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Next time you search for a new romance read, consider leaving the Romance stacks behind. Instead, wander over to the manga section.
If you’ve never picked up a manga, you are missing out on some great romances. The slice-of-life (nichijou) genre is packed full of books with slow-burn romances, rom-com antics, LGBTQ representation, enemies-to-lovers and cozy love stories. What’s more, these books are often part of a larger multi-volume series, so you’ll always have plenty to look forward to once you’re hooked. Over 45 books in one series? Yes, please!
Best known for its signature artwork and right-to-left printing, manga is more like a comic book or graphic novel than a traditional book. It’s one of the fastest growing areas of the book industry, with a big demand for adult romance. Meaning, the selection of soft moments, romantic tension and happily ever afters is only expanding.
So, let’s explore this new type of romance novel with a few recommendations. Whether you prefer a slow cozy setting, a coming-of-age story or a touch of humor alongside a love story, there’s a manga romance for you. The manga section is an untapped mine of great romances!
Vocabulary Lesson
Before we dive into our favorite manga romance recommendations, it’s important that we share a bit of vocab you might encounter while pursuing this genre. There are three terms you will come across that fans, old as well as new, often mix up. The first two are types of books, and the third is animation often taken from those books.
- Manga: Japanese printed comics or graphic novels. They are almost always read right-to-left and printed in black and white. Manga series cover all genres and are published in volumes, many of which can include upwards of 20 or more books.
- Manhwa: The Korean equivalent of a manga. These are exclusively published in full color and are read left-to-right. Manhwa are often read digitally as webtoons, with their own distinct style of artwork.
- Anime: The animated version of a manga for television or film. While not all anime comes from a manga series, there’s a lot of overlap. So, if there is a manga series you enjoy, there is a chance you could find the anime to enjoy as well. However, anime is notorious for slowly catching up to the printed story, which could leave you with a large gap of time between volumes and seasons.
Best Mangas for Romance Readers
1. Veil Volume 1: Temperature of Orange
A classic meet-cute between an off-duty police officer and a blind runaway heiress turns into a will they/won’t they romance. This iyashikei (healing) manga is all about a slow, atmospheric and cozy feeling that has a healing effect on the reader. Veil is often described as more of a “mood” than a story. It is perfect for readers who love a good swoon-worthy romance.
2. Nana 25th Anniversary Edition, Vol. 1
Two women with the same name meet on a train to Tokyo. Both are ready to take big steps in life, whether that is getting a clean start or following musical ambitions. They decide to do it together. Josei manga are written specifically for women and are known for their realistic portrayals of romance, and Nana is no exception as readers follow the characters as they try to balance their dreams and their love life. Ai Yazawa is one of many influential female manga authors.
3. Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You Vol. 1
Nothing says “career slice-of-life” manga like a story about an overworked salaryman and a grocery store clerk bonding over smoking behind a store. Through small interactions between the two characters, lasting only as long as it takes to smoke their cigarettes, readers see how adult friendships can be born out of small moments and little rituals.
4. The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 1
by Natsu Hyuuga
Maomao is a young girl from the red light district who is captured and sold into service at the palace. This historical mystery follows Maomao as she tries to figure out why the imperial heirs keep dying. On top of that, she starts to wonder how she attracted the attention of the annoyingly handsome Jinshi and stumbled into a new job as a food taster. While the slow-burning romance is great, Maomao is what truly makes this series so special.
5. Fruits Basket Collector’s Edition, Vol. 1
This classic supernatural manga is a story about healing, found family and romance built on patience and kindness over longing. The story follows Tohru Honda. After deciding to live in a tent on someone else’s land, she is taken in by the Sohma family. However, she soon finds out that the family has a supernatural secret; the ability to turn into the animals of the Chinese zodiac when touched by someone of the opposite sex.
6. The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity Vol. 1
by Saka Mikami
This school slice-of-life manga is a classic story of the good girl with a rebellious streak, Kaoruko, meets the bad boy with a heart of gold, Rintaro. They meet at a patisserie and immediately hit it off. Just as quickly, they realize just how problematic their new relationship, and ongoing slow-burn romance, might be.
7. The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn’t a Guy at All, Vol. 1
Aya falls hard for a guy at a CD shop with great taste in music. Mitsuki is all too aware that the girl she hit it off with at work who loves rock music is her classmate. This funny story of mistaken identity is also a sweet
LGBTQ love story of what it’s like to fall for someone who loves the same silly things as you. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a kind of story that reminds you what it feels like to find your person.
8. City Hunter Omnibus Vol. 1 (Three Volumes in One)
Following the antics of the detective-for-hire Ryo Seba as he cleans up the streets of 1980s Tokyo, this action-packed comedy brings together everything romance readers love. The story focuses on a will they/won’t they relationship between co-workers who are clearly in love but too stubborn to admit it. This series is perfect for any reader looking for a bit of romance with their shenanigans. It’s also been made into a feature film released by Netflix.
So, the next time you find yourself pursuing the bookshelves at your local bookstore, or local library or comic book shop, why not try something new? Try out a manga romance, whether it’s the healing vibes of Veil, the supernatural mystery of Fruits Basket, or one that didn’t make our list. You’ll be happy you did, especially when you realize that the series you just started has 30+ volumes to look forward to!