Top 19 Shounen Ai manga you should read right now. [2023 List]

19. 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

18. 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

17. 30-sai made Doutei dato Mahoutsukai ni Nareru Rashii

Adachi, a thirty-year-old virgin, has developed the power to read people's minds by touching them. After a brush with his very handsome colleague, Adachi realizes the guy has a raging crush on none other than Adachi himself!

Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 30歳まで童貞だと魔法使いになれるらしい, 30-sai made Doutei dato Mahoutsukai ni Nareru Rashii

16. Uchi no Musuko wa Tabun Gay

A sweet, open-minded mother starts suspecting one of her sons might be gay.



Originally published on the author's twitter, it has also been published in Gangan Pixiv starting August 17, 2019.

I Think Our Son is Gay is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: うちの息子はたぶんゲイ, Uchi no Musuko wa Tabun Gei, Our Son is Probably Gay, My Son is Probably Gay

15. Tian Guan Ci Fu

Eight hundred years ago, Xie Lian was the Crown Prince of the Xian Le kingdom; one who was beloved by his citizens and the darling of the world. Unsurprisingly, he ascended to the Heavens at a very young age.

Now, eight hundred years later, Xie Lian ascends to the Heavens for the third time as the laughing stock of all three realms. On his first task as a god, he meets a mysterious demon who rules the ghosts and terrifies the Heavens… Yet unbeknownst to Xie Lian, this demon king has been paying attention to him for a very, very long time.

Heaven Official's Blessing is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Tiān Guān Cì Fú

14. 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

13. 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

12. Boyfriends.

A comic about getting yourself a boyfriend... or multiple boyfriends! Four college students begin a polyamorous relationship and navigate the adventure that is their dating life!

Boyfriends. is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Boyfriends.

11. Mo Dao Zu Shi

As the grandmaster who founded the Demonic Sect, Wei Wuxian roamed the world in his wanton ways, hated by millions for the chaos he created. In the end, he was backstabbed by his dearest shidi and killed by powerful clans that combined to overpower him. He incarnates into the body of a lunatic who was abandoned by his clan and is later, unwillingly, taken away by a famous cultivator among the clans—Lan Wangji, his archenemy. This marks the start of a thrilling yet hilarious journey of attacking monsters, solving mysteries, and raising children. From the mutual flirtation along the way, Wei Wuxian slowly realizes that Lan Wangji, a seemingly haughty and indifferent poker-face, holds more feelings for Wei Wuxian than he is letting on.

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation has finished publishing and it has 259 Chapters. It is also Known as: Modao Zushi, The Founder of Diabolism, The Founder of Evil Magic

10. Keullaudeu

Skylar has a secret hobby - taking photos of his crush, Chan-il. But when Cirrus stumbles upon Skylar's cloud storage with its impressive collection of Chan-il's photos, things escalate pretty quickly. At first confident his secret is safe with Cirrus, Skylar continuously finds himself in compromising situations, making him question Cirrus' true motives.

Source: Lezhin

Lost in the Cloud is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Keullaudeu

9. The Best Smell

Choi Kanggo was born with a sensitive nose that can smell through a person's feelings. But when a boy who likes him approaches..?!

The Best Smell has finished publishing and it has 100 Chapters. It is also Known as: The Strongest Smell, Le Parfum de tes Sentiments

8. The Third Ending

Seo Yoon Seul, who's lived a perfect life so far, becomes a wreck when he starts having nightmares of a boy whom he coldly rejected when he was a student. The nightmares get even worse when he reunites with Kang Joon. Following his advice on becoming a good person to avoid nightmares, Yoon Seul approaches him to win his favor.

Note: from season 2 (chapter 36) this becomes Mature (R19), Season 1 is All-Age (R15) Note: Chapter count includes a 3-chapter side story and 2 episodes that were a Christmas special

The Third Ending has finished publishing and it has 72 Chapters. It is also Known as: The Third Ending

7. Semantic Error

Computer science major Chu Sangwoo is the epitome of an inflexible and strict rule-abiding person. While working on a liberal arts group project with freeloaders who don’t put in any effort, Sangwoo reasonably decides to remove their names from the final presentation.

But he didn’t imagine how involved he would become with the person whose study-abroad plans were messed up because of that project. The involved person: the campus star who everyone knows, Department of Design’s Jang Jaeyoung. He has everything from skills, looks, family background and good relationships except for 1 big problem: Chu Sangwoo.

What happens when an engineer and an artist whose personalities are like oil and water have to work together? Jang Jaeyoung is like a semantic error in the perfect world of Chu Sangwoo. Will Sangwoo be able to debug this?

Semantic Error is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Semantic Error

6. Sentakushi de Koukando ga Agaru Otokonoko

A Femboy Whose Affection Points Go Up Based on Your Choices has finished publishing and it has 60 Chapters. It is also Known as: 選択肢で好感度があがる男の娘, Sentakushi de Koukando ga Agaru Otokonoko

5. Sankaku Mado no Sotogawa wa Yoru

Shy bookstore clerk Kosuke Mikado has the ability to see ghosts and spirits, an ability he wishes he didn't have, since what he sees usually terrifies him. Rihito Hiyakawa, an exorcist whose supernatural powers are as strong as his social graces are weak, doesn't seem to fear anything, mortal or otherwise. When this odd couple gets together to solve the bizarre cases that come their way, their work methods may not be entirely safe for work!

The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window has finished publishing and it has 57 Chapters. It is also Known as: さんかく窓の外側は夜, 三角窓の外側は夜

4. Heartstopper

Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more...?

Heartstopper is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Heartstopper

3. Don’t Say You Love Me

I treated you like a brother, so how could you confess to me?! I only wanted to avoid you but I ended up hurting you through an accident. I’m sorry. If I had another chance, I definitely won't run away again. However… That chance came so fast. I suddenly traveled back three years ago and met you again. The you who doesn’t yet know me.

Don’t Say You Love Me is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Bié duì wǒ biǎobái

2. Bailin and Li Yun

Dr. Li Yun is doing research in the arctic when he meets a strange, injured creature. A collection of very short episodes about their shenanigans.

- Webtoon

Bailin and Li Yun is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Bailin and Li Yun

1. Gobaek

I moved to a new school to start a new life, but how'd I end up becoming the
school top dog's boyfriend?!

I Like You has finished publishing and it has 48 Chapters. It is also Known as: Gobaek