Fall in Love with Shoujo and Josei

By Mallory Gong | July 23 2021 | Manga, Manhwa, Manhua

Explore shoujo and josei manga! Shoujo, which means “girl” in Japanese, caters to a teenage, female demographic, while josei, which means “woman,” caters to an adult, female demographic. Both genres portray the romantic escapades and heartfelt life experiences of girls and women.

We’ve listed some of our must-read shoujo and josei titles for you below. Peruse our romance collection to find the perfect manga for you. Though shoujo and josei both target a female demographic, these titles will appeal to everyone! Step into a world of mature romances, beautiful illustrations, and realistic characters.

Paradise Kiss, Part 1
978-1-935654-71-1
One of the most popular comic artists in the world, Ai Yazawa, returns with a new edition of the fashion-inspired comic that made her an international sensation, Paradise Kiss.
$19.95 US
Sep 25, 2012
Paperback
280 Pages
Vertical Comics

Toradora! (Manga) Vol. 1
978-1-934876-94-7
BEWARE THE WRATH OF THE PALMTOP TIGER! Takasu Ryuuji has learned the hard way that appearances can be deceiving. Despite his inwardly sweet personality, his unintentionally sharp gaze and aggressive features give him the air of a delinquent thug, putting his chances at making friends, let alone a girlfriend, next to zero. It’s Ryuuji’s first day in junior high school and it seems as if things are looking up. He gets to sit in between his only friend, Yusaku, and, more importantly, the girl he’s secretly crushing on, Minori Kushieda. But just when he thinks the stars are aligned in his favor, he unwittingly crosses the most feared girl in school, Taiga Aisaku, making her onto his arch enemy. To top it off, Taiga has moved in right next door to Ryuuji and happens to be Minori’s best friend! Can this school year possibly get any worse?!
$12.99 US
Mar 01, 2011
Paperback
192 Pages
Seven Seas

My Little Monster 1
978-1-61262-597-3
Two outcasts make up an odd couple with great potential for spontaneous combustion in this quirky romantic comedy manga. There's a Beauty and the Beast element to the story with the "beauty" and "beast" characters revealing layers of their personality as their relationship (of sorts) develops.Funny and odd, this manga will appeal to teens who like a good offbeat romance. 11 volumes total. Ages 13 and up.
$10.99 US
Mar 11, 2014
Paperback
176 Pages
Kodansha Comics

Say I Love You. 1
978-1-61262-602-4
For older teens interested in a frank, moving depiction of high school romance. Fans of Sara Zarr and Stephanie Perkins.Personal, character-driven storytelling recalls hit manga series like NANA and Kimi ni Todoke.Fans of the recent anime series will want to read past where it leaves off to find out what happens to their favorite characters.Ongoing in Japan.16 & Up.
$10.99 US
Apr 29, 2014
Paperback
176 Pages
Kodansha Comics

Kiss Him, Not Me 1
978-1-63236-202-5
A comedy for fans of shojo and yaoi manga, already one of the biggest hits online at Crunchyroll Manga!Female fans will love watching a reversal of typical fanservice tropes, with all the boys going after a girl (who'd much rather see them go out with each other)!Ages 13 and up.
$10.99 US
Oct 13, 2015
Paperback
160 Pages
Kodansha Comics

Princess Jellyfish 1
978-1-63236-228-5
Geek girls unite! A unique cast and an addictive story of romance and intrigue will appeal to readers of shojo melodramas like Nana and My Little Monster - with a nerdy twist!A thriving fan community on social media has been clamoring for a translation of this cult favorite for years.Full of positive messages, Princess Jellyfish features fangirl characters who grow and start relationships without losing their idiosyncrasies.Older Teen. Ages 16+.
$19.99 US
Mar 22, 2016
Paperback
376 Pages
Kodansha Comics

Bloom into You Vol. 1
978-1-62692-353-9
A charming love story about two young women who together discover that their dreams of a heart-pounding romance can indeed come true--now with an anime! Yuu has always loved shoujo manga and fantasizes about the day that she too will get a love confession that will send her heart a-flutter. Yet when a male classmate confesses his feelings for her ... she feels nothing. Disappointed and confused, Yuu enters high school still unsure how to respond. That’s when Yuu sees the beautiful student council president Nanami turn down a suitor with such maturity and finesse that Yuu is inspired to ask her for advice. But when the next person to confess to Yuu is the alluring Nanami herself, has Yuu's shoujo romance finally begun?
$12.99 US
Jan 03, 2017
Paperback
180 Pages
Seven Seas

Waiting for Spring 1
978-1-63236-516-3
A sweet shojo story of a soft-spoken high school freshman and her quest to make friends, Waiting for Spring will delight fans of earnest, fun, and dramatic shojo like Kimi ni Todoke and Say I Love You.
$10.99 US
Jul 18, 2017
Paperback
208 Pages
Kodansha Comics

Tokyo Tarareba Girls 1
978-1-63236-685-6
A sharp new comedy about female friendship from the creator of Princess Jellyfish!
$12.99 US
Jun 26, 2018
Paperback
176 Pages
Kodansha Comics

The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese
978-1-64275-759-0
A compelling LGBT+ drama by the Eisner-nominated creator of Black Rose Alice and After School Nightmare! When Otomo Kyoichi’s wife starts to suspect that her husband is cheating on her, she hires a private eye, Imagase, to investigate him. However, not only does Imagase know Kyoichi from college, but he’s been nursing a crush on the man for years. Imagase gives Kyoichi an ultimatum: if Kyoichi wants to keep his cheating ways under wraps, then he has to give Imagase something in return. Imagase’s demands start with a kiss, but as the two men become entangled in each other’s lives, it soon becomes clear they each might want more than the other can give.
$13.99 US
Nov 26, 2019
Paperback
200 Pages
Seven Seas

Our Dining Table
978-1-64275-756-9
BOYS’ LOVE COOKED TO PERFECTION Eating around other people is a struggle for salaryman Yutaka, despite his talent for cooking. All that changes when he meets Minoru and Tane—two brothers, many years apart in age—who ask him to teach them how to make his delicious food! It’s not long before Yutaka finds himself falling hard for the meals they share together—and falling in love!
$13.99 US
Dec 17, 2019
Paperback
180 Pages
Seven Seas

Rent-A-Girlfriend 1
978-1-63236-997-0
Catch up on the manga before Season 2 of the hit anime, coming soon! You can rent a girlfriend, but can you buy love? Reeling from a bad breakup, Kazuya rents the beautiful, polite Chizuru for a date. But rock bottom might be so much lower than he thought! Chizuru is much more than the pretty face and sweet demeanor he thought he'd bargained for...
$12.99 US
Jun 02, 2020
Paperback
208 Pages
Kodansha Comics

Even Though We're Adults Vol. 1
978-1-64505-957-8
From the critically acclaimed creator of Wandering Son and Sweet Blue Flowers, a heart-tugging manga about two busy women who think they've figured out the whole adulting thing...until they fall in love with each other. Ayano, an elementary school teacher in her thirties, stops by a bar one day and meets another woman named Akari. Sparks fly as the two chat, and before the night is over, Ayano even goes in for a kiss. Akari is intrigued but confused...especially when she discovers that Ayano has a husband! Both Ayano and Akari are about to find out that love doesn’t get any easier, even as you grow older.
$12.99 US
Feb 09, 2021
Paperback
168 Pages
Seven Seas

A Sign of Affection 1
978-1-64651-184-6
Yuki is a typical college student--it's just that she can't hear. A chance encounter on a train leads to a serious crush...but will he give her a chance? A sweet and relatable manga romance from the creator of Shortcake Cake!
$12.99 US
Feb 23, 2021
Paperback
192 Pages
Kodansha Comics

Ride Your Wave (Manga)
978-1-64827-206-6
The manga spin-off to the acclaimed anime film about surfing, summer love, grief, and a hint of magic. Surfer girl Hinako is full of confidence when she’s out on the ocean, but when it come to everything else in her life, she second-guesses herself. After a fire breaks out, she meets a firefighter named Minato and the two fall quickly in love. When tragedy strikes and separates the young couple, Hinako feels lost and directionless. But soon, Hinako discovers that Minato is determined to overcome any obstacle to stay by her side. The heart-tugging manga adaptation that goes beyond the hit anime film!
$12.99 US
May 11, 2021
Paperback
180 Pages
Seven Seas

Bite Maker: The King's Omega Vol. 1
978-1-64827-117-5
Desire and destiny meet head-on in this sexy josei manga! Nobunaga won the genetic lottery and was born an alpha (a): his beauty, intelligence, and talent drive everyone wild with lust. Despite his seemingly perfect life, Nobunaga is unsatisfied–until he meets the woman of his dreams, who can sate his every desire. Enjoy a taste of the supernatural in this Omegaverse tale about love, lust, and the power of attraction.
$12.99 US
May 25, 2021
Paperback
180 Pages
Seven Seas