Tag Archives: Deux Press

Book Review: Future Lovers, Vol 2 by Saika Kunieda

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Future Lovers, Vol 2     

Author: Saika Kunieda

Publisher: Deux Press

American release date: March 24, 2009

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Yaoi/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Akira has taken a permanent position with the school where he began as a sub due to the other teacher’s retirement. So now he and Kento work together every day. They keep their relationship from the people at school. Although Kento has introduced Akira to his grandparents, he has yet to meet Akira’s family. Then one day a flashy woman in a fur coat and sunglasses is standing outside the school when they leave, and Kento is finally introduced to Akira’s mother! That’s when he learns that Akira has a mommy complex, and actually calls her Mommy! Seriously?

She’s come to tell him she’s getting divorced… again. Akira isn’t even sure how many times that makes. It’s clear the pair dote on one another, but Kento is beginning to suspect the relationship is unhealthy. Turns out Akira’s mother had him when she was seventeen and he has no idea who his father is. When Akira leaves school early one day and doesn’t tell him, Kento searches for him, asking his mother if she’s seen him. She hasn’t, but she quickly guesses the nature of their relationship.

Kento finds Akira, who is hungover, and down, concerned unnecessarily about Yukie, whom Kento says is already in a new relationship and Kento doesn’t care because he has Akira. Akira is a complex man and Kento doesn’t always know how to take him. He realizes he’s had a hard life with his unstable mother and his childhood must have been difficult. And sometimes he and Akira seem poles apart. For example, when they end up going to a spring festival together, each is aghast at what the other is wearing. Still, no matter what happens between them, they seem to solve their problems in bed, making everything right once more.

They decide to take a Golden Week vacation but get off to a bad start. Apparently, Akira is a terrible navigator.  To make matters worse, when Kento picks up Akira at his apartment, he finds another man there with him – his art teacher from middle school! And the man not only doesn’t leave, he comes with them! He and Akira sit in the back seat together, with Kento playing chauffeur. This is not what he bargained for at all! Not surprisingly, they get lost! When Akira spots someone and goes to ask for directions, the art teacher tells Kento about what Akira was like as a child, and how much he has changed for the better.  When they finally reach their destination, they find they are all to stay in one room! Not exactly conducive to lovemaking. Kento and Akira become worried when the teacher disappears, which is compounded when his wife shows up looking for him and explains what is going on with him. Now they are even more concerned that he might do something drastic!

Akira’s mother is getting married… again! Kento starts bringing up the idea of marriage to Akira, and they fight over that. Kento wants a future with Akira, but he seems to be less than receptive to the idea. Akira provokes Kento, and finds himself in the nurse’s office with Yukie. Things get worse when Akira thinks Kento’s grandfather has died and Akira gets drunk and crashes the gathering. Will these two ever be on the same page?

I love these two guys, they are so sweet together. I like that they have their ups and downs, like any couple, which is exacerbated with the societal difficulties of being in a same-sex relationship.  The picture of Akira as a sweet little angel is priceless!  So is Akira’s dream of the future.  What a wonderful ending! I am a sucker for a happy ending. I would definitely recommend this book series.

Book Review: Future Lovers, Vol 1 by Saika Kuneida

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Future Lovers, Vol 1       

Author: Saika Kunieda

Publisher: Deux Press

American release date: September 23, 2008

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Yaoi/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Kento Kumagaya envisions a future for himself which includes a happy wife and children in a happy home that also includes his happy grandparents. But his marriage proposal to his girlfriend Yukie goes horribly wrong and she walks away. Devastated, Kento goes to a bar to drown his sorrows. There he meets Akira Kazuki, who seems too pretty to be a guy.  The next morning, Kento wakes up in Kento’s bed with memories of having had sex with Akira!  He blames the alcohol, goes home with his tail tucked between his legs, and doesn’t tell his grandparents what really happened. Then he goes to work at the school where he teaches, only to learn there is a new sub for one of the teachers – none other than Akira!

The more Kento tries to maintain his distance from Akira, the more he is drawn to him, and they end up in bed together… over and over and over.  Yukie also works at the school, as the nurse. One day she sees something unexpected and breaks up with Kento for good. A conflicted Kento talks to his grandmother, asking her about her arranged marriage with his grandfather. She explains how they fell in love, how their marriage has had its ups and downs but they weathered every storm. At the end of the day, they can both say their life was happy for having met the other person. That gives Kento a lot to think about.

When Kento gets hurt in an accident, Kazuki rushes to the hospital in a panic. Kento tells him he wants him to be his forever. Kazuki is happy to hear that, but when they kiss, they are caught by Kento’s homophobic grandparents, who are not exactly thrilled with what they see. Kento and Akira have other difficulties, including being careful at work, but there are some who figure it out anyway, including a girl with a crush on Kento.

In Winter Rabbit, Shu has gone away to university and has been too busy to visit his family, including his younger foster brother, Minoru. When Shu receives a text from his mother that something is wrong with Minoru, he hurries home, only to run into Minoru at the station. Although they were once close, Minoru seems distant now. And when a girl named Rina shows up, Minoru goes off with her, leaving behind a baffled Shu.

Later, they find themselves alone in the house, and Shu feels compelled to ask Minoru about something he heard. Minoru tries to bluff him, and unexpectedly propositions Shu.  But Shu refuses, determined to get to the truth of their feelings for one another.

This was a very sweet and romantic first volume of Future Lovers. I love both Kento and Akira, and I love how Kento goes from saying he isn’t gay to realizing he has feelings for Akira, no matter what gender he is. Their story continues in the next volume. A second story, Winter Rabbit, was also cute and sweet, as two young men come to understand their feelings for one another.  I recommend this to anyone who enjoys romantic yaoi.

Book Review: Kiss All the Boys, Vol 1 by Shiuko Kano

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes      

Kiss All the Boys, Vol 1

Author: Shiuko Kano

Publisher: Deux Press

American release date: April 1, 2008

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Yaoi manga/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★

 

Tetsuo is 32 years old. He writes a porn comic for his best friend Michiro. He is also the father of a 15-year-old son named Haruka, whose mother is Michiro’s sister. Tetsuo hasn’t exactly been a hands-on father. But when his ex is offered a long-term opportunity in Paris that she just can’t pass up, Tetsuo finds himself playing father full-time. On top of that, Tetsuo has another kind of problem  – he can’t seem to get it up, which makes dating difficult and frustrates him to no end.

Tetsuo accidentally discovers Haruka is gay (if you consider snooping accidental) and doesn’t know what to make of that so he confides in Michiro, who is also gay. Michiro advised Tetsuo to simply accept his son for who he is and to be a better father. Seems like good advice. When Tetsuo leaves Michiro, he happens upon a porn theater and decides to clear up one problem before tackling another. But outside the theater, a strange man unexpectedly crumples on top of him, seemingly terrified by the thought of going in. Deciding to play Good Samaritan, Tetsuo helps him in (basically to avoid embarrassment on the street) and they end up sitting together. The man is aghast when he finds himself hard, although Tetsuo assures him that is natural for where they are. But when Tetsuo suggests he head to the bathroom and take care of the issue, the man says he is afraid to get up. But then the unexpected happens when Tetsuo takes the “problem” in hand.

Afterward, Tetsuo is confused about what occurred. Luckily, he’ll never see that guy again. Except that’s not how life works. And the man – whose name is Momoyama – turns out to be Tetsuo’s new neighbor!  He seems smitten with Tetsuo, and offers to return the favor! One thing leads to another and Haruka unexpectedly catches them in the act (guess who’s confused now!) and he runs off. Turns out there is a guy he likes named Tamaki and he doesn’t know what to do about it.

Complications continue to arise as Tetsuo tries to deal with the idea that he gets hard with Momoyama (who he nicknames Homoyama) and he is also working through the problems with his gay son, while Momo just wants to get Tetsuo to acknowledge him. Momo ends up being confronted by Michiro, who tries to tell him it was just the alcohol, but he accuses Michiro of being in love with Tetuso himself!

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I began this yaoi manga, but I quickly found myself engaged with the characters and the story. Tetsuo has a tendency to be a rather clueless and selfish prick but I think he has a good heart and hope he will get better. I see a triangle brewing, maybe even more if I correctly read Tamaki’s reaction to something he unexpectedly witnessed. I’m a little conflicted about Haruka because he’s only 15, and I hope he doesn’t get any sex scenes, even with Tamaki. Guess we’ll see. Enjoyed the first volume and looking forward to the next!