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. Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu
- 19. Here U Are
- 18. Nae Yakonjaneun Kkonminam
- 17. Koisuru (Otome) no Tsukurikata
- 16. Boy Girlfriend
- 15. Unintentional Love Story
- 14. Sasaki to Miyano
- 13. Isekai no Sata wa Shachiku Shidai
- 12. After a Meal
- 11. Faked
- 10. Fumetsu No Hana
- 9. Boyfriends.
- 8. Newbie-wa Oldbie Gongsaenggwangye
- 7. This Villain Emperor's Gotta Charm the Male Lead to Survive!
- 6. The Crown's Shadow
- 5. Shota Oni
- 4. Biting the Tiger
- 3. Doukyuusei
- 2. Haeui Heunjeok
- 1. Bokura no Shokutaku
20. 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
19. 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
18. Nae Yakonjaneun Kkonminam
Woojoo's parents have always been a little kooky, but this time they've clearly outdone themselves!
When Woojoo begrudgingly comes back home after running away for the Nth time, he finds out he has a fiance. Lucky for Woojoo, he now has to share his room with the guy - a fairytale prince, yes, but a straight one.
My Gorgeous Fiance has finished publishing and it has 58 Chapters. It is also Known as: My Fiance is a Handsome Boy, My Fiancé Is a Hottie, 俺の婚約者は超イケメン御曹司, 我的美男未婚夫
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. 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
15. Unintentional Love Story
Won-Young gets unjustly suspended from work after getting caught up in a corruption scandal. But when he accidentally discovers the chairman's favorite artist Yoon Tae-Jun living under an alias, he is tasked with a tricky new mission. Could this be Won-Young's chance to get his job back?
Note: Includes 13 extra chapters.
Unintentional Love Story has finished publishing and it has 71 Chapters. It is also Known as: 非意図的恋愛談
14. 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
13. 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
12. 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
11. Faked
For convenience, Ahn Sehun and Baek Minjun have entered a false relationship with each other.
Faked is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Faked
10. Fumetsu No Hana
1. Fumetsu no Hana
Moriki Naoya is a thoughtful, frail child who can't bring himself to leave his neglectful family behind. One summer during his last year of high school, he meets Takahashi, a boy whose injury has cost him the ability to pursue his dream of being a baseball player, and Noriko, a fiercely independent, perpetually upbeat tomboy with a devil-may-care attitude. As the season moves on, Naoya must either move with it or let the world pass him by...
2. For Those Nights You Can't Sleep
A young man who was brought up by his aunt due to his mother's poor health following her husband's abandonment, returns to his home town for the seventh anniversary of his mother's death.
3. I'm Not Fit to be a Detective II
A continuation of "I'm Not Fit to be a Detective", chapter 2 of Tsuki no Sabaku.
4. Present
A man whose eyes are always cast towards the ground...
has finished publishing and it has 4 Chapters. It is also Known as: 不滅の花, Where Have All the Flowers Gone, For Those Nights You Can't Sleep, I'm Not Fit to be a Detective II, Present
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. 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
7. 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
6. 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
5. 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
4. 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
3. 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
2. 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
1. Bokura no Shokutaku
Yutaka, who is not good at eating with people, meets a pair of siblings with a large age gap at the park one day. The three of them, Yutaka, Minoru and Tane begin to eat together...
Bokura no Shokutaku has been licensed in Polish by Dango.
Bokura no Shokutaku has finished publishing and it has 8 Chapters. It is also Known as: 僕らの食卓, Our Dining Table
