Manga Planet’s July 2023 Title Picks
We’re back with our staff recommendations for July 2023! This time, we’ve got recommendations from several of our staff — read on to see some of the team’s personal faves among Manga Planet’s catalog.
And if you missed our title picks for June, check last month’s roundup, too, while you’re at it!
1. Cut-Over Criteria
Author: Koala Omugi
Publisher: Tokyomangasha
Genre: Boys’ Love (BL)
Status: Completed (1 volume)
Access Options:
- Subscription (readable in full)
- Points (readable in full)
- Free preview of Chapter 1
Synopsis
When people hit the ripe young age of 30, it changes how they deal with things. Take Seto, who says exactly what he thinks and looks at real life the way he looks at the intricate coding he sees at work — something to be dealt with and strengthened upon. He only wants to focus on his job and its many bugs until his genius new hire tells him he fell in love at first sight!
Why Tiffany recommends Cut-Over Criteria:
As much as I enjoy works with elements out of the ordinary, like fantasy or supernatural stories, sometimes it’s just nice to read slice-of-life to see what kind of interesting scenarios can arise from a modern, real-world setting.
Even though it isn’t always true of course, programmers have long been stereotyped as nerdy — and the two leads of Cut-Over Criteria just happen to both be huge nerds (as well as geeks and dorks)! I say this affectionately, as I was incredibly amused at how Hagiwara and Seto deal with flirting, love, and everything in between.
In particular, I love how Seto thinks of romance in programming terms and how, for Hagiwara, it was love at first… code. Whoever thought that programming could be used as a metaphor for love?
If you’re wondering what kind of romcom-like hijinks can arise from a story of two programmers living the typical office life, give Cut-Over Criteria! It’s adorable and funny with a sprinkling of serious heartwarming moments and spicy smut!
2. PERFECT FIT
Author: Thanat
Publisher: SHODENSHA Publishing Co.,Ltd.
Genre: Boys’ Love (BL)
Status: Completed (2 volumes)
Content Warnings: Some scenes contain dubious consent
Access Options:
- Subscription (readable in full)
- Points (readable in full)
- Free preview of Chapter 1
Synopsis
Mashimo is a senior in university, wondering whether he should apply to the school’s graduate program. Intending to collect papers to aid him in the decision, he goes to his professor’s office only to find a new face greeting him at the door.
Later, Mashimo finds out that the strange man he met in the office earlier is Yuuto Tanaka, a first-year star graduate student from another university. He quickly realizes that, personality-wise, the Tanaka he sees is not the same Tanaka that everybody else sees.
But one night, as Mashimo stumbles home and wanders into an unknown street, he runs into — is that Tanaka?!
Why Emma recommends PERFECT FIT:
I just really like Thanat-sensei’s works!
But as for PERFECT FIT specifically, the pacing is great. Thanat-sensei has a way of drawing you into their characters’ world, through their art style and storytelling. Even though the characters live in a modern setting that isn’t really that different from ours, reading this title can still make you feel like you’re slipping into Mashimo and Tanaka’s reality.
Mashimo is so cute; I love seeing him all flustered. And Tanaka is a funny character — among Thanat’s titles, he’s actually one of my favorite characters.
3. Iberico Pork and Love and Camellia
Author: SHOOWA
Publisher: KAIOHSHA
Genre: Boys’ Love (BL)
Status: Completed (1 volume), with two sequels
Content Warnings: Depictions of rape in Chapter 4
Access Options:
- Subscription (readable in full)
- Points (readable in full)
- Free preview of Chapter 1
Synopsis
The Iberian Pigs may look like your average street gang, and yes, sometimes they do act like it too, but the Iberian Pigs, above all else, is… a volunteer collective of menacing high schoolers who pick up trash.
This is the story of how Tsubaki, a hotheaded high schooler who doesn’t know when to stop, has a run-in with the brash Iberian Pigs and meets Irie, the accidental leader of the gang that picks up street litter.
Meanwhile… as Tsubaki and Irie hit it off, the gang’s watchdogs Genji and Yoshimune also have some waste that needs sorting…
Why Usa recommends Iberico Pork and Love and Camellia:
At first, this title looked to me like a shonen manga: hot-blooded high school boys getting into fights, and all that. But instead it ended up being a love story between two people who would stereotypically be rivals.
The art style is a bit rough (though not in a negative sense), relaxed, and simple — but still packed with the right amount of depth and detail for you to follow along the plot. In that sense, the art is quite fitting for the story and characters.
I also enjoyed the fact that this story doesn’t take itself too seriously; also, it’s fast-paced and in bite-sized episodes. For all these reasons, Iberico Pork and Love and Camellia is such a blast to read!
4. Love and BL Actor and Share House
Author: Namiko Nanba
Publisher: OHZORA Publishing Co.,Ltd
Genre: Shojo/Josei
Status: Completed (2 volumes)
Content Warnings: Some scenes contain dubious consent
Access Options:
- Subscription (readable in full)
- Points (readable in full)
- Free preview of Chapter 1
Synopsis
Kyoka has a hard time looking people in the eye. She is shy and has never had any friends. But when she moves into a lively sharehouse with fun and cheery housemates, Kyoka slowly learns how to come out of her shell.
Though Kyoka admires each of her housemates, she especially looks up to Nozomi Harada, a BL actor who lives in the room next to her’s. He is beautifully radiant and lights up any room. But even the sparkling actor can get gloomy sometimes. Will Kyoka be able to light a spark within Nozomi again…?
Why Gladys recommends Love and BL Actor and Share House:
“Look up, see people in the eye, and move forward.”
That’s what the cool and seemingly confident BL actor Nozomi tells shy and plain-looking Kyoka the first time they meet. But little does Kyoka know that the same can be said of Nozomi!
Namiko Nanba’s Love and BL Actor and Share House is about the struggles of two people with their self-esteem, gender identity, and true feelings for each other. It’s a good read if you want something with less spice and a slow-burn type of romance.
