Girls amuse themselves a romantic life of being a protagonist with their lovely leading men fawning for their attention. Before webtoons and K-drama popularized, the Japanese comic literature feed the fantasy of young girls feeding them every sort of deluluness—through shoujo romance manga.
Americans brought comics like Archie, Marvels, and DC. While, Koreans and China are famous for their webtoons, manhwas, and manhua. But, the pioneer of these comics rooted to Japan with the consistent popularity of Manga. Alongside, various genres grew preeminent that causes the segregation of audiences between Shounen (young boys) and Shoujo (young girls). And coming from someone who spent decades fangirling with the Shoujo genre, here are the unsolicited top 10 crème de la crème of the Romance Manga collection.
1. Kamisama Hajimemashita or Kamisama Kiss
Author: Julietta Suzuki
If a grumpy man that turns softie is your cup of tea then this manga will definitely suit your taste. The story follows Nanami, homeless at a young age met a God by chance in which offered her home. The turn of events caused her to meet by chance Tomoe, Mikage’s familiar. Romantic air forms between these two along with substantial storyline that captures the hearts of its readers. The story progressed reverently with their enemy to lover relationship spices up with the clashing stubbornness of both. Consequently, the manga’s popularity peaked when its anime adaptation was released. A total romance classic but timeless!
2. Kuragehime or Jellyfish Princess
Author: Akiko Higashimura
Being romantic is not caged with only people, sometimes, it is through passion and that is how Tsukimi visioned love. Tsukimi is a jellyfish savvy and is open towards such likings. She lived at Amamizukan along with weird middle-aged otakus like herself. She along with her colleagues’ lives flipped 360 when a beautiful lady helped Tsukimi which turns out to be a crossdresser for fun. Now, they design clothes and do runway shows. Unlike clichés and common romance tropes, the story tackled more with crisis of an adult navigating success and happiness on this capitalistic world. Knowing romance is not all rainbows and butterflies.
3. Strobe Edge
Author: Io Sakisaka
Complicated and unrequited on a high school set up drama, Strobe Edge introduces Ninako a naive and gullible first year that have no idea what love was. Until, the strings pulled her closer to Ren, the eye-candy of their school. She later knew that she’s falling in love with him but was disrupted when she found out Ren had a girlfriend, and apparently, someone closer to her. The plot may appear common to some but, the emotions are too realistic.
4. Heroine Shikkaku or No Longer Heroine
Author: Momoko Koda
The epitome of main character syndrome and basically, the delulu queen of the classic manga. The humor is insanely natural that can make everyone burst out laughing. The focus is on Hatori who takes her life quite literally like a Shoujo manga and expects her bestfriend, Rita to be her male lead while treating others either side characters or extras. However, despite the deluluness of hers, her bubbles often pop when plot twist after plot twist ruined her chances with reaching the ultimate Heroine. Although, the story includes all kind of clichés, the author decides to defy each and even paint the manga as not-your-typical love story. Indeed, a page turner!
5. Hirunaka no Ryuusei or Daytime Shooting Star
Author: Mika Yamamori
Love triangle rivalry but with an unexpected twist that will make you switch guys from time to time. The story’s art style speaks masterpiece and topped with good storytelling. Reading Hirunaka no Ryuusei is similar to drinking cold soda on a fine calm summer. It follows the story of a teenage provincial bumpkin, Suzume and is forced to move in Tokyo with her uncle to continue her studies. There, she met Shishio, her uncle’s friend but also, her homeroom teacher. It complicates more when she slowly realizes that she is in love with him. Then, while navigating the busy urban life, she met people and one of them is Mamura, her bashful seatmate. It may appeal like an unrequited or forbidden love but in all essence, it is not. It is simply letting the audience perceive the story in the colorful lenses of Suzume’s new life. A bundle of eventful teenage memoirs.
6. Orange
Author: Ichigo Takano
The story will leave you with deep existential crisis! Prepare your tissues for tears because of how beautifully narrated the story was. Naho received letters from herself 10 years into the future all the topics pinpointing to the new transfer student, Kakeru. Skeptical at first, but due to events aligning with the letters. She tried to stop her “biggest regret” from happening on her timeline—all for the sake of stopping Kakeru from committing suicide. The story is a plot twist in a nutshell. Bigger events after big events kept on happening which will make the readers want for more. Note: The perfect manga for crybabies.
7. Lovely Complex
Author: Aya Nakahara
For all my tall girlies, maybe this is your sign! Who says that guys should always give the girl a forehead kiss when he can’t even reach you? Risa and Otani are often made fun of because of their unique tandem with their height difference. They are consistently bickering but through their circumstances and failed crushes, it led them to discover the blossoming feelings hidden along the lines. The story will definitely make you think twice about your type.
8. Last Game
Author: Shinobu Amano
Isn’t it nice to have a rich guy fight over for your attention and losing to you, a complete nobody. Perhaps this story is just what you need. Yanagi got it all, intelligence, wealth, athletic, and even attractiveness that favor him always. However, when he met Kujou, all the previous wins mattered less to him since all he could ever wanted the most in his life is to win against her. But he failed miserably for the last ten years. Therefore, he got one last shot, one last game to defeat her ultimately. Along with such competition is the love lingering their direction. The story ticks the Hana Yori Dango fever but less the drama and humiliation, making the storyline lighter to read and with heartwarming moments shared by these two. Assuredly, a good read for the romantics!
9. Hana Yori Dango
Author: Youko Kamio
The classic and the root of most chaotic drama. It birthed these adaptations: Meteor Garden, Hana Yori Dango Live Action, Boys over Flowers, and even F4 Thailand. And invented the rags to riches and reverse harem genre that most teenage girls are a fan of. It circulates with the enemy to lover story of Tsukushi and Tsukasa. Tsukushi’s calm life went downhill when she got intertwined with the school’s famous F4 or Flower Four. The story was filled with heavy drama and clichés that is akin to a Cinderella plot. The all-time favorite!
10. Ouran Highschool Host Club
Author: Bisco Haotri
Kiss, kiss, fall in love! Shoujo readers reserved their Top 5 for this and to those new to the genre. Well you’re in for a treat with pretty guys, cross dressing girl, and unraveling secrets. Haruhi comes from a poor family yet due to her scholarship, she was accepted to the prestigious Ouran Highschool. Similar to Tsukushi and their want for a peaceful school life, hers was destroyed when she broke a million-dollar worth of vase owned by the school’s Host Club. Unable to pay due to her family’s financial situation, she needs to repay it by forgetting her gender and be one of the club’s host. The manga made us yearn for its season 2 anime. Moreover, it immerses the readers into all sorts of heart fluttering feelings and some light drama that will make each page, a worth to read. Will surely be having OHSHC hangover after.
For some, reading offers a way to escape from the harshness of reality. Thus, let these romance mangas serve as a gateway to discovering or enriching your inner lover girl. And for once, may all your “delulu” become “trululu”.
