It's been a long time since I came here, isn't it? I wanted to come back with a thoughtful article, and while working on it, I grabbed a copy of Lethal Dose of Love, by Yosumi. It should suffice to say that I devoured this without even thinking about it, and I think you should, too.
- Publication Date: October 15, 2024.
- Publisher: Yen Press.
- Print Length: 192 pages.
- Genres: Drama, Gay, Romance, Yaoi.
- 4 / 5 stars.
He’ll never forget him—his ex-classmate Yuu, that is. College student Ryousuke was absolutely devastated when Shinobu confessed and then promptly disappeared from his life without waiting for a reply. After desperately searching for years, he is overjoyed when they suddenly meet by chance. His happiness is soon eclipsed by the fact that Shinobu walks off into the arms of another man...
As always, the script got me into it, and I found a story that only got better with time. Yuu seems like a cliché at first, but then you spend more time with him, his past, and his baggage, until you find out what made him the way he is. I won't spoil anything, just say there's a great exploration of trauma and healing.
This also is supported by the art. Equally clean and raw, there's a delicate balance between too much and too little, and Yosumi hits the sweet spot that feels just right. There's not only sex for the sake of it, but an exploration of mental health that shows in the art, the layout, the inks, and even the dialogues. I love how it all comes together!
Some scenes didn't feel as organic as the others. There was some coldness, a distance that didn't match the rest of the book. Being an atmospheric and immersive reading, I was taken out at some points because it felt like there wasn't as much passion as before. It didn't happen often enough to be a real problem, but enough for me to notice.
In general, it's a beautiful story that you should definitely dwell on. It's one of those that are realistic, that feel natural, and remind you of the good that there's still in the world. It is not idealistic, as you can imagine, but there are many times that I smiled and laughed at Yuu and Ryousuke. I am always saying that I wish the story was longer, but this one was just right.
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