Where should you start with BL manhwa?
BL, or boys’ love, centers romance between male characters. If you are new to it, start with a setting you already enjoy: campus comedy, workplace drama, or fantasy. The scores below are our editorial opinions, based on how inviting each story feels as a first read. Check a series’ age rating before opening it; BL covers a wide range of tones and content.
Rankings
1. Semantic Error — Our score: 9.5/10
Strict computer science student Chu Sangwoo clashes with the people who failed to contribute to his group project. That campus conflict sets up a romance driven by contrasting personalities and sharp comedy.
Why it’s great for beginners: The university setting and clear character dynamic make this an easy first pick. Read on Manta.
2. Robber x Lover — Our score: 9/10
Ji Ho returns to university after a break and finds a promising place to rent. His already eventful week becomes the start of a romantic comedy with an everyday setting.
Why it’s great for beginners: Choose it if you want a light campus story without fantasy rules to learn. Search WEBTOON for Robber x Lover.
3. The Best Smell — Our score: 8.8/10
Choi Kanggo has an unusually sensitive nose: he can smell other people’s feelings. When a boy who likes him approaches, that ability gives this romance comedy its playful premise.
Why it’s great for beginners: Its central idea is simple to grasp and gives the relationship a distinctive hook. Search WEBTOON for The Best Smell.
4. For Your Love — Our score: 8.8/10
Jung Yohan has seen how painful unrequited love can be through his older brother’s experience. Hoping to spare a club senior the same hurt, he tries to help with the senior’s own romantic pursuit.
Why it’s great for beginners: Its emotional question is easy to connect with, though expect more drama than in the comedy picks above. Search WEBTOON for For Your Love.
5. Angel Buddy — Our score: 8.5/10
After a baby bird steals Suho’s wallet, an angel named Taker suddenly appears. Their connection turns a strange encounter into a sweet, mysterious romance.
Why it’s great for beginners: It offers a gentle way into supernatural BL. Search WEBTOON for Angel Buddy.
6. Unintentional Love Story — Our score: 8.5/10
Wonyoung is unfairly suspended from work after a corruption scandal. When he discovers that the chairman’s favored artist, Yoon Taejun, is living under an alias, his situation grows more complicated.
Why it’s great for beginners: The work and art-world premise suits readers who prefer adult characters and a dramatic setup. Search WEBTOON for Unintentional Love Story.
7. Emperor, Stay Here, Your Knight’s Getting Off Work — Our score: 8.3/10
Emperor Oso wants guard leader Leon close by, but Leon values his time off and expects a bonus for extra work. Their competing priorities give this fantasy BL a comic starting point.
Why it’s great for beginners: The character dynamic is clear even if you rarely read fantasy. Search WEBTOON for the title.
8. The Ideal Relationship — Our score: 8.1/10
Sang Hwa has long had a crush on his seemingly perfect best friend, Ryuh Han. Feeling lonely and inadequate, he turns to an online game as another part of his life.
Why it’s great for beginners: Try it when you want longing and friendship at the center of a romance. Search WEBTOON for The Ideal Relationship.
9. Love in the Underworld — Our score: 8/10
Ha Ji-wook, the prince of hell, appears before music student Song Si-hoo and names him his bride. That encounter launches a supernatural romance with an extravagant premise.
Why it’s great for beginners: It is a straightforward choice for readers who like fantasy from the first scene. Search WEBTOON for Love in the Underworld.
10. Downpour — Our score: 7.8/10
Rumors about Park Seok Yeon’s sexuality make school difficult, and finding work after graduation brings further challenges. This office-set BL begins from a heavier place than the lighter romances on this list.
Why it’s great for beginners: It offers a more serious option once you know you want character drama. Search WEBTOON for Downpour.
How to choose your first read
Start with Semantic Error for campus comedy, Angel Buddy for gentle fantasy, or Unintentional Love Story for adult drama. A WEBTOON search link is a way to look up a title, not confirmation that an official English edition is available there; check the publisher and availability before reading.