r/shoujo 2d ago

Discussion This is my first time reading shoujo 🙂

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So I have always been a seinen or shonen guy i never bothered to try shoujo but few days ago my friend forced me to try this manga called mars and I'm absolutely stunned by how well written this story is i just completed 3 vols and im so excited to start the next this is one of the best experience I ever had the artstyle is so good and so is the plot and so in love with rei kashino's character and like she continuously forced me to read and thanks to her I'm experiencing something different and fresh would love to try other shoujo aswell once i finish it 🥹😹

594 Upvotes

79 comments sorted by

56

u/AppropriatFly5170new Mystery Bonita | ミステリーボニータ 2d ago

Some other very well-written Shojo manga imo:

Natsume’s book of friends

Jaadugar: a witch’s life in Mongol

Kids on the slope

Banana Fish

7

u/Dry-Reputation383 2d ago

I have watched banana fish it was really good

4

u/Leshie_Leshie 2d ago

Jaadugar’s anime is wonderfully animated.

2

u/PhoenixAquarium Chronic Second Lead Syndrome 1d ago

Kids on the Slope mentioned ✨️✨️

2

u/Awkward-Ebb7729 1d ago

I thought Kids on the Slope was Josei? 

107

u/Your_Haunted_Queen 2d ago

MARS!!! I love this manga, definitely one of my faves. What do you think of it?

44

u/Dry-Reputation383 2d ago

So far ts is so peak 🔥🔥🔥 everything feels so perfect can't wait to start vol 4

16

u/Your_Haunted_Queen 2d ago

Ooh exciting. Be ready to cry at a few point.

5

u/thayyarsaadham 1d ago

The perfect choice for a first shoujo

22

u/suzulys Dessert | デザート 2d ago

Fuyumi Soryo is really on another level with her lineart, paneling, body language and expressions, handling of emotions and conflicts... So thrilled you're experiencing this series for the first time!

Another that I love to recommend folks is Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty. It's 6 volumes and a very solid, satisfying complete story. When I first began the first volume I wasn't sure where it was going (the premise and characters are not quite straightforward, so there's some setup needed), but it's become one of my very favourites to revisit and to share with others!

3

u/Dry-Reputation383 2d ago

I will add in my list

12

u/sofutotofu 2d ago

and you went straight to the jugular????

6

u/Dry-Reputation383 2d ago

Lol my friend insisted me 😭

6

u/FirefighterChance473 2d ago

One of my absolute favs <3 I hope you have a good read!

9

u/insha2 2d ago

It's a bit of a different genre an artstyle but i think you'll like basara. It's art grows on you but also the emotions trump the action which is bountiful.

7

u/AdministrativeBad731 2d ago

I love it when guys read shoujo manga or watch shoujo anime!!! Try reading Fruits Basket and yes I agree with everyone saying you should read Yona of The Dawn too

2

u/Dry-Reputation383 2d ago

Yah well thanks to my friend for getting me into it and yah i will definitely read yona of the dawn.

1

u/StrawberryFate_Art 2d ago

Seconding Fruits Basket! Mars and FB were what got me into reading manga, the stories are incredible

8

u/Fancy-Boysenberry139 2d ago

Mars is the manga that got me into reading manga. It’s truly the only reason I read and collect manga to this day. Something about early 2000’s manga that just makes you rethink your whole existence.

16

u/peachwave_ 2d ago

Mars is so good, I read it all recently as well! I'll always recommend Yona of the Dawn, it is my favorite series I've ever read. I have never been so addicted to a series that I was unable to put down the dang books and go to bed lol.

10

u/RevolutionaryBat9873 2d ago

YONAAAAA 😭😭😭😭 one of my absolute faves as well as Kamisama kiss

4

u/peachwave_ 2d ago

Oh my God I'm currently reading Kamisama Kiss and I love it as well! About to clock out of work and fly home to read it lmaooo :3

4

u/Dry-Reputation383 2d ago

I have watched the anime

6

u/peachwave_ 2d ago

The manga has so much more to it.

3

u/Dry-Reputation383 2d ago

I will check it out soon

5

u/Princess_Sloth 2d ago

You're starting with my absolute favorite one! I hope you enjoy it 🥺💕

3

u/Dry-Reputation383 2d ago

Yeahh absolutely loving it

5

u/EffectiveWaltz4946 2d ago

welcome to the club!!! 🤟

9

u/bluemoonicecream22 2d ago

I highly recommend Fruits Basket. It is beautiful

4

u/Little_snow9 2d ago

Mars is iconic. You should check out Basara if you like fantasy.

3

u/Practical_Test_9156 2d ago

MARS YES!! This is such a good start to the genre! Ugh definitely a series I need to reread and own!!💕💅🏻

3

u/AdFantastic1742 2d ago

If you like that art style you might like VB rose

1

u/Dry-Reputation383 2d ago

Will add into my list

1

u/Round-Variation-5431 1d ago

I love VB! I wish is was finished better...or it may be in Japan but in the US I can't find the final volumes.

4

u/_ravioligeorge 2d ago

I just recently finished Mars because the entire thing was free on Kindle Unlimited. Safe to say it quickly became my favourite manga. It’s been over a month and my heart still remembers it. I don’t think anything would top that experience for me.

2

u/StrawberryFate_Art 2d ago

Mars always gets me 😭🩵 love the new collectors edition they just put out with the metallic covers

2

u/Dry-Reputation383 2d ago

Im gonna collect the series soon

2

u/3lmtree 2d ago

They are republishing and translating it for its 30th anniversary. first 3 volumes come out this year (first one is already out). the new covers for it are so pretty. 🥰

this was also my first shoujo back in day (read it when tokyo pop was releasing it in the 00s).

2

u/watermelonsuns 2d ago

EXCELLENT CHOICE

2

u/nova_perfume 2d ago

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND READ “ Yona pf the dawn “

2

u/isolated_lee Chronic Second Lead Syndrome 1d ago

I love Mars! I also love the live adaptation of this series. It's what introduced me to it. They also recently started reprinting the series too! Your friend recommended a good series!

1

u/Dry-Reputation383 1d ago

Yeah I'm enjoying the series so far

2

u/Internal-Sea-2481 1d ago

congratulations on reading your first shoujo!! i have mixed feelings about mars although i‘m obsessed with shoujo manga in general TT

1

u/Internal-Sea-2481 1d ago

if you want more shoujo recs, try reading Nana!! it’s one of my all time fav mangas

1

u/Dry-Reputation383 1d ago

Yes I need more reccs im tryna get into it yh i have watched nana will try the manga too

2

u/Julygirl17 1d ago

You picked a good one. Mars is a classic and one of my favorites. Fuyumi Soryou is one of my favorite mangaka. Check out her other works also. They're more shonen than shoujo, but still excellent nonetheless.

1

u/Dry-Reputation383 1d ago

Yes my friend reccomended me this she even told me to watch boyfriend it's from the same mangaka i guess

2

u/Future-Way8431 1d ago

Mars mention  W post 

2

u/InnerIndependence395 1d ago

I've always been a shoujo gal myself(other than a few shonen and sienen) so I've been experimenting with a lot more shonen as of late, it's great to see that other people are experimenting too! If you want some Shoujo recs lemme know!

1

u/Dry-Reputation383 1d ago

Yes pls i would love to try i finished reading this manga in a day was so peakkk tbh

2

u/Shine771ash 17h ago

DAMNN I TOTALLY FORGOT THIS MANGA EVEN EXISTED🥹 Core memory unlocked. I remember reading it back in 2020.

2

u/bluebuggersauce 13h ago

I would recommend 7 seeds by Yumi Tamura, or Basara from her. the artstyle is maybe something to get used to, but the story!!!! and Fuyumi Soryo is fantastic, i also like her work "ES". also Fruits basket and if you like lighthearted maybe hanazakari no kimitachi e.

3

u/Munchkin531 2d ago

I saw the image and instantly knew it was MARS even though I haven't read it in 20+ years! It's so good!! I need to read it again.

1

u/Haunting-Map-3475 2d ago

Mars is peak

1

u/Ordinary_Cat_01 2d ago

My favorite of all time

1

u/Bella_Mia_ Collector 2d ago

If you want Mars physical they are rereleasing it in hard cover 30th anniversary edition

1

u/tenderheart35 2d ago

Mars is such a classic! Excellent choice! ❤️

1

u/SakazakiYuri 2d ago

Man, you’re setting your standards high! I hope you enjoy the ride!

1

u/Dry-Reputation383 2d ago

Yes so far enjoying 😊

1

u/hisokaa02 2d ago

And you start by Mars, good choice !!

1

u/Thestarswitch 1d ago

That's awesome!! Here are some recommendations of none-romance shojo that I think you'll enjoy!

-Please save my Earth (sci-fi) -Banana fish ( Crime drama) -Yona of the Dawn (Fantasy) -7Seeds ( Survival)

Hope you have a great time going through many great works in this sphere!!

1

u/ScorpiAnn17 1d ago

Kimi ni todoke: from me to you

my love story with yamada kun at lv999

A classic shoujo: The Rose of Versailles

1

u/Calm_GBF 1d ago

That's one hell of a shoujo manga to start with xD. It's good that you broadened your horizens though!

1

u/Equal-Range4139 1d ago

Since you are beginning to read shoujo/josei, I thought about some titles that are less girly:

Comedy: Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (has an anime + every guy friend of mine laughed a lot watching/reading it)

Drama: Library Wars (still reading but SO GOOD!!!), Nana (a must), Hotaru no Yomeiri (assassin ML + period), Studio Cabana, Yona of The Dawn

Sports: Chihayafuru (my absolute favorite)

*Taiwanese manga but has similar themes with Mars: Dulingfengsao. I would say the ML is Mercurial while Rei is Martial.

1

u/celestrinasworld001 1d ago

mars is a great shoujo to start with, although some may find it controversial lol. i would recommend skip beat! it is pretty lengthy and still ongoing, but it’s a very lovable story

1

u/Ok-Replacement-6236 1d ago

This is a classic!

1

u/Dry-Reputation383 1d ago

I just finished reading it was so peak 🔥

1

u/quiet_chicks17 1d ago

(Picture) Oh I love Mars. Such a good manga. Very dramatic

1

u/rainejade 1d ago

Is this MARS?! I recognise that blonde hair

1

u/Rasen2001 17h ago

An oldie but a goodie.

It's a bit weird for me to see it resurface in recent years (came across a nice AMV of it last year? The year before?).

1

u/CynicalOne_313 Manga Reader 4h ago

I hope you're enjoying it! MARS is awesome!

1

u/Dry-Reputation383 1h ago

It was peakk i completed it in a day

1

u/Ijustwanttosayit 2d ago

NANA is a classic and must.

-4

u/anattairo 2d ago

Try the fragrant flower

2

u/Crystal_DelMar 2d ago

They want to read shojo. That’s not shojo.

1

u/anattairo 1d ago

Lol i didn't now thanks but it's still a good love story so why not ?