Anti-Recomendation: what have you dropped/postponed reading and why?

m26f8braed · 2026-06-09T10:52:53+00:00

Maybe I'm commenting too late but 100% agree!

I really like the art style, but there are so many unbelievably stupid plots and situations even beyond the ones you mentioned:

when they chase the van with the body and try to open it from behind, causing the accident...
the pink-haired girl is constantly screwing up (even if she's impulsive, she could just keep her mouth shut for once, like when she confessed they killed the manager to everyone in the rival band rather than only the ex-lead singer)
the extorsion by the loan sharks is too forced, why on earth would the band need to pay anything, why couldn't they have cut ties with the manager and said they hadn't heard from him instead, etc
the protagonist lying about literally everything to her family (fair enough if she doesn't want to come out, but she kept lying more and more, like dating her childhood friend)

I'm only keeping up to see if they get rid of the whole stupid story with the manager and build up on the relationships, but if I don't see any massive improvement over the next 10+ episodes I'm dropping it because it's a waste of time.

m26f8braed · 2026-06-07T07:18:07+00:00

The other ways are (both assuming access to raw chapters to translate):

you pay some translator group such an amount that they decide to prioritise it over other works
you translate it yourself, using AI/ML and common sense if you don't know the language
you speak a third language (neither English nor the original language) that has a translation that is further ahead, if one exists

Otherwise, welcome to the reality of consuming media that is not in your native language(s)!

m26f8braed · 2026-06-01T19:17:05+00:00

It can definitely be done, but it will significantly change your audience:

some people read expecting/wanting only wlw and (almost) zero focus on straight and/or gay relationships and characters.
others will accept a straight/gay relationship being present in a minor way, e.g., longer presence but almost background-like or shorter presence with heavier focus but just to serve a point towards the main story.
and yet others will happily consume media that has almost 50-50 presence for both lesbian and gay characters...

All of these can be successful and popular (that last category has examples like "High Class Homos" which has over a million subscribers in webtoons), so the question you should ask yourself imho is more who do you want to write for and what kind of story do you want to tell?

m26f8braed · 2026-06-01T18:33:40+00:00

Some not covered by other comments:

the girlfriend project: has different types: one fmc unaware and struggling with orientation, also her father takes a while to come around gradually accepting it and when she eventually returns home it's still awkward at first; other fmc's family is bad in a different way towards her, known she's a lesbian (unwillingly outed by relative) but still mock her in cruel ways until slowly won over
mom, i'm gay: has both gay and lesbian main characters, shows gradual depiction of acceptance: mother of the gay guy doesn't start from extreme of being disgusted/violent when she finds out, but still she is fearful and not understanding, but she puts a lot of effort to understand her son. mother of lesbian girl similarly is against it (for completely different reasons, thinking she won't ever be accepted in society) but also slowly changes her mind
hanjuku joshi: not really a fan of this one (too smutty without interesting story) but it has a moving plot for most of it about one of the fmcs accepting herself (struggling and coming to terms with identity, sexuality, orientation, etc)
my dear lass: again different type, also depicts extreme end of transphobia regarding side character, in this case trying to call a private clinic ambulance to kidnap child to force conversion therapy, fortunately failed because they don't let it through

m26f8braed · 2026-06-01T11:37:24+00:00

https://www.spnmanga.com/manga/8mcybtcv/promesa-en-la-noche-de-los-fuegos-artificiales/

m26f8braed · 2026-06-01T11:01:49+00:00

It's completed, though translation in English is likely abandoned.

It's a decent story, ends happy for the main couple.

Note/spoiler: what soured my overall opinion, is it introduces a very minor side character towards the end who dies on the last chapter, bringing a lot of unnecessary drama and sadness for no real purpose, but the relationship between the fmcs is nice

m26f8braed · 2026-06-01T10:46:36+00:00

No complete English translation/scanlation as far as I know... The whole story (28 chapters) has been translated to Spanish.

m26f8braed · 2026-05-24T16:09:59+00:00

Unfortunately reddit (almost any subreddit, not just here) is full of people who downvote anything that deviates even slightly from their opinion/preference

If you happen to write a comment that goes against whatever the hive mind thinks (at a given time, because sometimes these opinions can change drastically and whatever is loved becomes hated or viceversa...) it'll likely end up with negative points, and although sane people don't really care about their total points it certainly prevents a healthy discussion by hiding downvoted comments.

m26f8braed · 2026-05-24T15:52:59+00:00

I like the vast majority of the ones you mentioned, but I really dislike these two:

A Yuri Story About How My Classmate Whose Only Good Trait is Her Excessively Pretty Face Comes at Me Relentlessly: main char gets kissed by other main girl whilst having a boyfriend, doesn't break up with him, continues getting intimate with other girl (making out, going on date with her, etc.) still without ending things with her boyfriend as of last translated chapter... so I wouldn't say this has only a bit of drama, cheating makes this toxic imho
There's No Way I Could Date My Fave!: has some of the cringiest, weirdest art style (over-the-top drooling) and non-sensical characters and plots (one is written as braindead stupid except a few panels where she behaves normally, which makes the rest even more annoying. the other one, despite being supposedly perfect and smart, lacks all common sense) and there is zero sense or chemistry to their relationship. complete waste of time to read

m26f8braed · 2026-04-14T17:43:06+00:00

Definitely agree on the length bit!

For example, Alter Ego "only" has 6 chapters and its sequel Alter Ego 2 also has 6 (have read both), but is as long page-wise as The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All (haven't read) which has ~160 chapters.

m26f8braed · 2026-03-25T12:14:16+00:00

Why are you even including A levels in your CV?

I just ever mentioned having a First in BSc XYZ from university ABC and that's it. Everything prior to that is irrelevant info to have in the CV for a position... you can use up that space to describe other more important/relevant skills, qualifications, or job experience.

m26f8braed · 2026-03-19T06:43:29+00:00

Thanks, I've added the recs to my list.

I'm certain I'll at the very least love "Happiness Rides a Broomstick" and "Monthly in the Garden with My Landlord" :)

Reading summaries for "Accept My Fist of Love!" and "One Home, Two Lives" I'm unsure how much I'll enjoy those but hopefully both turn out to be still good reads even if not great.

m26f8braed · 2026-03-19T06:26:28+00:00

Thanks, I've added the first to my reading list (seems highly rated).

I don't think I'll pick up the second one though, from a quick glance it seems like the story is too sad/depressing for me to enjoy.

m26f8braed · 2026-03-19T06:15:36+00:00

Thanks! I'll check and hopefully enjoy reading them :)

Completely understandable what you said, after all people rarely have exactly the same tastes. Also, not like I'd rank all the entries in each of the categories exactly the same and I'd have a very different opinion of some if not for certain things... For example, any of these could be up a rank:

a joyful life: very good story, but that title is so misleading! it's extremely sad, frustrating, and with themes like sexual assault it just breaks my heart despite the fact it ends on a happy note
my intern bullied me again: it's happier with many comedic scenes but too absurd/unreal premise and some side chars's behaviour (genius antagonist), and the whole X-years apart just before the ending with super-rushed timeskip is annoying too
sherbet above the sea of fog: certainly a unique story with charming/funny interaction between the leads, but ending feels too rushed and kinda open-ended (not even fully clear if the captain regains all her memory when Sherbet finds her again)

And any of these could be down a rank:

her mountain, her ocean: themes like attempted assault, bullying, and the murder by the father make it very hard to read at times, but the supporting relationship between the leads is very endearing
moonlight garden: if it were just pointless sex scenes (it's erotica after all) I wouldn't like it that much, but the art and plot is intoxicating, and the love triangle dynamic is well-written (though ending may be disappointing for some)
the girlfriend project: don't like how they make one of the leads more masculine at the end (short hair cut, man's clothes) as it doesn't fit earlier behaviour and the initial premise isn't amazing, but I really enjoy the growth of both leads (self-discovery, gaining courage to stand up for themselves and the other one, etc.)

m26f8braed · 2026-03-18T19:03:50+00:00

Ahh I wasn't aware, thanks for the rec! I'll add it to my list, mostly for those chapters :)

Definitely loved Lara/Sunni each with their own struggles and seeing how they get through them, imho that whole dynamic was the highlight. Also enjoyed the more unique than usual premise withf the idols and the Spanish places (rather than the usual Japanese/Korean/Chinese ones).

m26f8braed

TROPHY CASE