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.
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Top 19 Shounen Ai manga you should read right now. [2025 List]
- 19. Kimi Dake ga Hontou
- 18. Nixi Zhi Hao Yun Rensheng
- 17. Ghost Eyes
- 16. Shixiong Bie Xiang Tao
- 15. Haeui Heunjeok
- 14. Yeongung Ppopgineun Sinjunghage
- 13. Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai vs Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko
- 12. Goyangiui Suit Gaeui Necktie
- 11. Heesu in Class 2
- 10. Hakwonmul
- 9. Koisuru (Otome) no Tsukurikata
- 8. Keullaudeu
- 7. See You at the Crosswalk
- 6. Kare no Iru Seikatsu
- 5. 30-sai made Doutei dato Mahoutsukai ni Nareru Rashii
- 4. Neighbor Guild Member
- 3. Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu
- 2. Meeting Him
- 1. Otoko no Ko Tsuma
19. 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
18. Nixi Zhi Hao Yun Rensheng
Having a two-faced bitch as a love rival isn’t scary… What’s scary is that the bitch has the upper hand—reincarnating as his little brother! Due to his "little brother," his lover was snatched away, his grandfather suffered a terrible death, the family business was taken over, and on top of all that, he was chained and thrown into prison. However, on the night before his release, he got laid by a man in the midst of confusion and became pregnant. After he got out of prison, he came back anew; he opened a restaurant and made a fortune while raising his child. He lived a vibrant life, but certainly didn’t forget to deal with his horrible ex and bitch.
Counterattack Through Pregnancy has finished publishing and it has 423 Chapters. It is also Known as: Nixi Zhi Hao Yun Rensheng Qianyue, Deliverance of the Counterattack, Nìxí Zhī Hǎo Yùn Rénshēng Qiānyuē, Pregnancy Counterattack, The Art of Taming His Husband, 傲娇奶爸休想逃
17. Ghost Eyes
Tobias Schneien is a boy of 15 who's been homeschooled his whole life until now. Raised in a church in the woods with his many siblings, mother, and religious father he is wrought with paranoia of being in public with peers by himself. His only comforts are the voices in his head and the blade in his hands until he meets an odd boy who shows him just how fun being "free" can be and life falls into a place Tobi feels he can't escape. Even if he wanted to.
Ghost Eyes is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Ghost Eyes
16. Shixiong Bie Xiang Tao
When Wang Xiaomie awoke, he discovered that he had been reborn and buried underground for over a thousand years, even living in a double room! This handsome guy, who was wearing the same red wedding dress, kissed him!! What can this weak, helpless, and ugly man do!?
In order to revive his senior brother, he collected countless fortunes, built an underground tomb, found the legendary Acacia tree, and finally waited with him in the coffin for thousands of years without hesitation. But this person involved had no memory of this!!
Shixiong Bie Xiang Tao has finished publishing and it has 92 Chapters. It is also Known as: Martial Brother, Please Don't Run Away~, Martial Brother, Please Don't Run Away~, Senior Brother, Don't Even Think About Running Away, Shī Xiōng Bié Xiǎng Táo
15. Haeui Heunjeok
I can help you kill your friends.
Strange dungeons have started appearing all over the world and wreaking havoc. I-Seon, a guy with the power to rebuild cities, witnesses his friends being turned into the undead. Hyeon, a powerful hunter, comes to him with an interesting proposition. I-seon has no choice but to accept his offer.
Traces of the Sun has finished publishing and it has 95 Chapters. It is also Known as: A Trace of the Wonder
14. Yeongung Ppopgineun Sinjunghage
Lee Min-Jun, an ordinary office worker, becomes the first reviewer of a mobile game developed by his friend. He closes his eyes during the boring opening and reopens them in the game world.
Phantom Magician: "You have to take charge of leading and controlling the heroes."
The first hero is summoned at the beginning of the tutorial. Min-Jun is delighted with the handsome hero who looks quite strong, but it turns out he's a low-level character with no memories or proper weapons.
Choose Your Heroes Carefully is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 召唤美男英雄的代价, 英雄ガチャは慎重に
13. Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai vs Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko
One day, the protagonist realizes that he lives inside a "world of BL."
As he likes girls, he fights back against any hot guys that might draw near, but this is a "world of BL"... he's still assailed with the sight of people in lovey-dovey situations one after another!
A World Where Everything Definitely Becomes BL vs. The Man Who Definitely Doesn't Want To Be In A BL is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 絶対BLになる世界VS絶対BLになりたくない男, Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai vs Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko
12. Goyangiui Suit Gaeui Necktie
Sunwoo looks like a harmless little puppy on the outside, but everyone in the office knows he's more of a feisty cat - sensitive and aloof, through and through. Hyunjin, on the other hand, is like a big friendly dog - always ready and oh-so-eager to befriend Sunwoo. After his fruitless efforts to avoid Hyunjin within the office, Sunwoo gives him an ultimatum that results in their unlikely new friendship. Rocky roads await the puss in suit and pup in tie!
Source: Lezhin
Cat's Suit, Dog's Tie has finished publishing and it has 64 Chapters. It is also Known as: Puss in Suit, Pup in Tie
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. Hakwonmul
A love story of a struggling crush. Can Minho's love be achieved?
Hakwonmul has finished publishing and it has 85 Chapters. It is also Known as: School Life, School Love Story
9. 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
8. 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
7. See You at the Crosswalk
“You’re under arrest!” On his first official assignment, police officer Jinho thinks he catches a flasher... only it’s the suave school nurse, Hwanung! One chance encounter quickly develops into something more as Jinho finds himself both excited and flustered by Hwanung’s gestures of affection.
See You at the Crosswalk has finished publishing and it has 43 Chapters. It is also Known as: See You at the Crosswalk
6. Kare no Iru Seikatsu
Ryouta Natsukawa, a boy with a domestic disposition, is striving to make his college debut. At last, his dream of living alone has come true...!!
...Or so he'd thought, until it turns out he has to room with his childhood friend, Kazuhito Tanaka, a guy with a sparkling aura?! Their mutually self-conscious, mutual pining love between roommates begins!
Living With Him has finished publishing and it has 11 Chapters. It is also Known as: 彼のいる生活, Kare no Iru Seikatsu
5. 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
4. Neighbor Guild Member
After suffering from a stalker, Yoon Ji-gu becomes extremely wary of people. Just in time, a man with a strange sexual orientation moved into the neighbor's house...?
"Looks like there's a pervert living next door..."
In reality, Lee Yeo-woon and Yoon Ji-gu are suspicious neighbors who are full of misunderstandings.
In the game, the couple neutaaaa (Lee Yeo-woon) and ji9byeol.
How will the relationship between the two change in and out of the game and reality?
Neighbor Guild Member is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Guild Member Next Door, My Guildmate Next Door, Neighbor BF, 邻家公会成员
3. 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
2. Meeting Him
Illustrator Shiwoo Myung finds a young man passed out in front of his home dressed in strange, blood-covered attire. He doesn't speak Korean and is carrying only a hand-drawn image in his pocket of the person he seeks - a man that looks just like Shiwoo. As the two slowly learn to communicate, Shiwoo learns that his new "housemate" Jun is an emperor from another world, and the person he's looking for is his deceased husband Myung, who promised to find him in another world before dying from an illness. Shiwoo insists that he and Myung are two entirely different people, but Jun is completely devoted to him and wants them to be happy together.
Meeting Him has finished publishing and it has 49 Chapters. It is also Known as: Meeting Him
1. Otoko no Ko Tsuma
The manga follows the daily lives of Kou, a slightly quirky man, and his wife, Yukio (often called Yuki), who is a cross dressing man. Read as this married couple handles the trouble that comes with cross dressing in modern Japanese society.
My Wife is a Man has finished publishing and it has 44 Chapters. It is also Known as: おとこのこ妻, Otoko no Ko Zuma, Otokonoko Zuma
