What is this genre all about? Shounen Ai means boys love, and thus explores what happens when two boys (or men) fall in love. This is not to be mistaken for Yaoi which is (or, at least, how this term is often used by the western audience) used in adult works. This is not; that means there is no graphical sex.
The female version is Shoujo Ai.
We present you the list of Shounen Ai manga you should read right now.
Try our anime quiz: Anime Characters Guessing Quiz/Game
Top 18 Shounen Ai manga you should read right now. [2026 List]
- 18. Iutjim Guild-won
- 17. Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu
- 16. Kimi Dake ga Hontou
- 15. Boy Girlfriend
- 14. Here U Are
- 13. Josou Shite Mendoukusai Koto ni Natteru Nekura to Yankee no Ryou Kataomoi
- 12. Semantic Error
- 11. Heesu in Class 2
- 10. I Can See Your Stats!
- 9. Star x Fanboy
- 8. Meet Me After School
- 7. Xiao Mogu
- 6. Harenochi Shikibu
- 5. Global Examination
- 4. Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!!
- 3. Not So Silent
- 2. Koisuru (Otome) no Tsukurikata
- 1. Yanjin Zaoyao
18. Iutjim Guild-won
After a stalking incident, Yoon Ji-gu has become understandably wary of strangers. So when an odd man moves in next door, he immediately suspects the worst. Little does he know, Yeowoon is just a regular guy trying to land a job and enjoy his free time—until he finds himself dealing with a hostile neighbor. As their real-life misunderstandings escalate, the two unknowingly team up in their favorite online game, forming an unexpected duo. Get ready to log in to a new adventure full of hilarious mix-ups, a distrustful tsundere, and an unwitting flirt with a heart of gold.
Note: Season 2 is rated R19
Virtual Strangers is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Guild Member Next Door, My Guildmate Next Door, Neighbor BF, 鄰居是公會成員, 隣のギルメン, 求饶不成就求婚, Vecinos Virtuales
17. Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu
"So, Hikaru is no more... If that's true then..."
Yoshiki and Hikaru are two boys who live in a certain village. They're the same age and have always been together growing up. But one day, Yoshiki noticed that "something else" has taken Hikaru's place. Even after learning of this, Yoshiki still wants them to be together. And so, his life with the "something" that looks like his friend begins.
At the same time, strange incidents keep occurring in the village...
The Summer Hikaru Died is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 光が死んだ夏, Hikari ga Shinda Natsu, The Summer Hikaru is Dead, The Summer the Light is Dead
16. Kimi Dake ga Hontou
High school boy, Rikimaru, is unable to touch women due to childhood trauma. He has a pair of childhood friends who are siblings. The older sister, Kagami, and then the younger brother, Kyou. Between the two of them they share a similar height and appearance. Under these circumstances a unique twin love romance begins to bloom.
Kimi Dake ga Hontou has finished publishing and it has 13 Chapters. It is also Known as: きみだけがほんとう, Kimi Dake ga Hontou
15. Boy Girlfriend
An idiot convinces his male childhood friend to dress up and act like his girlfriend so he’ll show his crush that he’s mature and cool
Boy Girlfriend is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Boy Girlfriend
14. Here U Are
Receiving the newcomers is a task for Yu Yang, and he ends up helping the unsociable and towering Li Huan, the kind of person that does everything to be disliked. But after better knowing each other, he discovers that the giant isn't that bad of a person at all...
Note: Includes 20 extra chapters.
Here U Are has finished publishing and it has 157 Chapters. It is also Known as: You are here, You're here
13. Josou Shite Mendoukusai Koto ni Natteru Nekura to Yankee no Ryou Kataomoi
Shuumei has a problem. He’s in love with a girl who works at a maid cafe, but he’s too cool to go into a place like that without being embarrassed. But girls can go to maid cafes without seeming creepy, right? When he dresses in feminine clothes and transforms himself into “Mei,” he can finally walk into the place to meet the girl of his dreams: the lovely blonde Hana. Meanwhile, Hanae is an introverted otaku who’s uncomfortable talking to people…unless he’s dressed in feminine clothes himself. While decked out in his best dresses, he works at a maid cafe, and finds himself crushing on a young woman who regularly comes to visit him: a cool beauty named Mei! In this delightful LGBT+ romcom, two young people in love are about to find out a lot about each other–and themselves.
Crossplay Love: Otaku x Punk is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 女装してめんどくさい事になってるネクラとヤンキーの両片想い, The Bothersome Emotions of the Emo and Yankee Crossdressers, Cross-dressing became troublesome - a pessimist and a delinquent's mutual unrequited love, รักวุ่นวายของนายมืดมนกับแยงกี้ตัวร้ายสายแต่งหญิง, Anziehend anders
12. Semantic Error
You're an error in my perfect world.
Sang-U Chu is a stickler for rules. So when his classmates free-ride on a group project, he doesn't credit them. But this prevents one senior, Jae-Yeong Jang, from graduating. And like oil and water, Sang-U and Jae-Yeong don't mix. Can Sang-U debug Jae-Yeong — a semantic error in his perfect life?
Note: Chapter count includes a Christmas Special.
Semantic Error has finished publishing and it has 94 Chapters. It is also Known as: Semantic Error
11. Heesu in Class 2
Heesu’s world revolves around Chanyoung, his best friend and secret crush. He doesn’t mind cheering Chanyoung from the sidelines or listening to all his girl problems. He doesn’t care if people only know him as “Chanyoung’s friend.” Then one day, Heesu starts hearing his name everywhere. On the bus, in the halls, during lunch… Turns out, there’s a rumor going around school (Got a love problem? Find Heesu in Class 2 and he’ll tell you what to do!) and with that, Heesu suddenly finds himself the center of attention. But how could he give anyone advice? He doesn’t even know what to do about his own crush!
Source: Lezhin)
Heesu in Class 2 has finished publishing and it has 89 Chapters. It is also Known as: Heesu in Class 2
10. I Can See Your Stats!
An estate to manage, a lover to tame.
Following the gruesome death of his family, mage Eyra inherits the Solath Estate and becomes a lord overnight, only to discover that he can suddenly see the stats of everyone he meets. Enter Yanu, a dashing jack-of-all-trades who seems hell-bent on distracting him from his newfound duties...
I Can See Your Stats! has finished publishing and it has 74 Chapters. It is also Known as: 너의 스탯이 보여!
9. Star x Fanboy
What if you could talk to your favorite fictional character every day? And what if they make you feel like the most special person in the world? “Good morning,” “I was thinking about you,” “Sweet dreams,” “See you tomorrow”... Some fans dive into their TV/movie/book obsessions on social media by interacting with accounts that take on the persona of their favorite characters. But what if the person behind that fictional account is actually...the very star who played that role?
Star x Fanboy has finished publishing and it has 171 Chapters. It is also Known as: Bak Bae U x Gim Nam Paen
8. Meet Me After School
Len, to pay the debt, became a scapegoat and thus started a feud with the school hunk, Kian. He is targeted by Kian since he entered the school and is blocked the way every day after school. Kian makes troubles to Len every day for revenge, which is to teach Len a lesson. However, the purpose of revenge changes... because Kian thinks that Len becomes more and more eye-pleasing, and becomes softer and softer...
Meet Me After School has finished publishing and it has 83 Chapters. It is also Known as: Don't Leave After School, School's Over, Please Stay!, Fang Xue Bie Zou, Fangxue Bie Zou
7. Xiao Mogu
“Until the day humanity falls.”
In the year 2020, Earth’s magnetic poles disappeared and humankind was nearly wiped out by cosmic radiation. Within the span of a hundred years, living creatures began to mutate and devour each other while the remaining humans, numbering in the tens of thousands, struggled bitterly in their man-made bases.
In the Abyss, home to the mutated xenogenics, there lived a sentient little mushroom. Because it had been nourished by the blood and flesh of the deceased human An Ze, not only did it take on a similar-looking human form, but a similar name as well: An Zhe.
An Zhe is determined to go to the human base to search for his spore, which had been harvested by humans. Once there, however, he faces the omnipresent risk of discovery and certain death as he tries to keep his non-human nature hidden from the Judges, whose responsibility is to inspect for and eliminate xenogenics like himself. And of all the Judges, Colonel Lu Feng is the most perceptive and merciless—as soon as he determines that someone is a xenogenic, he will execute that person on the spot.
But An Zhe’s mutation goes undetected by Lu Feng’s eyes, and so a tale of humans and xenogenics unfolds…
Note: Silver Award winner at the 12th Chinese Nebula Awards for Chinese Science Fiction
Xiao Mogu is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Little Mushroom, Small Mushroom, Wrong But Still Right, Xiao Mo Gu, Xiǎo Mó Gū
6. Harenochi Shikibu
Haruno witnesses a mysterious guy crying under the sakura trees. He thought it strange, but who would have thought the guy turns out to be his classmate, Hitose?! Hitose declares that he's going to establish the "Four Seasons Club", with details of club activities being very unclear. But swept up in Hitose's vigor, Haruno joins the club by announcing, "I will be with you"!
Harenochi Shikibu has finished publishing and it has 15 Chapters. It is also Known as: 晴れのち四季部, Harenochi Sikibu, 晴天之后的四季部
5. Global Examination
This is an examination that puts your life at stake. Answer a plethora of questions, pass the exam, and you may live. Two-faced examiner, Qin Jiu, meets the cold examinee, You Huo. In this inhumane system, both of them who have lost their memories go head to head against each other. Despite that, they have a strong mutual understanding. Alarms go off and the system collapses time and time again. During which, their memories gradually return. It turns out that even at the end of the world where there's only dust left, you're still the first person I met. What's so great about this system? We'll just destroy it. The world is brilliant and grand still, so welcome home.
Global Examination is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Global University Entrance Examination
4. Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!!
Nakamura is a shy boy who falls in love at first sight with one of his classmates–his dreamy high school classmate, Hirose. But there’s a problem: they haven’t met yet. And Nakamura is a total klutz who might bungle things before they even begin!
Go For It, Nakamura! has finished publishing and it has 11 Chapters. It is also Known as: ガンバレ！中村くん!!, Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!!
3. Not So Silent
Lewis Walker is the perfect student: amazing grades, a clean school record, an extensive club itinerary- but absolutely no time for himself. His busy schedule suddenly clears once the new student, Fern Montalvo, affectionately captures his attention. High school is hard enough when you've spent your whole life pleasing your teachers, your unsupportive family, and disgruntled friends. But while navigating his new feelings for Fern, maybe Lewis can learn to love himself in the process?
Not So Silent is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Not So Silent
2. Koisuru (Otome) no Tsukurikata
A popular guy that's secretly interested in cosmetics asks to practice makeup on his dull childhood friend and he ends up looking cute?!
Koisuru (Otome) no Tsukurikata is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 恋する（おとめ）の作り方, How to Make a "Girl" Fall in Love, I turned my childhood friend (♂) into a girl, Osananajimi(♂) wo Onnanoko ni Shiteshimatta Hanashi, Transformei meu amigo de infância (♂) em uma garota, Gue Mengubah Teman Masa Kecil (♂) Gue Jadi Cewek, Convertí a my amigo de la infancia (♂) en una chica
1. Yanjin Zaoyao
A crack ship that trended for half a year — and now the real people finally meet! One’s a famous movie star. The other? A chill, low-key idol. Two people with zero overlap, no connection whatsoever... yet thanks to a random crackship post on a fan forum, they suddenly blew up online as a pair?! Our socially anxious little idol just wants to stay far, far away — but fate has other plans, and the two unexpectedly cross paths! What kind of sparks will fly between this “CP born on the internet”?
Yanjin Zaoyao is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Spreading Rumors Is Strictly Prohibited, Yánjìn Zàoyáo, 严禁造谣, 嚴禁造謠
