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Yaoi manga review: Love Control
I only recently read Love Control by Ai Hasukawa, but it's quickly become one of my all-time favorite yaoi manga titles! The premise is that interior designer Yamashiro is annoyed that his client Okumura is always flirting with him. He thinks that Okumura is merely toying with him, and as revenge, he decides to make Okumura fall in love with him for real, to reverse their positions so that he'll be in the one in control, playing with Okumura's feelings. But as one might expect, the hunter becomes the hunted, and Yamashiro finds himself falling for Okumura in earnest.
What I love about this series is that it's a refreshing change from most of the cringe-worthy yaoi stereotypes. There's no girly, weepy uke, for one thing--both men are very handsome, even beautiful, but it's clear that they're men, and they both have very dominant personalities and like to be in control (hence the title), which I really like. They also both have a bit of a Slytherin streak, as they each scheme to make the other fall for them, which reminds me a bit of my fanon Kikuchi and Onozuka.
It also thankfully lacks the dub-con and non-con factor, where the seme forces himself on the uke (but it's supposed to be okay because the uke gets turned on in spite of himself), or the more subtle means of force such as blackmail or emotional manipulation, or the implicit sort of skeevy power imbalance, like a teacher/student relationship. Yamashiro is working for Okumura, but Okumura doesn't abuse his position to try and force Yamashiro to sleep with him. Okumura does take advantage of it a bit in order to create opportunities for them to meet, but he is taken aback and genuinely troubled when he thinks that Yamashiro really feels like he's being sexually harassed, and immediately starts behaving in a more professional manner. (And in turn, Yamashiro finds himself feeling inexplicably disappointed.)
When they finally get around to admitting their feelings for each other, it's very much a mutual and equal love. Yamashiro at times feels off-balance and insecure because Okumura seems so cool and collected, but Okumura has his moments of insecurity, too, where he wonders if Yamashiro feels the same way that he does, and worries about doing something that might push Yamashiro away from him. It's actually really cute to see the suave Okumura get so flustered and worried. (These insecurities come more to the forefront in the second volume, where a third party tries to come between the two of them.) The relationship-between-equals thing is what I like most about this story, and it's the same reason why I like Embracing Love (Haru wo Daiteita) and Tea for Two so much. Actually, now that I think about it, Okumura reminds me a bit of Hasune in Tea for Two, because they both seem so cool and in control, but they get a little jealous and insecure when it comes to their lovers. If Okumura had the upper hand and Yamashiro was the only one who was insecure, I wouldn't like this story nearly so much.
Oh, also this has two of my favorite things: a bishie guy in glasses (Yamashiro) and a guy who can cook (Okumura)! For some reason, I find a guy who cooks really sexy, which is probably why Kikuchi likes cooking for Onozuka in my Haru fics. ^_^ Despite claiming not to have any ingredients on hand, Okumura still manages to whip up a delicious-looking meal of smoked salmon and basil pasta for Yamashiro when Yamashiro expresses doubt that Okumura knows how to cook. (And damn, now I'm craving salmon pasta!)
It also thankfully lacks the dub-con and non-con factor, where the seme forces himself on the uke (but it's supposed to be okay because the uke gets turned on in spite of himself), or the more subtle means of force such as blackmail or emotional manipulation, or the implicit sort of skeevy power imbalance, like a teacher/student relationship. Yamashiro is working for Okumura, but Okumura doesn't abuse his position to try and force Yamashiro to sleep with him. Okumura does take advantage of it a bit in order to create opportunities for them to meet, but he is taken aback and genuinely troubled when he thinks that Yamashiro really feels like he's being sexually harassed, and immediately starts behaving in a more professional manner. (And in turn, Yamashiro finds himself feeling inexplicably disappointed.)
When they finally get around to admitting their feelings for each other, it's very much a mutual and equal love. Yamashiro at times feels off-balance and insecure because Okumura seems so cool and collected, but Okumura has his moments of insecurity, too, where he wonders if Yamashiro feels the same way that he does, and worries about doing something that might push Yamashiro away from him. It's actually really cute to see the suave Okumura get so flustered and worried. (These insecurities come more to the forefront in the second volume, where a third party tries to come between the two of them.) The relationship-between-equals thing is what I like most about this story, and it's the same reason why I like Embracing Love (Haru wo Daiteita) and Tea for Two so much. Actually, now that I think about it, Okumura reminds me a bit of Hasune in Tea for Two, because they both seem so cool and in control, but they get a little jealous and insecure when it comes to their lovers. If Okumura had the upper hand and Yamashiro was the only one who was insecure, I wouldn't like this story nearly so much.
Oh, also this has two of my favorite things: a bishie guy in glasses (Yamashiro) and a guy who can cook (Okumura)! For some reason, I find a guy who cooks really sexy, which is probably why Kikuchi likes cooking for Onozuka in my Haru fics. ^_^ Despite claiming not to have any ingredients on hand, Okumura still manages to whip up a delicious-looking meal of smoked salmon and basil pasta for Yamashiro when Yamashiro expresses doubt that Okumura knows how to cook. (And damn, now I'm craving salmon pasta!)
no subject
To be honest, it is manga like this that makes it worth going through all the crap. I agree with you - adult men, no seme/uke and glasses!bishies... mmmm. And a good story without the usual chibi!kawaii!crap. It reads like a story that Nitta-sensei could have written, so...
no subject
And now I'm trying to picture chibi versions of Okumura and Yamashiro in my head, but it's pretty tough to imagine! ^_^
no subject
As far as I know, there are only two volumes.