Almost Crying

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.)