Almost Crying (Yaoi) [Paperback]

Mako Takahashi (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 11, 2006 | Series: Almost Crying

One day, as the boys Aoi and Hajime are returning home from a school picnic, they find an abandoned little boy in the park with the note "please adopt me" pinned to him. His only possession is a small backpack with a change of clothes, and the nametags on his little boots read "Gaku." Both Aoi and Hajime want to adopt this "little brother." Ten years later, Gaku has grown into a handsome boy with no memory of his adoption. Gaku and Aoi are close siblings, but Aoi finds himself feeling more than that towards Gaku. Hajime has always been in love with Aoi, but sees that Aoi only has eyes for Gaku, and vice-versa. Gaku and Aoi are hesitant to express their feelings, each fearing that the other holds only a brotherly affection. Then one day, Gaku finds out about his adoption, and that he and Aoi are not related by blood...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Takahashi might as well have called this book "Bite-Sized Yaoi." It's a collection of short stories and each accomplishes what a yaoi ("boy love") story should and not a whole lot else. There's the energetic boy who's filled with romance, the moody boy who isn't quite sure of himself, and the climactic kiss at the end. The stories switch settings and certain plot points, usually what brings the two boys together, but that's about the only difference in these stories. One story even recycles the "adapted brother" approach from an early story. Takahashi draws two types of boys: one with blonde hair and ones with black hair. Cuteness is held in high regard by certain characters, and Takahashi shares the notion. The characters' heads threaten to crush the rest of their bodies. But if their heads weren't so big, how could they hold those eyes, exaggerated for maximum adorableness? This collection of stories will probably please fans of the genre as it hits all the right notes (there's even some cosplay—characters dressing up as other characters). Anyone else will be looking for a little more depth and variety and find the series of similar stories a chore to read through. (Apr.)
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Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Digital Manga Publishing (April 11, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569709092
• ISBN-13: 978-1569709092
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,095,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adorable!, April 21, 2006

By 

Yaoi Press "Yaoi Press" (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Almost Crying (Yaoi) (Paperback)

This book was so sweet it may cause diabetes. It's an anthology of stories by the same creator all done in the same sweet style. The boy/boy love is innocent and cute with sweet kisses often climaxing the stories. The characters are often overly naive and optimistic, believing that there's no evil in the world and certainly none in their love interests. In Takahashi's settings there's nothing to dissolution them. No tragedy here, no danger.

I loved the cute artwork. The characters look young, and in some instances they can't be more than 15 or 16, but that's ok since there's nothing illicit happening. For the ones who are supposed to be adults you find their childlike heads on lanky adult bodies, so it's not too hard to accept the ages you're told.

The cutest thing was the creator's free-talk page where she did a little comic. She conveys her insecurities so well. It was like everything else in this book: Adorable.

We need yaoi books like this sometimes. It reaffirms the sweetness and innocence that can be found in the genre. Not everything should be smutty. Every once in a while you want a book that makes you go 'Awwwwwww.'

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For the Beginners, April 20, 2006

By 

E. Hudson "KuroiSama" (Southern Cali) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Almost Crying (Yaoi) (Paperback)

This title has me a little worried with the maker.

The art itself is beautifuly well-done

but the characters come off extremely young looking.

One 18-year old character looks as though he

could be a 12-year old walking around with a fake ID.

Almost Crying is definetly for Yaoi-beginners.

If your just getting into the yaoi scene and

don't think you are ready for hardcore boyboy sex

go ahead and pick this title up.

If your a seasoned veteran of Yaoi you might be

disappointed as I was, Nothing very ecchi but all

too TOO sweet.

I've only read it twice since I bought it (two weeks ago)

but I can not get past how young the characters look

so if that's your thing go ahead and buy this.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Micari Shelly - yaoirealm.com, July 19, 2006

By 

Micari "yaoirealm.com" (Burbank, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Almost Crying (Yaoi) (Paperback)

If you like very silly, sappy, mushy Yaoi romance with no purpose or meaning (or erotica), you might like this manga.

Personally, I thought it was a waste of money.

The book includes several different stories, with different characters. But each story has at least one character who is overly-emotional.

If you want a more sophisticated Yaoi romance manga, with the same feel to it, try reading "Same Cell Organism".