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. [2025 List]
- 20. Koisuru (Otome) no Tsukurikata
- 19. Uchi no Musuko wa Tabun Gay
- 18. Majo no Kekkon
- 17. Devil Wants To Hug
- 16. Haeui Heunjeok
- 15. Josou Pandemic
- 14. Online Game Nakama to Sashi Off shitara Shokuba no Oni Joushi ga Kita
- 13. Keullaudeu
- 12. Heartstopper
- 11. Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu
- 10. Neighbor Guild Member
- 9. Honey-Coated S-Rank Guide
- 8. Watashi wa Kabe ni Naritai
- 7. Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai vs Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko
- 6. Semantic Error
- 5. Zhujiao Zhi Xiang Tan Lianai
- 4. Irongwa Silje
- 3. Isekai no Sata wa Shachiku Shidai
- 2. Boku ga Otto ni Deau made
- 1. Night Walkers
20. 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
19. 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
18. Majo no Kekkon
A cool-headed witch and a pure air-headed witch get "married". Thus begins their complicated, lovey-dovey newlywed life!
Source: MU
The Witch's Marriage is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 魔女ノ結婚, Majo no Kekkon
17. Devil Wants To Hug
Overbearing loyal dog devil x high mighty calm and cold swordsman, as a pair of lover's forced to part in their previous lives, in this life at last both of them meet, the cold swordsman has lost the memories of his past life, the domineering devil turned into an attached, loyal dog, you don't like my devil's appearance? Then I'll become a cute pet and accompany you, want to eat a sweet candy? Come and follow this super sweet candy series!
Devil Wants To Hug is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Mozun Yao Baobao
16. 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
15. Josou Pandemic
Just as he was entering high school, Nanaki Koga experienced a certain accident and fell into a deep coma. After two years, he finally woke up. However, he found that the world had changed. While he was unconscious, a sudden craze hit Japan: crossdressing. Now the newest fad, approximately 90% of Japanese people dress up as the opposite gender.
And so Nanaki re-enrolls in his all-boys school, in which every student wears a sailor fuku. And as luck has it, Nanaki has a surprisingly feminine face...
Crossdressing Pandemic has finished publishing and it has 22 Chapters. It is also Known as: 女装パンデミック, Josou Pandemic
14. Online Game Nakama to Sashi Off shitara Shokuba no Oni Joushi ga Kita
Hashimoto, an average salaryman, works under the harsh leadership of his handsome demon boss, Shirase-san, day by day. The only thing Hashimoto looks forward to is to talk to his gaming friend who he met online, UMA, complain to him about his boss, and joke around together with him. Feeling at ease around him, Hashimoto eagerly plans for his offline meeting with UMA with high hopes, but—?!
Arranged an Offline Meeting with My Online Game Friend, but My Demon Boss Came Instead has finished publishing and it has 20 Chapters. It is also Known as: オンラインゲーム仲間とサシオフしたら職場の鬼上司が来た, Online Game Nakama to Sashi Off shitara Shokuba no Onijoushi ga Kita
13. 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
12. 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
11. 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
10. 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
9. Honey-Coated S-Rank Guide
Grade S guide Hyo Seob joins a grade C guild 'Noapi'.
As the guild leader Andante prioritizes and cares for Hyo Seob.
Hyo Seob too opens his heart more and more...
Honey-Coated S-Rank Guide is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Honey Coated S Class Guide, Honey-Coated S-Class Guide
8. Watashi wa Kabe ni Naritai
"I don't like people, and I never have." The asexual Yuriko decides to get married under pressure from her parents. The one she marries is the gay Takerota, who has a crush on his childhood friend.
The story of an asexual fujoshi, a closeted gay man, and their marriage of convenience.
I Want to Be a Wall has finished publishing and it has 16 Chapters. It is also Known as: わたしは壁になりたい, I Want to Be the Wall
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. Semantic Error
You're an error in my perfect world.
Sang-U Chu is a stickler for rules. So when his classmates free-ride on a group project, he doesn't credit them. But this prevents one senior, Jae-Yeong Jang, from graduating. And like oil and water, Sang-U and Jae-Yeong don't mix. Can Sang-U debug Jae-Yeong — a semantic error in his perfect life?
Note: Chapter count includes a Christmas Special.
Semantic Error has finished publishing and it has 94 Chapters. It is also Known as: Semantic Error
5. Zhujiao Zhi Xiang Tan Lianai
System 067 encountered 13 awakened self-awareness systems, and as a supervisor, arranged for each awakened self-awareness system to go to a different novel, changing the original storyline of the protagonist of the novel. If the mission is successfully completed, the awakened self-aware system can become a “real person”.
Zhujiao Zhi Xiang Tan Lianai is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: The Protagonist Just Wants to Be in Love, The Protagonist Just Wants To Falling In Love, Zhǔjiǎo Zhǐ Xiǎng Tán Liàn'ài
4. Irongwa Silje
This novel depicts the process of main characters Gong Seong-Hyeon and Chung Tae-Gyeong finding true love. Raised by parents in a loveless marriage, Gong Seong-Hyeong has a pessimistic view of love and marriage and only has superficial relationships. Meanwhile, love columnist Chung Tae-Gyeong sees love as a matter of "give and take" and gives love advice to others, but hasn't been able to find true love for himself. After several failed attempts free at love, two men with completely different attitudes and values eventually find true love with each other while growing together and accepting one another in their lives.
Ready to Love has finished publishing and it has 28 Chapters. It is also Known as: Theory and Reality
3. 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
2. Boku ga Otto ni Deau made
A manga adaption of Nanasaki Ryousuke‘s essays titled "Boku ga Otto ni Deau made" (Until I meet my husband) about him and his husband being the first gay couple to get married in Japan.
Until I Meet My Husband has finished publishing and it has 12 Chapters. It is also Known as: 僕が夫に出会うまで, Boku ga Otto ni Deau made
1. Night Walkers
The death of his mother leads to Tomoki living with Murakami-san, the Prime Minister. However Tomoki soon learns that nothing is what it seems, least of all Murakami-san himself.
Night Walkers has finished publishing and it has Chapters. It is also Known as: NIGHT WALKERS -ナイトウォーカーズ-, Night Walkers
