So, you’ve decided to start collecting manga but you aren’t quite sure where to start? Why not look into some of my recommendations!
I always recommend downloading a sample of any manga before committing to purchasing it, just to make sure you enjoy the art style / way the characters interact. While checking out the insides of a book is easy if you’re buying in person, I usually prefer shopping online ( i.e. i’m a little bit lazy ).
While there are SO many good shoujo manga that I could recommend, I think it’s best to start with the more popular series. This way, it’s easier to find new people to talk manga with! It’ll also become easier to delve into any fandom – there’s nothing worse than falling in love with an unknown series and not being able to share it with anyone.
Ouran High School Host Club
This is a manga who’s anime probably surpasses it in terms of popularity, but that just gives all the more reason to read the manga! Anime really exists as a way to promote manga, so if you’ve already seen the anime for Ouran, the next step is reading the manga!!
This is a rather old series, and the art style really speaks to that. Personally, I find the art style to be found in older manga series rather charming! I think it tends to add a sense of nostalgia, and I always find myself trying to find new old manga to read.
Interested in learning more about this manga? You can read the first chapter for free on Viz’s website here!
Kamisama Kiss
The only time I will not hate an age-gap is when it’s a fantastical one. Kamisama Kiss has an average high schooler become homeless, turn into the landlord of a shrine, gain familiars, and begin a relationship with a fox-spirit. Everything is so unrealistic the age-gap is the last thing on my mind. This series also has a love-triangle (which I normally cannot stand) , and I was actually rooting for both boys.
Kamisama Kiss is probably another series with an anime more popular than the manga, but again, that should just make you want to enjoy the manga more!
This series also has one of my favourite manga-ka’s – Julietta Suzuki. She is a master at writing supernatural romance manga with complex relationships, and I will always recommend her manga.~
While Kamisama Kiss isn’t exactly new, it’s not quite as old as Ouran is.
Interested in learning more? Check out the official English page for Kamisama Kiss here!
Kimi ni Todoke
Kimi ni Todoke probably has one of the most ~kind and innocent~ FL’s within shoujo manga. She also has a style that people in the shoujo community often try and replicate because she’s just so cute, so I think this is a very good manga to know!
The story is also equally cute, following a rather slow-burn slightly awkward high school romance. This is considered a classic shoujo manga for a reason – it’s very good!
This manga also was recently given a very good live action adaptation, so if you find yourself enjoying the story, there’s a lot of content!
You can read more about this series on Amazon here!
Fruits Basket
Fruits Basket is a very good contender for having one of the most ~kind and innocent~ FL’s in shoujo manga. She quite literally has to fight for her chosen family, and even while fighting she’s kind somehow.
This is another manga that is very obviously older – the art style gives it away in an instant. While this series doesn’t have my absolute favourite art, the story is so good that it just sucks you right in.
This story is also incredibly unique for shoujo manga, putting a spin on the tale of the zodiac.
If you find yourself enjoying the manga, this is a very rare series that was recently granted a season 2 for its anime! So there’s quite a bit of content to enjoy.~
Interested in learning more about this series? Check it out on Yen Press’ website here!
Yona of the Dawn
Yona of the Dawn will have you feeling every emotion known to man. I once stumbled upon the anime one day, and that was it for me. 40 something volumes later, and I’m still wanting more. This is the only series included in this list that is still ongoing, so I really recommend trying to catch up so that you can enjoy the fandom in real time!
Yona of the Dawn is a fantasy shoujo manga starring a princess who has to go through many hardships to gain back what she lost. Yona is probably one of the strongest FL’s to be found in shoujo manga (not physically, but emotionally), and her story and history with Haku is just perfect.
This is a manga with an incredibly slow burn (but so worth it) romance, and found family! While it does have an anime, it’s only one season 😦
Interested in learning more? Check out Viz’s official Yona of the Dawn page here!
What about you?
Have you read any of these manga? What was the first shoujo manga you read?
Maddies Manga 
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