I Don't Need a Script for Love

by Umire Konatsu

An actor and a model walk into a gay bar... This sexy boys love romance takes place in the whirlwind world of TV stars and handsome celebrities!

Popular actor Subaru Yuuki meets up-and-coming model Kudo Kaiho at a gay bar, and the two flirt and have a one-night stand. When Subaru’s co-star is injured and forced to step down from the drama they're shooting, who should arrive to replace him but Kudo!

Despite their recent fling and the obvious chemistry between them, Subaru must resist Kudo's advances because it's his personal policy not to get involved with cast members. Besides, he's not interested in a real relationship; he prefers to keep things no strings attached. Kudo, however, remains undeterred and makes a suggestion: what if, after the show is over, they become lovers?

Genres: Manga, Romance, LGBT, Yaoi, Boys Love, Contemporary, Graphic Novels

208 pages, Paperback

First published December 7, 2022

Reviews

[Gaby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit over the top but still interesting story

[Peppa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this was cute and sweet and gave me exactly the soft feels I was hoping for!!
Kudo being completely down bad for Subaru was adorable. I loved how much he cared, like boy was ready to risk it all. And Subaru’s little emotional glow-up? Yes, king, get that character development!!

That said… I know it’s a one-shot and the author had to wrap it up quick, but I kinda wanted just a bit more of the slow build. Like, I loved seeing them fall for each other, but I wish we got to actually watch them fall more. A few more scenes of them connecting and vibing would’ve made it hit harder.

Still, even with the slightly rushed pacing, it was a fun ride and I’m glad I read it!!

[Hisgirl85 · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/3 stars. Too long for how little story there was (hinting at more details, but no depth). blah. Couldn't convince myself to care and got a bit of ick somewhere in there, as well.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5, it was cute, and I appreciate it being a one-shot. I like the entertainment industry setting, although I don't think it's original enough to be too memorable. The art is pretty, and if you're looking for something easy to read, this is a good choice.

[L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't really enjoy this one -- too many tropes I'm just not fond of.

- I think the older I get, the less I'm willing to put up with pushy tops. And it was especially bad here -- their initial meeting is based on lie, and then Kudo relentlessly pursues Subaru for the rest of the volume, despite Subaru saying no and establishing firm boundaries multiple times. His pushiness wasn't even endearing to me; it was just Kudo straight up ignoring Subaru's wishes and, seemingly delusionally, chasing after a one-sided romance where the other party just straight up was not interested in him.

- As for Subaru's boundaries, I am getting REALLY tired of seeing characters set up extremely reasonable boundaries ("I don't sleep with people I work with," "I am not interested in someone significantly younger than me," "I am not interested in dating right now," etc et etc...) and then having those boundaries relate back to the idea of them "being fine with being alone before, but NOW things are DIFFERENT and maybe they DO want love." Like, yeah, sure, it happens, but it's like, every time I read about a character with set boundaries, it's always because they are trying to protect themself from being hurt and never just that they have boundaries just because that is a perfectly normal thing to have? It's exhausting, and it rarely makes the relationship feel satisfying, because those reasonable boundaries aren't worked with and altered accordingly, but instead completely abandoned because the other person is ~special~

- It's a one-shot, so I know space was limited, but I don't think their relationship evolved in a way that made sense for Subaru's reluctance. If they got closer, we did not get to see it on the page, leading to that weird feeling where it's less like Subaru ended up finding something to love about Kudo and more that Kudo finally wore Subaru down, which I hate seeing.

- The "cheating scandal" plot beat at the end felt pointless. I don't know why it was introduced and why it was resolved the way it was. I do think it gave Kudo a chance to step in and support Subaru, which would have been really nice if it was not against the backdrop of the last several chapters where he was ignoring his boundaries and being a little brat about everything. It ended up making the first and second part of the manga feel super disconnected and just served to make their eventual relationship feel all that more weak.

Idk... it just wasn't for me.

[Dan Song · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, a pretty standard BL manga. On general terms, it was okay, but personally it didn’t really work for me. Why? Well to start off, the characters were very generic. Kudo is the stereotypical blunt, ambitious flirty ‘playboy,’ to put it in simple terms. There is a tiny bit of jangled up angst kind of lore on him, which could’ve been brought more into the manga to make it much better. For Subaru, he’s the ‘tough shell, big softie,’ if I were to describe it in few words. He puts everyone before himself and always has a model smile on his face (again, this could’ve expanded into a wholesome journey involving Kudo.) Not really original, as it has been done many times. There was minimal character development outside the two’s romance. Of course, the main plot of the story was there romance, which is justifiable. Not just that, but there were so many scenes with smut. I blinked and they were making out, again. I, myself, am not a fan of sex scenes, or anything that involves turning a character on. It honestly revolts me a bit. I enjoy angsty BL’s better, or maybe fluff. Not just that, but as Subaru set up very reasonable boundaries, Kudo disregarded them. He was way too pushy. It could’ve also been labeled as sexual assault. In the first few chapters, it wasn’t love, it was lust. Thankfully, it got better as the story went on. Their relationship progressed into something deeper. I enjoyed the few wholesome moments, like when Subaru admired Kudo’s acting, or when they both finally were able to get their feelings through. I feel like the appearance of Shijima was very sudden and unnecessary. The only thing it led to was Kudo sucking on Subura’s nipples angrily? Definitely questionable. At the end, I felt that it was super unsatisfying, not to add, it’s very mundane and doesn’t give me that happy feeling in the stomach. Of course, that’s only my opinion.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.5 stars. Not a ton of relationship/character development, but decently handled for a one-shot.

There was some slightly contradictory stuff about Kudo being so open and honest and straightforward with all of his feelings, when he lied to Subaru during their first meeting - about his inexperience, and not knowing who he was - but for the most part, he's fairly true to himself. Subaru found him attractive when they met in the bar for their one-night stand, but he becomes truly attracted to Kudo once he sees how hardworking and dedicated he is.

I liked the parallels in them finding what they were looking for all these years: Subaru wanted someone he could rely on, who would stick with him through all the difficulties of the acting and celebrity world. (Japan seems particularly brutal about scandals? But I guess American tabloids are like that, too.) And Kudo wanted something he could dedicate his entire self into - which mostly turns out to be his role as Subaru's boyfriend.

I liked Subaru's reporter friend, and in another world, I probably would've shipped the two of them. But Subaru and Kudo had a good balance and settle into a really nice, cozy but still very busy and public-facing life together.

[Cassie Renais · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Very trope heavy with graphic smut. If you like showbiz BL, this is good, but it's not doing anything very original. It also relies on the aggressive top/dubcon bottom trope that's so common in BL, which I don't love, but can't seem to avoid. That aside, I did like the relationship between the two main characters- watching a devoted younger guy pursue a reticent older guy who needs his walls taken down is always fun. The story is a little narrow, but it's only one volume, so not that much space to expand with side characters and subplots.

Overall, it has all the right story elements, and the ending is cute and sweet, but it won't stand out from the crowd.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love showbiz romance, so I feel like what was of the main story kept me liking this. The ml was kind of 1D, he felt like a trope. I mean I guess all the characters were a little flat, I didn't love the bratty ml 😋

Also, the first couple of chapter sets up the story and ml in a certain manipulative light. And all the love and floof could not recover the story for me 🥲

We do get uncensored smut in this tho. 😇


Cw workplace harrasment, coercion, manipulation

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a fun and cute read! I love how invested Kudo was in Subaru. I also like the character development on Subaru’s end. I know this is a one shot, so the author had to wrap everything up within one volume. But I felt that the pacing was a little off. I didn’t see much of the characters actually getting to know each other. I liked seeing love each other but I would have liked to see more of them getting to that point. But I still enjoyed this manga overall.

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5* It all begins when an actor and model walk into a gay bar.

Slight D/s dynamic
Sees the real man behind the act
Suuuuper graphic intimacy
Confusing dialogue bubbles, who’s saying what?
A bit stalker-ish

“What would your answer be if I told you right now, I want to be yours”

Pls swallow before kissing, those were the most slobbery make-outs EVER.

[Laur · Rating 2 out of 5]

....kinda boring
brought in by the concept, but it was very bare bones of a story even for a one-shot bl and I didn't love the dynamic in the first half with how aggressive in persuit the love interest was
art alright but some questionable anatomy in the sex scenes

[estufa la pez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I dont like how pushy Kudo was in the beginning. Everytime Subaru placed a boundry, Kudo immediately violates it by sexually harassing Subaru. His character doesn’t sit well with me…

[Mike Tadlock-Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot was awfully repetitive, but the sex scenes were pretty hot. That's all that matters, right?

[Lucy Kirby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and straightforward love story.

[Yolotzin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute. I enjoyed it. However, it could do without the questionable scenes, like when Yuuki's saying NO repeatedly.

[Jitka · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75

[jayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

very cute and very sexy + we love to see a man who's down bad

[Athira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't reallly enjoyed this manga at all. Both are kind off playboy also ml is manipulative and doesn't accept boundaries..


One night
Actors
Age gap
Lewth uke
Pushy seme

If you into that then go for it but it wasn't for me.