Highlights
- Romance manga dominate the 2023 lineup, offering diverse narratives that cater to different audiences.
- LGBTQ+ storylines, like Ao to Midori, provide much-needed inclusivity and representation in a heteronormative genre.
- Blooming Love stands out with its unique setting in a school art room and the blossoming romance between a timid boy and a headstrong girl.
Romance storylines have taken the lead as one of the most popular subsets of manga, enticing readers with relatable love affairs and relationship woes. Be it tried-and-tested romcoms or tragic love ordeals, romance manga offer a range of intriguing narratives that cater to diverse audiences. In fact, 2023’s manga lineup has been dominated by romance storylines, showcasing the community’s love for sentimental stories.
Some manga take on somber narratives while others feature heartwarming conclusions, though the bottom line of love taking center stage remains consistent. A few LGBTQ+ storylines have also permeated into this year’s romance lineup, adding a bit of much-needed inclusivity and representation to this heavily heteronormative genre.
7 Mikane And The Sea Woman
MyAnimeList Rating: 6.74/10
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Alt Title |
Boku to Umi Kanojo |
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Release Date |
Jul 29, 2023 |
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Author |
Aoko Kizaki |
Lost in youth and feeling lonely, Mikane finds his small island life to be unfulfilling and monotonous. However, this monotony fades away one day after he saves a mysterious woman from the sea, earning the seraphic beauty’s undivided love and attention forever.
The events that follow completely upend his life, though Mikane certainly doesn’t have a problem with these developments. The supernatural elements of Mikane and The Sea Woman perfectly tie in with the romance, appealing to those looking for a slightly more fantasy-like romance storyline.
6 Ama Ama Cinderella
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.7/5
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Release Date |
Apr 16, 2023 |
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Author |
Osaji |
Ama Ama Cinderella follows Minori, a college student who decides to work at a pastry shop. Little did he know that four other female patissiers awaited him, changing his day-to-day life for the better. Minori’s shy and socially awkward disposition leads to some odd encounters with his colleagues.
However, these awkward interactions are accompanied by a touch of romance, keeping the manga’s premise wholly interesting. Ama Ama Cinderella might initially seem like any other harem manga, yet the wholesome nature of their relationships and consistent rom-com elements brand the narrative as a wholesome love affair.
5 Tamaranai no wa Koi na no ka
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.8/5
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Alt Title |
Is It Because of Love That I Can’t Resist? |
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Release Date |
Jul 13, 2023 |
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Author |
Mia Sorahana |
Tamaranai no wa Koi na no ka is a story of two polar opposites finding love through a chance encounter. Kitahara, an honor student, runs into trouble with a bunch of delinquents, yet his savior is another notorious juvenile named Misumi. This encounter gives way to a budding love affair between an honor student and a delinquent, throwing Kitahara and Misumi into the woes of high school melodrama.
Instead of jumping into deviant fantasies, Tamaranai no wa Koi na no ka keeps the narrative simple by exploring the love and confusion of two newly-infatuated high school boys. The romantic sentiments shared between Kitahara and Misumi capture a certain innocence, setting a precedent for other Boys Love manga to follow.
4 My Girlfriend Gives Me Goosebumps!
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.9/5
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Alt Title |
Henai Heartbeat |
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Release Date |
May 15, 2023 |
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Author |
Shunsuke Iino |
Haruka Kawatsuji developed a love for thrills after surviving a fall from a balcony in his childhood. Even after countless attempts to recreate the same thrilling stimulation, Haruka failed to find the same excitement in his life.
However, this all changes after a fateful encounter with a highly eccentric girl, giving Haruka the same thrilling sensation once more. My Girlfriend Gives Me Goosebumps!’s premise may seem a bit odd, yet it provides an interesting story of a thrill-seeker finding respite in his odd, loony girlfriend.
3 The Reincarnate Marriage Of A Hero And A Sage
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.9/5
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Alt Title |
Eiyuu to Kenja no Tenseikon: Katsute no Koutekishu to Konyaku shite Saikyou Fuufu ni Narimashita |
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Release Date |
Feb 6, 2023 |
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Author |
Washiro Fujiki |
Dabbling in the reincarnation trope, The Reincarnate Marriage of a Hero and a Sage features an odd love affair between rivals in a former life. In their past lives, Reid and Elria served their nations as a hero and sage, respectively, though their rivalry soon ended after Elria’s untimely death.
Now, reincarnated in a world imbued with magic, the two rivals are reunited, albeit with a twist. Instead of being bitter about their former rivalry, Elria directly proposes to Reid, marking the beginning of their romance in a new world.
2 Ao to Midori
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0/5
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Release Date |
Apr 28, 2023 |
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Author |
Roji |
Ao to Midori is 2023’s quintessential BL manga, revolving around a heartwarming story of two rivals-turned-lovers. Hailed as a genius, Ao would always come in first, be it academia or sports. His rival, Midori, is forced to tailgate behind him in second place, leading to a heated rivalry between the two.
However, what may seem like a rivalry on the surface is merely a facade, as Ao’s only desire is to wake up every day beside Midori. Despite clear sentiments of love, Ao is held back by the fear of ruining their current dynamic, forcing him to long for Midori from the sidelines. Ao to Midori is a touching tale of two boys finding comfort in one another, though their love is not without its trials and tribulations.
1 Blooming Love
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0
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Alt Title |
Hanninmae no Koibito |
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Release Date |
May 9, 2023 |
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Author |
Daichi Kawada |
Love can find a way in any setting, though a school’s art room is certainly an odd place for it to bloom. Blooming Love follows the budding romance between a timid, artsy boy and a headstrong craft girl. The manga takes on the tsundere archetype with Kyoko’s characterization, yet Shintaro’s extremely timid nature takes the trope to an extreme.
Despite their opposing dispositions, Shintaro’s mastery of art and Kyoko’s skill at crafts serve as a bridge to bring the two together. Blooming Love’s serialization in Shonen Jump has given the manga a slight edge over its counterparts, making it one of 2023’s most popular entries.
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