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 20 Shounen Ai manga you should read right now. [2026 List]
- 20. Kimi Dake ga Hontou
- 19. Mo Dao Zu Shi
- 18. My Darling Signed In
- 17. You Bei Nanshen Liao Shang Resou
- 16. Love Bites
- 15. Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu
- 14. Shimanami Tasogare
- 13. Iutjim Guild-won
- 12. Blood Bank
- 11. Ao Ge Si De Faze
- 10. Uncanny Charm
- 9. Whose Baby is it?
- 8. Pond Snail Robber
- 7. Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai vs Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko
- 6. Han Yuan
- 5. Yeongung Ppopgineun Sinjunghage
- 4. Isekai no Sata wa Shachiku Shidai
- 3. Two Sizes, too small
- 2. Out of Control
- 1. Xiao Mogu
20. 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
19. 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
18. My Darling Signed In
Jaehyun may be the composed upperclassman on campus, but he secretly plays the hottest elven diva online with a love of pricey costumes. He meets Eunsung, a handsome first-year with deep pockets guarding his own secrets, at a school event. They connect instantly, but what begins as a sweet challenge becomes a risky game of affection on- and offline!
My Darling Signed In has finished publishing and it has 106 Chapters. It is also Known as: 我亲爱的上线了, Meu Amor Online
17. You Bei Nanshen Liao Shang Resou
The first time Yu Bei, a D-list actor made it to the trending topic was because of his McDreamy. He thought his eight years secret crush would go in vain in the end, but to his surprise, his crush began to pursue him! "People thought I was his sugar baby, but actually he's my lawful husband~"
Source: MangaToon
I’ve Gone Viral Thanks to My Crush has finished publishing and it has 274 Chapters. It is also Known as: Hottest Topics, Hot Search Again Because Of The Male God, I Got Teased By Mr. Wonderful On Hot Search Again, Mr. McDreamy Makes Me a Trending Topic Again
16. Love Bites
When Kieran meets his new classmate, Mason Kane, he bristles with an unexplainable disdain. Soon it becomes apparent why: Mason is a werewolf. But when a fight turns into a sudden kiss that neither expects, Kieran's feelings for Mason turn to attraction in an instant. None of it makes sense - vampires and werewolves are supposed to be mortal enemies, so why does Kieran find Mason so irresistible?
Source: Webtoon
Love Bites is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Love Bites
15. 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
14. Shimanami Tasogare
After recently moving to Onomichi, Hiroshima, high school student Tasuku Kaname is thrown into despair at the possibility that he may have been outed for being gay. Convinced his life is over, his despair turns into shock when he sees a woman jump out of a window of a nearby house. Tasuku races to the house in a panic only to discover that it's a public meeting lounge owned by the woman he saw before. Tasuku comes face to face with the woman as she walks past him unharmed, but not before she implies that she had been watching him from afar. Confused, Tasuku follows her up to the top of a steep hill where she offers to briefly listen to what's on his mind. Although Tasuku doesn't go into too much detail, he later accepts her invitation to come to the lounge to meet others with similar troubles.
Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare has finished publishing and it has 23 Chapters. It is also Known as: しまなみ誰そ彼, Shimanami Tasogare
13. 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
12. Blood Bank
Blood Bank is where vampires come to buy human blood! In a land where vampires, the supreme beings, rule human beings, there are those that have abnormalities. These vampires, while still superior, prefer to be ruled and commanded by humans. See how Shell, the son of a Blood Bank lord, falls for a mere human banker, One.
Blood Bank has finished publishing and it has 61 Chapters. It is also Known as: Blood Bank
11. Ao Ge Si De Faze
Su Yuan, a poor student, is accidentally admitted to Ogus Academy in order to release burden for the family. However, it is found that the college is set up to protect half-demons. The weak human begins must team with a half-demon pal (partner) for saving their lives. Su Yuan attracts many pal seekers due to his special smell and suffers various attacks at the same time. Until the day he saved a bloody fox, he found out...
Ogus's Laws has finished publishing and it has 155 Chapters. It is also Known as: A Lei De Ogus, Augus' Law, Ley De Ogus, Monstrous HeartA Lei De Ogus, Augs' Law, La loi d'Ogus, Ley De Ogus, Monstrous Heart, Ogus Law, Ogus' Gesetze, オーガスの法則, オーガス学院の秘密, 奥格斯的法则
10. Uncanny Charm
Yoon-Jae is just a normal college student who lives alone...until his new neighbor, Beom-jin, moves in one floor below him. Then, things get weird. Namely, Yoon-Jae starts seeing ghosts everywhere, and they start stalking him. Turns out, a mysterious bell that belongs to Beom-jin is now tied to Yoon-Jae's wrist, and it summons ghosts wherever he goes. Unable to remove the cursed thing, Beom-jin suggests that Yoon-Jae help out with his work until they find a way to remove it. Oh, what kind of work? Sending ghosts to the afterlife, of course.
Uncanny Charm has finished publishing and it has 104 Chapters. It is also Known as: The Art of Taming a Tiger, Beomeur Girdeurineun Yoryeo
9. Whose Baby is it?
A fortune teller says that I was born with bad luck... Who is she trying to fool? My son is a biracial baby with super powers, who can use dreams to predict the future! But then a tyrannical CEO comes out from god-knows-where and says he's my little treasure's dad?! What is this, a TV drama?
Whose Baby is it? is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Whose Baby is it?
8. Pond Snail Robber
The delightful and brutal life of living with a robber! Ji Ho ends up missing the deadline to apply for a dorm due to a slip of carelessness but luckily a sunbae from his major helps him get a room nearby. Unfortunately, not even half a day after moving in he gets attacked by a robber. After managing to get away, Ji Ho later comes back home to see the robber shedding tears over the novel he wrote in high school...But this robber, with the reason of wanting to continue reading his unfinished novel, asks to live with him in exchange for taking care of the house?! The sweet and fierce life of these two has started!
Pond Snail Robber has finished publishing and it has 105 Chapters. It is also Known as: 住みこみ強盗にはご用心！, Pond Snail Robber
7. 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
6. Han Yuan
This is a story of Little Princess Luo trying to make a friend. Luo Linyuan is born with a silver spoon in his mouth and a pretty face. Yu Han is "straight", and he sleeps only three hours a day. Yu Han doesn't want Luo Linyuan to get close to him, but Luo Linyuan wants otherwise.
Han Yuan has finished publishing and it has 145 Chapters. It is also Known as: Far Away From Cold, Han Yuan (BiliBili Comics), Hàn Viễn
5. 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 has finished publishing and it has 78 Chapters. It is also Known as: 召唤美男英雄的代价, 英雄ガチャは慎重に
4. Isekai no Sata wa Shachiku Shidai
When the efficiency freak corporate slave continued to work even in the other word—
He won the heart of the Knight Captain!?
Kondou Seiichirou was a salaryman who chased after work. When he was dragged into a saint summoning and transferred to another world, he still didn’t change and continued to work. But as he did so, he seemed to have unexpectedly raised a love flag with the “Ice Prince”...
The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 異世界の沙汰は社畜次第, The Affairs of the Other World Depend on the Corporate Slave, This World's Affairs Are up to the Corporate Slave
3. Two Sizes, too small
When a gentle giant meets a small ball of energy, only love can bloom. A sweet love story about the advantage and disadvantage of being tall and small.
Source: Tapas
Two Sizes, too small has finished publishing and it has 69 Chapters. It is also Known as: Two Sizes, too small
2. Out of Control
Yuri, one of the school's most handsome guys, and Jaerim, one of the school's ugliest, collide!...or don't they...Can't understand what's going on between these two! It's Out of Control!!
Out of Control has finished publishing and it has 85 Chapters. It is also Known as: Never Understand
1. 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
