Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story is so sweet and simple and quiet, and as a newly minted 30-year-old struggling with dating apps, it hit so close to home... The regret of losing out on love is universal, but the regret you carry with you for what could have been is a special kind of torture. Seeing Jason carry that and eventually let it go was all the catharsis I needed to love this story. While I'm sad the ending is ambiguous, that emotional growth—towards acceptance and confidence in who you are—was beautiful. In my mind, it ends quite happily. I would absolutely recommend to anyone looking for a short and sweet standalone lgbtqia+ manga.

4.50 out of 5 stars, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sparse art, boring, slow story. I don't care about any of these characters or what happens to them, and sometimes I have trouble telling them apart. I couldn't even finish the story. The whole thing is bland.

Received as a e-arc. An interesting story that focuses on starting a romantic journey between two older men.

Pros
-I really like that the story focuses on two men who are in their 30s. This is not typical in most BL manga/manhua and I really appreciated it.
-I like that it focused on one character's exploration of their sexuality and that the story is not focused solely on sexual connections but other forms of intimacy.
-One of the characters is acknowledged to be bisexual which is also not common in most BL manga/manhua.

Cons
-The story felt a bit stilted like some of the plot points are not connecting seamlessly.
-There are multiple themes (i.e. workplace bullying, falling in love later in life, physical vs emotional relationships) that aren't fully explored. I think that the story should have been longer to fully develop them.

Overall, a nice story about finding lover later in life in the workplace.

Heat Factor: Really none to speak of. Maybe exceptionally good hugs?

Character Chemistry: I’m not sure I totally connected with it, but there were lots of little brushes and moments

Plot: Jason is a single, 35yo virgin who doesn’t want to be alone but also doesn’t really like his relationship prospects, and he’s haunted by his reaction to that one time when a guy wanted to be with him

Overall: Romance adjacent, but generally liked the vibe? I think?

The blurb for this book (and the cover art) presents it as (at least probably) a romance, but it’s really a journey of self-discovery for Jason, and even at the end, Jason doesn’t really have all the answers. He’s 35, he’s angsting about being single and still a virgin as he’s about to turn 36, and his life revolves around work.

As the story opens, Jason is recalling with regret how he reacted when another man had expressed romantic feelings for him years ago. He’s just learned that that man is in a relationship with a woman, and the whole situation has him in an emotional turmoil. There’s an author’s note at the end of the story that this book was a deeply personal exploration of relationships and sexuality, so it tracks that Jason doesn’t have all the answers at the end, because that exploration can be a lifelong journey. His understanding of himself at the beginning of the book is pretty deeply rooted in internalized homophobia, about which more soon.

Jason is a project manager at his office, and he soon meets new hire Frank, who had left his old job because he wasn’t being treated well there. Because their office is full of busybodies, Frank is basically offered a room in Jason’s apartment so he won’t have to commute so far, and Jason is a really nice guy (like he genuinely is, he’s not like Nice Guy™) so he rearranges his life to include Frank in it. In the course of their playing house, Jason finds that his favorite thing is having someone there to talk to, to care for him, and to care for himself. But his heteronormative life is telling him that he couldn’t possibly find his HEA with a man.

The thing is, when he goes on a date with a woman, that doesn’t work for him either.

It’s unclear if Jason is on the asexual spectrum, if he’s just struggling in the dating scene and maybe he’s bi or pan or would be interested in a woman if he found one he actually clicked with (he just never has), or if he is gay but super in denial about it. Or maybe a combination of those things. All we know by the end of the story is that Frank is the most important relationship in his life, and the one he wants to make an effort for, but we don’t even know what that relationship will ultimately look like, because the ending is a bit abrupt (but optimistic).

I would have much saltier feelings about this book if Frank were not completely clear about (and comfortable with) being bisexual, and if he did not explain to Jason that that guy from his past might also be bisexual and not just somehow mentally traumatized by Jason’s rejection. It makes Jason’s inability to understand the nuances and possibilities of human sexuality personal instead of simply bi-erasure or homophobia (though he’s definitely got some internalized homophobia, for sure). Ergo, I’m feeling net positive about this book, even though I didn’t love that it ended with such a lack of closure for our characters.

A note on the illustration: Generally I felt like this book completely tracks with the style and presentation one expects of manga. Some transitions maybe were abrupt, and the challenge of creating emotional depth that I often feel with graphic novels was still present, but the book is very readable and doesn’t extend into alternative storyline tendrils that detract from the central narrative. That said, the illustration of shock/surprise/angst/panic always looked like anger to me. I read it as anger or shouting, and then when I saw the next cue about what emotion the character was supposed to be expressing, I had to go back and look at the panel with that new insight in order to recenter my thoughts and proceed with the story. So. Forewarned is forearmed.

I’m not sure I’d recommend this for our romance readers, but it was fun to read something different and sweet.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report

For a manga, especially a BL manga this did not stand out for me. I read quite a lot of manga specially in the BL section and I love all the different concepts ago along with this, but unfortunately this did not pull my attention. It did not keep my mind occupied, and I thoroughly remember after reading a couple of books since.

This was short but it honestly was pretty good. It did an excellent job of trying to come to terms with that you might not be straight, and the pressures of being in your 30s and not having had typical romantic experiences. I found Jason to be an extremely realistic character, and I could empathize with him strongly. Reading Frank trying to struggle to handle his past regrets and fear about the future was so painfully real. Unfortunately, because this is a one-shot, the story rushes a bit to get to the final conclusion. The novel ends on, what I feel like, a cliffhanger. I guess some of the point is for us not to know and to assume, but come on man. I did really enjoy the art style! I liked it so much, I will be seeking out other works this author has done. Also, this is an extremely minor thing, but this is a Chinese story right? Why do all the characters have English nicknames? Is...is that a thing in China? Is this just a translation choice made by the localization team? I am so confused as to why they are called Frank and Jason when their actual names are Qianfan and Junren. This is nothing against the story, I'm just extremely confused.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was a very sweet manga of learning more of yourself and what you want from life and those around you. It was refreshing to see a story that focused more on the MC coming to terms with himself and his sexuality. We don't always figure ourselves out in our teens or early twenties so to see an MC in his thirties tackling prior prejudices and opening his heart up to another was really nice. I wish it had been a little longer to flesh out their relationship after the "coming to terms" but overall it was enjoyable.

A very clean, gentle story about a man learning to understand his sexuality later in life.

Jason (the characters in this story pick English nicknames to use) is a genuinely nice person, friendly and respected in his workplace. But he is also single and lonely, still dwelling on a romance that never was from years ago. He feels pressure from his family to find a wife and to be successful.

In walks Frank, a new IT hire coming from an unhappy work situation. Through the help of a coworker the two of them end up as roommates and their relationship strengthens, potentially growing into more.

If this book were a first volume setup, I would find it much more successful. However - it is a standalone volume. The depth the author aims for in character backstory and emotion isn't quite there.

The internalized homophobia and biphobia that lingers for most of the book is a little difficult to get through. The main character reads as asexual which I love! I only wish that could have been more fleshed out - unfortunately too much to expect of a story and characters that treat the mere existence of homosexuality and bisexuality as a revelation.

Loved the relationship between the characters. Great build up of attraction and I loved the happy ending.

This debut BL manhua by a Taiwanese creator is a refreshing read to finish in one sitting! 35 year old Jason is haunted by the fact that he rejected a junior who confessed to him years ago and is now dating a girl. Jason is lonely, single and feels he will never find someone to share his life with. Frank, his new coworker is looking for a place to stay and Jason offers him to be his roommate. Although awkward at first, he begins to enjoy having someone to talk to, do the chores together and simply enjoy the companionship. I like BL stories because the emotions are expressed way more naturally and are raw! There is self discovery mixed with the fear of how the other person feels and all the anxiety and anticipation. I don’t usually read romance because I find most of them to be cringe but the emotions in this were so strong and raw, you can’t help but root for them! Overall a good fast read with some good art! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

**Thanks to Yuzu comics and Netgalley for the ARC.

#confessionsofa35yearold #netgalley

This story wasn't my cup of teaif I'm being honest. The storyline was boring and bland for me. I really wanted to like it but I personally wouldn't recommend it to my friends.
#Confessionsofa35YearOld #NetGalleyConfessionsofa35YearOld #NetGalley

Tbh I thought it was pretty eh. I didn’t feel connected to the characters much but it was fast paced enough that I didn’t get bored. Not the worst way to spend 45 minutes but forgettable at the same time.

A story similar to Cherry magic, just without the magic. An office worker, who never was in a relationship, he is now 35 years old and wondering if he missed all his chances. After all he got confessed to once by another man, who was his younger apprentice. The younger one now has a girlfriend and our protagonist is wondering if he only confessed to mock him.
We get to witness a story of becoming and realisation about one's own feelings and preferences and what kind of feelings are out there.
Lovely drawn and written, there will likely be no sequel, but that's fine, the story is perfectly fine without.

This book falls into the same issues that many standalone romance manga have, there's not enough space to really flesh out the relationship to make it feel more realistic. With a story that is so focused on the relationship, as there is nothing else of real substance going on here, it's hard to make readers feel much when things are rushed. There's very little character development, in fact we know very little about the main characters in general. The story is choppy and hard to take seriously, I really didn't understand why the relationship took the turn it did all of a sudden. Overall, i'd say this is a volume that is safe to skip.

This was a story about finally being comfortable with who you are, letting go of past regrets and letting yourself be with who you want to be with, finally enjoying the companionship you long for. Jason was lonely and reaching an age where he felt like he missed out and was second guessing his choices and chances he passed up. Meeting Frank helped him to allow himself some compassion. When he saw someone could like him and wanted to be with him, he chose to finally open up. This is a romance for sure but it's also about being lonely in your mid thirties. It was a subdued story and I really enjoyed it. I also really appreciated the bisexual representation. That is very often overlooked in BL and romance in general. I would recommend this manhua to anyone looking for a cute domestic/office romance read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my chance to read it.

This was a very cute story of two men meeting, becoming roommates, then falling in love. A basic story, but they are basic for a reason, right? My biggest complaint, is that I wanted to see their development on page more. Since we only get the one book, it feels that we miss out on seeing all the fluffy domestic stuff that most likely helped to grow their feelings.

Jason and Frank are absolutely adorable! This story is so cute and I will definitely read more when it’s available.

To me this story was less of a romance and more about someone who is lonely and is letting themself finally enjoy companionship and making peace with their past regrets. I feel like I didn't see enough to make me understand why they like each other (or at least why Jason likes Frank other than be likes that Frank likes him) but despite saying that their domestic moments were very cute but I wanted more. Something I was very appreciative was the bisexual representation which we don't see enough!

3.5 rounded up

there were some typos and grammar issues, not a big deal

Story just doesn't get me connected to characters and their feelings for each other.

Moreso a focus on main characters internalized homophobia. Still quality content, but Would like to have more progression and development between characters to feel interested. Not a spark for me personally.

Peaceful and sweet. Relaxing and calm.

Jason and Frank are business colleges turned roommates turned maybe more??
Overall this story was very endearing. The pair learning about each other in their shared spaces was very sweet. Jason's struggle to understand his feelings for Frank while also dealing with societal pressures to marry and have children as the main conflict, as something many people can relate to one way or another was a little heartbreaking. I enjoyed the conclusion to this part of the story and would be interested in seeing where it goes from there.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this work for free in exchange for an honest review.