So hard to chose! But...
1.
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e -
Complete: One of the first manga I ever read, Hana Kimi is, by far and above, my favorite manga ever. The artwork is beautiful, the characters are so well developed and funny, and the plot really draws you in. It's a
shoujo, but it's far from the cliché that is so common in that category. This is the only manga I've ever liked enough to go back and re-read - I've actually read it several times now. I highly recommend it.
2.
Ouran Koukou Host Club -
Ongoing: I actually saw the anime before reading the manga, and I was delighted to find they were almost exactly alike - only the manga was much longer, something I'm certainly not complaining about. Really, though, this is a must read. The plot is so funny and unique, though not without it's drama, and the characters are individuals whose likes you won't find in anything else out there. It tends to get a little repetitive as you make your way through it, but not so much that you want to put it down.
3.
Yamatonadeshiko Shichihenge -
Ongoing: Another one where I saw the anime before I started reading. I like this for the comedy aspect - Sunako and Kyohei especially are hysterical. The only flaw, in my opinion, is that the mangaka seems to have run out of new materiel. Lately, it's been the same situation over and over again in a different format. Then again, said situation is what made me love this manga in the first place, so I have no complaints =P
4.
Ingènuo -
Ongoing: This actually isn't very popular, though I can't for the life of me figure out why. Maybe it's because it's a manhua instead of a manga. But don't let that dissuade you - this is one of the best reads out there, once you get the names straight. Jiayu is a rare find for a heroine, and Yung Jo? Whatever the Chinese word for 'bishie' is, he's the representation
5.
Kaichou wa Maid-sama! -
Ongoing: One of my newer reads, it's shaping up to become the next big manga out there. Misaki is a strong female lead, and I think Usai goes together with her nicely - I am so sick of the theory mangaka seem to have that if the girl is strong, the guy must be weak to counteract her, and vise-versa. I eagerly await the next chapter of this ^-^
A few honorable mentions go out to
Kamichama Karin (the artwork is, in my opinion, the best out there),
The One (though I found Lele to be annoying in the beginning, she's quickly transforming into a protagonist we can all enjoy rooting for),
Superior (my first fantasy manga, the drama and conflicts are really well done here, and the comedy aspect lightens the mood when necessary),
Shugo Chara (a singular plot, with lots of twists and turns; also the first manga I felt compelled to buy instead of reading online), and
Special A (despite, like Yamatonadeshiko Shichihenge and Ouran Koukou Host Club, getting repetitive over time, this is a pretty good read. You may quickly become annoyed with Hikari's constant obliviousness, though, and Kei's
obviousness.)
