From our TBR pile: Pride Month June 2026 – some LGBTQIA+ recommendations
At Anime UK News, we’ve been covering LGBTQ+ themes and stories in manga, light novel and manhwa for as long as whenever…so Pride Month is an excellent time to share some more recent titles from our toppling TBR piles!
His Favorite Volume 13 by Suzuki Tanaka OT (SuBLime Manga) review by Ian Wolf
Some books in our TBR piles have been waiting to be read longer than others. I forget exactly when I bought this volume (#13) but given that a new volume (#14) came out in May (about two-and-a-half years after this one!) it’s a good time to finally read it. Romcom His Favorite is one of the few titles in VIZ’s SuBLime Boys’ Love imprint that doesn’t include explicit sex scenes, being given an Older Teen rating rather than Mature. It follows tall and handsome high school student Takahiko Sato whose “favourite” is Yoshio Yoshida, a short lad with a scar on his face who Sato loves mainly because when they were younger, Yoshida protected the then obese Sato from bullies. Much of the comedy comes from the various rival groups trying to break the two boys up, usually girls who want Sato for themselves but who are frustrated by the fact he hangs out with Yoshida, who is pretty much hated by every girl in the school. Despite running for so long (since 2008) there are still laughs to be had – this volume sees the duo having trouble watching a film at the cinema and being pestered at a summer festival. His Favorite makes for an entertaining farce, and the central relationship between Sato and Yoshida is a deep, caring one. If you are more interested in the more romantic elements of BL, His Favorite may be the series for you. Score: 8/10
Our Dining Table: Seconds, Please! Volume 2 T 13+ by Mita Ori (Seven Seas) review by Sarah
Found family is the theme of Mita Ori’s ongoing and heart-warming Boys’ Love manga in which young salaryman Yutaka has found love and acceptance with student Minoru and his little brother Tane. Food brought them together – but when Yutaka and Minoru stop off for dinner at a new restaurant one evening, Yutaka is astonished to be hugged by the chef/owner! It’s Kanzaki, a friend from university days. It seems, as Minoru watches them, that Kanzaki might have unrequited feelings for Yutaka and he begins to worry that Yutaka will be swayed by this unexpected encounter. Minoru is also trying to figure out what to do when he graduates but he’s surprised when one of the regular clients at the Chinese restaurant where he works part-time makes him an unexpected offer. With so much on his mind, Minoru’s camping (glamping!) weekend break away with Yutaka doesn’t get off to a good start. Will the two be able to be honest with each other about their worries? Or are cracks beginning to show in their relationship? Mita Ori depicts her characters with honesty and gentle humour and uses the lightest of strokes to convey how they’re feeling and reacting in her art. Five-year-old Tane-kun is possibly my favourite character – don’t miss his sixth birthday at the end of the volume. Score: 8/10
Delinquent Daddy & Tender Teacher Volume 1 OT by Tama Mizuki (Seven Seas) reviewed by Noemi10
Hitsuji is an elementary school teacher, but one day he finds out that one of his young students, Hinata, has a particular family situation at home. When he investigates, he finds out that Hinata’s father is Hatoyama, the guy Hitsuji liked during high school! Due to some homophobic ex-classmates, he tries to not disclose that he’s gay, but the more time he spends with Hatoyama, the more his teenage feelings for him resurface. The story is heart-warming and wholesome, and the art is whimsical to show the characters’ journey to falling in love. However, the Older Teen content warning comes from some spicy scenes in the bonus story, as our characters’ relationship moves toward the next step. What I greatly appreciated about this series (6 volumes) is how the author defines the characters—Hitsuji is shy, but he doesn’t try to hide that he’s gay even if he’s afraid of rejection and of being judged. On the other hand, Hatoyama is heterosexual, but the more time he spends with Hitsuji, the more he can’t help but fall for him, no matter Hitsuji’s gender. Hinata as well plays a big part in the story, not only because he’s represented as being adorable, but also because although he doesn’t know yet about the relationship between his father and teacher; he just loves having Hitsuji in his life. Score: 9/10
I Can’t Say No to the Lonely Girl Volume 2 T 13+ by Kashikaze (Kodansha) reviewed by Demelza
Having shared a kiss and grown close to one another, Ayaka is all confused about her feelings for Honda. And before she can figure out if her feelings are friendship or romantic, a rival for Honda’s feelings may have appeared! A transfer student from Osaka called Wakana has just arrived, and they seem very friendly with Honda all of a sudden! But maybe she’ll be the push Ayaka needs to work through her feelings? I was not a huge fan of how this series started, given the relationship between the girls was largely being built around blackmail, but this second instalment eases most of my concerns, as that is far less of a focus. Wakana is a bubbly personality and works well to bring the cast together, and she has an interesting backstory of her own that Kashikaze has done a good job of tying into the larger narrative. It’s considerably easier to root for the two leads now that they’re acting more like ordinary high school students in love. Maybe all we needed all along was some more characters thrown into the mix. Score: 7/10
And here are some links to some other LGBTQIA+ manga that we’ve already reviewed and recommended on the site!
Like Two Peas in a Pod Review • Anime UK News
The Yearning Fox Lies in Wait • Anime UK News
Yuri is My Job! Volume 1 Review • Anime UK News
I Want to be a Wall Volume 3 Review • Anime UK News
