You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
TW: Rape!!! This would've been quite a sweet story if it wasn't for the weird and unnecessary rape between the two main characters, there's literally no need for it and they just brush it off like it was nothing.
How To Ruin A Book With One Scene, and The Subsequent Levelling Out Of 4 Stars vs Wtf Why
May 2022. BL manga series about two guys who dated in high school and had a bad breakup, and find themselves in the same major and friend group when they start college and struggle to work out what they should be to one another now.
Overall I enjoyed the characters and the story. It was often playful and the changing dynamics with the characters was propelled by the ways they have and haven’t grown as people, and their continued doubts and immaturity as college freshmen.
However there was one scene in which one of the couple started to assault the other by initiating sex while the other was protesting, and while they thankfully stopped and it was very brief, it was too serious of a violation to not be given more weight in the aftermath of it. It was not a miscommunication or withdrawn consent but clearly and knowingly disregarding the other’s boundaries.
It was ultimately treated like a fight or other lesser conflict in which the party at fault apologized and they moved on. I would’ve wished it either wasn’t included or was treated as the larger issue it was.
It was also very out of character and didn’t reflect the dynamic of them in the rest of the book or whole series, which is two people who care for each other trying to figure out what their relationship should or can be.
So, I still recommend with the caveat of that one element being a huge problem, but as it is very brief you can basically just flip 1-2 pages and get past it.
If the same type of behavior occurred multiple times and/or in other volumes I would likely not recommend it, but it doesn’t happen again.
All 3 volumes available through Sac library system.
“Escape Journey” volume 1 by Ogeretsu Tanaka.
Overall I enjoyed the characters and the story. It was often playful and the changing dynamics with the characters was propelled by the ways they have and haven’t grown as people, and their continued doubts and immaturity as college freshmen.
However there was one scene in which one of the couple started to assault the other by initiating sex while the other was protesting, and while they thankfully stopped and it was very brief, it was too serious of a violation to not be given more weight in the aftermath of it. It was not a miscommunication or withdrawn consent but clearly and knowingly disregarding the other’s boundaries.
It was ultimately treated like a fight or other lesser conflict in which the party at fault apologized and they moved on. I would’ve wished it either wasn’t included or was treated as the larger issue it was.
It was also very out of character and didn’t reflect the dynamic of them in the rest of the book or whole series, which is two people who care for each other trying to figure out what their relationship should or can be.
So, I still recommend with the caveat of that one element being a huge problem, but as it is very brief you can basically just flip 1-2 pages and get past it.
If the same type of behavior occurred multiple times and/or in other volumes I would likely not recommend it, but it doesn’t happen again.
All 3 volumes available through Sac library system.
“Escape Journey” volume 1 by Ogeretsu Tanaka.
You know I had heard it was toxic but I guess I wasn't expecting assault. If you could somehow take that out then I really do like these characters and their relationship but unfortunately the assault is still there.
This started off pretty cute, but I'm disappointed by that It definitely wasn't necessary! Like I don't understand why BL authors include something like that. It ruins the entire relationship.
I really like Nao, so I might continue this just for him, but maybe not.
Spoiler
one sex scene when they were arguing.I really like Nao, so I might continue this just for him, but maybe not.
BL que comença amb dos exs que sortien durant l'etapa d'institut i que han deixat de ser amics coincidint a la universitat. Miren de reprendre l'amistat una mica per compromís, s'emboliquen una nit i tot es torna força incòmode, però decideixen tornar a sortir junts. Es van descobrint els moments foscos de quan sortien i els motius pels quals va anar malament: estaven en una relació força tòxica i molt basada en el sexe, però el de les ulleres voldia més (se sent inferior per ser parella homosexual i no poder ser "la seva família").
I love the art style of Ogeretsu Tanaka. I enjoyed the development of the characters, both male and female. I love the dirty scenes as well, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I feel they're a little long. But I love this story nonetheless.
⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING SEXUAL VIOLENCE ⚠️
A fully dysfunctional wreck of a romance. These boys are NOT sweet nor is their relationship. They’re verbally abusive, physically abusive, and there’s a single graphic scene of sexual violence.
And yet…the ride is exquisite! Watching the course of their relationship unfold reminds me of American soap operas. This is giving Luke X Noah from As the World Turns, toxicity levels high and rising. Utterly compelling shit, tbh.
There’s something uniquely human in our ability to lead toxic lives yet absolve our fiction of that very reality. Understandably a relationship such as this written into a narrative designed for heroic relationships worthy of cheer is a ballsy move!!
Hence, the 4-star rating. This writer might just be churning out another BL romance to pay her rent OR she might’ve just set up a longform romance arc meant to present (if not, represent) the human capacity to prop up certain toxicities all for the sake of “being in love.”
I’m interested to see which direction she takes these conflicted boys.
A fully dysfunctional wreck of a romance. These boys are NOT sweet nor is their relationship. They’re verbally abusive, physically abusive, and there’s a single graphic scene of sexual violence.
And yet…the ride is exquisite! Watching the course of their relationship unfold reminds me of American soap operas. This is giving Luke X Noah from As the World Turns, toxicity levels high and rising. Utterly compelling shit, tbh.
There’s something uniquely human in our ability to lead toxic lives yet absolve our fiction of that very reality. Understandably a relationship such as this written into a narrative designed for heroic relationships worthy of cheer is a ballsy move!!
Hence, the 4-star rating. This writer might just be churning out another BL romance to pay her rent OR she might’ve just set up a longform romance arc meant to present (if not, represent) the human capacity to prop up certain toxicities all for the sake of “being in love.”
I’m interested to see which direction she takes these conflicted boys.
This was not what I expected. I thought I was going to get a cute romance, but it was just a typical toxic yaoi romance. Excessive sex, no communication, and some sexual assault that's completely brushed over. They don't really talk about anything really, but it's all happily ever after in the end. There's two more volumes though so maybe more happens? I have them so I'll continue, but for the most part the story itself was disappointing.
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced