Shojo manga is manga for young girls. That’s why it’s called “Shojo,” which means young girl in Japanese. But, anyone who likes gentle stories or personal drama more than the action-packed shōnen manga can enjoy them too.
These manga are usually in magazines like Ribon or online on sites like Pixiv, before they become books. They often tell stories from girls’ or women’s points of view and have familiar themes like a teenage girl who needs a place to stay and ends up living with a charming boy.
But Shojo manga isn’t just about clichés, especially in romance. A good Shojo romance can be special and thoughtful, whether it uses common storylines or not.
Shojo romance stories are usually sweet and cheerful, with not too much tension. Some have surprising turns, interesting relationships, sad pasts, and even a bit of magic now and then. The best Shojo romance manga offers more than just cute beginnings.
1) A Sign Of Affection
In a clever play on words, both the original Japanese title and its English equivalent, A Sign of Affection, reflect the story’s theme.
The protagonist, Yuki, is a college student who is deaf and communicates using sign language. Because of her disability, she has few chances to connect with others aside from her best friend, Rin.
Yuki’s life takes a turn when she meets Itsuomi, Rin’s friend, on the bus one day. Instead of feeling awkward or being insensitive when he learns she is deaf, he politely asks if she can read lips.
This opens up a way for them to communicate, and Itsuomi shares stories about his experiences abroad. As they part ways, Yuki finds herself more intrigued by him.
Through their interactions, Yuki grows as a person, her world expands, and her feelings of love for Itsuomi deepen, even though they are physically apart.
2) Love, That’s An Understatement
Love, That’s An Understatement explores the idea that love isn’t always about what someone needs, but what they want.
Risa, the main character, is a self-sufficient person who carries a bag filled with everything she could possibly need.
One rainy day, she encounters a rough-looking delinquent who’s been hurt. With her bag of supplies, she patches him up and is ready to leave.
Risa didn’t expect the delinquent, Zen Oohira, to return and give her a “one free help from Zen” coupon. At first, she doesn’t think much of it, assuming she won’t need his assistance again.
However, Zen surprises her by being kinder and more thoughtful than she expected from someone with his tough image.
When she eventually uses the coupon, he shows his sweet side and proves to be quite a nice guy. Risa realizes that maybe she doesn’t “need” him, but she might just “want” him around more often.
3) How I Met My Soulmate
How I Met My Soulmate tells the story of Yuki, a college student on a quest to find her true love. Living alone in the big city, she’s feeling lonely and wants someone special in her life.
One night at a club, instead of meeting a potential partner, she encounters Iori Souma, a dentistry student. However, their first meeting doesn’t go well, as Iori criticizes Yuki’s efforts to find love while he’s drunk.
Once Iori sobers up, he calls Yuki to apologize. During their conversation, Yuki unintentionally mentions that she’s searching for her soulmate, “the one.”
Instead of being harsh, Iori offers to assist her in her quest to find a partner. Their story is a sweet and lighthearted take on a love triangle as they begin as friends. However, as time passes, Yuki starts to wonder if her soulmate might be closer than she originally thought.
4) You’re My Cutie
You’re My Cutie tells the story of a girl, Madoka, who loves teasing cute younger guys (fujoshi) and a quiet, serious boy named Momoki she meets at work.
To Madoka, Momoki is not at all cute. He acts snobby around her and ignores her efforts to be friendly. Their meetings are always filled with tension, and it’s even more awkward because Momoki works at her family’s restaurant, so they see each other a lot.
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But as Madoka gets to know Momoki better, she discovers that beyond his cold exterior, he has many adorable traits.
He’s quite shy and sometimes clumsy. The only problem is, he’s really scared of girls, which is why he’s been keeping his distance from Madoka.
However, as they spend more time together and Madoka shows him she’s not like other girls, they grow closer and fall in love.
5) Choking On Love
Hibari Akanishi is having a tough time in Choking on Love. Juggling her part-time job and art school work is hard enough, but things get even more challenging when she’s assigned to create a fashion presentation.
No matter what she tries, nothing seems to click. To add to her troubles, her laptop gets soaked and breaks during a scuffle between two rough-looking boys. Fed up, Hibari gives one of them a piece of her mind before storming off in frustration.
Fortunately, the guy Hibari was angry with, Gaku, happens to be an art student too. He offers his computer to Hibari so she can complete her project.
Gaku is straightforward and carefree, while Hibari is more serious and focused. Despite their differences, they find inspiration in each other.
He encourages her to take bolder steps with her art, and she inspires music for his rock band. While the idea of opposites attracting is a common theme, it’s presented in a heartfelt and believable way in this story.
6) Blue Spring Ride
Blue Spring Ride is a well-known romantic manga where the main characters work to overcome their toxic traits.
The series even received an anime adaptation by Production I.G. Futaba and Kou have been friends since they were kids, but when Kou moved to another school in a different town, things changed for them both.
Years later, when Futaba and Kou reunite, they find that they’ve both changed significantly. Futaba, once a popular girl, has transformed into a tomboy who doesn’t seem interested in boys anymore.
On the other hand, Kou, once cheerful, has become cold and bitter. The loss of his mother while he was away deeply affected him, making him believe he couldn’t return to his previous self.
However, with Futaba’s support and encouragement, Kou learns that change isn’t always negative, and he can find happiness once more.
7) Orange
Orange dives into the metaphysical side of shojo romance. The story follows high schooler Naho, who receives a letter supposedly from herself ten years in the future. At first, she thinks it’s a prank, especially when it details plans for the day.
However, she starts taking it seriously when the letter mentions Kakeru, a new transfer student in her class.
Naho learns from the letter that her future self has many regrets about how she and her friends treated Kakeru, who tragically took his own life in her timeline.
The letter urges Naho to prevent this outcome by making different choices, getting to know Kakeru, and welcoming him into their group of friends.
Naho is determined to save Kakeru, but she also wonders how his survival might alter her future, if at all. This story, like an orange, is sweet yet carries a bitter tang of the challenges and emotions involved.
8) From Me To You
For Me to You is a classic shojo manga that follows the lives of an outsider and a popular guy as they discover each other’s worlds.
This story was popular enough to receive an anime adaptation by Production I.G and even a live-action drama on Netflix.
What sets it apart is that it’s not just about opposites attracting. Instead, it’s a tale of two people who help each other become better versions of themselves.
Sawako is a gloomy, quiet girl who often gets compared to Sadako from The Ring, while Shouta is a popular boy with many friends.
Despite being popular, Shouta isn’t your typical boy he has a charm that draws people in, including Sawako. He sees beyond her appearance and notices there’s more to her.
With Shouta’s support, Sawako starts to break out of her shell. She tries new things and transforms from a social outcast to a social butterfly.
9) Kamisama Kiss
In Kamisama Kiss, Nanami Momozono faces the challenge of being homeless due to her father’s gambling debts.
Her luck changes when she saves a man named Mikage from a dog attack. Grateful, Mikage offers her a place to stay at his home, believing she is better suited to be its “Master.”
However, things take a supernatural turn when Nanami realizes that the home is actually a shrine, and Mikage is a powerful deity.
She finds herself becoming a god, and her responsibilities include dealing with yokai, spirits, and other creatures from Japanese folklore.
Along the way, Nanami forms a unique and unexpected romance with Tomoe, a fox yokai who serves as her familiar.
Their relationship becomes central to the story as they navigate the challenges of the spirit world together.
Mikage’s “home” turns out to be a rundown old shrine, much to Nanami’s disappointment. However, before she can leave, she is stopped by two ghosts and a fox spirit named Tomoe.
It turns out that Nanami is now the shrine’s new Land God, a position she inherits unexpectedly. Tomoe, initially reluctant to accept Nanami as his new master, eventually forms a contract with her after she summons him to protect her from danger.
Though they are both hesitant and unwilling to work together at first, they gradually warm up to each other as Nanami learns the responsibilities of being a Land God.
Through their reluctant partnership, they face various challenges and adventures, all the while developing a deeper bond.
10) My Little Monster
Choking on Love and Love, That’s An Understatement offer sweet versions of the opposites-attract trope. However, for those looking for a more intense story, My Little Monster is a great choice.
Shizuku, nicknamed “Dry Ice” for her cold demeanor, meets Haru, a fierce delinquent known for his fighting, who got suspended from school. Their paths collide when Shizuku is asked to deliver Haru’s homework.
Shizuku’s task of delivering Haru’s homework leads to a complex relationship between them. Their contrasting personalities often clash, resulting in arguments and disagreements.
However, they can’t seem to get each other out of their minds. Haru, especially, becomes protective and tries to fend off any potential love rivals.
This creates a tense and captivating story where their conflicting traits lead to intense moments, but also touching resolutions as they work through their issues.
11) Skip Beat!
Skip Beat delves into the harsh realities of love, even in shojo manga, as it begins with a relationship that falls apart.
Kyoko helps her childhood friend and crush, Shou, achieve his dream of becoming a pop idol in Tokyo. However, when she visits him in the big city, she discovers that he is now in a relationship with someone else.
To add insult to injury, Shou openly dismisses Kyoko, referring to her as “a mere housekeeper.” This painful revelation sets the stage for Kyoko’s journey of self-discovery and revenge.
Fueled by rage and betrayal, Kyoko vows to seek revenge on Shou by becoming a star herself and surpassing him.
She joins a talent agency with the goal of becoming an actor, initially driven by her desire for revenge. However, as she delves deeper into the world of acting, Kyoko develops a genuine passion for the craft.
Ren, her colleague and a respected actor, is unimpressed by her initial revenge scheme, as he holds acting in high regard.
However, as Kyoko proves her talent and dedication, she earns the respect of Ren and her other colleagues. Her journey in the entertainment industry sees her rising through the ranks, overcoming challenges, and discovering her true self along the way.
12) Ouran High School Host Club
shojo romantic stories typically focus on two main love interests, but they can also be part of the harem subgenre.
In this type of story, the main character has multiple love interests from which they could potentially choose. While the traditional harem genre often involves one guy picking from several girls, reverse harem stories flip the script.
They feature a girl trying to figure out which of the charming boys she should fall for. These reverse harem stories are just as popular, with Ouran High School Host Club being one of the most famous examples.
Haruhi, a regular girl with financial struggles, somehow secures a spot at the prestigious Ouran High School. Due to her short hair and a stroke of bad luck, she finds herself in a boy’s uniform.
Things take a turn for the worse when she accidentally breaks a valuable vase belonging to the school’s host club. To repay her debt, and under the mistaken assumption that she’s a boy, the hosts invite her to join their club.
There, she learns the art of charming guests from the club’s leader, Tamaki. Unintentionally, Haruhi ends up captivating not only Tamaki but also the other hosts with her charm.
13) Fruits Basket
When it comes to romance manga, there are plenty of new options to explore, but the older classics are timeless favorites as well.
One such classic is “Fruits Basket, which has been so popular that it received two anime adaptations, a prequel movie, and several spin-off stories, including Fruits Basket Another.
This series has become one of the best-selling shojo manga of all time, which speaks to its status among shojo romances.
Fruits Basket is a supernatural romantic comedy, reminiscent of Ranma ½. The story follows Tohru, an orphan who finds herself taken in by the enigmatic Sohma family.
The story of Fruits Basket takes an unexpected turn when Tohru tries to stop Kyo from attacking his cousin Yuki. In the chaos, she falls into Kyo, causing him to transform into a cat.
It’s then that she discovers the Sohma family’s secret they are cursed to transform into animals from the Chinese Zodiac when they are weak, stressed, embarrassed, or embraced by someone of the opposite gender outside the family.
Tohru promises to keep their secret safe and sets out to learn more about the curse. Along the way, she becomes determined to help free the Sohma family from its mysterious and ancient clutches.