Manga review: MY ADORABLE BETROTHED is steam to the nth degree

My Adorable Betrothed

Story and Art:  Dokueki
Publisher: TOKYOPOP (Print & Digital)
Imprint: LoveLove
Translation:  Christine Dashiell
Retouching and Lettering: Vibrant Publishing Studio
Publication Date:  June 17, 2025
Rating: Mature, 18+ (Uncensored)
Genre: Manga, Boys Love, Romance

When Leo and Sui met for the first time as small children, their parents said they’d get married. But as they grew older, they barely became friends. On one fateful day, Leo’s parents are killed while travelling, and Sui’s parents formally adopt him into the family. This changes Leo and Sui’s relationship forever, as they grow closer and …closer.

Soon they can’t deny their attraction and as adults, the two live together and freely indulge in their sexual desires. Will they settle down and get married as their parents had predicted?

Right off the bat this manga surprised me with how steamy it is. The first chapters are (uncensored) sex scenes between Leo and Sui. The men are attractive and their bodies are like statues of muscled Greek athletes, except for certain parts of their anatomy, which are larger than life (ahem, Leo). This all makes for a tantalizing experience for the reader, but what could rip them out of it is Sui’s penchant for calling Leo “brother,” especially during sex. (I had to tell myself Sui was calling Leo aniki to feel a little less incesty about it). It’s not my cup of tea (but if it’s yours, no yuck to your yum), so I focused on the characters’ chemistry and intense desire for each other, and wondered where they’ll take their relationship.

Since the first introduction to the characters are all about their physical relationship, readers won’t get a sense of who these two men are until their full backstory begins in chapter three, showing the first time Leo and Sui met.

Interspersed between all of this are more sex scenes. Like, a lot.

I admit I wanted a little more plot to this. While the tragedy of Leo losing his parents and becoming a part of Sui’s family is compelling material, and seeing the nature of Leo and Sui’s relationship propels the story, I didn’t get a clear sense as to why Sui is reluctant to marry Leo once they become adults. There’s an odd scene over dinner with Sui’s parents where marriage is brought up and Leo is on board, while Sui brushes it off. I don’t know if I read this manga too quickly or what, but I missed something here.

Why the hesitancy? The two live together, have an amazing relationship with intense physical compatibility, and seem to be perfect for each other. Their parents approve of their relationship and encourage it. I do not know (or at least cannot recall) why Sui can’t make a clear decision on this.

I also didn’t really find commentary on the taboo nature of adoptive brothers sleeping together and having a romantic relationship, except on the back cover matter, which describes Leo and Sui as living in “blissful sin.”

Despite these little complaints I have, a resolution between Leo and Sui on the marriage matter happens quickly, and the story moves at a brisk pace into the final chapter. The manga is called My Adorable Betrothed, so a wedding was definitely going to happen and I do not consider it a spoiler to say the two walk down the aisle together.

This manga feels more like a snapshot of a romantic life. The pacing is fast, the sex scenes dominate, and while it’s clear Leo and Sui love each other and are highly compatible, the buildup to their wedding day feels a little abrupt. Nonetheless, you can clearly see how the two adore each other, and their marriage ensures that the two will live their lives together blissfully.

If you want a breezy but spicy BL manga that’s entertaining and not too heavy, I’d give this manga a closer look. Sometimes you just need a bit of steamy romance and a light romp to make your day. I hope My Adorable Betrothed is one of these stories for you.

My Adorable Betrothed is a BL one-shot that releases July 17 from TOKYOPOP. It’s available directly from their store and a wide variety of retailers in paperback and digital.