Best New Age Shoujo Manga

Summary

• Modern shoujo manga focuses on real and relatable romantic plots, breaking away from cliches.
• Shoujo manga features diverse genres, including heartwarming love stories and female empowerment.
• New shoujo manga features unconventional character dynamics and plot twists for an engaging read.

Shoujo manga primarily caters to girls and young women, and the demographic/genre has been around for quite some time. As a genre, it is not only enjoyed by young women, but by everyone, as it touches on various life lessons regarding love, growth, and strength. This genre can also present itself as a bit cliché, particularly when it comes to older shoujo with the stereotypical romances between the sunshine female lead and the delinquent male lead.

When it comes to classifying a manga under the category of classical shoujo, we will have to take into account the progression of the plot being extremely linear, with the numerous character misunderstandings, and a conflict that carries itself till the end. It is because of this that we see a stark difference in modern romance manga (New Age), where the content is more realistic and relatable, with a focus on a more complex plot and multi-layered characters. So, here is a list of new modern shoujo manga to get into and enjoy.

Updated December 18, 2024, by Aditi Jeyanathan: Most shoujo manga tend to have a similar plot line, where the girl pins after a guy who’s not interested in her. Manga with more female empowerment and independence are rarer, and when they do come around, they tend to impress readers. On top of that, it’s rather hectic reading the same old misunderstandings that act as plot devices for a romance. Sometimes all readers need is a stable, funny, heartwarming love story without any unnecessary side plots added to it. Here are some more out-of-the-box shoujo manga that will have readers either crying tears of envy or joy at the hilarious moments in these relationships.

25 Choking On Love

The Laid-Back Musician and the Uptight Career Girl

When Hibari Akanishi’s laptop gets soaked by a group of rambunctious boys at her part-time job, she can’t help but turn her rage and frustration towards the first person she sees. Sausei Gaku is an arts student like her, but way more laid back and carefree in comparison to Hibari’s uptight attitude. Gaku is also the lead singer of a rock band and quite frankly, the last type of person Hibari wants to interact with.

He’s too nonchalant and that puts her in a difficult situation as she tries to come to terms with seeing life through his eyes. The refreshing part of Choking on Love is the support and understanding the two of them have for each other’s hobbies and way of life. In this classic opposites attract trope, Gaku and Hibari are the perfect example of contemporary romance done right.

24 You Are Too Naive, My Sweetheart

Pure Hearted Young Love

Oono Nana is a first-year high school student who is obsessed with the flair behind fictional romances and finds it more heart-stopping than real-life romance. On top of that, she finds it difficult to control her emotions, as she tends to be easily swayed by charming words often said by the opposite sex.

Sudaka Tomoharu, on the other hand, is feared for his delinquent face, but when he unexpectedly confesses to Nana, do things shift in their relationship. Nana, being the ‘easy’ girl that she is, is moved by his confession, and they end up dating. Their romance in You Are Too Naive, My Sweetheart is different from classical shoujo, as although the two of them are opposites, Nana is an extremely relatable character in her reactions to Sudaka’s advances.

23 In The Clear Moonlit Dusk

When Two ‘Princes’ Fell In Love

Dubbed as the school’s “prince,” Yoi Takiguchi is known for her deep voice, long legs, and handsome face. Despite being a girl, many of the females and males swoon at her princely attitude and mannerisms, and she is often revered as untouchable and godly. It is only when Kohaku Ichimura waltzes into her life and calls her ‘beautiful’ that things begin to change for her.

Kohaku, known for his princely looks, is nothing like a prince and often acts recklessly with his carefree attitude. He sets his sights on her, which proves to be extremely difficult for Yoi to handle, as this is the first time a boy has acknowledged her as a girl. In The Clear Moonlight Dusk changes the usual gender roles that shoujo addresses, as Yoi is the indifferent tomboy and Kohaku is the carefree popular guy.

22 Tamon’s B-Side

How To Not Fall In Love With Your Idol

Utage Kinoshita is an ultra-super die-hard F/ACE fan and her number one bias is Tamon Fukuhara. He’s everything she wants in a man; excessively good-looking, secretly seductive, and the wild heartthrob of the idol group. He’s so perfect that he can do no wrong, and it’s Utage’s life’s dream to go to one of his events. The only way she can do that is by earning some extra cash by cleaning a celebrity’s house.

What she doesn’t expect is that the celebrity is none other than Tamon, and he’s nothing like she pictured. He’s shy, introverted, anxious, and an absolute mess when he realizes Utage is a fan of his. Tamon’s B-Side does a complete 180 when he’s off the stage and even though he hates this side of him, Utage is going to do everything she can to make him believe that both sides of him are just as easy to love and adore.

21 You’re My Cutie

A Senpai-Kohai First Love

Madoka Kawahara is obsessed with shoujo manga – especially ones that include younger innocent guys who tend to fall for their seniors. When she meets Momoki Shikura, she expects him to be the cute, innocent underclassman she has read about in her manga, but he is far from that. He’s rude and quite terrified of women, so the last thing he wants is to be around Madoka.

You’re My Cutie takes a refreshing turn with this new trope: a boy whose looks don’t match his personality and a girl who’s older than him. One doesn’t necessarily need to consider this as an ‘age-gap’ shoujo, since Madoka is only one year older than Momoki, and very respectful of their situation as a couple. Many shoujo fans will find this read to be relatable in terms of the characters’ reactions (especially with Madoka when it comes to cute boys), and Momoki’s silly clumsiness, which is absolutely adorable.

20 Yamaguchi-kun Isn’t So Bad

The Misunderstood Gangster That Falls In Love

Satsuki Shinohara’s plans for her first year of high school are almost ruined by a handsy pervert on the train, but she is saved by the so-called gangster in her class, Yamaguchi-kun. Even though Yamaguchi has a bad reputation in her class, Satsuki does all she can to get close to him, because she feels there’s more to him than meets the eye.

Yamaguchi-kun Isn’t So Bad encapsulates the traditional premise of classic shoujo with the cold male lead and the sunshine female lead, yet this manga does everything not to stick to its predecessors’ qualities. Though Yamaguchi is said to be a delinquent, he is by no means one, as his mannerisms are always misunderstood as violence. Satsuki, on the other hand, isn’t all sunshine and rainbows as she too struggles to keep a smile on her face.

19 A Sign Of Affection

The Joyful Sound Of First Love

As a hearing-impaired university student, Yuki Itose’s life has been a cave of silence since the day she was born. Introverted by nature, except with her best friend Rin, Yuki barely interacts with anyone and mainly keeps to herself. A chance meeting with a silver-haired stranger changes her life for the better when she meets Itsuomi Nagi, a mutual friend of Rin, and someone who has no absurd reaction when he hears of her impairment.

Her interactions with him fascinate her and touch her heart, as Itsuomi treats her like a normal human being and not a disabled person. Itsuomi can be referred to as the greenest of all green flags for his actions towards Yuki and how much he treasures her. Unlike a lot of male leads, in A Sign of Affection, Itsuomi goes above and beyond to make sure she is comfortable, safe, and heard, which is not something Yuki is used to, especially in her silent life.

18 His Scornful Eyes Are The Best

The Rude Boy and The Masochistic Girl

His Scornful Eyes Are The Best pays homage to all the readers out there whose type is a red flag. Yoshino Uta is not your normal high school girl and it’s safe to say she’s a bit of a masochist. She likes it when someone speaks crudely and treats her with little to no care. When she has a chance encounter with Narumi Kei- the supposed ‘bad boy’ of the school, she’s immediately smitten.

Kei has no filter and his tactless personality has awarded him the title of the rude delinquent. But for Uta, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime to finally find someone that tickles her odd fantasies. Compared to older shoujo where a female lead isn’t into the typical rude male lead’s actions, Uta is at the other end of the spectrum. It’s a weird mashup, but realistically wholesome in its own way.

17 Sakuraba-san Can’t Be Stopped!

A Crazy Yandere Love

Unlike traditional shoujo manga, Sakuraba-san Can’t Be Stopped may be the most eccentric of them all. Just starting her first year in high school, all Mei Ikeda wants is to experience some love and romance. It falls quite literally into her lap when she meets Sakuraba Yuuto, and he immediately confesses to her. However, it’s only much later that she finds out Yuuto is not the typical teenage boy.

Yuuto is a borderline yandere type character – someone who is obsessive and possessive towards their significant other, often going to violent measures to keep them close. The only difference is that Sakuraba has intense desires to possess Mei, but rarely uses extreme measures to act on them. The two of them are certainly quirky, since neither of them hides their desires or is ashamed of them.

16 A Kiss With A Cat

A Supernatural Love Between A Cat And A Girl

Erina Wada is known as the cool queen of her class with her stone-cold attitude and elegant behavior. However, around cats, she becomes an entirely different person and turns into a googly-eyed mess. One day after school, she comes home to find a cat in danger, and her natural instinct is to protect it and bring it home. She spends the day with the cat, and amid her cuddling, she raises the cat and kisses it. The cat then changes into a man, who is not only stark naked, but the unsociable boy from her class, Kou Nekoyama.

The next day, Nekoyama decides to visit her again and prove that what she saw was real. He also declares her as his master and continues to visit her. In A Kiss With A Cat, shoujo and the supernatural come together, as the people in Kou’s family turn into cats whenever they are kissed. Erina and Kou slowly grow closer as Kou begins to open up to her, despite viewing humans as troublesome, and Erina’s cold nature soon softens in his presence.

15 How I Met My Soulmate

A Bad First Impression That Turned Into A Healthy Relationship

Since moving to Tokyo from the countryside, Yuuki Honda dreams of finding her one true love. Now a 20-year-old sophomore at university, she decides to take a leap of faith and join her friend on a night out at the club for the first time. Sometime during the night, she bumps into Iori Souma, a stranger with bleached hair and a scary demeanor. Iori is drunk, condescending, and quite blunt when he speaks to her, yet although he sounds impolite, he proves that first impressions can be deceiving.

Iori calls Yuuki the next day and apologizes to her, and they eventually get to talking about her romantic aspirations. Iori then decides to help her find her soulmate in return for his bad behavior. How I Met My Soulmate is a classic enemies-to-friends-to-lovers trope with multi-layered characters. There are not many shoujo manga set in college for the older female demographic, and this ticks all the boxes, as the plot is realistic in terms of the progression of their relationship.

14 Unshakeable Love Is The Colour Of A Kiss

The Popular Guy and The Quiet Girl

Unshakeable Love Is The Colour Of A Kiss screams classical shoujo with the friends-to-lovers trope of the popular male lead, Suba Hayase, and the quiet female lead, Hatsukawa Honori. The two of them are at opposite ends of the social ladder at school and yet, for some reason, manage to hide a blossoming love from their peers. Honori rarely gets noticed and when Suba is the only one who acknowledges her efforts, their secret rendezvous begins.

It’s a sweet ordeal of passing notes, secret meetups, and sharing each other’s lunches as they slowly transition from acquaintances to friends. The two of them create this bubble for themselves and readers will be surprised to find how respectful and caring Suba is to Honori in public situations. Especially when older shoujo manga has used the same trope and the female lead is seen in uncomfortable situations brought upon by the male lead’s ego.

13 Pink To Habanero

How To Not Give Up On A Tsundere

Starting her first year of high school, Miyao Mugi missed out on her chance to make friends or find a boyfriend. Two weeks into her high school career, she witnesses Kei Kurose coldly rejecting a confession, even though he is known for his extremely unapproachable nature and ill-temper. Later on in the day, Miyao decides to cheer herself up and visits a café outside of town. There she unexpectedly meets Kei again, seemingly with a completely different personality.

Pink to Habanero takes the cliché shoujo and reverses it, as Kei is a textbook tsundere and Miyao takes on the pursuer role. As the two of them are still high schoolers, Kei is extremely faithful and sincere in his views on love, so the romance in this manga borders on slow-burn. However, as the female lead, Miyao is quite refreshing and admirable as the pursuer in the relationship. If readers are looking for a straightforward tsundere guy and a girl who doesn’t back down from what she wants, this manga is the perfect modern shoujo they should try out.

12 Kisaragi-san Has A Piercing Gaze

Love Is More Than Just About Looks

A short and sweet story about a girl that hides her face and a curious boy that’s in love with her. Satou Haruki is the popular boy in class who loves to make friends. However, the only one he has yet to make friends with is his deskmate, Kisaragi Nozomu and it’s eating him alive. He only knows that she’s nice, would rather keep her face covered by her bangs, and not draw too much attention to herself.

But one day, a gust of wind blows by and lifts her bangs off her face, showing Satou a set of piercing eyes that are totally his type. Kisaragi-san Has A Piercing Gaze follows Satou’s inner musings about struggling to hide Kisaragi’s beauty to himself, whilst also trying to become her friend. This shoujo manga brings a new outlook to first loves and breaks traditional physical appearances, as Satou and Kisaragi slowly grow closer in the purest of ways.

11 Fall In Love, You False Angels

They Found Companionship In Their Hidden Personalities

Katsura Otogi has two different sides; the elegant, beautiful version and the brash, assertive version that makes her look like a delinquent. Ninomae Toki is just as perfect with his innocent eyes and nice guy attitude. He’s also the perfect candidate for Katsura to crush on, but that’s only if she manages to keep up her persona.

As usual, things don’t go according to plan, and when her hidden persona comes out, Ninomae is there to see it. But what shocks her the most, is that Ninomae himself is also brash and rude, completely breaking the picturesque view she had of him. Fall In Love, You False Angels, brings together two characteristically similar individuals who seemingly adore each other’s hidden sides despite disliking their own.

10 It Takes More Than A Pretty Face To Fall In Love

A Fluffy Love Captured In An Instant

Sana Chiken has a thing for good-looking guys and that’s all she needs to get through life. She enrolls in a new high school in hopes of meeting her ideal man, and she soon comes across Ugou Kanata. Kanata is blessed with godly looks, but is, unfortunately, on the verge of being expelled due to skipping too many classes. The only way Kanata won’t be expelled is if Sana uses him to get the school’s social media account to hit 100,000 followers.

It Takes More Than Just A Pretty Face To Fall In Love follows the two of them as they try to prevent Kanata’s expulsion while also learning new things about each other. The art and the comedic elements are the more engaging factors of this manga. Kanata and Sana’s relationship is interesting, to say the least, since Kanata is mostly indifferent due to his past, and Sana is the optimist.

9 A Condition Called Love

A Relationship Filled With Love And Growth

Hotaru Hinase is a 16-year-old high school girl and, surprisingly, the only one in her class that is indifferent about love. She believes love to be fleeting and something that doesn’t require much drama. When she sees Saki Hananoi, a boy in her class, kneeling in the snow after a public breakup, she offers him shelter underneath her umbrella with a few encouraging words.

Saki then visits her the next day, confessing his love and asking Hotaru to be his girlfriend, but she rejects him coldly. Despite her continuous rejections, Saki doesn’t give up and Hotaru eventually agrees to date him. She hopes to understand this feeling of love, especially from a boy who has a lot of love to give. A Condition Called Love is a heartwarming read about first love and the dynamics behind the word.

8 Heroine’s Love Diary

Falling In Love With Her Brother’s Best Friend

Aside from having a mother who’s a popular shoujo mangaka and a brother who’s good at sports, Aoi Tsujimura is the black sheep of her family. There’s nothing really special about her, and even when she tries to express her feelings, they tend to come out twisted and rude. Sena Misuzawa, however, is the golden boy in the class, always making friends and cracking jokes wherever he can.

Heroine’s Love Diary isn’t the cliché romance of the closed-off girl and the popular guy falling in love. Instead, it focuses heavily on the growth of Aoi, overcoming her shyness and learning how to make friends after years of self-isolation. An additional factor is that all the characters communicate with each other, and are considerate and supportive. Sena and Aoi’s romance is an added factor that drives her motivation to be a better person.

7 Sakura’s Dedication

A Devoted High School Love

Hanasaki Sawa has the worst luck with men and every guy she has dated has never really expressed their love back. After being cheated on, she breaks up with her boyfriend and Sakura Yuma uses that opportunity to finally confess his feelings for her. Sakura is the calm, cool-headed, studious guy in her class, and despite this, he seems to be quite a romantic for her.

Sakura’s Dedication is nothing that she’s experienced before and with each word, Sawa can’t help but see how he’s so much better than her ex’s. Her shy tsundere personality fits Sakura’s level-headed sincerity, and as the two of them spend more time together, readers see how compatible they are. It’s quite rare to see a male lead like Sakura be so patient and loving towards Sawa, who is love-shy (not the annoying kind).

6 7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys A Carefree Life Married To Her Worst Enemy!

After Many Lives, She Finally Found Love

Being reincarnated has its perks, and for Rishe Irmgard Weitzner, it’s an opportunity to know when and how she’s going to die. In each different life, no matter which route she takes, Rishe always dies at 20 years old and gets thrown back in time to the same moment. She lived as a merchant, herbalist, handmaiden, and knight, and is now starting her seventh life when something unexpected happens. Even though her sixth life ended at the hands of Arnold Hein, he ends up proposing to her at the start of her seventh life.

Arnold is the emperor of a neighboring country and immediately takes a liking to her after seeing Rishe act out of character. However, despite being an enemy in her previous life, Rishe jumps at the opportunity to be his fiancée. In 7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy!, Rishe and Arnold’s story is set in a traditional setting, but their relationship blurs the lines with its quirkiness, making it quite a spectacle for readers.