"By Your Side is a series of interlocking essays, articles and lectures from Yuricon founder Erica Friedman's work on Yuri anime and manga. Meant to be approached as informal discussion in the manner of convivial conversation over multiple dinners, or panels at an anime convention, through these essays, readers will become familiar with the key creators, tropes, concepts, symbols and titles of the first 100 years of the Yuri genre. Walk by our side...

"Rei and Midori clear the air after a day of painful misunderstandings. Still, Midori wants more insight into how Rei really feels and decides to take the plunge. When she confesses to Rei about her crush on him, his response may lead to more questions than answers. All the while, Yukinojo, who is stuck in his old ways, tries to sabotage the bond the two share... but why?"--Back cover.

Tsukushi has an on-and-off romantic entanglement with a hothead named Tsukusa. Tsukasa has a sketchy relationship with his even more hotheaded mother, who has hired a near sociopath to woo Tsukushi and destroy her son's romance.

"It's hate at first sight when Raku Ichijo first meets Chitoge Kirisaki. But much to their chagrin, the two are forced into a false love relationship to keep the peace between their feduing gangster families. It's almost Christmas, but Chitoge's not in a festive mood because her mother, Hana Kirisaki, is visiting Japan for the winter holidays. Chitoge introduces her false boyfriend to her workaholic mom, who then decides to test his mettle--by making...

Tsukushi ends her visit and returns to home. She's welcomed back with a gir's night out and meets a bunch of guys, but they're all losers. One of them is even frightening and bears a resemblance to Tsukasa.

A tall, quiet gamer boy and a geeky girl whose life revolves around yaoi manga are old friends, but when they start working in the same office, they decide to date. It's a relationship of convenience at first, but could it become something more?

Little did Nao Kogure realize back in middle school that when she left an umbrella and a box of bandages in the rain for injured delinquent Taiga Onise that she would meet him again in high school. Nao wants nothing to do with the gruff and frightening Taiga, but he suddenly presents her with a huge bouquet of flowers and asks her to date him--with marriage in mind! Is Taiga really so scary, or is he a sweetheart in disguise? Although Nao Kogure was...

"The aura of craziness emanating from the Arakawa river bank keeps luring in those who want to fly their own freak flag, including, of all people, Rec's secretary Shimazaki. As the day of the launch to Venus, Nino's home planet, draws ever closer, everyone must make their preparations and say farewell to those who are earth-bound. Will the rocket, filled with the hopes of its crew, be able to make the interplanetary journey...?"--Provided by publisher....