.

But now they’re sixteen, still neighbors, still best friends. And Graham and Roxy share more than ever—moving on from their Harry Potter obsession to a serious love of comic books.

When Graham learns that the creator of their favorite comic, The Chronicles of Althena, is making a rare appearance at this year’s New York Comic Con, he knows he must score tickets. And the event inspires Graham to come up with the perfect plan to tell Roxy how he really feels about her. He’s got three days to woo his best friend at the coolest, kookiest con full of superheroes and supervillains. But no one at a comic book convention is who they appear to be...even Roxy. And Graham is starting to realize fictional love stories are way less complicated than real-life ones.

Why?:

I must say, I love the amount of geek-related books out recently. And this one sounds quite adorable. Not to mention that the cover is super cute, and the title very eye-catching. I think it sounds exactly like my kind of book and I hope to get my hands on it soon.

Special Mention:

Don’t Be Cruel 1 by Yonezou Nekota out on June 14, 2016—I want to enjoy more of the yaoi books out there, but I tend to have a problem finding good ones. This one looks interesting to me, and I keep seeing it online. It keeps catching my attention, especially since it’s a 2-in-1.

What’s on your list?