📚Book Review📚

📖 SOTUS, Vol. 2 by BitterSweet and Kei Shichiri

I'm enjoying the slow progression of Arthit and Kongpob's story and the backdrop of the university engineering department.

📖 SOTUS, Vol. 3 by BitterSweet and Kei Shichiri

This was a satisfying conclusion to their slow-burn romance. Slightly spicy scene towards the end, but nothing particularly explicit.

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📚Book Review📚

📖 Our Dining Table by Mita Ori

Absolutely loved this story of found family with a side order of romance. Made me smile multiple times while reading it. Thoroughly recommend.

📖 Minato’s Laundromat, Vol. 2 by Yuzu Tsubaki and Sawa Kanzume

Another cute installment in this age-gap romance (which is thankfully very slow moving). I find the acknowledgement of Minato finding a younger guy attractive - but refusing to act on it - quite realistic, and Shin being so relentless in his pursuit and pouting when he isn't taken seriously makes sense for a teenager.

The lovely Twiglet is of course judging all of our life choices.

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📚Book Review📚

📖 My Love Mix-Up!, Vol. 2 by Wataru Hinekure and Aruko

The chaos continues with Aoki and Ida still confused about their true feelings and unsure of how the other would respond. Hashimoto is the sweetest friend, and Aida continues to try to be helpful while still mostly oblivious. I’ll be honest and say that I think this story works better on the screen in terms of pacing, but it is still a fun read.

📖 Semantic Error, Vol. 1 by J. Soori and Angy

Who puts Comic Sans in rainbow? I do, baby!

Told from the perspective of both Sangwoo and Jaeyoung, this is a college romance with a bit of an enemies to friends to lovers vibe. Love the unlabelled neurodivergent representation here. This is another story where I have already seen the live action adaptation, so I’m sold on the concept from the start.

📖 Countdown to Yes by Roji

Wataru and Minato 💛This is such a lovely one-shot friends to lovers story with a focus on photography and how it can be used to connect to people and express emotions. I watched the live action adaptation of this story very recently, and I think that it was really well done and the performances really enhanced the feelings between the two characters.

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📚March 2026 recap📚

💛💛💛💛🖤BL Metamorphosis, Vol. 1 by Kaori Tsurutani
💛💛💛💛🖤SOTUS, Vol. 1 by BitterSweet and Kei Shichiri
💛💛💛💛🖤Minato’s Laundromat, Vol. 1 by Yuzu Tsubaki and Sawa Kanzume
💛💛💛💛🖤Cat + Gamer, Vol. 4 by Wataru Nadatani

I also read the short story ‘Symbiosis’ by D.A. Xiaolin Spires.

I was able to pick up an Illumicrate edition of ‘A Closed and Common Orbit’ by Becky Chambers from their vault sale using book money that my Mum gave me (I used the rest to buy T-pop songs). This was the first book that I ever read by this author, and still my favourite.

The last few months of my first year of university are brutal since everything has ramped up and I’ve got competing deadlines. There is a huge difference in how much work is required and how much time it is taking, and I’m struggling a bit with trying to manage everything. Also, the timing of when assignments are due basically means that the “breaks” are a lie.

Husband and have watched a couple of episodes of the second season of ‘Andor’. I’ve mostly been watching BL series and falling asleep on the sofa, though I did also watch ‘The Other Bennet Sister’ and found it to be excellent.

Family finished watching ‘Starfleet Academy’, the second season of the live action adaptation of ‘One Piece’, and the anime series ‘Tamon's B-Side’. We’ve been continuing to watch ‘Gachiakuta’.

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📚Book Review📚

📖 BL Metamorphosis, Vol. 1 by Kaori Tsurutani

A bit slow moving, but still a lovely story about two lonely people at different stages of life who are drawn together by a mutual interest in BL stories. My Nan introduced me to romance stories, so I really like the portrayal of the age gap between the protagonists and the ways in which they are able to relate to one another while still feeling a bit awkward about how to approach such a friendship. I hope to continue this series as soon as I’m able to find a copy of the second volume for a reasonable price.

📖 SOTUS, Vol. 1 by BitterSweet and Kei Shichiri

The live action adaptation of SOTUS was, I'm fairly certain, the first Thai BL series that I ever watched - so it holds a fair amount of nostalgia for me. Classic university setting with engineering students. I was really happy to be able to get my hands on a manga version (based on the original novel by BitterSweet). I'm looking forward to reading the next volume (as soon as my book budget allows).

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[1st January 2026] fifty-third Post and Post 213

📚Top Five of 2025📚

I read a total of 57 books this year (plus 16 additional short stories), and my top five read in 2025 are as follows:

5. Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

4. System Collapse by Martha Wells

3. A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett

2. The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz

1. Vicious by V. E. Schwab

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📚December 2025 recap📚

I finished reading a total of five books in December: four manga volumes, and one novel.

💛💛💛💛🖤- A Man Who Defies the World of BL, Volume 2 by Konkici
💛💛💛💛🖤- I Think Our Son Is Gay, Vol. 01 by Okura
💛💛💛💛🖤- My Beautiful Man, Volume 2 by Yuu Nagira and Megumi Kitano
💛💛💛💛🖤- Hazelthorn by CG Drews
💛💛💛💛🖤- Old-Fashioned Cupcake by Sagan Sagan

In addition, I read the short story ‘Autonomy’ by Meg Elison.

I have an essay assignment due on the 6th January, which meant that I was stuck doing coursework until late in the month, and didn’t have much mental energy left over for reading. I actually had quite a lot of trouble getting through ‘Hazelthorn’ because it was difficult to read as the parent of an autistic child, but the writing is beautiful and terrible and I’m very glad that I persisted.

Family finished both ‘May I Ask for One Final Thing?’ and the latest season of ‘Spy × Family’, and have been watching a mix of the first season of ‘Stranger Things’ and holiday themed television.

Songs I’ve been obsessed with recently include ‘Skinship’ by DEXX, ‘Red Lights’ by Bang Chan and Hyunjin, and ‘Poor Boy’ by Daou Pittaya.

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📚November 2025 recap📚

I finished reading a total of five books in November: four manga volumes, and one novel.

💛💛💛💛🖤- A Man Who Defies the World of BL, Volume 1 by Konkici
💛💛💛💛🖤- The Metalhead Next Door by Mamita
💛💛💛🖤🖤- Cinderella Closet, Volume 1 by Wakana Yanai
💛💛💛💛🖤- My Beautiful Man, Volume 1 by Yuu Nagira and Megumi Kitano
💛💛💛💛🖤- Husband Material by Alexis Hall

In addition, I read the short story 'The Seed' by Sheri Singerling.

November was another ridiculous month with another two assignments due for my university modules, and ongoing disruption from the roadworks plus the replacement of the gas supply line into the home we’re renting - hence why this month was heavy on the manga.

Family has been watching anime (as usual), continuing with ‘May I Ask for One Final Thing?’, and the latest season of ‘Spy × Family’.

Songs I’ve been obsessed with recently: ‘Bite’ by Mad Tsai, ‘BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS)’ by ATEEZ, ‘White Rabbit’ by Daou Pittaya, ‘Orchid / Flame’ by Hannah Bahng, ‘Darkside’ by Neoni, and ‘Sadistic’ by JASP.ER.

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📚Book Review📚

📖My Beautiful Man, Volume 1 by Yuu Nagira and Megumi Kitano

Can love grow from obsession? While grappling with ongoing trauma, Hira develops an intense and obsessive devotion towards fellow classmate Kiyoi.

I'm a bit of a sucker for stories where someone is dealing with a disability of some kind - in this case a stutter - and, since I already watched the live action adaptation of this series, my heart just aches for Hira in this first installment of the manga version of the light novels.

Trigger warning for content that depicts bullying and references suicidal thoughts.

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