As a genre of romanticized love between men drawn primarily by women for women, yaoi stories often lack much of a realistic stance. Only Serious About You is one of few seen in English that approaches the topic with such patience and honesty that its remaining tropes rarely distract from its merits. This first volume serves primarily as character introduction with the relationship between the leads remaining predominantly---and appropriately---platonic. The lead character, Nao, garners sympathy and respect as a single father struggling to balance his career as a chef and caring for his daughter. Though he's repeatedly turned down the advances of one of his restaurant's patrons, a favour soon leads him to stay at the man's apartment. It's charming to watch this new family of two fathers and an adorable young girl develop while the attractive art style makes it as much a treat for the eyes as the heart.
