I'm making the move to activity seeking yaoi manga, normally I'm happy with a bit of subtext shonen-ai in my manga but I've decided to make the move to actually reading more yaoi. I've read some, I want more. Basically I'm looking for the must-reads 😀 (preferably those longer than one volume, unless that one volume is made of awesome!) Thanks!

(Yes, another one is converted!)
Must-reads, eh? That could be subjective... so are you looking for any kind in particular or just popular series?

I'll list off a few big titles to start:

Kyou kara Ma no Tsuku Jiyuugyou! It is shounen-ai, but a nice introduction to the genra. Very silly, cute, and quite long too.

Loveless is a fluffy but emotional series that has a huge fan base. This one is much more dramatic and still only shounen-ai.

Junjou Romantica is also quite a popular series. And this is actually yaoi!

Uragiri wa Boku no Namae o Shitteiru is steadily growing in popularity because of the recent release of the anime. Another shounen-ai with a fantasy base.

If you are looking for something hardcore, I don't think I have seen a single person dislike Crimson Spell, Wild Rock, and Sensitive Pornograph.

When it comes to specifics, you may want to try this link out:
http://www.mangaupdates.com/showtopic.php?tid=15500

[color=blue]THE SOUND OF THE OCEAN IS DEAD
[/color][color=gray]IT'S JUST THE ECHO OF THE BLOOD IN YOUR HEAD[/color]

Fake, Love Mode, Hatsuai, Iro wo mo Kaori wo mo, Princess Princess ,Yome ni Konai ka and if you're reaaaaaaaaally brave Sex Therapist

but honestly any of the threads will give you plenty of suggestions.

edit: wait... princess princess is shounen ai... but its good XD

As if handcuffed, I'm bound to the memories of you...

Quote from Serith

If you are looking for something hardcore, I don't think I have seen a single person dislike Crimson Spell, Wild Rock, and Sensitive Pornograph.

I dislike the first two and find they are extremely boring. I am sure some others on this board do too. As to the third, I can't stand the art, let alone reading it. 🤢

It will depend on what you expect from so-called "hardcore" manga. There are better ones out there than those 3 in my opinion. But you are not asking for them, are you?

EDIT: I am not sure what you are after as "must-reads". If you mean smut with a good story that goes with it, my suggestions are:
Eien ni Owaranai
Kimi wa Samishigari ya no Hana
Peeping Tom
Casino Lily
Breath
Datte Ai ja Nai!? (the plot is not to be taken seriously but it's very funny)

My non-smutty must-reads are:
Five Box Stories is a good one-volume shounen-ai manga. You could try other titles by IMA Ichiko too.
Kimi no Mukougawa
Arashi no Ato
Ano Kado wo Magatta Tokoro
Shinkuu Yuusetsu
Fake Fur
Cafe Relish ni Oide
Keep Out (KISARAGI Hirotaka)
Meguriau yo Baby
Yume wo Miru Hima mo Nai
Othello
Koi no Iro

Most yaoi are not more than one or two volumes. Even the good ones are not. And the longer ones are not necessarily good. This genre is really not like other genres.

I really enjoyed Cut and Boku wa Kimi no Tori ni Naritai. (:

Oh, and The Summit~

Quote from base_coat

I dislike the first two and find they are extremely boring. I am sure some others on this board do too. As to the third, I can't stand the art, let alone reading it. 🤢

It will depend on what you expect from so-called "hardcore" manga. There are better ones out there than those 3 in my opinion. But you are not asking for them, are you?

Fair enough. I guess I misused the word "hardcore" since, in all honesty, they are not all that explicit. I'm just currently lacking the proper terms to use! (I guess plain and simple "yaoi" will do just fine, eh?)

But I am glad you stated your dislike for the manga because it just further proves that, despite how popular a manga may be, it does not necessarily mean everyone will like it. Like I said, taste is rather subjective. So -to the creator of this topic- the more details you give about interests makes creating suggestions a lot easier (and with better results). 😉

[color=blue]THE SOUND OF THE OCEAN IS DEAD
[/color][color=gray]IT'S JUST THE ECHO OF THE BLOOD IN YOUR HEAD[/color]

This thread might help.

To be honest, I don't see that many good titles in this thread.
Unless you want sex with not much plot...
The titles may be popular, but popularity doesn't measure quality.

I suggest you, dyingatmidnight, to search the threads we have here and find out what you do and don't enjoy.
Doc's list is also a good reference.

You might be at the point where smut is what you're looking for, but it'll pass and you'll want a story to go with it. :3

I'll throw here some names I believe are good, albeit their yaoi isn't explicit:

Kunieda Saika
Suzuki Tsuta
Yoneda Kou
Miyamoto Kano great mangaka but oh so angsty. I can't read too many of her chapters in one go. She's somewhat tricky with her "universes", since one needs to pay attention.
I read Rules by her (and loved it) first, without knowing about all the prequels.
It wasn't a what you'd call a direct sequel, more like a story of one of the characters.
Takanaga Hinako
Mizushiro Setona - her art takes getting used to, but titles like The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese and its sequel are totally worth it.
Kisaragi Hirotaka - the dude can draw. Try his Na mo Naki Tori no Tobu Yoake.
Jaryuu Dokuro
I Want to Become Your Bird - try this.
The cover art is rather off-putting, but inside it's lovely.

Somewhere in between:
Sakuragi Yaya.
Kyuugou

Smuttier:
Naono Bohra (only if you like older men as uke and rather repetitive plots in her newer works...)
Yamane Ayano - queen of rape and pretty smut. :;D
Itsuki Kaname
Ougi Yuzuha her art really takes getting used to. Especially the earlier, more explicit titles.
Ike Reibun

Hrodulf and Bjornolfr, you will not be forgotten.
[img]http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp199/SyberAngelGabrielle/couplesig.jpg[/img]
[color=black]And if the world were black and white,
you would be my rainbow in shades of grey.[/color]

Click 'n Play!

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

Since someone else already recommend the popular long series, etc. these are MY personal choices that come to mind when someone mentions 'must read' BL manga. Though I'm skipping out on some of my favorites since half the time I recommend them and am just told the art is too weird or they haven't been translated. I also don't want to suggest anything too hardcore since you're new to the genre. But I think these ones are a safe bet, for the most part.

Furueru Yoru no Himitsugoto by Ogura Muku
Sentimental Garden Lover by Ogura Muku
Sawatte, Tokashite by Kobato Mebaru
Seven Days by Tachibana Venio & Takarai Rihito
Mainichi Seiten series by Sugano Akira & Ninomiya Etsumi

• my personal favorite books 3-7, focusing on Mayu and Yuuta
  Yachin Hanbun no Ibasho desu by Asou Kai
  Age Called Blue by Est Em
  Sugar Milk by Jaryuu Dokuro
  Bara to Yaban by Konjiki Runa
  Doukyuusei (Nakamura Asumiko) by Nakamura Asumiko
  Picnic by Yamada Yugi
  Illumination by Yamashita Tomoko
  Koi to Wana by Yamamoto Kotetsuko
  Doushitemo Furetakunai by Yoneda Kou
  Warui Koto Shitai, etc. by Sakuraga Mei
• a multi-part series but focuses on multiple pairings

For the most part, that should be all over as far as different art and storytelling styles goes.

If you're only looking for long multi-volume series you're really limiting yourself when it comes to BL manga. Most recent BL manga is kept relatively short (one or two volumes) though they might have off-shot series, etc.

[img]http://i39.tinypic.com/21l79eo.png[/img]

wow! so many! Yay things to read. I've dabbled in yaoi for a while, here and there I'll pick up one and read it.

You might be at the point where smut is what you're looking for, but it'll pass and you'll want a story to go with it Yeah the smut for smut sake phase has past and I'm looking for some plot to go with it 😀

These are all great guys, it gives me a place to start, I did the genre search but just got so overwhelmed thinking 'where do I even begin!'

So thanks!