Watching anime and reading books and manga helped keep me sane while I was so stressed out at work, and my life became even more bearable when I started reading manhwa. (I also discovered a really awesome game named Obey Me, and that’s definitely something worth writing next time, *wink.)
Manhwa is actually a Korean version of manga, although digital manhwa (webtoon) is typically published in color. Another difference is that manhwa is similar to American and European comics in that they’re read from left to right and from top to bottom.
Reading a story in full colored illustrations sounds very promising right? I can’t believe I waited this long to finally consider reading one. So without any further adieu, let me introduce you to the 8 manhwa that I currently follow. (Please take note that the order don’t vary)
1. Stranger than Friends by Yeoro, Sagold
Genre: Yaoi
Read it on Lezhin
Sypnosis:
Yi-hyeok and Inseo have been friends for their entire lives. It’s something they take for granted. Just like the sky is blue and water is wet, the two of them are lifelong buddies. Or, well, that’s what they think right up until the moment Inseo kisses Yi-hyeok as a joke that turns into something more, sparking a whole new scorching hot relationship between them. It might be pretty funny, really steamy, and a little strange…but they’re still friends. Right? …Right?!
My Thoughts:
I’m a very visual person (and a petty one to be exact, hahaha), so seeing both of the main characters looking soooo good together, this manhwa instantly won me over. It was actually my very first matured yaoi manhwa so imagine my surprise when I reach the sexy scenes lol. I had the same reaction when I read my very first yaoi manga years ago, wahahaha.
2. Love Me Doctor! by ANA
Genre: Yaoi
Read it on Lezhin
Sypnosis:
Hyuk is a happy-go-lucky college student who’s dating the girl of his dreams. But there’s one issue: when it’s showtime in the bedroom, he gets massive performance anxiety. Desperate to keep his girlfriend, Hyuk works up the courage to go see a urologist. He prepares for the worst, but his first prostate exam actually feels…amazing?! Thanks to one smooth Dr. Han and his masterful hands, Hyuk is now on the path to recovery through regular massage sessions! How lucky of him to have found such an attentive doctor, one who’ll even take him out for drinks to listen to his woes. But as the treatments unfold, Dr. Han has a way of slipping into Hyuk’s mind, not just his bum…
My Thoughts:
Unlike the one above, this one has way too many sexy scenes hahaha. My eyes!!!! But once we get to the conflict, the story is starting to get really interesting. Can’t wait to read the next update.
3. Dear Benjamin by TopJung, id
Genre: Yaoi
Read it on Tappytoon
Sypnosis:
All Isaac the beta wants is to live a normal life as a slightly unskilled florist and leave his turbulent past behind. That dream quickly goes out the window, however, when the infamous arms dealer Felix waltzes into his shop and takes a liking to him. It just so happens that Isaac’s family needs protection from a mysterious enemy, and luckily, Felix is more than willing to provide it in return for Isaac’s body. The more Felix falls for the reserved florist, the more he wants to unlock his many secrets. And as things heat up in the bedroom, Isaac finds it harder to resist the handsome alpha and his powerful pheromones. Meanwhile, the secret about their shared past hangs in the air like a ticking timebomb…
My Thoughts:
This was actually my first omegaverse story, so I was pretty confused when I started it. But finally caught up with the whole omegaverse concept the further I read. And overall, I am loving this one so far.
Aside from the omegaverse setting, another thing that makes this one interesting from the other two yaoi I mentioned above is the intense action scenes. I love that both main characters are capable of fighting for themselves.
4. No Love Zone by Dambi
Genre: Yaoi
Read it on Lezhin
Sypnosis:
Lee Eun-gyeom is your typical office worker. A newbie at his workplace, he’s friendly and sociable. However, when it comes to love and relationships, he has the most rotten luck.
Enter Han Jihyuk, the handsome team manager who’s totally Eun-gyeom’s type! But wait a second… Is this demon of a manager out to get him? His arrival is about to send Eun-gyeom through a roller coaster of emotions!
My Thoughts:
So sorry for dropping 4 consecutive yaoi here, wahahaha. No Love Zone is another good yaoi recommendation. I don’t normally like drama with my yaoi, but I liked it here. I also love the slow build-up of their relationship. Definitely something worth reading for any yaoi fans out there, *wink.
5. Finding Camelia by Jin Soye
Genre: Romance, Gender Bender
Read it on Manta
Sypnosis:
Her life was nothing but lies.
Camellia was just 12 when she was taken away from her mother in the slums and forced to live as the son of an aristocratic family. But under the layers of secrets and lies, she never forgets. She continues to struggle to be her true self again, to reclaim the life of Camellia.
My Thoughts:
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS MANHWA! It’s hard for me to explain it in words, but I just LOVE IT. Period, wahahaha. Sorry, I’m literally speechless right now.
6. Faking it in Style by Dagabi and Jin Soye
Genre: Romance
Read it on Tappytoon
Synopsis:
Suah is a petite, red-haired designer who leads a drama-free life… until one morning, she wakes up tied to a chair. The man scowling down at her is none other than her roommate’s scary older brother, Seung-hyun, the owner of the apartment she’s been living in rent-free for the past eight years. He gives her one week to pack her bags and move out. Panicked Suah tries to plead and beg, but the coldhearted Seung-hyun’s got the upper hand. That is, until he runs into Suah at work. Turns out she’s not only an essential member of the new team he put together, but also one of the best employees he’s ever worked with. Like it or not, the two are stuck with each other for the foreseeable future… Can Suah convince Seung-hyun to let her stay? And how will Seung-hyun keep things professional with the woman he wants to kick out of his house?
My Thoughts:
Pretend relationship is one of my favorite cliches, so obviously I will like this one instantly hahaha. It’s from the same creator of Finding Camellia (which I LOVE SO MUCHHH), and thankfully this one is equally entertaining.
What makes this story different from your usual cliche pretend relationship is the author’s work on slowly building up the main characters relationship. It didn’t feel like the author just snapped her finger and tadaa, they’re in love hahaha.
7. Follow the Bread Crumbs by Gyuni, Soreumdang
Genre: Romance, Fairytale Retelling, Isekai
Read it on Manta
Sypnosis:
I’m the Gingerbread House witch!
I possessed Yielle Frank, the witch from Hansel and Gretel! I didn’t want to die like in the original story, so I took good care of the children and sent them off. But ten years later, Hansel returns, all grown up… “Am I still just a kid to you? Please don’t run away.”
My Thoughts:
I actually like retellings, and this one is pretty interesting because it didn’t just cover one fairytale story but more! And dang, it’s just hard not to get affected with the hotness of the main character, wahahaha.
8. Under the Oak Tree by namu, P, Kim Suji
Genre: Romance
Read it on Manta
Sypnosis:
A flawless love story of the flawed.
Stuttering lady Maximilian is forced into a marriage with Sir Riftan, but he leaves on a campaign after their wedding night. 3 years later, he triumphantly returns, ready to cherish her. As life with her husband finally begins, she only has one question — does she deserve this love and happiness?
My Thoughts:
This one here is what started it all hahaha. Under The Oak Tree is the very first manhwa I’ve read that made me want to read more. Just like the other stories above, this one has gorgeous illustrations and I absolutely love the character design.
The story is a little bit ordinary if you’ve been reading books all your life. Plus the male lead sounds too good to be true, he’s just too sweet and so dang hot. But then again, once in a while we want to read stories that make us squeal in delight and wish we’re the lucky heroine right? Hahaha.
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For someone who doesn’t want to wait for updates, this is really surprising for me. I am not just waiting for 1 or 2 stories for updates, but I am waiting for 8! Can you believe that hahaha.
I am also following another 2 manhua stories aside from those 8 above, hahaha. I’ll probably post about them if they atleast reach 3. Unlike manhwa, it’s kind of hard to find some really good manhua out there to enjoy.
That’s it folks. Hopefully the following stories above will also convince you to try manhwa. Have fun choosing!
