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. [2026 List]
- 19. Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu
- 18. This Villain Emperor's Gotta Charm the Male Lead to Survive!
- 17. Koisuru (Otome) no Tsukurikata
- 16. The Crown's Shadow
- 15. Shota Oni
- 14. Biting the Tiger
- 13. Boy Girlfriend
- 12. Sasaki to Miyano
- 11. Here U Are
- 10. King's Maker: Triple Crown
- 9. Boyfriends.
- 8. After a Meal
- 7. Newbie-wa Oldbie Gongsaenggwangye
- 6. Yasashii Ryuu no Koroshikata
- 5. Downpour
- 4. Kimi no Yoru ni Fureru
- 3. Keullaudeu
- 2. It's Me, the Crazy Side Top
- 1. Doukyuusei
19. 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 51 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
18. This Villain Emperor's Gotta Charm the Male Lead to Survive!
Yuan Xiao already died once, and now he’s about to do it again. He's been transported from his life as a domineering CEO with a taste for internet novels to the realm of his favorite story. Yuan wakes up as the villainous ruler of the Northern Empire, and he knows exactly who’s going to kill him, the male lead Heqing Yan! This brave prince has already vowed deadly revenge after being conquered. Yuan knows he must change the story’s plot to survive, but damn, did the hero always look that good?
Source: Tapas
This Villain Emperor's Gotta Charm the Male Lead to Survive! has finished publishing and it has 124 Chapters. It is also Known as: How to Survive as a Villain, To Be or Not to Be, HSAV, 穿成囚禁男主的反派要如何活命
17. 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
16. The Crown's Shadow
After waking up to find himself in another world, he comes face to face with the prince of the kingdom, Daniel, who looks exactly like him. In return for saving his life, the prince asks him to play his stand-in, basically to become his 'shadow.' He accepts and with a new name and identity, Rael serves the prince by taking on any given tasks. But what will he do when he's asked to spend a night with the emperor of the realm...?
The Crown's Shadow has finished publishing and it has 50 Chapters. It is also Known as: Shadow Crown
15. Shota Oni
After leaving a scar on his best friend's face years ago, Tsubaki feels responsible and is determined to grow up big and strong so he can protect Yuu. Yuu is already in high school and Tsubaki is only in elementary, but he is sure that his feelings will get through and Yuu will eventually come to rely on him.
Shota Oni is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: ショタおに, Shota Oni
14. Biting the Tiger
Yunho is a vocalist of a rock band with a painful past of losing all of his family in a car accident when he was just a little boy.One day, Yunho came to hear that his beloved Kyung-hoon, who has always consoled him in his dark days, had fallen in love with another man.Yunho runs out from shock and bumps into a mythical tiger, Hanwool.At that very moment, Hanwool smells a sweet scent though he has no interest in any human and intrigued by Yunho.
Biting the Tiger has finished publishing and it has 60 Chapters. It is also Known as: 蝴蝶俘获老虎, 蝴蝶，咬住老虎, 蝶、虎を咬む, Biting the Tiger - Side Stories
13. 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
12. Sasaki to Miyano
Due to a fight that broke out on school grounds, Miyano, a fudanshi with a complex about his feminine face, catches the eye of a delinquent upperclassman named Sasaki. To Miyano's surprise, Sasaki shows an interest in Miyano's BL manga, and the two start a friendship.
Sasaki and Miyano is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 佐々木と宮野, Sasaki to Miyano
11. 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
10. King's Maker: Triple Crown
The King is back. With the defeat of his father, Wolfgang Goldenleonard has achieved all that he's sought — the love of Shin Soohyuk, the power of the throne, and vengeance over the kingdom's tyrannical ruler. But, Soohyuk, a "possession" of the former king, views their rocky relationship as one of war trophy and victor, despite Wolfgang showering him with affection. As uncertainty grows in the royal courts, forces beyond their control are preparing a second coup d'etat. Will these two be able to keep a grasp on the throne and on each other?
King's Maker: Triple Crown has finished publishing and it has 149 Chapters. It is also Known as: King's Maker Season 2, 킹스메이커 트리플 크라운
9. 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.
8. After a Meal
One snowy winter day, Chang-deok finds a Jong-woo, a high school student squatting in front of his favourite gukbap restaurant in the snow. Convinced by his promise to cook up the exact same dish as his favourite restaurant, Chang-deok invites him into his home. Unable to resist Jong-woo's proposal to let him stay over for a month in exchange for a delicious dinner every day, the two begin a delicate cohabitation. But Jong-woo seems to be hiding something from Chang-deok...
After a Meal is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Después de comer, 식후경
7. Newbie-wa Oldbie Gongsaenggwangye
Jung-Woo is a Tamer in the MMORPG Karel's Hymn. While selling off items after deciding to quit, he meets a newbie, "Charongrong," who swears loyalty even if "she" becomes popular. He thought it was just a brief, passing connection—but he shouldn't have taken those words lightly.
Note: Includes five extra chapters.
Carrying My n00b Waifu has finished publishing and it has 65 Chapters. It is also Known as: The Symbiotic Relationship Between Newbie and Oldbie, 菜鳥與老鳥的共生法則
6. Yasashii Ryuu no Koroshikata
The world is said to exist with yang, the world of humans and yin, the world of mythical beasts in conflict with each other. A long time ago, two clans who were involved in an unending war exchanged an inviolable pledge and started living in their own worlds. At that time, the king who ruled over all the mythical beasts gave his own sword to the human queen whom he dearly loved and vowed that if the queen or her descendants ever fall into danger, he himself and his descendants will surely come to save them…
And now, when the third war is about to begin, a beautiful swordsman with the blood of the Holy Queen had a fateful encounter with the aloof king of mythical beasts, and the story begins!
Yasashii Ryuu no Koroshikata has finished publishing and it has 19 Chapters. It is also Known as: やさしい竜の殺し方, The Killing Method of a Kind Dragon, YasaRyu
5. Downpour
Having been outed at work, shoe designer Park Seok-Yeon is forced to start all over. He gets a new job at “Youm,” an up-and-coming brand with an accepting work environment and generous perks. It seems like the perfect company until Seok-Yeon finds out that the CEO is none other than his former crush, Jin Yeowon, the cold-hearted jerk who nearly drove him to end his own life. Now, they must work together, but will old feelings well up? Like a sudden downpour, love appears when you least expect it.
Downpour has finished publishing and it has 85 Chapters. It is also Known as: Raining Cats and Dogs, Cloudburst, Raining Cats and Dogs, 爱如急雨, 爱的阵雨
4. Kimi no Yoru ni Fureru
An assassin who cannot kill x A young man who cannot see
"If you discover my true form... I am sure I will leave you disappointed."
Chinatsu, a young man born into a family of assassins and living his life in the underworld, could not kill anyone because of a trauma from the past. When his brother died in front of him, a child extended his hand to him, and the image of that child was burned into his memory. After reliving that nightmare, Chinatsu was reunited with the boy, Kasumi, from that day. Knowing that Kasumi could not see, Chinatsu agreed to be his friend, but...
A young Chinatsu tormented by his family's past, and Kasumi, the blind but innocent soul. A story of salvation for two people who live in darkness.
Note: Chapter count includes one extra.
Touch Within the Abyss has finished publishing and it has 6 Chapters. It is also Known as: 君の夜に触れる, [from RED] 너의 밤에 닿는다, Chạm Vào Màn Đêm Trong Em, Dotyk twojej nocy (Polish), Envuelto en tu noche, Touching Your Night, สัมผัสทิวาในม่านราตรี (Thai), 触碰你的黑夜, 너의 밤에 닿는다
3. 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 has finished publishing and it has 131 Chapters. It is also Known as: Keullaudeu
2. It's Me, the Crazy Side Top
Everybody knows Yoo Hajin. Richer than the devil with a personality to match, Hajin is infamous… as the crazy side top of a BL webtoon. Or so he once was, until he reawakens with the new soul of a normal and harmless college student. Farewell, obsessive psycho version of Hajin! It’s time for a change of pace, and Hajin decides to start by befriending the original main bottom his fictional counterpart used to torment: Seonwoo. They can be normal friends this time, right? …Right?
It's Me, the Crazy Side Top is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Así es, soy el seme desquiciado, Yeah, It's Me. The Side Obsessive Seme, Yes, It's Me. The Obsessive Side Top, 是我，偏执配角攻, 그래 나다. 서브광공
1. Doukyuusei
Hikaru always thought his classmate Rihito was kind of a snob, until he stumbles across Rihito secretly practicing a song in an empty classroom. Hikaru agrees to become Rihito’s music tutor, and with each lesson the two boys grow closer. But when Hikaru realizes that he’s fallen in love with Rihito, will they stay classmates or become something more?
Classmates has finished publishing and it has 6 Chapters. It is also Known as: 同級生, Doukyuusei
