Don't Call Me Dirty

Read “Don’t Call Me Dirty” for Pride Month: a manga about two men who each have very little self worth, yet who can see goodness in the other once they meet. Made note of it a year or two ago when a friend mentioned it in a series of notable boy love manga for entry level yaoi readers, or for those looking for a, more-or-less, safe for work BL read. I never had the push to read it until another friend's Pride Month Manga Reading challenge(?) gave me the inspiration / push to finally read some of the short length BL manga I have. At only 6chapters in one volume, “Don’t Call Me Dirty” still manages to be a very engaging read. Emotional too. Not an easy going boy love romance, there’s some real hurt explored here as both men are ousted from society for being perceived as "dirty", either physically or in the abstract. Yet the hurt is balanced by lighthearted moments sprinkled throughout, including little kids who tell it like it is, and a dad addicted to social media XD Overall an 8/10 for me; I think the point was made, and was definitely a good read, but I wanted more exploration of the characters, both the main and the side characters (though there is a sequel dealing with two of the others seen here…). Not as emotionally gripping as it could be, I don’t think. Still, I do recommend!