Summary
From enemies to lovers to workplace romance, there is no shortage of love stories in Japanese mangaand anime. Manga readers have a lot of options to choose from. The popular genre combines comedy, science fiction, adventure, and other categories to create original stories.
Readers have countless love stories to choose from, including both classic and modern manga. While a lot of romance manga is classified as shoujo, there are others. If you’re looking for a recommendation or are simply new to the genre, check out this list of the best romance manga.
Shoujo manga is a manga category targeting teen girls and young adult women.
10Ouran High School Host Club
A classic shoujo manga, Ouran High School Host Club follows Haruhi Fujioka, an androgynous student attending the school. Haruhi finds the Host Club, a group of young men who entertain cute girls in their free time. Hijinks ensue as she presents herself as a male host for the club.
The manga-turned-anime is a rom-com, full of silly moments and romance. While it’s arguably a manga about friendship, the developing love stories are worth a read.
9My Dress-Up Darling
My Dress-Up Darling is a modern manga about Wakana Gojo, a shy high schooler with a talent for sewing and dreams of crafting dolls. His popular classmate, Marin Kitagawa, convinces him to help her create cosplays, and a romance slowly develops.
The coming-of-age romance is a bit cliché, but it’s wholesome and entertaining. The slice-of-life story was popular enough to generate a recent anime adaptation, beloved by fans.
Slice-of-life anime/manga usually portrays normal life, resulting in a cozy viewing experience.
8My Androgynous Boyfriend
My Androgynous Boyfriend is about Wako, a manga editor in a highly scrutinized relationship with Meguru, her androgynous boyfriend. A genderless fashion influencer, Meguru breaks tradition and people often confuse the pair’s relationship.
Challenging social norms, this slice-of-life romance celebrates their relationship and fans love rooting for the unconventional pairing.
7Fruits Basket
Fruits Basket is another classic shoujo romance manga. It centers on Tohru Honda, an orphaned student taken in by the Sohma family. Sohma family members are each secretly animals of the Chinese zodiac, and they change their form when hugged by the opposite sex.
The supernatural romance explores themes of romance, friendship, trauma, and family. Though it’s more than just a love story, the love triangle between Thoru, Kyo, and Yuki is a main part of the plot. With multiple anime adaptations, it’s one of the more popular romance manga options.
Supernatural or paranormal romance blends the real world with fantastical, otherworldly, or sci-fi elements.
6Horimiya
Horimiya is a manga about two students forming an unlikely bond. Hori is a popular, studious girl at school, while she secretly endures a difficult home life. Miyamura is a brooding loner who keeps to himself and secretly has tattoos and piercings beneath his long hair.
The pair cross paths after school one day and begin to form a friendship. They see each other for who they are underneath their school appearances and eventually fall for each other. Despite the cliché storyline, the manga is a well-written love story about avoiding judgment.
5Maid Sama!
In the Maid Sama! manga, Seika High is a co-ed school that used to be for boys only. Misaki is a female student who works hard to make the school a better place for girls, earning her a difficult and bossy reputation among the boys.
Despite her intense school persona, she works part-time at a maid café to support her family. Usui, a popular male student, discovers her secret job. Instead of exposing her, he becomes a regular at the café and romantic feelings develop between the two.
4The Demon Prince of Momochi House
Another supernatural romance, The Demon Prince of Momochi House, dives into Japanese folklore. Himari, an orphan, inherits the Momochi estate, and though it’s said to be haunted and a gate to the spirit world, she has nowhere else to go.
When she arrives, the house is occupied by three spirits, including Aoi, a very handsome demon guardian. Himari agrees to live there despite his warnings that it isn’t safe. Charming and fantastical, this is a must-read for fans of paranormal romance.
3Inuyasha
Inuyasha is a popular, classic manga about a teenage girl who travels back in time. When Kagome is pulled through time after entering a well, she finds herself in feudal Japan. She soon encounters a half-demon, Inuyasha, who needs her help to find a powerful jewel he once lost after a betrayal by the priestess he loved.
The story features a love triangle, enemies to lovers, and other romantic tropes. Inuyasha battles his romantic past versus his feelings for Kagome in this popular manga.
2Sweat And Soap
Sweat and Soap is a rom-com manga about a shy office worker, Asako. Ashamed of her body odor, she loves her company’s products, as their soap is the only thing to calm her insecurities. The company’s lead product developer, Kotaro, catches her scent and finds inspiration. Eventually, the pair find love.
The premise is quirky and odd, but their relationship is sweet and it’s refreshing as it isn’t about kids in high school. On top of that, it inspires readers to heal and overcome their own insecurities.
1Skip Beat!
Skip Beat! is a shoujo manga about Kyoko, a girl betrayed by her childhood love, Shotaro, when he decided his fame was more important than his love for her. Kyoko vows to get revenge by achieving a higher level of fame than her ex.
She eventually meets Ren, a passionate actor who thinks her motives for fame are silly. As Kyoko dives further into acting, her friendships, and her feelings for Ren, she learns what it means to love again.
