Looking for romances where the main character falls for someone whose WORK/CAREER requires some degree of physical intimacy with others, e.g. porn actor, prostitute, host, sculptor of nudes, tattoo artist, massage therapist, stripper, nude model for artists, regular film actor who occasionally has to do love scenes, etc.

Doesn't have to be full-on sex with others, but must at least have significant touching and/or nudity with or in front of others, to the point where any lover except the most well-adjusted or indifferent would be jealous.

The manga should also show the character being jealous, or at least momentarily insecure, about their lover's/crush's line of work and the intimacy it suggests with others.

PREFER shoujo, josei, BL or GL recs.
NOT looking for straight ecchi or shounen, but mature-themed seinen is ok.

Examples: Mademoiselle Butterfly (tattoo artist), Venus ni Arazu (straight sculptor of nudes), Calling (AV actor), H (host), "The Echo of Love" story from the 2nd volume of Koakuma no Sanctuary (gay sculptor of nudes), etc.

More like these?

Thanks!

I haven't read it (I can't stand stories about prostitutes and suchlike) but maybe Sakuran?

There might also be some stuff you like here, here and also in this page.

Last edited by calstine at 9:02 am, May 5 2010

does the focus of the manga have to be on romance? Because Eden has exactly this kind of scenario but its not focused just on the romance, there is tragedy, politics, action etc in there as well. Involves a prostitute who is completely OK with her work and a young man who is sort of like one of the main characters. The manga itself is pretty good though the romance part isn't that strong.

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Angel Beats--best anime of the 2010 spring season

Nana has a sidestory like that. but only quite late

Maybe Papaya Army? - host club.
Unscanlated yet, but soon to be~
Mede Shireru Yoru no Junjou
Haru wo Daite Ita AV, acting.

You could try browsing for looking for threads with tatto artists and prostitutes, but naturally they won't all be with jealousy.
Me de

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you would be my rainbow in shades of grey.

Click 'n Play!

If I had a fantasy self, it'd be a tentacle monster.

Probably 3.3.7 Byooshi!!, it's really funny =)

edit : or maybe not... xD Sorry if it's not what you want

Rules may have what your looking for. It's part of a series which I recommend reading but rules contains the relationship you want between the prostitute Tooya and a confused Atori. Lovers, souls introduces Tooya as a nude model for a photographer but there isn't the jelousy aspect. I would suggerst you read the whole series though since it is all connected and a brilliant read (this from a non-yaoi fan). There is a lot of focus on character development as well which you'll get the benfit of if you read the whole series. Hope this helps.

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Thank you, and please keep recommending!

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Passion Fruit no Kaori Tsuki - Yaoi, has a couple different relationships but one main one with the others stemming from it.
The guy works at a host club. The person with the issue is actually the host himself which I found interesting.
I personally love this one. :3

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Thanks for keeping the recs going! Let me add one more (yaoi)...

Tsugou no Ii Kimi - host that enjoys sleeping around and his lover who is slowly driven to commit an act of violence... EXCELLENT story, a pity that the scanlations were dropped! Anyone know if any group out there is picking it up again?

I accidentally stumbled across this in someone else's "I'm Looking for" post. I've never read it (obviously XD), but it sounds sort of right. Sakuranbo Syndrome.

*grabs Sakuranbo Syndrome and runs away with it*



Thanks, calstine!

And and and - what about that seinen/shounen story about that guy from the countryside who starts working as a host because he has no choice (finances?) - but then one of his clients drops off her daughter with him, claiming he's the father (which he's NOT), and he freaks out because his girlfriend from the countryside is coming to visit him and she might get the wrong idea?

Augh, I almost know which one it is - can someone remind me? *pulls out hair*