Arguably one of the best shonen-ai/yaoi manga series ever written, “Gravitation” is one part romantic love story and one part psychotic, outrageous fun! This amazing story tells the tale of the crazy Shuichi Shindou, a talented musical artist who aspires to be the best singer in the world by following his ambitions and gathering inspiration from his musical icon Ryuichi Sakuma. When Shuichi starts to fall into a rut, he meets the famous writer Eiri Yuki and realizes that he may be just as attached to this smug, rude human being as he is for music. Yuki and Shuichi find themselves gravitating toward each other at several times in each others lives, and eventually they become an insane, awkward, and perfect couple. “Gravitation” is wonderful because it’s not just about the relationship between Yuki and Shuichi; it’s about how they encounter past horrors and new obstacles that they help each other overcome and surpass. It’s also about how a person’s passion for both love and music can exist in the same heart, making room for both. Don’t miss this silly, fantastic manga by the brilliant Maki Murakami!

Although I was not sure about this manga from the start (the story sounded interesting and the art looked average), I read it and was extremely impressed (not to mention the art grew on me- now I love her unique style!). Yamada Yugi has written a tale about unrequited love, dealing with rejection, and moving on, and the way she does it is amazingly entertaining and fun. Nagai is our main man, who is using bad tactics to get over his long-time crush and friend, Saitou. Saitou has just gotten married, and Nagai has to pretend that he is happy for the couple and supportive for their relationship- which he is anything but. By chance, he meets another person who attended their wedding in a bar- Honda. Honda confesses to Nagai that, in the past, he was romantically involved with the woman that Saitou married. The two embark on a journey of healing, sharing the same pain and helping each other cope with their broken hearts. They also begin to develop feelings for each other, which they also begin to cope with. I recommend this excellent manga to those who like good, quality stories and minimal sexual content- you won’t be disappointed!

“Totally Captivated” was one of the first shonen-ai stories that made me overly-anxious to read it all from beginning to end right away. The story is exactly as the title says: difficult to put down, once you start reading it! This tale is so addicting because the characters feel so real, the humor is downright hilarious, and the connections between the cast are so believable. Never before has a yaoi made me so engrossed in the plot that I was glad that sex was not the entire point of the story. Ewon, the main character, is so adorable and fun that you want to jump into the manga just to give him a hug. Mookyul, the other main man, is a short-tempered and nasty man who makes Ewon work off a debt owed to him and treats him like dirt. Somehow, though, the odd and crazy relationship that blossoms between these two unlikely guys becomes something beautiful and interesting, as Ewon struggles to find his own self-worth and Mookyul is brought back into the human race by his adorable companion. I would recommend this manga to any yaoi lover, including new fans and old- it’s just that good.

I took a big chance buying "Absolute Obedience." At the time, I could hardly find any reviews on the game, and the description online left much to be desired. I am pleased to say that this game did not disappoint; in fact, I was so impressed that I played it all the way through in one weekend! This game is so addicting and unique, and the main characters, Louise and Kia, each have their own amazing abilities and exclusive temperaments. The missions are exciting and totally different for each of the two characters, with interesting story lines and fun ways of making each bad guy “pay” for their crimes! Both Louise and Kia have their own techniques to punish the criminals, and I had a great time working through both of their missions, going back and forth between each character. The personalities in this game are quite developed, and although this is mainly a smutty and sexy yaoi game, there are also emotional moments that remind you that your character has a background. The Japanese voices work perfectly for each and every character in the story, and the fun, energetic music enhances the game experience. I think that this is the perfect game for any yaoi lover who enjoys hardcore sexual encounters and random silly moments.

Perhaps one of the sexiest yaoi manga I have ever read, “The Crimson Spell” is one of Yamane Ayano’s greatest accomplishments. Set in a fantasy world, Prince Vald is a handsome, dashing prince who is in search of a cure to undue a gastly spell that he was cursed with. He is accompanied by an amazing wizard, Hallwil, who uses his mighty powers to keep enemies at bay…and Prince Val under his seductive grasp. What started as a simple adventure to find the cure to end his curse turns into a quest involving evil magicians, adorable new friends, and a sexy relationship between our two heroes. This manga has it all: an interesting and in-depth plot, an astounding cast of characters, and beautiful art which helps to convey the wonderful new relationship between the main men. Lots of satisfying sexual encounters and a wonderful adventure make this a hot and epic adventure that I’d recommend to any hardcore yaoi fan!

"Little Butterfly" is a beautiful story about a boy named Koujima who befriends Nakahara, a classmate of his. Nakahara is a true loner who enjoys keeping to himself, but Koujima soon attempts to break him out of his shell. Koujima soon realizes that he has softened Nakahara's heart so much that he has made him fall in love with him! This adorable tale of first love, overcoming a cruel childhood, and learning to grow and work through the obstacles of adolescence is as bittersweet as it is truly beautiful. I would recommend this gripping tale about growing up together with somebody you love to anyone who enjoys a sweet romance. There is not much smut to be found here, but there is a lot of heart that you will remember for years to come. This story is what got me hooked on yaoi in the first place, and I assure you that it will leave a soft space in your heart for years to come!

If you love shota, “Boku no Pico” is a dream come true. The storyline may be a bit vague and seemingly pointless at times, but Pico and his fellow playmates are adorable. Their sexual romps leave almost nothing to be desired, either- the several unique sound effects that escape Pico's mouth and the silly escapades that the characters find themselves in are so cute (and oddly hot) that you almost forget that you are watching a shota. A word of warning to those who do not enjoy shota, though- you will most likely be taken aback by the graphic sex scenes and adult content that these kids go through. While I thought it was cute, this is not something that I would want to watch often and I do not condone sexual acts between kids in real life. For some reason, however, “Bocu no Pico” makes an adorable shota that I would recommend to the yaoi fan who is looking for something hardcore and unique. I bet you won't be disappointed!