How I rate things, generally based off of writing only:
* Art must be great or must not be distracting. If art is distracting for any reason, I may ding it a star depending on how much so.
* Plot must make sense. Plot must build upon it self with an A->B->C->D progression.
* Setups must have payoffs. Payoffs must have setups. If there are a large amount of these dangling, then I might deduct a star.
* Characters must be interesting and/or likeable and have their own personalities. If they are cliche shoujo stereotypes that don't deviate much, it is likely a star will be deducted.
* Background details - characters who are moody or reactive or impulsive must have a reasonable backstory explanation. If characters behave abnormally without background/explanation, a star will likely be deducted.
* Setting details. Characters should go to work or school. There should be side characters who have names and dialog that aren't involved directly in the main romance. Characters should have families, or reasons why their families are gone. Characters living alone should have some explanation for how their living expenses are covered.
* Common cliches/tropes, like sick-in-the-rain, forced drinking, getting a character drunk to move the plot along, etc. Over-reliance on these will get a 1-star deduction.
* Everyone's gay, all girls are harpies, stockholm-syndrome plots, gay men are predators, homophobes, purposeless (story-wise) rape, and other problematic cliches will get a 1 or more star deduction depending on the depth of offenses.
* Grounded in reality. BL-crazyworld insanity will break emersion, and will get a 1-star deduction if severe enough. Adult characters should behave like adults, people should have realistic worries about life, characters should consider their sexuality before dive-bombing into someone's ahole, no overreliance on too many unlikely chance encounters.
* Writing 101 violations - author should have basic writing competence and know how to frame scenes, perform scene transitions, set and maintain a tone, maintain consistent and aggressive pacing, grow characters, thread side characters in and out, string plots together coherently, and end a story in a satisfactory way, tying up all important lose ends.
* Engagement - story must be engaging from the beginning to the end (or near to the end) or I will deduct 1-star. Things that are slogs to get through, usually due to pacing issues and a lot of problems related to the above, will get multiple stars deducted.
* Writing always trumps art - I can put up with some of what people would consider really sloppy/bad art if the writing in the story is good. The writing is by far the most important element. But good art will help eliminate unnecessary dialog bubbles and verbal explanation, and solid/good character expressions really add to the emotional feel of a scene. These get bonus points.
* A-plot/B-plot structure. Stories should have multiple things going on in the characters' lives, not just a romance. Work/school/family drama at the least, or mystery, fantastical, sportsball, etc. Stories without a main non-romance A-plot must be really well written to get full points from me.
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The mangas included are hetero & gay relationships which gets more exposure in these stories
Straight(seme) X gay(uke) -
Straight(uke) X gay(seme) -
Gay only 4 u (Hetero X Hetero) -
Both gay (seme X uke) -
How to FUCK a Straight Guy 2
https://www.mangago.me/home/mangalist/2736772/
if U LIKE THE LIST THE PRESS THE BLUE RECOMMENDATION BUTTON
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Tbh my siblings r collectively worth a Big Mac
BUT these r the absolute best BLs n ones I think have a lot of potential. This list has a bit of everything - HIDDEN GEMS, fluff, drama, action, horror, psychological etc. Wont include 2 with the same couple. Not a fan of pwp, romantisized rape, dubcon, blackmail, infedelity, pedophilia, incest, etc.
Description: summary → tags → comment (not always there) → rating
Open to suggestions!
Youd make me rlly happy by recommending this list :))