Yaoi Review: Punch Up!, Vol. 3 (Yaoi Manga) [Paperback]

I've finished "Punch Up Vol. 3" by Shiuko Kano.

Product Description

The relationship between architect Motoharu Maki and ironworker worker Kouta Ohki has settled down into a happy routine, but Motoharu is still battling feelings of jealousy over Kouta meeting up again with first love, Yuya. Kouta swears it’s over, but now that Yuya’s boss is Motoharu’s new client, the two ex-lovers see each other more than ever. Is Kouta really over his first love, or are Motoharu’s feelings of jealousy justified? Includes a 25-page bonus story of a day in the couple’s steamy love life.

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for mature audiences.

About the Author

Shiuko Kano lives in Okayama. A Pisces with an 0 blood type, her favorite foods include edamame, crab, and Gupita (sweets). She likes singer Suga Shikao, the band Kirinji, dogs (and any member of the canis family), and fortune-telling and comedy of all kinds. She dislikes bugs, cheese, and the Ekiden, a long-distance relay running race. Shiuko Kano is also the sister of mangaka Kazuna Uchida of I Shall Never Return fame.

Product Details
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: SuBLime; Original edition (January 8, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1421543540
ISBN-13: 978-1421543543

My Review:

Maki Motoharu is afraid that Ohki Kouta still has feeling for his ex-boyfriend Yuya.  He finally confronts Kouta about this and both become upset.  Maki has a business trip that will last for 3 days out of town and wants Kouta to come but Kouta says, "he can't because of work."

Motoharu new client happens to be the boss of Yuya who wants him to design a plan for his restaurant.  Motoharu agrees but is afraid that Yuya and Kouta will see each other alot so he doesn't mention this tidbit to Kotaru.

One day Kouta happens to run into Yuya and they start talking.  Suddenly Yuya embraces Kouta and he has a flashback to the confrontation and then he pushes Yuya away and runs away.  That night Motoharu and Kouta make love and when Kouta wakes up he realizes how much Motoharu cares for him.  That night when he returns home he sees Yuya and he turns away and runs up to the apartment.

The next day he runs to Motoharu who is surprised to see him.  They make love that night and in the morning Motoharu tells Kouta to go back home.  Kouta leaves the next morning and while at work is distracted and he falls from a great height.  His safety harness wasn't properly secured though normally he is very serious about that and his job.

He wakes up but has reverted to his 15 year old self and wants his brother.  He doesn't remember anyone and the doctor informs everyone that he may be suffering from mental illness due to severe stress.  He goes back to live with Motoharu though he doesn't remember who he is and the names of the two cats who love him. 

4/5

Thanks Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me this yaoi manga to review, greatly appreciated!

Yaoi Manga in series:

1.  Punch Up Vol. 1
2.  Punch Up Vol. 2
3.  Punch Up Vol. 3
4.  Punch Up Vol. 4 - April 9, 2013

Yaoi Review: Punch Up!, Vol. 2 (Yaoi Manga) [Paperback]

I've finished "Punch Up! Vol. 2" by Shiuko Kano.

Product Description

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for mature audiences.

Architect Maki Motoharu is thoroughly enjoying life with his new roommate, ironworker Ohki Kouta.

Although he’s young, Kouta is responsible and sees to the chores Motoharu tends to forget. Their nightlife together is full of new, wonderful discoveries, too! Things seems perfect for the new couple until Kouta's old crush shows up and Motoharu finds himself grappling with feelings of jealousy for the first time in his life.

Includes bonus comic strips, along with the side story "Honeymoon."

About the Author

Shiuko Kano is the creator of over 30 manga. Her English-language releases include: Affair, I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone, Kiss All The Boys, Maybe I'm Your Steppin' Stone, Play Boy Blues, Tough Love Baby, and Yakuza In Love. A native of Osaka Prefecture, she was born on March 4th with an O blood type, and is the sister of mangaka Kazuna Uchida. You can find out more about Shiuko Kano at her website, http://www.studioe-kennel.com.


Product Details
Paperback: 216 pages
Publisher: SuBLime (October 9, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1421543508
ISBN-13: 978-1421543505
My Review:

I found Maki's quirky obsession with q-tips hilarious especially his fantasies of where he wants to use it on Kouta (I was laughing so hard).
 
The love scenes are beautifully graphical and rendered hot and explicit and boy are there plenty of them (7 to be exact).  You can tell and feel how much Maki and Kouta love each other during these scenes (and I think they are funny I don't know why but I just find them funny)!  Both finally admit they love each other and those scenes were very tender and loving.

Then Kouta's first love arrives back on the scene when they bump into each other on the subway.  Maki becomes jealous and hurt when Kouta isn't quite truthful about the encounter.  Kouta realizes he hurt Maki and is determined not to do that again.

We also get a bittersweet flashback on the sidestory Honeymoon when Kouta first met his first love and how they became involved and their breakup.

5/5

Thanks Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me this yaoi manga to review, greatly appreciated!

Yaoi manga in series:

1.  Punch Up Vol. 1
2.  Punch Up Vol. 2
3.  Punch Up Vol. 3 - January 8, 2013
4.  Punch Up Vol. 4 - April 9, 2013