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Mobsters in Love #1
Mobsters in Love 01
A wholesome Boys Love rom-com between a handsome but oblivious mob boss and his young, simplehearted but moody second-in-command!
Akihiro Kashima is the right-hand man of the Sawatari mob, and he has a secret. He’s been hopelessly in love for years—with his boss! As a trusted subordinate, he’s subject to the head honcho’s unintended acts of seduction. But with Akihiro’s position in the group at stake, he couldn’t possibly reveal the infatuation that plagues him. Stuck between duty and his feelings, something’s gotta give!
Akihiro Kashima is the right-hand man of the Sawatari mob, and he has a secret. He’s been hopelessly in love for years—with his boss! As a trusted subordinate, he’s subject to the head honcho’s unintended acts of seduction. But with Akihiro’s position in the group at stake, he couldn’t possibly reveal the infatuation that plagues him. Stuck between duty and his feelings, something’s gotta give!
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 22, 2021
31 people are currently reading
551 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
May 22, 2024
Mobsters in Love was so funny and adorable °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ I'm so ready to read more and I'm awaiting now the next volumes because that ending??? Oh, the boss is finally feeling something, I dare say? YESSSSS
This is a cute unrequited love romance where the right-hand man of a mob boss falls in love with his boss and has been pining after him for years. The boss obviously doesn't realize, he's very flirty tho and always puts Kashima in a situation where he's blushing for his boss and daydreams about what could happen if he does certain things lmao
This is a cute unrequited love romance where the right-hand man of a mob boss falls in love with his boss and has been pining after him for years. The boss obviously doesn't realize, he's very flirty tho and always puts Kashima in a situation where he's blushing for his boss and daydreams about what could happen if he does certain things lmao
May 7, 2024
This was a lot of fun. The head of a Yakuza family rescues a troublemaking teenager and takes him in. 16 years later, that teenager, Aki, has grown into the boss's right hand man and fallen head over heels for him. Said boss is completely oblivious to Aki's affections, and it results in many hilarious moments, as the boss, while trusting Aki completely, still sees him as a a little puppy following him around. And it's kind of accurate to be honest. I have mixed feelings on the little twist at the end, but I'm still eager to see how it all plays out.
April 4, 2024
This BL is honestly so cute, basically Aki has a crush on his ol mafia boss since he saved him and it’s also so hilarious too, you have to check this out yall ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
December 22, 2024
The premise is a fun idea but the realisation of it just isn't playing how I thought it would be..? Hopefully the second volume is better 🤞
March 29, 2025
i didn’t like the twist at the end 😭😭😭😭😭😭
May 24, 2025
Lo siento me esperaba algo más.
August 8, 2025
this was such a cute and funny read. my only dislikes is that 1) there’s not as much action (it’s called *mobsters* in love, after all) as i’d like and 2) knowing that the mmc was basically kinda adopted by his boss (who’s also his pseudo father figure) when he was a teen is kinda uncomfortable. like i wish that they met more recently or something.
June 6, 2024
This is a cute concept!
Aki is an adorable character. It side steps the usual dub-con/non-con tropes you see in BL. The art is cute, too.
It’s not super deep with every chapter basically consisting of light little moments where Aki struggles with his crush on his boss. The added intro of Ritsu was unexpected, but interesting. I’m curious how long this will be.
Aki is an adorable character. It side steps the usual dub-con/non-con tropes you see in BL. The art is cute, too.
It’s not super deep with every chapter basically consisting of light little moments where Aki struggles with his crush on his boss. The added intro of Ritsu was unexpected, but interesting. I’m curious how long this will be.
May 11, 2024
silly but also charming but also boring
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May 23, 2025Why I read it: In my last review I said I liked romanticised yakuza/mafia stories, and this is basically that + jokes.
Thoughts: This occasionally veered into absolute tropey, gag-filled silliness, but it also has serious moments. I really liked it. Aki is a goofball half the time, and the other half he's dedicated and sober. His boss plays the light-hearted airhead but he sees and understands more than he lets on -- I don't think you get to be a mob boss without that. So the romantic leads, if we can call them that, each have more depth than is initially obvious, and that's nice. Complications happen halfway through the volume when another one of the boss's captains returns from Hokkaido and at first seems to interfere with Aki's relationship with his boss because he also wants the boss, but then it turns out he actually wants Aki, which is just such a classic BL twist.
The art style is nice, the characters are easily differentiated (I didn't realise that was my basic criterion before I read Deadlock [review linked at the top there] and all the important characters looked alike), and the plot, such as it is, is fast-moving and engaging.
I also like that there's something of an age gap between Aki and his boss; Aki was a teenager(?) when his boss picked him up off the street and gave him a job and a purpose, and his boss was a grown man at the head of his yakuza family then, so at the time of this story, when Aki himself is...at a mysterious age somewhere between 25 and 35, his boss must be in his early 50s at the least, surely? So the relationship dynamic (age gap, unrequited secret love, a potential third wheel) is veeeeeeeeeery intriguing.
Would I read more: Yes! I really want to know if Aki's feelings are really unrequited, or whether Aki and Ritsu might end up together instead -- that would be a really mature way of dealing with the romantic triangle!
Would I reread it: Yes.
Thoughts: This occasionally veered into absolute tropey, gag-filled silliness, but it also has serious moments. I really liked it. Aki is a goofball half the time, and the other half he's dedicated and sober. His boss plays the light-hearted airhead but he sees and understands more than he lets on -- I don't think you get to be a mob boss without that. So the romantic leads, if we can call them that, each have more depth than is initially obvious, and that's nice. Complications happen halfway through the volume when another one of the boss's captains returns from Hokkaido and at first seems to interfere with Aki's relationship with his boss because he also wants the boss, but then it turns out he actually wants Aki, which is just such a classic BL twist.
The art style is nice, the characters are easily differentiated (I didn't realise that was my basic criterion before I read Deadlock [review linked at the top there] and all the important characters looked alike), and the plot, such as it is, is fast-moving and engaging.
I also like that there's something of an age gap between Aki and his boss; Aki was a teenager(?) when his boss picked him up off the street and gave him a job and a purpose, and his boss was a grown man at the head of his yakuza family then, so at the time of this story, when Aki himself is...at a mysterious age somewhere between 25 and 35, his boss must be in his early 50s at the least, surely? So the relationship dynamic (age gap, unrequited secret love, a potential third wheel) is veeeeeeeeeery intriguing.
Would I read more: Yes! I really want to know if Aki's feelings are really unrequited, or whether Aki and Ritsu might end up together instead -- that would be a really mature way of dealing with the romantic triangle!
Would I reread it: Yes.
May 7, 2024
Cute and funny second hand embarrassment. Aki is definitely a riot!
June 25, 2024
WAIT THIS IS SO CUTE! I love Quirkiness. I love the Gangster Cute love. And the love triangle! Oh I’m sat! The anticipation and yearning is insane.
July 4, 2024
I really enjoyed this. Loved the art style and the pace of the storyline. There's a little bit of a love triangle towards the end, but I think this might be fun
July 31, 2024
Ahh they're so silly and cute. I want them to kiss :)
January 13, 2025
This is fluff heaven🥰. I love them - but most especially Akihiro Kashima
January 27, 2025
olf man yaoi …… oughhhhh
May 7, 2025
A Yakuza BL? Count me in.
May 13, 2025
Highlighting the highly embarrassing side of being in love, quite funny
August 24, 2025
a fun cute read....not really excited about the possible love triangle tho😔
September 18, 2025
Brain off
September 3, 2025
I squealed the whole way through!
November 10, 2025
Surprisingly adorable and as wholesome as anything could possibly be that has an organized crime setting.
Making these tough guys cute is some kind of weird manga magic that I don’t understand.
Making these tough guys cute is some kind of weird manga magic that I don’t understand.
June 28, 2024
why choose?
June 17, 2025
Absolutely addictive. This is a new favorite BL romcom!
February 8, 2025
So sweet and wholesome... The longing is off the charts, the characters are incredibly loveable, and the dynamic is peak. Kinda like if Way of the Househusband was old man yaoi, and I'm super into it. Love to see a big scary man turning into a blushing mess because of his crush.
September 20, 2025
chaotic but super cute otherwise
November 28, 2024
Not bad, but not my thing. A devoted yakuza captain has a giant secret crush on his boss, but would rather die than confess it, but suffers frequent fantasies about his boss making the first move. Then they introduce another boss-fanboy for a love triangle. Love triangles not being my thing, I started skimming, and never really got invested in it. The tone aims for 'cute', not going the smutty route despite the MC's intrusive thoughts.
Though the story goes that the boss basically raised our MC from a young street thug, which would imply an age gap (and a crush-on-parent-figure situation--uncomfortable), the characters are drawn in such a way that you can't really tell how wide that age-gap is. The manga is intended to be a comedy, the main joke-points being how the MC keeps getting his hopes up that the boss actually feels the same and the clear but unspoken rivalry between him and the second mobster fanboy.
Content concerns: brief makeout fantasies (never explicit, so far), sexual tension, alcohol, smoking, hostess clubs (and a few harrass-y clients there, though that's treated as a bad thing), attempted assassination; any violence (mainly fistfights) is non-graphic and mostly happens off-screen
Though the story goes that the boss basically raised our MC from a young street thug, which would imply an age gap (and a crush-on-parent-figure situation--uncomfortable), the characters are drawn in such a way that you can't really tell how wide that age-gap is. The manga is intended to be a comedy, the main joke-points being how the MC keeps getting his hopes up that the boss actually feels the same and the clear but unspoken rivalry between him and the second mobster fanboy.
Content concerns: brief makeout fantasies (never explicit, so far), sexual tension, alcohol, smoking, hostess clubs (and a few harrass-y clients there, though that's treated as a bad thing), attempted assassination; any violence (mainly fistfights) is non-graphic and mostly happens off-screen
May 10, 2024
Was not expecting this to be a new favorite. I had it mentally set aside on my return shelf, but I figured I'd hurry up and try it out, and it was...delightful.
We'll see how the rest goes - although it's nice that it's complete in three volumes, so there shouldn't be too much drama dragging out. The preview for the second volume sets up a couple of love triangles and jealousy arcs, but it seems likely those misunderstandings will wrap up quickly.
This may be about the yakuza, but it's so funny and sweet. The art is great, too.
Kashima has been working for the Sawatari "family" (yakuza terms) since the boss picked him up off the streets 16 years earlier. He's not only a loyal captain, but has been in love with his boss for a significant amount of time. Silently, because he knows it's one-sided, and saying anything would obviously ruin his relationship and probably drive him out of his job and his home.
Which means the pining is absolutely delicious. Every chapter has Kashima balancing his job - protecting the boss - with his heart - turning into an emotional mess whenever Sawatari gets too touchy-feely with him. It's definitely on the comedic scene, but it also feels very genuine; Kashima's loyalty and love really come through, along with Sawatari's affection for and trust in him.
One of the running plot lines is that the various other "families" in the area keep trying to take Sawatari out, and Kashima foils their plans - because he's absolutely excellent at his job - usually while brooding about something to do with his unrequited love for Sawatari. Misunderstandings about hostess clubs, a public bath, and even a kiss with the assistant captain Kashima has always hated...there's a lot of "drama" going on, but it's all very light-hearted, and I felt tuned into Kashima's emotions the whole way through.
Too bad about the assistant captain, who turns out to have an unrequited crush on Kashima, but he also went about things in the stupidest and least mature way possible. Not worried about that love triangle going anywhere, although from the preview images, it could be nice if he and Kashima actually become friends over the whole thing - like Sawatari wanted. Even though he's questioning that now, having stumbled across the kiss and now trying to figure out why it bothered him so much.
An absolutely wonderful start to a series. Very much hope I love the rest just as much.
We'll see how the rest goes - although it's nice that it's complete in three volumes, so there shouldn't be too much drama dragging out. The preview for the second volume sets up a couple of love triangles and jealousy arcs, but it seems likely those misunderstandings will wrap up quickly.
This may be about the yakuza, but it's so funny and sweet. The art is great, too.
Kashima has been working for the Sawatari "family" (yakuza terms) since the boss picked him up off the streets 16 years earlier. He's not only a loyal captain, but has been in love with his boss for a significant amount of time. Silently, because he knows it's one-sided, and saying anything would obviously ruin his relationship and probably drive him out of his job and his home.
Which means the pining is absolutely delicious. Every chapter has Kashima balancing his job - protecting the boss - with his heart - turning into an emotional mess whenever Sawatari gets too touchy-feely with him. It's definitely on the comedic scene, but it also feels very genuine; Kashima's loyalty and love really come through, along with Sawatari's affection for and trust in him.
One of the running plot lines is that the various other "families" in the area keep trying to take Sawatari out, and Kashima foils their plans - because he's absolutely excellent at his job - usually while brooding about something to do with his unrequited love for Sawatari. Misunderstandings about hostess clubs, a public bath, and even a kiss with the assistant captain Kashima has always hated...there's a lot of "drama" going on, but it's all very light-hearted, and I felt tuned into Kashima's emotions the whole way through.
Too bad about the assistant captain, who turns out to have an unrequited crush on Kashima, but he also went about things in the stupidest and least mature way possible. Not worried about that love triangle going anywhere, although from the preview images, it could be nice if he and Kashima actually become friends over the whole thing - like Sawatari wanted. Even though he's questioning that now, having stumbled across the kiss and now trying to figure out why it bothered him so much.
An absolutely wonderful start to a series. Very much hope I love the rest just as much.
August 30, 2024
I’m a simple person. I see a mobster rom-com and I must read it. What a top tier blend of tropes.
It never disappoints—and this series is no exception.
In this first volume, we’re introduced to Akihiro “Aki” Kashima who is the right hand to the boss of the Sawatari mob. Since being taken in by the family, Aki has served faithfully in this trusted role.
But, he does have a big secret—he’s in love with his boss.
For many reasons, Aki is quite sure he doesn’t stand a chance with the boss. But, is that really true…?
This is both silly and heartwarming. I had so much fun reading this first volume!
Aki and the boss have such great chemistry and banter. Their dynamic is a perfect blend of tenderness and goofiness. The shenanigans these two get up to are so much fun to read. Plus, we get some light but enjoyable sensual moments sprinkled in this first volume as well.
I’m so looking forward to reading more of this series.
If you are a fan of queer manga but are leery of the genre because of some more prominent (and problematic) BL tropes—I hear you—but this series is a breath of fresh air. It has some tropey moments but it stays true to being a romantic comedy at its heart. I would encourage you to give this series a chance—especially if you are, like me, a fan of the genre I’ve endearingly deemed “tough but cute”.
There’s a lot to love in this cute, little series~
It never disappoints—and this series is no exception.
In this first volume, we’re introduced to Akihiro “Aki” Kashima who is the right hand to the boss of the Sawatari mob. Since being taken in by the family, Aki has served faithfully in this trusted role.
But, he does have a big secret—he’s in love with his boss.
For many reasons, Aki is quite sure he doesn’t stand a chance with the boss. But, is that really true…?
This is both silly and heartwarming. I had so much fun reading this first volume!
Aki and the boss have such great chemistry and banter. Their dynamic is a perfect blend of tenderness and goofiness. The shenanigans these two get up to are so much fun to read. Plus, we get some light but enjoyable sensual moments sprinkled in this first volume as well.
I’m so looking forward to reading more of this series.
If you are a fan of queer manga but are leery of the genre because of some more prominent (and problematic) BL tropes—I hear you—but this series is a breath of fresh air. It has some tropey moments but it stays true to being a romantic comedy at its heart. I would encourage you to give this series a chance—especially if you are, like me, a fan of the genre I’ve endearingly deemed “tough but cute”.
There’s a lot to love in this cute, little series~
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews