What do you think?
Rate this book
ミツバチとレモンバーム [Mitsubachi to Lemon Balm] #1
Honey Bee & Lemon Balm 1
A former yakuza falls fast and hard for the delicate florist who sets him on the right path in this quirky and heartfelt BL manga!
This tender yet humorous boys' love romance blooms at a sweet, gentle pace over 3 volumes. This easy entrypoint for readers new to BL is also perfect for veterans of the genre who enjoyed Love on the Horizon and The Metalhead Next Door.
Kaoru Mitsuya has all but given up on living a meaningful life. Ensnared at a young age by the temptations of organized crime, he has neither a penny to his name nor anything he holds truly dear. It is at this lowest point that he encounters Yuichiro Shirouzu—a delicately beautiful florist with a secret or two hidden beneath his kind demeanor. When Yuichiro offers Kaoru a job at his nighttime flower shop, it marks a turning point for Kaoru, both in how he lives his life, and whom he wishes to spend it with…
This tender yet humorous boys' love romance blooms at a sweet, gentle pace over 3 volumes. This easy entrypoint for readers new to BL is also perfect for veterans of the genre who enjoyed Love on the Horizon and The Metalhead Next Door.
Kaoru Mitsuya has all but given up on living a meaningful life. Ensnared at a young age by the temptations of organized crime, he has neither a penny to his name nor anything he holds truly dear. It is at this lowest point that he encounters Yuichiro Shirouzu—a delicately beautiful florist with a secret or two hidden beneath his kind demeanor. When Yuichiro offers Kaoru a job at his nighttime flower shop, it marks a turning point for Kaoru, both in how he lives his life, and whom he wishes to spend it with…
Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2026
15 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews
April 14, 2026
Safety info, content warnings and tropes down below.
This was adorable and funny. I finished it super fast and was sad when I reached the end as I just wanted to continue reading. I really like the concept of this book/series, and I hope I get to see where it goes from here. The main characters are super cute – both in personality and looks, the art is excellent – and I’m looking forward to see how their relationship develops from here. It also made me chuckle a few times, especially with the funny ‘background' descriptions and spelling of the different noises (can you tell I’m new to graphic novels? lol).
The side characters were great and added lots to the story, and the art really was fantastic. Definitely recommend.
The ending was a bit abrupt even for a series with more volumes, and I was left reeling just a tad.
All to say, this was fun and enjoyable and I’m looking forward to read more. Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC!
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
BL manga
Graphic novel
Strangers to lovers
Former Yakuza
Mistaken gender
Femme MC
Love at first sight
Boss x employee
Coworkers
Forced proximity
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Violence
Vomiting
MCs injured on page
Alcohol consumption
Mentions of MC serving time in prison (recent past)
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: Yuichiro goes on a date with someone else but turns him down for more after
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual (sort of)
Genre: BL manga, romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: N/A
Main characters’ age: 22 and 29
Series: 1st of 3 volumes
Kindle Unlimited: No
Pages: 176
Happy ending: Series not finished yet
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
This was adorable and funny. I finished it super fast and was sad when I reached the end as I just wanted to continue reading. I really like the concept of this book/series, and I hope I get to see where it goes from here. The main characters are super cute – both in personality and looks, the art is excellent – and I’m looking forward to see how their relationship develops from here. It also made me chuckle a few times, especially with the funny ‘background' descriptions and spelling of the different noises (can you tell I’m new to graphic novels? lol).
The side characters were great and added lots to the story, and the art really was fantastic. Definitely recommend.
The ending was a bit abrupt even for a series with more volumes, and I was left reeling just a tad.
All to say, this was fun and enjoyable and I’m looking forward to read more. Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC!
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
BL manga
Graphic novel
Strangers to lovers
Former Yakuza
Mistaken gender
Femme MC
Love at first sight
Boss x employee
Coworkers
Forced proximity
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Violence
Vomiting
MCs injured on page
Alcohol consumption
Mentions of MC serving time in prison (recent past)
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: Yuichiro goes on a date with someone else but turns him down for more after
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual (sort of)
Genre: BL manga, romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: N/A
Main characters’ age: 22 and 29
Series: 1st of 3 volumes
Kindle Unlimited: No
Pages: 176
Happy ending: Series not finished yet
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
April 9, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this manga.
This was so cute!! I quite enjoyed myself it’s simple yet the little I have lately that’s about what I’ll be needing for a while I’m afraid.
The only thing I’d have to say is that I don’t think I made the connection of why it has this particular name.
An ex yakuza falls in love at first sight with a florist who helps him set his life straight for the better.
It’s original, funny and adorable. The time to use to read it is less than an hour.
It just come out on the 7 of April so definitely worth checking it out!
This was so cute!! I quite enjoyed myself it’s simple yet the little I have lately that’s about what I’ll be needing for a while I’m afraid.
The only thing I’d have to say is that I don’t think I made the connection of why it has this particular name.
An ex yakuza falls in love at first sight with a florist who helps him set his life straight for the better.
It’s original, funny and adorable. The time to use to read it is less than an hour.
It just come out on the 7 of April so definitely worth checking it out!
April 10, 2026
I need volume 2 asap!!! This was so freaking cute and the way Kaoru's facial expressions were drawn made him so adorable. I enjoyed it so much.
March 10, 2026
5 ⭐️ The story of a former Yakuza member and a kind florist, was such a treat! The art style was so beautiful, the story was both exciting and funny, as well as some side characters that made the story really come to life. I was positively surprised by how much I loved this story, and I'm so intrigued to read the next volume to see where the relationship between Kaoru and Yuichiro will go next.
If you like opposties attrack, age gap, former gang members, cute florists, funny side characters, and stunning art, this is a must read for you!
A big thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for providing me with an arc of this manga, I had an absolute great time!
If you like opposties attrack, age gap, former gang members, cute florists, funny side characters, and stunning art, this is a must read for you!
A big thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for providing me with an arc of this manga, I had an absolute great time!
April 10, 2026
In this volume, we follow our main character Kaoru who has recently gotten out of prison and is seriously down on his luck. By chance, he encounters Yuichiro who is a florist in (presumably) the red light district. After helping him out, Kaoru gets hired to work at the flower shop and now lives with Yuichiro. The story continues from there.
This volume was perfectly inoffensive. There was nothing terrible about it, but I also wasn’t all that compelled by it. I found the main characters to be relatively bland. Kaoru is a bit too childish for me, so I couldn’t get that into the potential of a relationship between him (22) and Yuichiro (29).
I also found the character designs of the main characters easily overshadowed by that of the side characters. I was immediately intrigued by both of Yuichiro’s siblings and was disappointed by the fact that the story couldn’t follow them instead. I’d be 100% there if the story was either about Yuichiro’s gorgeous masc sister or his charming brother. But alas…we’re stuck with Yuichiro and Kaoru 😔
As it stands, I don’t see myself continuing this series. It just didn’t grip me enough for me to want to continue. Plus, I found it off-putting how quickly Kaoru was all, “I’m in love with Yuichiro 🤩” It throws off the pacing completely—especially considering this was planned as a series, and there’s more volumes to come. We could’ve taken a bit more time with that while still making Kaoru’s interest clear.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for an eARC of this manga. It has not impacted my rating.
This volume was perfectly inoffensive. There was nothing terrible about it, but I also wasn’t all that compelled by it. I found the main characters to be relatively bland. Kaoru is a bit too childish for me, so I couldn’t get that into the potential of a relationship between him (22) and Yuichiro (29).
I also found the character designs of the main characters easily overshadowed by that of the side characters. I was immediately intrigued by both of Yuichiro’s siblings and was disappointed by the fact that the story couldn’t follow them instead. I’d be 100% there if the story was either about Yuichiro’s gorgeous masc sister or his charming brother. But alas…we’re stuck with Yuichiro and Kaoru 😔
As it stands, I don’t see myself continuing this series. It just didn’t grip me enough for me to want to continue. Plus, I found it off-putting how quickly Kaoru was all, “I’m in love with Yuichiro 🤩” It throws off the pacing completely—especially considering this was planned as a series, and there’s more volumes to come. We could’ve taken a bit more time with that while still making Kaoru’s interest clear.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for an eARC of this manga. It has not impacted my rating.
April 9, 2026
Rating: 4⭐️
Format: Arc
Now what do I do with myself 😭?!!! That was so short, i binged this in like 30 mins that’s how good it was. This is just insanely sweet, we have an ex-yakuza down on his luck who per chance meets this florist who he mistakenly took for a woman lol. That was corrected quickly but was so funny because yes he’s so pretty 🤣. The cliffhanger didn’t help either, I got to stop because they always end up at such a good section. I’m lowkey going to be experiencing withdrawals until vol 2 comes out.
Thank you netgalley for the arc, all opinions are my own.
Format: Arc
Now what do I do with myself 😭?!!! That was so short, i binged this in like 30 mins that’s how good it was. This is just insanely sweet, we have an ex-yakuza down on his luck who per chance meets this florist who he mistakenly took for a woman lol. That was corrected quickly but was so funny because yes he’s so pretty 🤣. The cliffhanger didn’t help either, I got to stop because they always end up at such a good section. I’m lowkey going to be experiencing withdrawals until vol 2 comes out.
Thank you netgalley for the arc, all opinions are my own.
May 3, 2026
Thank you Kodansha & NetGalley for the ARC
I really enjoyed this.
The art is pretty and expressive. The story is very cute and the characters are sweet. The setting of the shop being a florist that opens at night is something different and refreshing.
I loved that Yuichiro is able to take care of himself and that we get some of his backstory. Kaoru is a fun character and his reactions made me smile. Yuichiro’s siblings and their protective meddling is very sweet.
Overall an entertaining read and i will be looking forward to the next volume and seeing how their relationship will develop.
I really enjoyed this.
The art is pretty and expressive. The story is very cute and the characters are sweet. The setting of the shop being a florist that opens at night is something different and refreshing.
I loved that Yuichiro is able to take care of himself and that we get some of his backstory. Kaoru is a fun character and his reactions made me smile. Yuichiro’s siblings and their protective meddling is very sweet.
Overall an entertaining read and i will be looking forward to the next volume and seeing how their relationship will develop.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.8 stars
I loved the art, it was so soft and pretty. Im not usually a fan of insta love, but I felt with the tropes used it leaned into the cheesy factor and made the story flow.
Kaoru is such a prickly guy that offsets Yuichiro and his gentle demeanor well. We didn't get much story progression in this volume, but where story lacked the character introductions excelled. The siblings are all so different and I know they will be a great part of the story going forward.
This was a very quick read and if you are looking for a light and fluffy Manga this is a good choice.
Thank you Netgalley for this copy
I loved the art, it was so soft and pretty. Im not usually a fan of insta love, but I felt with the tropes used it leaned into the cheesy factor and made the story flow.
Kaoru is such a prickly guy that offsets Yuichiro and his gentle demeanor well. We didn't get much story progression in this volume, but where story lacked the character introductions excelled. The siblings are all so different and I know they will be a great part of the story going forward.
This was a very quick read and if you are looking for a light and fluffy Manga this is a good choice.
Thank you Netgalley for this copy
April 30, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley thank you ☺️
This was very cute and sweet It's a beautiful start to the series. I loved the characters, the story, and the art; it was absolutely beautiful.😍
This was very cute and sweet It's a beautiful start to the series. I loved the characters, the story, and the art; it was absolutely beautiful.😍
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received this one from Kodansha Comics on Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
OMG, I hadn’t expected to get so invested that I forgot this one was a first volume and then getting upset when I reached the ending and wondering where the rest was. Haha.
🌸 I loved the way our guys met. Kaoru just being beat up and in pain. Yuichiro lying in a heap of flowers collapsed. But the funniest thing about this scenario was that Kaoru thought Yuichiro was a girl. Yup. He was all like, wow, she is stunning. She is so lithe. Not that endowed. And then when Yuichiro was lifted Kaoru mentioned feeling something poke in his back… mm, but that still didn’t deter him from thinking Yuichiro was a girl. Haha. And it got funnier as Yuichiro knew about the misunderstanding and didn’t do a bit to lift it, nope, he just rolled with it.
🌸 Yankee boy x florist boy? I didn’t know I needed this one in my life, but heck apparently I did!
🌸 I loved that this isn’t just an ordinary florist, you know the one catering to people like you and me, but instead caters to entertainment businesses and yakuza and all that. Which means the flowers are hella overpriced. I mean, 2500 yen for bouquet of roses? Which is around 14-15 euro. I can get a gorgeous bouquet for 6-7 at a very good florist here. Or those orchids. 1642 euro according to the converter I am using.
🌸 I loved that Kaoru was taking under the wings of Yuichiro. He knew what he might get himself into, but he say a cute stray dog cough um human and helped out. Gave him a room. Made sure to teach him how to do flowers. Let him do the heavy lifting. I love that Yuichiro gave Kaoru such a big chance.
🌸 I love how Kaoru was constantly flustered around Yuichiro. It was adorable. You wouldn’t expect that from such a tough guy, it is a cute gap, and I love it. He even got quite protective to the point that when Yuichiro had a date he was there with Yuichiro’s brother stalking them, haha.
🌸 I loved Yuichiro’s family. We have police guy Ryo who is protective and we have another sibling who is even more protective. I thought it was the cutest though, but because as we find out Yuichiro is super strong… but also has a weak constitution, with asthma, anaemia, and more. So I love that his brothers were all there for him whenever they could. Bring food. Make sure to check up on him.
🌸 Most of the manga is pretty slice of life with cute moments (I am shipping these two like mad), but there are also times when Kaoru’s yakuza past rears its head.
🌸 The last panels, YES YES YES! I won’t spoil it but I was doing so many dances!
🌸 And the art was just so pretty! I really loved the character designs, the gorgeous flowers, the backgrounds. OK, I loved it all!
All in all, I am in desperate need for the next volumes! I would highly recommend this if you want a cute M/M with a bit of tension and lots of cute moments and flowers.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
OMG, I hadn’t expected to get so invested that I forgot this one was a first volume and then getting upset when I reached the ending and wondering where the rest was. Haha.
🌸 I loved the way our guys met. Kaoru just being beat up and in pain. Yuichiro lying in a heap of flowers collapsed. But the funniest thing about this scenario was that Kaoru thought Yuichiro was a girl. Yup. He was all like, wow, she is stunning. She is so lithe. Not that endowed. And then when Yuichiro was lifted Kaoru mentioned feeling something poke in his back… mm, but that still didn’t deter him from thinking Yuichiro was a girl. Haha. And it got funnier as Yuichiro knew about the misunderstanding and didn’t do a bit to lift it, nope, he just rolled with it.
🌸 Yankee boy x florist boy? I didn’t know I needed this one in my life, but heck apparently I did!
🌸 I loved that this isn’t just an ordinary florist, you know the one catering to people like you and me, but instead caters to entertainment businesses and yakuza and all that. Which means the flowers are hella overpriced. I mean, 2500 yen for bouquet of roses? Which is around 14-15 euro. I can get a gorgeous bouquet for 6-7 at a very good florist here. Or those orchids. 1642 euro according to the converter I am using.
🌸 I loved that Kaoru was taking under the wings of Yuichiro. He knew what he might get himself into, but he say a cute stray dog cough um human and helped out. Gave him a room. Made sure to teach him how to do flowers. Let him do the heavy lifting. I love that Yuichiro gave Kaoru such a big chance.
🌸 I love how Kaoru was constantly flustered around Yuichiro. It was adorable. You wouldn’t expect that from such a tough guy, it is a cute gap, and I love it. He even got quite protective to the point that when Yuichiro had a date he was there with Yuichiro’s brother stalking them, haha.
🌸 I loved Yuichiro’s family. We have police guy Ryo who is protective and we have another sibling who is even more protective. I thought it was the cutest though, but because as we find out Yuichiro is super strong… but also has a weak constitution, with asthma, anaemia, and more. So I love that his brothers were all there for him whenever they could. Bring food. Make sure to check up on him.
🌸 Most of the manga is pretty slice of life with cute moments (I am shipping these two like mad), but there are also times when Kaoru’s yakuza past rears its head.
🌸 The last panels, YES YES YES! I won’t spoil it but I was doing so many dances!
🌸 And the art was just so pretty! I really loved the character designs, the gorgeous flowers, the backgrounds. OK, I loved it all!
All in all, I am in desperate need for the next volumes! I would highly recommend this if you want a cute M/M with a bit of tension and lots of cute moments and flowers.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
April 12, 2026
Basic plot:
A down on his luck ex-yakuza member is counting his last coins when he trips over a beautiful florist
Give this a try if you want:
- ex-yakuza and florist heroes
- M/M romance
- mistaken identity - Kaoru mistakes Yuichiro for a woman at first meet
- employer / employee vibes
- mains are 29 and 21/22 (he has a birthday during the book)
Thoughts:
Oh, this one is too, too cute. I seriously adored it. I wasn't even going to grab it because the cover was beautiful but too...sweet looking? I wasn't thinking I would like it and I am so glad I tried it anyway because this has become one of my favorite starts to a manga!
The art in this one is really lovely. I adored all the characters, how distinct and detailed they all looked and their expressions were so good. The humor was wonderful and the art really brought those themes out in some of the panels.
This one had some great tension building and character development starting. And the longing and emotions were so strong.
Eagerly awaiting more in this series!
A down on his luck ex-yakuza member is counting his last coins when he trips over a beautiful florist
Give this a try if you want:
- ex-yakuza and florist heroes
- M/M romance
- mistaken identity - Kaoru mistakes Yuichiro for a woman at first meet
- employer / employee vibes
- mains are 29 and 21/22 (he has a birthday during the book)
Thoughts:
Oh, this one is too, too cute. I seriously adored it. I wasn't even going to grab it because the cover was beautiful but too...sweet looking? I wasn't thinking I would like it and I am so glad I tried it anyway because this has become one of my favorite starts to a manga!
The art in this one is really lovely. I adored all the characters, how distinct and detailed they all looked and their expressions were so good. The humor was wonderful and the art really brought those themes out in some of the panels.
This one had some great tension building and character development starting. And the longing and emotions were so strong.
Eagerly awaiting more in this series!
April 8, 2026
This is such a sweet read and I enjoyed every moment of it. The plot is a simple one: an ex-yakuza is employed by a florist and develops an intense crush in the same moment. That the florist isn’t a pretty lady, but a pretty man is only a momentary confusion before the crush is well-cemented.
I adore this trope and I was so pleased that Yuichiro is not only older, but he’s more mature than Kaoru. The introduction of the siblings was a highlight as well and they add depth to the story. It’s not a complicated plot but the story doesn’t need to be so, it’s a short and sweet storyline and I can’t wait to read the next one!
Thank you the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
I adore this trope and I was so pleased that Yuichiro is not only older, but he’s more mature than Kaoru. The introduction of the siblings was a highlight as well and they add depth to the story. It’s not a complicated plot but the story doesn’t need to be so, it’s a short and sweet storyline and I can’t wait to read the next one!
Thank you the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
April 11, 2026
Actual rating: 4.5/5 Kitkats
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This doesn't affect my opinion of the book whatsoever. It's my true opinion only.
This is a very sweet manga about a guy who has a rough day and bumps into a guy who works in a flower shop.
At first he believes the person is female, but discovers they are in fact male.
As they learn more about each other, Kaoru ends up falling for Yuichiro and ends up wanting to protect him.
Overall a very cute read and I look forwards to continuing.
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This doesn't affect my opinion of the book whatsoever. It's my true opinion only.
This is a very sweet manga about a guy who has a rough day and bumps into a guy who works in a flower shop.
At first he believes the person is female, but discovers they are in fact male.
As they learn more about each other, Kaoru ends up falling for Yuichiro and ends up wanting to protect him.
Overall a very cute read and I look forwards to continuing.
April 16, 2026
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.
This is a really cute, soft story and I’m very excited for more, especially because it’s definitely left me wanting more about the characters. I love ex-yakuza being soft and sweet after they get out of the life, and Kaoru is definitely that. I also really enjoyed learning more about floral language and meanings. Just a very cute, fun manga that I’m excited to read more of.
This is a really cute, soft story and I’m very excited for more, especially because it’s definitely left me wanting more about the characters. I love ex-yakuza being soft and sweet after they get out of the life, and Kaoru is definitely that. I also really enjoyed learning more about floral language and meanings. Just a very cute, fun manga that I’m excited to read more of.
April 8, 2026
I didn't expect this to be so chaotic lol. I was expecting a fluffy maybe even a little sad romance based on the cover, but I guess reading the description it does say humorous lol. It's a little too over the top for my tastes so I'm not sure if I'll pick up the next one. Although, I am mildly interested in how the story will continue.
May 2, 2026
3.5 rounded up to 4
I think this series has potential and I am excited to see where it goes. I love me a good MM romance. I thought the 3 unique siblings was fun. I also like the reformed yakuza. Its a fun trope. The flowershop setting is pretty and the clientele is an interesting aspect to add. I needed more yearning though!
I think this series has potential and I am excited to see where it goes. I love me a good MM romance. I thought the 3 unique siblings was fun. I also like the reformed yakuza. Its a fun trope. The flowershop setting is pretty and the clientele is an interesting aspect to add. I needed more yearning though!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you NETGALLEY and Kodansha for the early arc!
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this, a former gang member falling fast for a flower shop owner who is super sweet?
Instantly sold and cannot wait until more volumes are released to see how this unfolds.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this, a former gang member falling fast for a flower shop owner who is super sweet?
Instantly sold and cannot wait until more volumes are released to see how this unfolds.
Did Not Finish
April 4, 2026Arc from NetGalley
DNF at 58%
A dull read, unfortunately. I found one of the brother’s behavior off putting and left shortly after he appeared. I do not like characters who are controlling in the name of care. This manga managed to have several of my least favorite tropes/cliches as well.
DNF at 58%
A dull read, unfortunately. I found one of the brother’s behavior off putting and left shortly after he appeared. I do not like characters who are controlling in the name of care. This manga managed to have several of my least favorite tropes/cliches as well.
April 13, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC
It was cute but it feels like it doesn’t hit quite the same as other BLs especially this kind of delinquent x golden retriever trope.
The art was beautiful tho
It was cute but it feels like it doesn’t hit quite the same as other BLs especially this kind of delinquent x golden retriever trope.
The art was beautiful tho
April 30, 2026
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley.
I loved this! The art, the writing, the characters and the overall vibe is very soothing and tender. I loved seeing different queer representation and strong female characters as well! Looking forward to reading the next volume.
I loved this! The art, the writing, the characters and the overall vibe is very soothing and tender. I loved seeing different queer representation and strong female characters as well! Looking forward to reading the next volume.
May 2, 2026
3.5*
Kaoru is a gangster, who meets a beautiful florist Yuichiro, who may look delicate, but actually isn't. Yuichiro offers Kaoru a job at his flower shop. They get close, and Kaoru finds himself falling in love.
It's a sweet and funny story, I hope we see the plot progress more in the next volume.
Kaoru is a gangster, who meets a beautiful florist Yuichiro, who may look delicate, but actually isn't. Yuichiro offers Kaoru a job at his flower shop. They get close, and Kaoru finds himself falling in love.
It's a sweet and funny story, I hope we see the plot progress more in the next volume.
April 13, 2026
Representation: queer Japanese protagonists, queer Japanese secondary character, Japanese secondary and tertiary characters.
Content Warning: violence, blood, yakuza.
Content Warning: violence, blood, yakuza.
April 21, 2026
This BL romance manga was so wholesome!
I liked the characters in this first volume, especially Yuichiro's family. Seeing how protective they are and the misundertandings that ensued was very funny. Mitsuya was so down bad from minute one and I love smitten characters!
I prefer more slow burn romances, so we'll see how it goes, but I enjoyed their dynamic. Overall, it was an entertaining and fun read that I will keep reading.
Thank you Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this book.
I liked the characters in this first volume, especially Yuichiro's family. Seeing how protective they are and the misundertandings that ensued was very funny. Mitsuya was so down bad from minute one and I love smitten characters!
I prefer more slow burn romances, so we'll see how it goes, but I enjoyed their dynamic. Overall, it was an entertaining and fun read that I will keep reading.
Thank you Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this book.
April 8, 2026
A sweet and gentle start to an opposites attract, boss/employee, BL manga serial.
When Kaoru is released from prison and shunned from the Yakusa gang who sent him there he is left penniless and lost. However, a chance encounter with a beautiful florist sets him on the right track and ignites a spark of love.
This stunningly drawn manga has dynamic characters, intrigue and secrets, humor and tension. I was immediately captivated by both Kaoru and Yuichiro and desperate to unravel their backstories. The tension and soft connection between the two leapt off the page and leaves you wanting more.
Add in an a cheeky younger brother and an overbearing yet caring twin sister, a mystery illness, and so much pining and you have a gripping start to a heartfelt series.
What you’ll get:
•Achillean (Yaoi) Romance
•Vol 1 of a 3 Part BL Manga
•Ex-Yakusa/Florist
•Chronic illness
•Love at First Sight
•Pining
•Secrets
•Forced Proximity
•Roommates
•Boss/Employee
When Kaoru is released from prison and shunned from the Yakusa gang who sent him there he is left penniless and lost. However, a chance encounter with a beautiful florist sets him on the right track and ignites a spark of love.
This stunningly drawn manga has dynamic characters, intrigue and secrets, humor and tension. I was immediately captivated by both Kaoru and Yuichiro and desperate to unravel their backstories. The tension and soft connection between the two leapt off the page and leaves you wanting more.
Add in an a cheeky younger brother and an overbearing yet caring twin sister, a mystery illness, and so much pining and you have a gripping start to a heartfelt series.
What you’ll get:
•Achillean (Yaoi) Romance
•Vol 1 of a 3 Part BL Manga
•Ex-Yakusa/Florist
•Chronic illness
•Love at First Sight
•Pining
•Secrets
•Forced Proximity
•Roommates
•Boss/Employee
April 13, 2026
I liked the idea more than the execution so far, but it's a cute setup with nice art.
Although the back cover says Mitsuya was "ensnared at a young age by the temptations of organized crime," we don't actually get to see any of his backstory, like why he joined the yakuza to begin with or why they tossed him out instead of giving him the promised promotion after he took the fall for his higher-ups and served a jail sentence. There doesn't seem to be a solid reason for them to boot out someone who'd shown his loyalty that clearly.
Maybe that's coming later, or maybe it was just a quick skim-over to put him in a situation where he'd stumble across flower shop owner Yuichiro - a man so delicately beautiful that Mitsuya spends the entirety of their first day together assuming he's a woman.
He ends up falling for him anyway, because Yuichiro is gorgeous, but he's also incredibly kind in potentially foolhardy ways. He not only gives Mitsuya a job - a role that he's actually very suited for and that Yuichiro needed to fill - but a room in his own home as well, which was far less necessary. As part of the job hiring process, that is; for unexpectedly homeless Mitsuya, it's a complete godsend.
There wasn't really enough focus on the emotional development - it should've taken much longer for Mitsuya to develop true feelings - but I suppose there's another volume for that. Yuichiro isn't romantically attached to Mitsuya yet anyway, so that'll have to be a bigger focus going forward. For now, he's just rejecting other advances (from a handsome and seemingly nice enough (?) yakuza underboss) and promising to care for the young man he's taken under hs wing.
Is Mitsuya really in love with Yuichiro, or is he just attached because he'd tripped over an angel after losing literally everything? Will that be a plot point and something Yuichiro asks him later on, or will it just be glossed over in favor of a happy ending?
We'll see, but it's cute enough for now.
I like that Yuichiro is sickly but in a born-with-certain-health-conditions way, not in a damsel-in-need-of-rescuing one. He had to give up on his initial dream and his family legacy because of his poor health, but he seems to enjoy his flower shop and is plenty capable of taking care of himself, even when hoodlums come around to make trouble with Mitsuya. He's a fun mix of contradictions: cool and aloof but amusingly childish with his overprotective twin, and seemingly delicate but with an in-depth knowledge of self-defense that he's promised to teach his ex-yakuza employee.
It's kind of interesting that Yuichiro chose to establish his shop in the middle of an entertainment district where his main clients are hostess clubs and the yakuza, considering his own family backstory and original career choice. Not sure that much thought went into the plotting besides a series of "this would be interesting and fun" scenarios, but I guess it's not like the police family Shirouzu is trying to wipe out the yakuza or anything.
His younger brother, Ryo, does talk about needing to report the date between Yuichiro and the yakuza underboss if it turns into anything seedier, like some sort of attempted business deal - but for the most part he's just hanging out with Mitsuya as they spy on Yuichiro.
That wasn't my favorite bit. Mitsuya putting a mic on Yuichiro's collar so he can listen in on the date is plenty creepy, even if the idea came from Yuichiro's brother. It was helped a bit by Yuichiro again being far more shrewd about things than he looks; half of what he said during the date was because he knew full well he'd been bugged. Still shouldn't have happened, and feels weird from someone who's known Yuichiro a very short amount of time and had been in jail a couple weeks earlier. Yuichiro should be a little bit more suspicious of him, and you'd think his family would be running some background checks or something.
Instead, Ryo seems to really get along with Mitsuya, and is even encouraging his interest in Yuichiro. It's a surprisingly cute dynamic, particularly since Mitsuya was initially jealous of Ryo.
Cute story with kind of overcrowded plotting but cover art that's almost pretty enough to make up for that on its own. I guess that explains the love-at-first-sight issue with Mitsuya.
Although the back cover says Mitsuya was "ensnared at a young age by the temptations of organized crime," we don't actually get to see any of his backstory, like why he joined the yakuza to begin with or why they tossed him out instead of giving him the promised promotion after he took the fall for his higher-ups and served a jail sentence. There doesn't seem to be a solid reason for them to boot out someone who'd shown his loyalty that clearly.
Maybe that's coming later, or maybe it was just a quick skim-over to put him in a situation where he'd stumble across flower shop owner Yuichiro - a man so delicately beautiful that Mitsuya spends the entirety of their first day together assuming he's a woman.
He ends up falling for him anyway, because Yuichiro is gorgeous, but he's also incredibly kind in potentially foolhardy ways. He not only gives Mitsuya a job - a role that he's actually very suited for and that Yuichiro needed to fill - but a room in his own home as well, which was far less necessary. As part of the job hiring process, that is; for unexpectedly homeless Mitsuya, it's a complete godsend.
There wasn't really enough focus on the emotional development - it should've taken much longer for Mitsuya to develop true feelings - but I suppose there's another volume for that. Yuichiro isn't romantically attached to Mitsuya yet anyway, so that'll have to be a bigger focus going forward. For now, he's just rejecting other advances (from a handsome and seemingly nice enough (?) yakuza underboss) and promising to care for the young man he's taken under hs wing.
Is Mitsuya really in love with Yuichiro, or is he just attached because he'd tripped over an angel after losing literally everything? Will that be a plot point and something Yuichiro asks him later on, or will it just be glossed over in favor of a happy ending?
We'll see, but it's cute enough for now.
I like that Yuichiro is sickly but in a born-with-certain-health-conditions way, not in a damsel-in-need-of-rescuing one. He had to give up on his initial dream and his family legacy because of his poor health, but he seems to enjoy his flower shop and is plenty capable of taking care of himself, even when hoodlums come around to make trouble with Mitsuya. He's a fun mix of contradictions: cool and aloof but amusingly childish with his overprotective twin, and seemingly delicate but with an in-depth knowledge of self-defense that he's promised to teach his ex-yakuza employee.
It's kind of interesting that Yuichiro chose to establish his shop in the middle of an entertainment district where his main clients are hostess clubs and the yakuza, considering his own family backstory and original career choice. Not sure that much thought went into the plotting besides a series of "this would be interesting and fun" scenarios, but I guess it's not like the police family Shirouzu is trying to wipe out the yakuza or anything.
His younger brother, Ryo, does talk about needing to report the date between Yuichiro and the yakuza underboss if it turns into anything seedier, like some sort of attempted business deal - but for the most part he's just hanging out with Mitsuya as they spy on Yuichiro.
That wasn't my favorite bit. Mitsuya putting a mic on Yuichiro's collar so he can listen in on the date is plenty creepy, even if the idea came from Yuichiro's brother. It was helped a bit by Yuichiro again being far more shrewd about things than he looks; half of what he said during the date was because he knew full well he'd been bugged. Still shouldn't have happened, and feels weird from someone who's known Yuichiro a very short amount of time and had been in jail a couple weeks earlier. Yuichiro should be a little bit more suspicious of him, and you'd think his family would be running some background checks or something.
Instead, Ryo seems to really get along with Mitsuya, and is even encouraging his interest in Yuichiro. It's a surprisingly cute dynamic, particularly since Mitsuya was initially jealous of Ryo.
Cute story with kind of overcrowded plotting but cover art that's almost pretty enough to make up for that on its own. I guess that explains the love-at-first-sight issue with Mitsuya.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Thank you very much to Edelweiss and Kodansha for the opportunity to read and review this ARC! 🙇
I really wanted to like this. At first, it starts by playing on familiar tropes that I really enjoy: first and foremost, tough guy x flower shop owner, which is a really common fanfic scenario that I can't resist. Secondly, I love stories where people suddenly are cohabitating, because it leads strangers to become very intimately familiar in a short amount of time. I always find cohabitation stories interesting! My hopes really began to grow all throughout the first chapter, but I slowly grew more and more disappointed as I read.
I think this book would have flourished really well if it had kept to a somewhat simpler plot. In reality, as we learn more and more about our protagonist Kaoru's object of affection, Yuichiro, things become extremely cluttered and busy very quickly, which dampens the impact of everything shown.
Yuichiro is dainty and frail, but he's also badass and strong. He faints from overwork, but can also beat up three people in a dark alleyway. There is just way too much to this character. Not that characters should all be flat and two-dimensional, but Yuichiro feels more confusing than nuanced, as a lot of his qualities feel contradictory in nature. It makes him feel very mysterious in a bad way to me -- less like he's a strange man, and more like he's a person who couldn't possibly exist.
Even though Yuichiro is the apple of everyone's eye, I found myself caring much more about Kaoru, who, oppositely, is extremely straightforward. He's good-natured and simple-minded, with a simple backstory and understandable motivations. I really liked his reactions and feelings throughout the book -- I felt his character was a refreshing haven of simplicity in the over-explainedness of Yuichiro and his two siblings.
I just think this volume does too much. I would have liked more time for Yuichiro and Kaoru to get to know each other better, bit by bit, just the two of them. But instead, the book jumps the gun quickly, putting the protagonists in danger multiple times, and then introduces Ryo and Yukimasa, Yuichiro's siblings, who take up way too much screentime for a book that's just starting out. It also introduces Tsubaki, who is already Yuichiro's love interest to rival Kaoru. It's just too much clutter for a volume 1 where I feel like we should be slowly getting accustomed to our main characters' dynamic and setting.
If I had had it my way, I would have made this whole volume them slowly getting to know each other and adjusting to living together, maybe possibly hinting at some budding feelings, and then maybe hint at Tsubaki or Yuichiro's brothers as a volume 1 cliffhanger. But instead, all of these elements are crammed into this one beginning volume. It's far too much to swallow for a book of this size.
I also was not too fond of the art. Sometimes, it was very proportionally off in a way that distracted me. I think that something that could have helped the artwork is if the mangaka had flipped their canvas more. I also saw some signs that they might need to study anatomy more, because I noticed quite a bit of variation in arm and leg lengths, hand sizes, face sizes -- just a lot of inconsistency that led me to feel as though the mangaka was perhaps a bit inexperienced. I am so sorry if this comes across as pompous, nitpicky, or judgmental; that isn't my intention. For reference, I have a degree in illustration and have been drawing all my life, which is why I care about these things-- I'm more trying to analyze it as a product, and don't mean to say anything bad about the mangaka's skills or talent, but rather provide constructive criticism of the visual aspect of this book.
All of that is to say, that for the book's stylistic merit alone, I do not think this book is worth buying.
In conclusion, this volume's story felt too rushed and busy. It had some good bits of heart within, but it failed to move me as an overall piece.
I really wanted to like this. At first, it starts by playing on familiar tropes that I really enjoy: first and foremost, tough guy x flower shop owner, which is a really common fanfic scenario that I can't resist. Secondly, I love stories where people suddenly are cohabitating, because it leads strangers to become very intimately familiar in a short amount of time. I always find cohabitation stories interesting! My hopes really began to grow all throughout the first chapter, but I slowly grew more and more disappointed as I read.
I think this book would have flourished really well if it had kept to a somewhat simpler plot. In reality, as we learn more and more about our protagonist Kaoru's object of affection, Yuichiro, things become extremely cluttered and busy very quickly, which dampens the impact of everything shown.
Yuichiro is dainty and frail, but he's also badass and strong. He faints from overwork, but can also beat up three people in a dark alleyway. There is just way too much to this character. Not that characters should all be flat and two-dimensional, but Yuichiro feels more confusing than nuanced, as a lot of his qualities feel contradictory in nature. It makes him feel very mysterious in a bad way to me -- less like he's a strange man, and more like he's a person who couldn't possibly exist.
Even though Yuichiro is the apple of everyone's eye, I found myself caring much more about Kaoru, who, oppositely, is extremely straightforward. He's good-natured and simple-minded, with a simple backstory and understandable motivations. I really liked his reactions and feelings throughout the book -- I felt his character was a refreshing haven of simplicity in the over-explainedness of Yuichiro and his two siblings.
I just think this volume does too much. I would have liked more time for Yuichiro and Kaoru to get to know each other better, bit by bit, just the two of them. But instead, the book jumps the gun quickly, putting the protagonists in danger multiple times, and then introduces Ryo and Yukimasa, Yuichiro's siblings, who take up way too much screentime for a book that's just starting out. It also introduces Tsubaki, who is already Yuichiro's love interest to rival Kaoru. It's just too much clutter for a volume 1 where I feel like we should be slowly getting accustomed to our main characters' dynamic and setting.
If I had had it my way, I would have made this whole volume them slowly getting to know each other and adjusting to living together, maybe possibly hinting at some budding feelings, and then maybe hint at Tsubaki or Yuichiro's brothers as a volume 1 cliffhanger. But instead, all of these elements are crammed into this one beginning volume. It's far too much to swallow for a book of this size.
I also was not too fond of the art. Sometimes, it was very proportionally off in a way that distracted me. I think that something that could have helped the artwork is if the mangaka had flipped their canvas more. I also saw some signs that they might need to study anatomy more, because I noticed quite a bit of variation in arm and leg lengths, hand sizes, face sizes -- just a lot of inconsistency that led me to feel as though the mangaka was perhaps a bit inexperienced. I am so sorry if this comes across as pompous, nitpicky, or judgmental; that isn't my intention. For reference, I have a degree in illustration and have been drawing all my life, which is why I care about these things-- I'm more trying to analyze it as a product, and don't mean to say anything bad about the mangaka's skills or talent, but rather provide constructive criticism of the visual aspect of this book.
All of that is to say, that for the book's stylistic merit alone, I do not think this book is worth buying.
In conclusion, this volume's story felt too rushed and busy. It had some good bits of heart within, but it failed to move me as an overall piece.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A former Yakuza and a Florist? I mean, what a perfect set up! I had such high hopes going into this manga but it didn’t quite hit its potential in this first volume.
.
Kaoru is a fun MC to read - a young Yakuza who has been sent to prison to take a fall for a higher up, only to be released and have been exiled from his gang. He is taken in by a Florist, who he at first assumes is a very attractive woman, only to later learn that he is a very attractive man - and that is just fine by him! Kaoru becomes very protective over Yuichiro especially because he has a disability in his lungs that leaves him weaker and more vulnerable - but don’t take that to mean entirely weak and vulnerable - Yuichiro is a failed police cadet and has had excellent training (it was quite fun to have him come to Kaoru’s rescue at one point).
.
There are your classic highjinks, potential rivals turning out to be siblings, the former criminal becoming BFFs with the brother cop. I just wish it had leaned more into the stupid and had a clearer worldbuilding to support it. I mean, Kaoru bumps into Yuichiro laying half-comatose in a pile of roses for crying out loud - if you do that you HAVE to lean into the stupid. That’s where the magic is!
.
The character designs and the art are all very good and match with the story quite well. I very much enjoyed how the mangaka played with the gendered appearance of Yuichiro and his sister, making them appear more feminine and masculine at first glance, respectively. And I was pleased when, despite her masculine and severe appearance, Yuichiro’s sister still wanted to care for her brother - even if that meant shoving a pile of liver and onions down his throat. That is really caring for someone - lol
.
I didn’t enjoy how the disability was portrayed here, yay for disabled MC, but the disability is so vague that it only seems to serve the plot for Yuichiro to collapse at the most dramatic times. And at one point, Yuichiro is bugged during a date by his brother and Kaoru to make sure he stays safe and Yuichiro is very much aware of the bug already such that he says and does things to keep his brother and new employee at bay.
.
I will say I was relieved that Kaoru didn’t have a very long dramatic breakdown about being attracted to a guy. He just eventually realized that Yuichiro was a man, was surprised, and got over it, which was refreshing to read.
.
This series has potential but I’m not sure if this first volume hooked me enough to continue. If the story sharpens up, in plot line or wit, I might take another peak, but as it is, I’m okay with the story as it is.
.
*I received an eARC from Kodansha Comics & NetGalley. All opinions are my own*
.
Kaoru is a fun MC to read - a young Yakuza who has been sent to prison to take a fall for a higher up, only to be released and have been exiled from his gang. He is taken in by a Florist, who he at first assumes is a very attractive woman, only to later learn that he is a very attractive man - and that is just fine by him! Kaoru becomes very protective over Yuichiro especially because he has a disability in his lungs that leaves him weaker and more vulnerable - but don’t take that to mean entirely weak and vulnerable - Yuichiro is a failed police cadet and has had excellent training (it was quite fun to have him come to Kaoru’s rescue at one point).
.
There are your classic highjinks, potential rivals turning out to be siblings, the former criminal becoming BFFs with the brother cop. I just wish it had leaned more into the stupid and had a clearer worldbuilding to support it. I mean, Kaoru bumps into Yuichiro laying half-comatose in a pile of roses for crying out loud - if you do that you HAVE to lean into the stupid. That’s where the magic is!
.
The character designs and the art are all very good and match with the story quite well. I very much enjoyed how the mangaka played with the gendered appearance of Yuichiro and his sister, making them appear more feminine and masculine at first glance, respectively. And I was pleased when, despite her masculine and severe appearance, Yuichiro’s sister still wanted to care for her brother - even if that meant shoving a pile of liver and onions down his throat. That is really caring for someone - lol
.
I didn’t enjoy how the disability was portrayed here, yay for disabled MC, but the disability is so vague that it only seems to serve the plot for Yuichiro to collapse at the most dramatic times. And at one point, Yuichiro is bugged during a date by his brother and Kaoru to make sure he stays safe and Yuichiro is very much aware of the bug already such that he says and does things to keep his brother and new employee at bay.
.
I will say I was relieved that Kaoru didn’t have a very long dramatic breakdown about being attracted to a guy. He just eventually realized that Yuichiro was a man, was surprised, and got over it, which was refreshing to read.
.
This series has potential but I’m not sure if this first volume hooked me enough to continue. If the story sharpens up, in plot line or wit, I might take another peak, but as it is, I’m okay with the story as it is.
.
*I received an eARC from Kodansha Comics & NetGalley. All opinions are my own*
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Kaoru Mitsuya has just been released from prison after taking the fall for some of the higher ups in the gang he was in after being told it would definitely elevate his status. Not only did it not elevate his status he's been kicked out and seems to be targeted for daily beatings by it's members. Down on his luck would be the understatement of the century. One afternoon after taking another beating he stumbles over who he believes is a beautiful woman lying unconscious on the sidewalk, after they regain consciousness Kaoru decides he can't just leave them helpless and follows them back to their flower shop to assist for the rest of the day. Just as they are closing up shop the beautiful owner drops four bombshells on Kaoru: 1. They would love for him to continue to work there. 2. Not only would they love to hire him but they also have an extra room Kaoru can live in while working there. and 3. They are not a beautiful woman but a beautiful man by the name of Yuichiro Shirouzu. 4. Kaoru can't see to find it in himself to care that he fell in love at first sight, with a man!
Alright so honestly, when I first started reading this and the whole "Oops I'm actually a guy" popped up I almost didn't finish it because I just assumed that the entire volume was going to be about Kaoru fighting a losing battle with his feelings towards Yuichiro. I am so glad that I hung it for like gods only three pages? Because that's about how long it takes Kaoru to be like "Yup, I'm in love with this man, cool beans now how do I get him to go out with me?" and omigoodness I loved that so much! Just way too often with these mistaken gender plots do you have the person who thought they were straight spending way too much freaking time discovering that they aren't or just don't care. I suppose maybe that's valid, it probably does happen in real life, but it gets old and it can definitely head into something that smacks of homophobia if the author isn't careful. So for that alone I gave this five stars. But more than that Kaoru is freaking adorable, not just with Yuichiro but just in general and especially with Yuichiro's siblings (more on them soon). He is just clearly so in love with Yuichiro that you can't help to love him for it. Plus, for an ex-gang member he is surprisingly shy and sweet. Yuichiro is great as well, he's a little older, a little wiser, and for the most part gives Kaoru the space to make his own decisions. Which is wonderful to see in any romance with an older lover interest. Finally the side characters (the ones that matter to me of course) are Yuichiro's siblings; you have Ryu a younger brother who looks absolutely nothing like him and a cop and Yukimasa, Yuichiro's twin and his exact opposite in that she is a girl who looks and dresses like a ridiculously hot (I mean ridiculously hot) man. The three are obviously close and clearly dote on Yuichiro but in a way that is hilarious but also heartfelt. Like they want him to be happy and that emotion comes across the minute you meet them.
I'll be following this series for sure this year and I cannot wait to read volume 2!
As always thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the eArc!
Alright so honestly, when I first started reading this and the whole "Oops I'm actually a guy" popped up I almost didn't finish it because I just assumed that the entire volume was going to be about Kaoru fighting a losing battle with his feelings towards Yuichiro. I am so glad that I hung it for like gods only three pages? Because that's about how long it takes Kaoru to be like "Yup, I'm in love with this man, cool beans now how do I get him to go out with me?" and omigoodness I loved that so much! Just way too often with these mistaken gender plots do you have the person who thought they were straight spending way too much freaking time discovering that they aren't or just don't care. I suppose maybe that's valid, it probably does happen in real life, but it gets old and it can definitely head into something that smacks of homophobia if the author isn't careful. So for that alone I gave this five stars. But more than that Kaoru is freaking adorable, not just with Yuichiro but just in general and especially with Yuichiro's siblings (more on them soon). He is just clearly so in love with Yuichiro that you can't help to love him for it. Plus, for an ex-gang member he is surprisingly shy and sweet. Yuichiro is great as well, he's a little older, a little wiser, and for the most part gives Kaoru the space to make his own decisions. Which is wonderful to see in any romance with an older lover interest. Finally the side characters (the ones that matter to me of course) are Yuichiro's siblings; you have Ryu a younger brother who looks absolutely nothing like him and a cop and Yukimasa, Yuichiro's twin and his exact opposite in that she is a girl who looks and dresses like a ridiculously hot (I mean ridiculously hot) man. The three are obviously close and clearly dote on Yuichiro but in a way that is hilarious but also heartfelt. Like they want him to be happy and that emotion comes across the minute you meet them.
I'll be following this series for sure this year and I cannot wait to read volume 2!
As always thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the eArc!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I would like to thank NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Aieeeeee I really LOVED this gentle, funny, sweet story, which also had some of the most gorgeous character art I've seen in a while! Every character was attractive, the panels flowed well and the story had great pacing, there was so much fun and entertaining rom-com action, and from start to finish I just had the best time!
Kaoru was rocking the wickedest, paisley shirt, that boosted his lovable-thug vibe imo. And not only was he the sartorial flex I love to love, but he was also gone for Yuichiro on sight, when he'd found the florist passed out on the street one fateful night.
Right away I was squealing, because wdym Kaoru thought that the flower shop guy was a pretty woman and Yuichiro just went with it ahaha?!
I loooooooooved everything about Yuichiro! I still have heart-eyes for this babe frfr. He was a sweetling through and through. He was easy going, a radiant beauty both inside and out, had the softest, most precious energy, and was kind and generous towards the people he cared about.
He was also vulnerable, health-wise, had an amazing sibling support system that had me giggling when they met Kaoru and, most importantly, Yuichiro was pretty badass when things got rough on the streets! He was competency-sharp when his dudes got a bit heavy-handed with their surveillance-for-protection (bro) and (bro approved) stalkery-bcos-down-bad (Kaoru) one date night. He was just the most delightfully well-rounded character that I could not get enough of! I loved him so much!
The way Yuichiro took care of Kaoru brought him to tears, and made me teary-eyed as well! Kaoru's life before Yuichiro wasn't an easy one, and just thinking about how Yuichiro's gentleness and consideration was something he'd not experienced in years made me really emotional and very hopeful for their blossoming relationship.
Both MCs were supremely lovable and it was no surprise why Kaoru fell hard for the sweetheart, and why Yuichiro gave Kaoru the kind of top tier affection that kept his new employee falling for him, from beginning to end.
I really loved Honey Bee & Lemon Balm 1's playful gender dynamics, its rom-com grooviness, all the fantastic characters, and because the ending had me wanting more of this wonderful story ASAP, I'm pretty much crying for Book 2 rn! Loved this!
Aieeeeee I really LOVED this gentle, funny, sweet story, which also had some of the most gorgeous character art I've seen in a while! Every character was attractive, the panels flowed well and the story had great pacing, there was so much fun and entertaining rom-com action, and from start to finish I just had the best time!
Kaoru was rocking the wickedest, paisley shirt, that boosted his lovable-thug vibe imo. And not only was he the sartorial flex I love to love, but he was also gone for Yuichiro on sight, when he'd found the florist passed out on the street one fateful night.
Right away I was squealing, because wdym Kaoru thought that the flower shop guy was a pretty woman and Yuichiro just went with it ahaha?!
I loooooooooved everything about Yuichiro! I still have heart-eyes for this babe frfr. He was a sweetling through and through. He was easy going, a radiant beauty both inside and out, had the softest, most precious energy, and was kind and generous towards the people he cared about.
He was also vulnerable, health-wise, had an amazing sibling support system that had me giggling when they met Kaoru and, most importantly, Yuichiro was pretty badass when things got rough on the streets! He was competency-sharp when his dudes got a bit heavy-handed with their surveillance-for-protection (bro) and (bro approved) stalkery-bcos-down-bad (Kaoru) one date night. He was just the most delightfully well-rounded character that I could not get enough of! I loved him so much!
The way Yuichiro took care of Kaoru brought him to tears, and made me teary-eyed as well! Kaoru's life before Yuichiro wasn't an easy one, and just thinking about how Yuichiro's gentleness and consideration was something he'd not experienced in years made me really emotional and very hopeful for their blossoming relationship.
Both MCs were supremely lovable and it was no surprise why Kaoru fell hard for the sweetheart, and why Yuichiro gave Kaoru the kind of top tier affection that kept his new employee falling for him, from beginning to end.
I really loved Honey Bee & Lemon Balm 1's playful gender dynamics, its rom-com grooviness, all the fantastic characters, and because the ending had me wanting more of this wonderful story ASAP, I'm pretty much crying for Book 2 rn! Loved this!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.25 stars. This was so good?!?! I liked the art from the cover and the blurb looked interesting, but I ended up liking this more than I expected considering it has love at first sight (not a preferred trope by me). It was just really sweet and fun.
I'm a sucker for both cliches and surprise elements added into a story. I liked the basic premise from this BL, a relationship between an ex-yakuza affiliated young guy and an older florist, but what made me love this even more was how the author gave something more to their dynamic.
Both MCs are more than what one would think from getting the trope at the start. The ex-yakuza guy gets shy easily when it comes to his feelings, while the florist is stronger than initially shown. I liked that contrast a lot ans thought that both fit very well as a future couple. They are gentle souls and it makes their romance development adorable.
Speaking about that, the onesided instalove was something I didn't mind, I'm guessing because Kaoru fell for Yuichiro having a different perception of him at first. There was a process, although fast, for Kaoru to realize his feelings were deeper than he thought. I found it fun and I also loved how Yuichiro's androgynous appearance played a part for the author to subvert expectations about him.
The rest of the cast is amazing as well. I liked the addition of some of the family dynamics and even a 'rival'. I must admit that the florist and the customer felt very cute to me as a potential couple too. Yuichiro is just too lovely and I want him to be appreciated by as many people as possible.
Ultimately, this was a solid first volume. I'm surprised because there are times where a manga takes its time to introduce the characters and more of their own backstories. The author did a good job at making the pacing feel right, without rushing things or going too slow.
The ending of this volume also promises more fun and sweet moments to come, I'm excited for what is coming next.
-I received a copy of this book for free through NetGalley and I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.
Tags:
I'm a sucker for both cliches and surprise elements added into a story. I liked the basic premise from this BL, a relationship between an ex-yakuza affiliated young guy and an older florist, but what made me love this even more was how the author gave something more to their dynamic.
Both MCs are more than what one would think from getting the trope at the start. The ex-yakuza guy gets shy easily when it comes to his feelings, while the florist is stronger than initially shown. I liked that contrast a lot ans thought that both fit very well as a future couple. They are gentle souls and it makes their romance development adorable.
Speaking about that, the onesided instalove was something I didn't mind, I'm guessing because Kaoru fell for Yuichiro having a different perception of him at first. There was a process, although fast, for Kaoru to realize his feelings were deeper than he thought. I found it fun and I also loved how Yuichiro's androgynous appearance played a part for the author to subvert expectations about him.
The rest of the cast is amazing as well. I liked the addition of some of the family dynamics and even a 'rival'. I must admit that the florist and the customer felt very cute to me as a potential couple too. Yuichiro is just too lovely and I want him to be appreciated by as many people as possible.
Ultimately, this was a solid first volume. I'm surprised because there are times where a manga takes its time to introduce the characters and more of their own backstories. The author did a good job at making the pacing feel right, without rushing things or going too slow.
The ending of this volume also promises more fun and sweet moments to come, I'm excited for what is coming next.
-I received a copy of this book for free through NetGalley and I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.
Tags:
Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews