BL Reading List: Punch Up! Volume 2
US Title: Punch Up! Volume 2
Original Title: Punch (Up arrow character)
Author: Shiuko Kano
Translation by: Adrienne Beck
Published by: Sublime
ISBN-10: N/A
ISBN-13: 978-1-4215-4350-5
Story continues. Volume 2 has a lot of hot sex between Motohara and Kouta, and those were some of best parts of the book. The introduction of the love triangle with Kouta’s first love, Yuya, just doesn’t do it for me. First, Kouta has unresolved feelings about the relationship. The relationship is shown in detail as the last chapter in the volume. After running into Yuya accidentally the first time, Kouta hopes (stated in his thoughts) to “accidentally” runs into Yuya again by taking the train when he has no need to. Motohara and his employee are on the train and see Kouta and Yuya together. To make things worse, Kouta lies to Motohara about until he is told that they were seen. Surprisingly, Motohara shows some maturity and tells Kouta what he say (no drama head games) and tells Kouta to not lie to him again. Kouta claims he was putting closure on the relationship, but Kouta’s ambivalence is clearly shown.
My hope is that I don’t have to read through 2 volumes of angst over this. If I had known, I wouldn’t have even read the series. It was portrayed as a humorous (it is that) love story. The only thing that doesn’t make me drop reading it, is that the couple still show up on the covers of Volumes 3 & 4.
Strengths: The sex scenes are well done. Use of traditional Japanese naming conventions - using last names first. Motohara shows some maturity. Motohara designing a house for them in the future (carried over from Volume 1).
What didn’t work for me: Love triangle, this time looks serious. Unresolved feelings and lying to partner. Some readers like this type of tension, I don’t. I guess that I’ve seen it too many times in real life and it is always painful to the person being cheated on, even if emotionally.
Original Title: Punch (Up arrow character)
Author: Shiuko Kano
Translation by: Adrienne Beck
Published by: Sublime
ISBN-10: N/A
ISBN-13: 978-1-4215-4350-5
Story continues. Volume 2 has a lot of hot sex between Motohara and Kouta, and those were some of best parts of the book. The introduction of the love triangle with Kouta’s first love, Yuya, just doesn’t do it for me. First, Kouta has unresolved feelings about the relationship. The relationship is shown in detail as the last chapter in the volume. After running into Yuya accidentally the first time, Kouta hopes (stated in his thoughts) to “accidentally” runs into Yuya again by taking the train when he has no need to. Motohara and his employee are on the train and see Kouta and Yuya together. To make things worse, Kouta lies to Motohara about until he is told that they were seen. Surprisingly, Motohara shows some maturity and tells Kouta what he say (no drama head games) and tells Kouta to not lie to him again. Kouta claims he was putting closure on the relationship, but Kouta’s ambivalence is clearly shown.
My hope is that I don’t have to read through 2 volumes of angst over this. If I had known, I wouldn’t have even read the series. It was portrayed as a humorous (it is that) love story. The only thing that doesn’t make me drop reading it, is that the couple still show up on the covers of Volumes 3 & 4.
Strengths: The sex scenes are well done. Use of traditional Japanese naming conventions - using last names first. Motohara shows some maturity. Motohara designing a house for them in the future (carried over from Volume 1).
What didn’t work for me: Love triangle, this time looks serious. Unresolved feelings and lying to partner. Some readers like this type of tension, I don’t. I guess that I’ve seen it too many times in real life and it is always painful to the person being cheated on, even if emotionally.