Do not hate me for saying this, but I don’t entirely get the hype for this book. Just a disclaimer: I’m not the biggest romance reader, but I always like to give any genre a chance. And while the author handled the surprise pregnancy trope better than most, weaving it into the characters’ growth rather than using it as cheap drama, this book just wasn’t for me.

What worked for me was how emotionally vulnerable and honest the story becomes with both Win and Bo. The author does a good job showing how their past insecurities, disabilities, and fears shape who they are. You really feel Win’s struggle between fierce independence and needing support, and Bo’s journey toward trust and self-acceptance is genuinely sweet. There are thoughtful moments of emotional growth that show rather than tell how these two people learn to lean on one another rather than hide behind walls.

But I had several gripes with how the story was told. For one, there’s very little external conflict or plot momentum. Aside from them navigating the pregnancy and slowly building emotional intimacy, nothing truly drives the story forward, and at times it feels like a series of pleasant moments rather than a narrative with stakes. I’ve seen other reviewers point out that the pacing is slow and a bit meandering, especially because a lot of the focus is on introspection and character quirks rather than real tension.

The writing style itself also didn’t quite click for me. It wasn’t bad exactly. Just simple and, at times, a little juvenile (more prevalent in the initial chapters). Some of the monologues felt, to be frank, very corny, and I never got the sense that the prose was evolving as the story went on. It reads like an early work from an author still refining their voice rather than polished, confident writing.

Another sticking point was how Bo is written. Yes, he is a massive green flag male romantic partner, and many readers adore him form the reviews I’ve read. He’s patient, supportive, and emotionally intelligent. However, he feels almost too perfect, like he’s more often than not there to provide solutions to every one of Win’s concerns rather than being his own fully realized person (besides his complicated backstory between his ex-fiancé and mother’s death). It made some of their interactions feel unrealistic that doesn’t entirely allow him to be a complex counterpart in his own right.

Overall, I understand why so many readers fell in love with this book. Its quiet warmth, healthy communication, and gentle chemistry are undeniably charming, and made me realize that the possibility of such a romance is there for me. However, it didn’t go far enough into conflict or emotional complexity and that’s what I mostly desired in a romance novel.

Solid 3 stars 🌟

For a short manga, The Two Lions felt plain and predictable for my liking. It follows a familiar formula of soft, light, fuzzy BL romances, but easily lost among dozens of similar stories I’ve read. Just to clarify, there is nothing inherently wrong with that, but it never quite distinguishes itself enough to feel as memorable for my personal taste.

What I did appreciate was the foundation of Junpei and Onizuka’s relationship. Their friendship comes first, which gives the eventual romance something grounded and personal rather than forced. Felt pretty realistic to how many relationships are formed. You can genuinely feel their comfort with each other, and the chemistry between them builds naturally. That slow burn romance between a sunshine x grumpy dynamic is easily the strongest part of the book (and dare say, my kryptonite???).

Where the story falters is in the pacing. For such a short volume, it meanders in scenes and conversations that don’t add depth or move the plot forward. We get very little insight into their backgrounds beyond just seeing events regarding Onizuka’s high school past. Side characters drift in and out without much purpose, mostly serving as background noise or teasing minor relationship drama. The only one who feels meaningful is Onizuka’s grandfather and the homeless man, both influential figures in shaping who Onizuka is.

The romance itself also feels underdeveloped in places. Junpei’s realization that he “suddenly likes guys” comes late and with insufficient internal reflection (except for emotionally distancing). The story is also surprisingly restrained with actual intimacy. There’s only one real moment of physical affection, a kiss (mind you, it was censored), and it doesn’t even occur in the main narrative but in a bonus chapter after the story has already ended.