The Most Romantic Manga, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the manga you think is the most romantic!

Updated on May 5, 2024 06:56

For fans of romantic manga, finding the next heart-fluttering series can be as sweet as it is daunting. With a plethora of titles to choose from, each offering its unique blend of charm and drama, it's challenging to know where to start. That's why a collective ranking, shaped by the votes and opinions of fellow fans, can be an invaluable resource. By participating in this live ranking, not only do you get to see how your favorites stack up, but you also contribute to a broader pool of recommendations. This system helps ensure that every voice is heard and that the rankings reflect the diverse tastes of the manga community. It's a dynamic way to guide newcomers and seasoned readers alike toward the stories that resonate the most with readers.

What Is the Most Romantic Manga?

1

54
votes
"Kimi ni Todoke" by Karuho Shiina

Karuho Shiina

This manga is a heartwarming and innocent love story between two high school students. It revolves around the shy and misunderstood Sawako Kuronuma and the popular and outgoing Kazehaya Shouta. Their slow-burning romance is full of sweet moments and heartfelt emotions.
Kimi ni Todoke is a romantic manga written and illustrated by Karuho Shiina. It tells the heartwarming story of Sawako Kuronuma, a shy and misunderstood high school girl who resembles Sadako, a character from a horror movie. Despite having a kind heart, Sawako struggles to make friends due to her eerie appearance and a series of misunderstandings. However, everything changes when the popular and outgoing boy, Shota Kazehaya, begins to take an interest in her. As their relationship develops, they navigate the ups and downs of high school life and learn to overcome the challenges of their own insecurities and the perceptions of others.

Genre: Romance, School, Shoujo

Serialized in: Bessatsu Margaret

First published: 2006

Volumes: 30

Anime adaptation: Yes
2

16
votes
"Fruits Basket" by Natsuki Takaya

Natsuki Takaya

This manga is a touching and poignant tale about a girl named Tohru Honda who discovers the secret of the Sohma family. The Sohmas are cursed to transform into animals of the Chinese zodiac when they are hugged by someone of the opposite sex. Tohru becomes friends with the Sohmas and falls in love with the kind-hearted Kyo Sohma. Their love story is bittersweet and heartrending.
Fruits Basket is a heartwarming and emotional manga series created by Natsuki Takaya. It follows the story of a high school girl named Tohru Honda who, after a series of unfortunate events, ends up living with the mysterious and eccentric Sohma family. As she becomes close to the Sohma members, Tohru discovers their family secret: they are possessed by the spirits of the Chinese zodiac animals. The story revolves around themes of acceptance, self-discovery, and the healing power of friendship and love.

Emotional Depth: Complex characters with layered emotional arcs

Genre: Romance, Drama, Supernatural

Published: 1998-2006

Volumes: 23

Chapters: 136
3

10
votes
"Kaichou wa Maid-sama!" by Hiro Fujiwara

Hiro Fujiwara

This manga is a delightful and charming romantic comedy about a strict student council president named Misaki Ayuzawa and her secret part-time job as a maid in a cafe. She clashes with the handsome and arrogant Usui Takumi, but eventually, they develop feelings for each other. Their banter and chemistry are hilarious and endearing.
Kaichou wa Maid-sama! is a romantic comedy manga series written and illustrated by Hiro Fujiwara. The story follows Misaki Ayuzawa, the first female student council president of Seika High School, which was previously an all-boys school. Misaki strives to create a harmonious environment for the female students and maintain discipline. However, she has a secret job as a maid in a maid cafe to support her family. One day, Usui Takumi, a popular and attractive boy, discovers Misaki's secret and starts to tease her. As they continue to interact, their relationship progresses from animosity to friendship and possibly even romance.

Published: 2006-2013

Volumes: 18

Genre: Romantic comedy

English publisher: Tokyopop

Adaptations: Anime series, Drama CD, Live-action film
4

14
votes
"Kare Kano" by Masami Tsuda

Masami Tsuda

This manga is a classic and beloved romance about two high school students, Yukino Miyazawa and Soichiro Arima, who are both overachievers and rivals. They discover each other's secrets and flaws and fall in love. Their relationship is deep and complex, with plenty of ups and downs.
Kare Kano, also known as His and Her Circumstances, is a romantic manga created by Masami Tsuda. The story follows the lives of two high school students, Yukino Miyazawa and Soichiro Arima, who are initially rivals for the top academic position in their school. However, after discovering each other's true selves, they start to develop feelings for one another. The series explores their romantic relationship and deals with themes such as personal growth, love, and identity.

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama

Serialized: 1996-2005

Volumes: 21

Main characters: Yukino Miyazawa, Soichiro Arima

Anime adaptation: Yes
5

14
votes
"Honey and Clover" by Chica Umino

This manga is a poignant and introspective love story about a group of art students and their struggles with love and life. The main characters are Takemoto, Morita, Mayama, Yamada, and Hagumi, who are all connected in various ways. The romance between Takemoto and Hagu is particularly touching and poignant.
"Honey and Clover" by Chica Umino in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most underrated manga
6

12
votes
"Nana" by Ai Yazawa

Ai Yazawa

This manga is a mature and realistic love story about two women named Nana who become roommates in Tokyo. One Nana is a punk rock singer, while the other is a naive and innocent girl. They both fall in love with men who are in a band together, but their relationships are complicated and messy. The manga explores the themes of love, friendship, and identity.
Nana is a romantic manga series created by Ai Yazawa. It follows the lives of two young women, both named Nana, who meet on a train to Tokyo by chance and end up becoming roommates. The story revolves around their deep friendship and the different romantic relationships they navigate through in their pursuit of love and happiness.

Genre: Romance

Demographic: Shojo

Serialized: in Cookie magazine

Published: by Shueisha

Volumes: 21
7

13
votes
Pikawil from Laval, Canada · CC BY 2.0

"Ouran High School Host Club" by Bisco Hatori

Bisco Hatori

This manga is a hilarious and heartwarming romantic comedy about a girl named Haruhi Fujioka who accidentally joins a host club at her school. The host club is made up of handsome and wealthy boys who entertain female clients. Haruhi disguises herself as a boy and becomes friends with the members, including the charming and mischievous Tamaki Suoh. Their relationship is adorable and full of laughs.
Ouran High School Host Club is a romantic comedy manga series written and illustrated by Bisco Hatori. The story follows Haruhi Fujioka, a scholarship student at the prestigious Ouran High School, who accidentally stumbles upon the school's host club - a group of six male students who entertain female clients. Mistaken as a boy, Haruhi ends up joining the club and becomes closely involved with its eccentric members. As she navigates the complexities of high school life and her growing relationships, comedic and romantic situations ensue, leading to heartwarming moments and personal growth.

Genre: Romantic comedy

Demographic: Shoujo

Serialized: LaLa magazine

Volumes: 18

Published: 2002 - 2010
8

14
votes
"Lovely Complex" by Aya Nakahara

Aya Nakahara

This manga is a fun and quirky romantic comedy about two high school students, Risa Koizumi and Atsushi Otani, who are nicknamed the "All Hanshin Kyojin" because of their height difference. Risa is taller than the average girl, while Otani is shorter than the average boy. They start off as rivals but eventually, they become friends and fall in love. Their banter and chemistry are hilarious and endearing.
Lovely Complex, created by Aya Nakahara, is a heartwarming romantic manga that tells the story of Risa Koizumi and Atsushi Otani, two high school students who constantly bicker and argue due to their height difference. Risa is tall and Atsushi is short, leading to many humorous situations. However, as they spend more time together, they develop a deep bond and even start supporting each other in their romantic endeavors. With its combination of comedy, relatable characters, and touching moments, Lovely Complex explores themes of love, friendship, and self-acceptance.

Genre: Romance, comedy

Serialized: 2001-2006

Volumes: 17

Published by: Shueisha

Target demographic: Shōjo
9

9
votes
"Ao Haru Ride" by Io Sakisaka

Io Sakisaka

This manga is a sweet and emotional love story about two high school students, Futaba Yoshioka and Kou Mabuchi, who reconnect after not seeing each other for years. They both have changed since their childhood, and their relationship is complicated by misunderstandings and secrets. The manga explores the themes of growing up, forgiveness, and self-discovery.
Ao Haru Ride is a romantic manga created by Io Sakisaka. The story revolves around Futaba Yoshioka, a high school girl who used to have a crush on a boy named Kou Tanaka. They were separated due to circumstances and years later, Futaba meets Kou again in high school. However, Kou has undergone a personality change and now goes by the name Kou Mabuchi. The manga follows their journey as they navigate their complex emotions and relationships.

Genre: Romance, Drama, School Life

Serialized In: Bessatsu Margaret

Published: 2011 - 2015

Volumes: 13

Chapters: 53
10

6
votes

"Kiss Him, Not Me" by Junko

This manga is a hilarious and adorable romantic comedy about a girl named Kae Serinuma who is a fujoshi (a fan of boys' love manga and anime). She loses weight and becomes popular with the boys at her school, but she is more interested in shipping them than dating them. Her four male friends all have feelings for her, and their pursuit of her is both amusing and heartwarming.

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Ranking factors for romantic manga

Chemistry between the main characters

The romance should feel genuine and compelling, and the main characters should have palpable chemistry.
Development of the relationship

The manga should show the growth and development of the relationship between the main characters throughout the story.
Emotional depth

The manga should evoke strong emotions in the reader, such as empathy, joy, and heartbreak.
Believable obstacles

Obstacles such as distance, social status, and personal demons should feel real and add to the tension and drama in the story.
Memorable moments

The manga should have memorable romantic moments that stay with the reader long after the story ends.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most romantic manga. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or manga is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

1313 views
161 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each manga once every 24 hours. The rank of each manga is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most romantic manga

Romance is a genre that has been popular in manga for decades. The stories often revolve around the ups and downs of relationships, the struggles of love, and the many emotions that come with it. From the iconic "Sailor Moon" to the more recent "Kimi ni Todoke," there have been countless romantic manga series that have captured the hearts of readers around the world. Whether it's a heartwarming love story or a dramatic tale of unrequited love, romantic manga has something for everyone. So, what is the most romantic manga? Let's take a look at some of the top contenders and find out!