Yuri - Meowlecules

Introduction

Yuri Obsession Central

I'm a self-proclaimed picky lesbian when it comes to yuri, and I have to admit, I've sifted through a mountain of titles only to emerge with a couple of true favorites. I know that might come across as a bit snobbish, but I've read a lot of yuri, and the tropes just don’t always resonate with me. I’m all about stories that focus on the lives and relationships of women in a way that feels grounded and real, without the typical schoolgirl settings or tired romance clichés. Honestly, if I have to read one more "But we're both girls!!" moment, I might just scream.

Now, I don’t think any yuri is inherently "bad." In fact, in a world where mainstream media largely ignores queer women, yuri and GL offer a space for us to carve out our own narratives. The fact that yuri remains somewhat underground allows for a unique kind of creativity, where fans and creators can support each other and build something beautiful on their own terms. This is especially important when society seems to forget that queer women even exist.

I’ll be the first to joke about gatekeeping yuri, but the truth is, in a world where nobody cares about yuri, we’re the ones keeping it alive. We’re creating and nurturing a space that might not be recognized by the mainstream, but is vital nonetheless. We’re the yuri archaeologists, digging through the scraps and building something new from what we find. So while I might side-eye certain titles (seriously, no one needs another lesbian brothel story), I’m all for letting people enjoy what they want—especially if it means expanding the world of yuri in all its forms.

I’ve started this yuri page mostly as a way to catalogue my favorites and jot down my thoughts on what I’ve been reading. It’s like my own little corner to keep track of what resonates with me, and sometimes to ramble about what didn’t. I hope that if you stumble upon this, you might find something that sparks your interest too.

Favorite Yuri

How Do We Relationship?

"How Do We Relationship?" by Tamifull is one of those manga that just hits different. It’s this perfectly chaotic mix of love, friendship, and the kind of self-discovery that feels way too real. The whole thing revolves around Miwa and Saeko, two college girls trying to navigate a romantic relationship while also dealing with their own personal messes. And unlike most romance manga that gloss over the ugly bits, this one dives headfirst into the complicated, awkward, and often frustrating reality of dating and figuring out who you are. It's so honest it hurts, like you’re watching people you actually know stumble through life.

At first, this manga pissed me off. The characters are so painfully realistic, it’s almost like Tamifull reached into the real world, plucked out these flawed, awkward souls, and dropped them onto the page. They screw up, have cringe-worthy conversations, and wrestle with emotions that are messy and confusing. It’s not the kind of story that gives you any easy outs or idealized versions of romance. But then, I read it again, and something clicked. That raw honesty, that ability to make you see these characters as real people—that’s where Tamifull’s brilliance lies.

The artwork in this series is a real standout. Tamifull's style is simply amazing. I’m particularly into how the characters never repeat an outfit, which really appeals to my love for fashion.

What really sets "How Do We Relationship?" apart is Tamifull’s unique storytelling approach. Rather than framing it as a "yuri" or "LGBTQ" narrative, the focus is on portraying a relationship that just happens to be between two women. It’s about the universal experiences—love, insecurity, joy, and heartbreak—rather than their sexual orientation. As Tamifull puts it, "LGBTQ people live in the same world as everyone else. I want the characters to feel like people you might meet anywhere, with relationships you might see anywhere."

“How Do We Relationship?” has become my absolute favorite series. The closeness between the characters is also just top-tier cute (those steamy scenes between Yuria and Saeko were what hooked me in the first place). Tamifull’s storytelling, paired with the amazing artwork and meticulous details, really makes this manga something special. It’s such a refreshing take on love and relationships—one that feels real and relatable in a way that’s hard to find.

She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat

"She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat" is a cozy, slice-of-life tale about two women, Nomoto and Kasuga, who start out as neighbors and gradually become close friends. Nomoto is a cheerful office worker with a knack for cooking, while Kasuga is a reserved woman who loves to eat but isn’t much for cooking herself. Their friendship begins in the most relatable way: Nomoto, always making more food than she can eat, offers some to Kasuga, who eagerly accepts because who could say no to a home-cooked meal?

As they start sharing meals, their connection deepens in a way that feels so natural and comforting. Nomoto finds joy in cooking for someone who truly appreciates it, and Kasuga gets to savor meals she’d never make for herself. What really resonates with me about this story is how it quietly touches on those moments of loneliness we all experience sometimes, and how something as simple as sharing a meal can make life feel a bit lighter. It’s the kind of manga that reminds you of the importance of the little things—like the warmth of a good meal, the comfort of a genuine friendship, and those small moments that make everything feel okay.

For me, this story goes beyond being just a feel-good read. It’s a gentle reminder of how meaningful it is to have someone to share life’s simple pleasures with. The way it portrays female friendships is particularly heartwarming, and the subtle emotional depth adds an extra layer of tenderness. It’s the kind of manga that leaves you feeling a little lighter, and a lot more appreciative of those quiet, everyday moments that truly matter.

Shimeji Simulation

"Shimeji Simulation" is this wonderfully odd manga that somehow manages to mix surreal humor with genuinely deep emotional beats. It follows Shijima Tsukishima, a girl who wakes up one day with a shimeji mushroom growing out of her head—yeah, that’s her reality. Trying to dodge life’s chaos, she switches schools and meets Majime Yamashita, an equally bizarre girl who rocks a box on her head 24/7. The two form a strange yet touching friendship as they stumble through the weirdness of their everyday lives.

Reviews

Ayaka Is in Love with Hiroko! by Sal Jiang

I usually love a good office lady age-gap romance—there’s just something about the dynamic that always draws me in. But Ayaka is in Love with Hiroko! ended up being kind of a mixed bag for me. It started off with the usual setup: young, earnest Ayaka falling head over heels for her senior, Hiroko, who is somehow completely oblivious to Ayaka’s feelings. Normally, I’m here for a little obliviousness, but Hiroko takes it to a whole new level. Like, how do you not pick up on these signals? Ayaka was practically waving a giant neon sign, and Hiroko was still like, “Hmm, I wonder if she likes Yūya?” I guess I just have no patience for the "useless lesbian" type.

Then, when Ayaka wouldn’t take no for an answer later on, it just crossed into uncomfortable territory. I get that persistence can be cute, but there’s a fine line between being determined and ignoring someone’s boundaries. Ayaka was definitely leaning into the latter, and it kind of killed the charm for me.

That said, things do get more interesting in the second volume. The story takes a turn, diving into some deeper stuff about the fears of coming out at work and how different generations of queer people experience their identities. That was a nice surprise, and I appreciated that the story was trying to say something meaningful. But it all felt a bit rushed and jarring, especially in such a short series. The conflicts didn’t have the time to really breathe, so some of it fell flat.

One thing I absolutely loved, though, was how explicitly sapphic the series is. There are so many queer characters, and that’s not something you see every day. The lesbian bar, in particular, was a highlight for me. It just made me so happy to see those characters interact with each other. Also, Hiroko is a total menace, and honestly, I loved every bit of her unapologetic lesbian player background.

So yeah, Ayaka is in Love with Hiroko! had its moments, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The comedy was over the top, and the pacing was all over the place, but it also had some genuinely cool aspects, especially in its portrayal of queer spaces. It's pretty cute, so if you’re into yuri and office romances, you might still find something to enjoy here.

Office Lady

Age Gap

Romantic Comedy

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury might not center on romance, but the relationship between Suletta and Miorine was enough to make me look forward to Suletta Sundays each week. Their small, intimate moments were a treat for anyone who enjoys clinging to those faint hints of romance, and yes, the series does conclude with a yuri ending. It's pretty cute! Miorine has quickly become one of my favorite characters in anything lately.

The show ambitiously introduces a lot of concepts, but unfortunately, it struggles to tie them all together. The political and technological aspects of the setting, which are quite different from other Gundam series, deserved more time to be fully explored. The rushed pacing, particularly in the second season, left crucial elements—like the Gund tech, the Earth plot, and the Schwarzette storyline—feeling underdeveloped. Meanwhile, there were long stretches of time where character development seemed to happen offscreen, and yet the show made room for side plots like the Guel/Lauda story, which felt unnecessary.

Had G-Witch been given 50 episodes instead of being crammed into a shorter run, it might have been one of the best Gundam series in recent years. That said, it’s still an enjoyable show with plenty of fan content to dive into (however, I do find it a bit frustrating how fan interpretations of Suletta often lean into stereotypes; despite being portrayed as more feminine than Miorine in the show, she’s frequently depicted in fan art as more masculine, muscular, or even associated with animalistic traits because of her skintone and... slightly taller frame? This kind of portrayal is really annoying, especially when it falls into the trap of leaning on racialized or transphobic tropes. Whatever.)

In the end, The Witch from Mercury is a solid addition to the Gundam universe, though it falls short of its full potential. Still, it offers enough keep you engaged, and there's plenty of yuri fanart to browse after.

Mecha

Political Drama

School Life

My Dear Lass by Tracy Hu

My Dear Lass by Tracy Hu is, at first glance, all about the gorgeous art. Seriously, it’s stunning—full color, meticulously detailed, and just overall eye candy. But let's talk about the characters because that's where things get a bit tricky for me.

Mu Xiaoen, the "little fox," is your classic dreamy manic pixie girl with all the quirks. Normally, that kind of character grates on me—being weird and immature for the sake of it isn't really my thing. And when someone is almost 30, it gets annoying fast. That said, the sweetness in her relationship with Shi Xingyan is undeniable. There's a real sensuality and longing to their interactions that balances out some of the more annoying quirks.

But the real gem here is Shi Xingyan. She might just be the most beautiful yuri character ever drawn. At first, she seems like she has it all together—cool, competent, and basically the kind of person you’d want to be around in any crisis. But as the story goes on, you start to see that Shi isn’t totally independent—which is understandable for a 19-year-old—and maybe that’s what makes her relationship with Mu work so well. Whether that’s a positive dynamic or not is up for debate. The manhua does a good job of portraying the age gap, though.

The setting is another standout element. It's not every day you see a slice-of-life romance set outside of the usual urban or school environments. The rural setting adds a unique atmosphere that grounds the story in a specific cultural context, which I love.

My Dear Lass is sweet, sensual, and visually stunning. There’s a lot to love here. It’s a charming and layered read that’s worth picking up if you’re looking for something with a unique setting.

Age Gap

Slice of Life

The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't A Guy At All by Sumiko Arai

Often referred to as the "green yuri," The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't A Guy At All delivers exactly what its title promises. The premise is straightforward, and the story doesn’t stray far from its central theme. If you’re intrigued by gender-bending narratives, this might catch your interest.

One of the best things about this series is the characters' incredible sense of fashion. They have the kind of outfits that makes you wish you could just raid their closets. The art is honestly beautiful, too. The character designs are super expressive, and you can just tell a lot of care went into making them look this good.

I’m not really into high school settings, though, so my engagement with the story is pretty limited. It’s cute, sure, but it’s more like the kind of thing you read on a lazy afternoon when you’re in the mood for something light and not too deep.

Honestly, I don’t have strong feelings about this one. It’s good at what it does, but it’s not going to blow your mind. If you appreciate good art and characters with some solid fashion choices, give it a go. Otherwise, it’s fine to pass.

Comedy