Iono-sama Fanatics by Miyabi Fujieda

Erica Friedman: "A fun yuri fantasy."

Little Butterfly by Hinako Takanaga

Alex Woolfson: "Very sweet romance with lovable high-school aged characters and well-drawn art in the shojo tradition. Good humor, well-paced plotting and an all-around good time. Some hardcore yaoi friends I've talked to found the plot twists to be yaoi clichés, but in my  humble opinion, it's a great introduction to the special joys yaoi can offer to gay readers."

Love Pistols by Tarako Kotobuki

Scott Robins: "My first experience reading yaoi — a bizarre story about sexual conquests, gay relationships and characters evolved from animals other than monkeys. The series follows a lot of the traditional dom/sub and older/younger themes found in most yaoi but turns the genre on its head with the addition of these half-animal characters. This makes sexual scenes ridiculous but also sexy and fun, especially when it’s revealed that males can be impregnated. Might appeal to members of the gay ‘bear’ community or any other community where animal metaphors and sex are found."

The Moon and the Sandals by Fumi Yoshinaga

Robin Brenner: "As Chris notes with Ichigenme, Yoshinaga’s skill elevates her titles beyond clichés. Here we have a student in love with a teacher, and a girl pining away for her gay friend. Yoshinaga upends expectations. Sometimes hesitant, sometimes impulsive, her characters are charmingly true to life. The second volume is filled with sex – character driven sex, but sex nonetheless – but also features a rare storyline about coming out in the workplace."

Rin! by Satoru Kannagi and Yukine Honami

Seduce Me After the Show by est em

Alex Woolfson: "Very non-traditional art with complex, difficult characters who feel like they could actually be real people. This book is essentially the opposite of my previous yaoi recommendations for "happy, pretty BL." Instead, these pages contain thoughtful, sad, wistful, complex and subtle stories for grownups that will make you think. It's an 18-and-over book that, frankly, you might actually need to be over 18 to appreciate, and one of the best yaoi books I've ever read. One to pick up after you've read a bunch of other yaoi books so you can appreciate how special and risky it is."

Shout Out Loud by Satosumi Takaguchi

Robin Brenner: "Two realistic romances for one! Shout Out Loud is set in the world of voice actors, thus appealing to manga fans, but the milieu is second to the relationships. Baby-faced Shino is unsure of how he feels about his two seductive colleagues while his teenage hockey star son falls for his assistant coach. Much more about heart than seduction, this series deftly balances questions of identity with finding love."

Strawberry Panic Omnibus by Sakurako Kimino

Erica Friedman: "Strawberry Panic is a parody of many typical yuri tropes"

Tea for Two by Yuya Sakuragi

Robin Brenner: I get as tired of high school romances as anyone, but Tea for Two neatly sidesteps the pitfalls of high school boy BL. Easy-going baseball jock Tokumaru falls for calm, sexy Hasune, the scion of a famous tea family. Their progress from admitted feelings to a working relationship is all the drama you need. Tokumaru states his feelings bluntly, taking the wind out of any pining on either side, and coming out as a couple is an issue (rarely addressed in BL, here it’s part of growing up.) Humor lightens misunderstandings and Sakuragi excels at exposing vulnerability. As a bonus, no one draws a sexy smirk so well."

Yuri Monogatari by Various

Erica Friedman: "Yuri anthology in English, artists and writers from all around the world (conflict of interest, well, yes, duh. Still, I think it's great!)."