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. [2024 List]
- 20. You Bei Nanshen Liao Shang Resou
- 19. Keullaudeu
- 18. Out of Control
- 17. Sigeumchi Kkotdabal
- 16. Ring
- 15. 30-sai made Doutei dato Mahoutsukai ni Nareru Rashii
- 14. Miseongnyeon
- 13. Park Hanhoo's Manager
- 12. Uchi no Musuko wa Tabun Gay
- 11. Koisuru (Otome) no Tsukurikata
- 10. Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu
- 9. Neighbor Guild Member
- 8. Route-reul Geobuhaneun Bangbeop
- 7. I Fell in Love with my Girlfriend’s Brother
- 6. Ghost Eyes
- 5. Killer-ga Sarange Ppajyeosseul Ttae
- 4. Eren Xiang Yao Qiangjiu Yixia
- 3. Hold on, Crown Prince!
- 2. Don’t Say You Love Me
- 1. Yukidoke no Koi
20. 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 is currently publishing and has 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
19. 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
18. 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
17. Sigeumchi Kkotdabal
Country life is supposed to be idyllic, isn’t it? A peaceful place full of amiable neighbors with big hearts, right? That’s what Jiwoo is looking forward to… But out of all the next-door neighbors to have, he gets Dongchan. Curt, stand-offish, and inscrutable, Dongchan isn’t the most welcoming of folks. In fact, he looks like he doesn’t want Jiwoo and his family here at all. Bemused but not daunted, Jiwoo tries his best to adjust to life in the country…until it turns out that someone is trying to chase his family away from here. Jiwoo has his suspicions, but will he be able to find the real culprit?
Spinach Bouquet is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Spinach Flowers
16. Ring
A sweet story between a little angel and a big angel~
Ring is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Ring (Dong Ye)
15. 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
14. Miseongnyeon
Jinhyuk is a model student. Studious. Hardworking. He can’t wait till the day he has his own place and his own car. He knows that the only way he can achieve his dreams is to go to a top-tier university. He’s fine with his repetitive daily routine of school and studying. That is, until one day, while taking a shortcut through a rougher neighborhood, he sees a kid that looks familiar. That kid… they’re in the same homeroom together, aren’t they? But he’s not the kind of person Jinhyuk would get mixed up with. He’s the kind of person that grows up to be a lowlife. Jinhyuk was raised better than that. But… that kid, what’s his name… Heechan was it? He’s getting beat up by his dad. No, just keep walking. He should have nothing to do with Heechan, but something seems to keep making their paths cross… This feeling of ennui that Jinhyuk has, is Heechan what he needs to shake it?
Note: Includes 4 extra chapters.
Our Youth has finished publishing and it has 70 Chapters. It is also Known as: Minority, Minor, Underage, Immature, 未成年～未熟な俺たちは不器用に進行中～
13. Park Hanhoo's Manager
Chansol never experienced friendship before he met Park Hanhoo, a troubled boy who terrifies school gangs and hides his face with an unruly haircut. But when a horrific event turns Chansol's world upside down, he is forced into hiding and reneges on his promise to stay by Hanhoo's side. Now an adult, he’s back to resolve old issues, but with the truth about his past hidden behind a world of mafia bosses and shady business, his only option is to infiltrate it as the manager of an unhinged arms dealer. As Chansol sets out to coax information out of his new boss, he realizes that seducing this handsome maniac may just bring him closer to the truth and the friend he used to call Park Hanhoo.
Source: TappyToon
Park Hanhoo's Manager is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Park Hanhoo's Manager
12. Uchi no Musuko wa Tabun Gay
Despite belonging to a family of four, the Aoyama residence is typically home to three due to father Akiyoshi's job. While he's away at work, mom Tomoko and her two beloved sons Hiroki and Yuri go about their everyday lives--going to school, making dinner, doing homework, etc. But now that Hiroki's in his first year of high school, his thoughts are turning ever so slightly to sex and romance...and his mom can't help but notice his slips of the tongue when he's talking about who he likes. Supportive Tomoko has an inkling Hiroki might be gay, but she's going to let him figure it out for himself. Unfortunately, Hiroki has little talent for keeping his "secret," so he might die of embarassment before all is said and done!
Note: Originally published on Twitter and collated by Square Enix for print release.
I Think Our Son is Gay has finished publishing and it has 104 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
11. 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
10. 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
9. 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
8. Route-reul Geobuhaneun Bangbeop
In the ultimate dating game mayhem, Jerry Route's virtual love life takes center stage! Battling fainting spells due to his feeble stats, Jerry's three brothers crank up the competition for his affection. Enter the swoon-worthy crown prince Karyan and the fourth prince Ilya, who both vie for Jerry's attention. It's a hilarious, heart-fluttering quest as Jerry dodges the overprotective antics of friends and family, navigating the game while encountering an amusing array of characters. Will Jerry find true love amidst the chaos, or will his frailty throw a comical wrench into his romantic escapades?
How To Refuse the Route has finished publishing and it has 66 Chapters. It is also Known as: Die Route-Umgehungsmethode, To Deny the Route, สารพันวิธีหนีเกมรัก
7. I Fell in Love with my Girlfriend’s Brother
When Qiu Zinan graduated from high school three years ago, he went to the bar with friends. He disguised himself as a girl and met the man named Liu Ye on that very evening. That night, Liu Ye and Qiu Zinan had a one night stand. Zinan has always been obsessed with him. He didn't expect this man to be his sister’s boyfriend three years later.
I Fell in Love with my Girlfriend’s Brother has finished publishing and it has 84 Chapters. It is also Known as: 彼女の弟に恋して, Kanojo no Otouto ni Koi Shite
6. 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
5. Killer-ga Sarange Ppajyeosseul Ttae
Breaking News: Professional killer Ju Tae-Man fell in love with Korea’s favorite actor, Kang Da-Hyeok!
Ju Tae-Man has endured extreme physical training, mental education, and cruel torture– but somehow he easily falls apart to Kang Da-Hyeok's kindness…? Ju Tae-Man who has trained for many years as a professional killer thought “is this love? What should I do at times like this?”
When the Killer Falls in Love is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Killeoga salang-e ppajyeoss-eul tae
4. Eren Xiang Yao Qiangjiu Yixia
A true villain needs to be ruthless, evil, and self-destructive! After torturing the protagonist to hell and back, they will exit the scene fabulously with a bang as their work is done. Wang Yi was determined to act that kind of villain. Unfortunately… His male lead could read minds. (:з)∠*)“You mongrel!” Mr. Yi chuckled as he looked down on the novel’s male lead.Suddenly, a thought bubble filled with cute emojis (⁄ ⁄ ⁄ω⁄ ⁄ ⁄) with the words “You’re so cute…” appeared in front of Qin.Qin: ?
I Want to Be a Big Baddie is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: I Have To Be A Great Villain, 我要当个大坏蛋, Wo Yao Dang Ge Da Huai Dan, The Wicked Want to Rescue, I Am Going to Be a Bastard, I Want to Be a Scoundrel, I'm Going to Be a Great Villain, I'm Going to Be a Villain, The Wicked Want to Rescue, The Wicked Wants to Rescue
3. Hold on, Crown Prince!
Hold on, Crown Prince! Why are you doing this to me?! With a charming face and a not-quite-so attitude, not a day passes in the life of a beautiful boy Ray without some trouble. Seeing Ray get repeatedly fired from various jobs due to his fiery temper, Edward lets him in on a must-have item(!) for noble ladies that is sure to bring in a big sum of money. While searching through the forest for the material for the item, Ray is injured, though lightly, by an arrow out of nowhere. He runs away refusing any treatment. The arrow's owner is none other than Crown Prince Lucas of Luvecia. Having saved Ray from his troubles time and again, Lucas makes an offer Ray can't refuse--the terms of which dictate that his life will be spared, should he grant Lucas his wishes.
Hold on, Crown Prince! has finished publishing and it has 50 Chapters. It is also Known as: Hey, Prince!
2. 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
1. Yukidoke no Koi
Will they find happiness with each other or will they face pain and suffering? Is it a risk worth taking?
This beautiful manga follows the story of two men bound together by fate, Someya Yoshiyuki and Sumito Takada. One is a handsome and talented teacher, whilst the other is one of his students who is excitable and striving to be as popular as his teacher and to discover his meaning in the world.
Meaningful, sweet and heart breaking, a manga impossible to stop reading even for a second.
Included one-shots:
Lure Note, Final Chapter
Yukidoke no Koi has finished publishing and it has 8 Chapters. It is also Known as: 雪解けの恋, Lure Note, Final Chapter
