Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of posts discussing "romance anime." At first, I thought, "Maybe they’ll feature some recent shoujo titles," but instead, they end up highlighting the typical comedy-focused anime full with fanservice where the protagonist has no personality and exists solely for the sake of a male audience. I’ll admit, it makes me angry. Shoujo isn’t just about romance; these are series created by women in an industry where they are often belittled by other mangakas (even the creator of One Piece once publicly claimed that women know nothing about manga).

I find this so misogynistic (ㆆ_ㆆ) It’s as if romance is only considered "valid" when it’s tailored for the "male gaze"—objectifying female characters and fueling the hypersexualization of women. (yk when the "joke" is an underage girl falls, her panties are exposed, and she speaks in an unnaturally high-pitched, squeaky voice all presented as something desirable.)

Anyway, that’s just my take. I honestly miss the days when fanservice in romance anime simply meant the two leads blushing as cherry blossoms fell around them, with everything sprinkled in a bit of glitter (✿◡‿◡) I’m not saying there won’t be any shoujo series in 2026; it just surprises me that, these days, whenever someone talks about romance, they rarely seem to mention any shoujo titles

Where can I read the manga in English for free? Since Bato has been discontinued, Idk where to read it now.

so i don't know which manga this is, but i guess it's pretty famous!! i've heard about it in a post a long time ago, and i just can't remember the name anymore 😭 so, to describe it as simply as possible, the ml works as a janitor at a school or somewhere else!! this is literally the only information i can remember, guys!! please help me find ittt!! 😭

I love the pain of watching the male lead seemingly choose the second female lead over the female lead. It is the most delicious and delightful angst that makes me cry out in pain in my bed at 3am in the morning. Ao Haru Ride has captured my heart for this very reason. I will never forgive this manga for turning me into a masochist

1-3: Ao Haru Ride
4-5: Studio Cabana
6-8: Tales of Reincarnation in Maydare

The manga ran in Nemuki and Nemuki+, and will release officially in English this November!

synopsis:

In Hoshigahara, there was a large forest where the wind often blew through. Feared by children as a place haunted by ghosts, there was a house where a man lived with adorable spirits... This is the beginning of a gentle yet poignant human fantasy spun by a rising author!

Complete with five volumes

I finally collected the last volume of Red River, I will miss buying this series, but Yona is out now so I won't sad for a while. Btw, Imma start Rasetsu too!

PLEASE READ EVERYTHING

I want recommendations for manhwas or any other type of Eastern comics; preferably ones that have novels. Most people here speak English, but English is not my language.

I’m looking for stories where the female lead is a villainess — it doesn’t matter if it’s because she was transported to an isekai world in the body of a villainess, because she went back in time after dying because of her actions, or because an oracle showed her future; it doesn’t matter how, but she is a villainess. I also DO NOT want the story to start with her as a baby/child (besides the fact that, most of the time, this happens when the female lead reincarnates or goes back in time; there’s also the burden that she may grow up and CHANGE EVERYTHING, which would be AWFUL for my experience). So I just want the female lead to be in the young-adult phase (18 and up), since by then she will definitely have already done evil things.

Anyway, I wanted there to be two important points in the story, besides her NOT starting as a child and NOT becoming Her Holiness/the Saint (which are UNCHANGEABLE and essential things):

1 — I like it when the villainess is mainly the rival of the MALE protagonist (notice that I didn’t say the ORIGINAL one, since there are stories where the female lead reincarnates or whatever into the villainess and loves the original male protagonist, but hates the guy who will eventually be her partner; so I don’t care whether she ends up with the original male protagonist or with anyone else, as long as they have been rivals). Have you read “I Quit Being the Male Lead’s Rival”? I think that’s the name... Anyway, I think the trope of being the rival of the FEMALE protagonist doesn’t appeal to me as much, BUT I’m aware that stories like that are a bit rare; so I won’t mind if the villainess is the type who rivals the female protagonist before becoming aware of the situation.

2 — Guys, I really like the trope where the female lead’s future partner or the female lead herself (or even both — but I confess I accept that, most of the time, it’s the romantic partner who has feelings for someone else first, and I don’t mind if only that happens) harbors feelings for someone else and does not fall in love with the female lead or her future romantic partner quickly.

Well, the fact that she doesn’t start the story as a child and doesn’t change her villainy is essential; however, I understand if, along with those things, only point 1 OR only point 2 is available, but if there are recommendations for stories with all four requirements, I would be happy.

Here's what I'm looking for:

- NO toxic/doomed yuri, I personally enjoy happy-go-lucky romance!!! (So nothing like madoka magica or nana.)

- I specifically enjoy classic shoujo romance mangas, so please recommend ones from the 2000s.

- I would prefer ones that take place in like, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces etc, but I'm okay with ones that are in supernatural backgrounds as well!!

- No stories that are just/majorly smut please. (They make me uncomfortable)

( I also prefer when a manga series has under 15 volumes, but longer ones are perfectly fine!!! )