Boys Next Door Reviews

Rating: ♦♦♦♦

This release is not going to be for everyone. I really enjoyed it, but that’s because it reminds me of what was coming out when I first started to get into the genre in early 2000. So, it should come as no surprise that the stories in this anthology were originally released around that time. It’s all very fluffy and light with nothing at all explicit. Still, the art is good, the stories warm my heart and the whole thing just made me happy. I really can’t ask for more in a manga.

All of the stories revolve around a flower shop in Manhattan. Every single one of the characters meets their true love, goes through some slightly angsty moments, then lives happily ever after. It doesn’t sound like it would be very interesting, but when it’s handled deftly with some very nice art, it’s something memorable.

Again, the art is dated. It’s very good and it’s something that I enjoy, but I also cut my teeth on art like this. One of the main characters is a dead ringer for Duo Maxwell–if Duo wore glasses, worked in a flower shop and was carrying on an affair with a super-rich entrepreneur.

Wait. I think I may have read a fan-fic like that…

The whole thing just charmed the hell out of me. I guess I was looking for something that was sweetness and light with enough substance to keep it from being too frothy and annoying. This release certainly delivered.

Rating: ♦♦

I really wanted to like this one. It started off being kind of quirky and cute. The kind of madcap romance that I usually enjoy as a bit of fluff. In the end, it was a fluffy bit of suck. Not quite bad enough for me to throw it across the room in disgust, but that may have been do to my inherent laziness rather than my level of loathing.

Amagi is a older divorcée, who through the work of his meddling sister ends up managing popular idol, Koju. Koju isn’t that interested in having a new manager until Amagi starts to earn his trust. Once that happens, Koju develops an infatuation with Amagi, wanting to do everything in his power to keep Amagi’s eyes fully on him.

Now, at this point Amagi, who hasn’t admitted to any sexual interest in men, is being set up on a date with a woman his own age by his sister. Also, isn’t even sure if he wants to continue working as a manager. However, this is the wonderful world of BL. Small things like a person’s sexuality aren’t important. What’s important is getting the two male leads in bed.

Eventually, Koju wears Amagi down and they enter into a relationship. Cue the big dramatic moment. In the very last part of the book, we see someone from Amagi’s past try to rape and blackmail Amagi because of his relationship with Koju. Koju enters, saves the day via a rock to the assailant’s head and they live happily ever after.

I think a better ending would have been rocks fall and everyone dies. But, that’s just my frustration talking. Throw in some invisible cock and sex scenes that are more fade-to-black than explicit and I’m not finding that much to like about this release. Deux had been on such a roll releasing quality manga. I hope that this was just a hiccup and they get back to the good stuff and quickly.

Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦

I’ve truly enjoyed everything that I’ve read by Clare London and this is no exception. She’s got a way of having her characters angst that allows you to wallow in their misery without pushing it over the top. She’s also got a gift of making her characters just flawed enough to be real while still keeping it believable. Throw in sex scenes that are enough to scorch the type off the page and I am one happy, happy girl.

Zeke is an artist, who through some pretty nasty circumstances, is selling his gallery to Miles, an entrepreneur. Normally, artists and entrepreneurs don’t mix, but there’s something that draws these two together. Miles wants to see the artist that’s hiding behind Zeke’s troubled past and, though Zeke won’t admit to it, he’s looking for a way to let that artist out.

It’s a complicated web that ties the boys together. The supporting characters in this one are just as important as the main characters. Let me just say that I would give up something fairly vital to read a sequel and find out what happens to the main characters’ best friends. There seemed to be something brewing between the two of them–something that would be just as explosive as the chemistry between the two main characters if it was ever written out.

I can’t sing the praises of this one enough. It’s got everything I’m looking for in a m/m romance–characters that I can believe in, amazing chemistry, gorgeously written smut and a need to find out what’s going to happen–that will keep me up far past my bed time.

Everything by this author is an instant buy for me. I can’t wait to see what she’s going to come up with next!

Rating: ♦♦♦♦♦

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed these two. They really are hysterical and sweet. More like a real couple than almost any other than I’ve seen in BL. Not that the world of BL has any thing to do with reality, but it’s sometimes nice to wave at reality as it goes sailing past.

Not much has changed with these two since we last left them. A year has passed and Kento is still ricocheting between adoration and embarrassment with his flamboyant lover, Akira. Akira, is still not quite sure of his place in Kento’s heart as he’s convinced that Kento is going to leave him for a woman and have fat, happy babies. Thus, making Kento’s grandparents very happy. There isn’t much that Kento can do to convince Akira of his sincerity except to love him stupid and just accept him for the special little snowflake that he is.

I sound dismissive of it, but it’s really very sweet and very well done. Even the arguments between the characters are handled very well. Keeping a sense of humor, but showcasing the emotions that are leading them to rip into each other.

I think my favorite part was the last chapter where the artist drew the characters living together as elderly men. Still bitching at each other, but still very much in love. I’m really hoping to find more works by this artist released over here as both her releases so far have been a total treat. Hell, I would welcome spending some more time with these characters!

This is one of those releases where I am going to tell you to run out and get it if you haven’t already added it to your collection. I just wish that more releases had this combination of art, charm and humor.