YAOI MANGA REVIEW: Future Lovers V2

Jennifer LeBlanc AKA Asami's Girl — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 03:06:06 +0000

Future Lovers Volume 2 – Saika Kunieda – Manga Review

Awww… what a sweet conclusion to this short little series. Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Volume two of Future Lovers delves more into Kento and Akira’s relationship. We see just how insecure Akira really is and honestly, most of this volume is in some way dealing with this subject. Don’t think that means it’s fully of whiny angst because that’s just not in Akira’s nature lucky for us. I love that Kento’s grandparents play a larger role in this one because they really are quite funny. The mangaka could have had them play a more sinister role if she wanted to but she didn’t and I’m grateful for that. Sometimes I just get tired of yaoi manga where the focus is doing everything to keep the couple apart. I felt this couple was portrayed a lot more realistically from family issues on both sides to the reality of dealing with a work relationship not to mention a gay relationship. Plus, each has a past and we all know how our past can sometimes poke its ugly head into our present and future. As far as sexual content, illustrations and translation, it is right on par with volume one.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this series to anyone looking for a more realistic yaoi storyline that is sweet, funny and still quite sexy. There’s also a nice little bit at the end that is just icing on the cake but I won’t ruin it for you like it was for me in other reviews. Consider it your reward for picking this one up.

Plot = A- (more in depth than V1)

Characters = A-

Illustrations = B+

Sexual Content = B+

Translation = A

Overall Grade = A-

Buy Now!

YAOI MANGA REVIEW: Future Lovers V1

Jennifer LeBlanc AKA Asami's Girl — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:01:43 +0000

Future Lovers Volume 1 – Saika Kunieda – Manga

Let me start by saying I had zero intention of reading this one, however a few things changed my mind. First, Deux had that awesome sale so how could I not and second I have read SOOOO many reviews about this one that said this is an absolute must read that I caved and bought it. It’s not that I thought it was a bad book, I just go more for explicit than romantic so it was not one I would normally read.

Kento Kumagaya is a 25-year-old teacher whose only goal in life is to settle down, have a family and live happily ever after. The only problem is that he is so set on this goal and making his grandparents happy that it is clear the woman he has chosen as his future wife is less his soul mate and more just a way to accomplish this dream. Luckily she catches on early on and gives him the boot. Along comes Akira Kazuki and Kento’s future plans seem to go out the window. Kento knows hooking up with a gay man will not only throw a wrench in his plans but may also send his grandparents to an early grave but he just can’t deny the passion he feels for this man. Good thing too because otherwise we wouldn’t have this sweet, funny story to read!

I love that this story jumps right into the action and I do mean “action”. Wow. By page seven we’re fully into a sex scene. I quickly noticed the mangaka likes to draw these scenes because the illustrations get a touch more detailed and are better than the rest of the book, which are typical (she even mentions this very fact at the end, which made me laugh). They aren’t crazy explicit but she draws them in a way that still draws you in and makes you sweat a little.

If I had one beef about this story it would be that Kento falls a little too fast for Akira considering the situation. That aside, the fiery chemistry between these two makes the entire story worth while and the fact that it’s quite funny is just frosting on the cake. There’s also a separate story at the end called Winter Rabbit about “brothers”, meaning they aren’t really. It’s a sweet story but nothing explicit.

I’ve heard that volume two of Future Lovers makes this all worth while. At this point I do like the story and would recommend it as a read. I’ll also be reviewing volume two next so if you want to wait to get my final thoughts it will be the very next review.

Plot = B+

Characters = A- (good chemistry)

Illustrations = B+

Sex = B+ (not explicit but still effective)

Translation = A

Overall Grade = A- (but barely)

Buy Now!

The Yaoi Review » Saika Kunieda

YAOI MANGA REVIEW: Future Lovers V2

YAOI MANGA REVIEW: Future Lovers V1