Lover's Flat by Fujiyama Hyouta

Warning: This is a Yaoi review. Yaoi is a form of Japanese graphic novels, a manga featuring gay romance. Usually written by women, for women, this stories range from sweet romances to extremely steamy sexual adventures between men. If this is not your cup of tea, well, you have been warned.

Lover's Flat features the (mis)adventures of two couples who happen to live side by side in (beyond) efficiency apartments.  These are six mat apartments; a tatami mat is 35.5 inches by 90 inches, and these standard sized flooring are used to build the rooms they will occupy.  These apartments are 105 inches by 180 inches or 9feet, nine inches by fifteen feet.  Tiny.

Kounu is the owner of the first apartment.  Kounu seduced his friend, Natsu, when they were drunk, and it just sort of worked out; best friends who have sex.  Kounu is the Uke, or passive partner, even though he is the more aggressive personality, and Natsu is the Seme, or "top."

Kounu becomes friends with his neighbor Naomichi.  Naomichi's best friend Kei has just confessed his love for him, and Naomichi is unsure how to feel or act, or really, anything.  Talking to Kounu gives him some insight into the world of gay romance that he might never otherwise get.

These two couple came at their relationships from two different directions.  Kounu and Natsu from the friends with benefits angle, and Naomichi and Kei from the "I didn't ever think I was gay, are you sure you want a relationship with me?" angle. 

They each have problems.  Kounu is worried that he loves Natsu who only has sex with him because it is convenient.  Naomichi has to adjust his whole world view, and at first doesn't even know what role he is expected to play (he ends up, pardon the pun, as the Uke.)

Of course, most of their problems are born of angst, and could easily be solved with simple clear communication, but where is the fun in that?

Ms. Fujiyama's art style is clean and crisp.  Her Uke's do not suffer from the big eye syndrome, and she is quite creative in the use of grey tone shading to add interest and texture to her art.  While she is prone to minimalistic backgrounds, she does use shading differences to add depth and vitality to the art and page layouts.  It is extremely effective, if simplistic.

Her sexual style is the "What's being done is plain, what it's being done to is invisible" variety.  (This line stolen from rmthunter.)  An effective strategy and one that gets by the censors.

All in all, this is a good, solid standard Yaoi, light on Angst, heavy on relationships, and very enjoyable.  It's a satisfying read.

This review is Lean-N-Mean, at 469 words.

Try these Yaoi reviews:

Love Circles *(801)*Maiden Rose 1 *(801)*Maniac Shorts Shot *(801)*Gay's Anatomy *(801)*Happy Yaoi Yum Yum *(801)*The Loudest Whisper *(801)*Lover's Flat  *(801)*Wild Butterfly *(801)*Shards of Affection*(801)*Romantic Illusions *(801)*Ruff Love*(801)*Thunderbolt Boys Excite Vol 2*(801)*Thunderbolt Boys Excite Vol 1*(801)*Pathos*(801)*Pathos II*(801)*The Crimson Spell 2 *(801)*The Crimson Spell *(801)*Incubus *(801)*Incubus Volume 2*(801)*Incubus Volume 3*(801)*Love + Alpha*(801)*Yellow*(801)*Yakuza in Love 3 *(801)*Yakuza in Love 2 *(801)*Yakuza in Love *(801)*Beyond Scandalous Seiryo University *(801)*Return to Seiryo University *(801)*Scandalous Seiryo University *(801)*Wild Rock *(801)*Man's Best Friend *(801)*Shinobu Kokoro *(801)*Midaresomenishi: A Legend of Samurai Love *(801)*Stallion *(801)*Gerard & Jaques 2 *(801)*Gerard & Jaques 1 

And Yaoi Anime!
Kizuna, Volume One
Kizuna, Volume Two

Recommended: Yes