So given that most romance manga are wish fulfilment vehicles, where the love interest is basically perfect, I am looking for a Shoujo or Josei Romance manga (i.e. a manga that has the female audience demographic as its target) where the ML is ordinary.

I really don't want a manga where the ML is pretty much perfect (good looking, good grades, rich, lady killer etc). I want to read a manga where the ML is just an ordinary person without any mob characters going Kya~ Kya~ over them.

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Hobbies include impersonating fictional characters and sucking on ketchup packets.

3D Kanojo

Hibi Chouchou

Hirunaka no Ryuusei

Issho ni Neyou yo

[m]Kimi ni Koishitei desu ka[/m]

Ran to Haiiro no Sekai

Monkey High

Here it shows only 1 chapter translated, but it can easily be found translated in full (31 chapters)

I would definitely recommend My Hero!
and maybe Cinderella Shindoro-mu (Onshot subversion of the trope) as well.

I believe I can link quite a few, but some (most?) have age gap. I hope they match what you're looking for, I've read these and would recommend them. Also, I'm sorry for the long post ^-^


Can't See Can't Hear But Love - it's a seinen, but it's good (the rest are shoujo or josei). Get tissues ready though.

Houkago x Ponytail - not sure if this fits cause he is successful in what he does, but... he doesn't have groupies. It's very cute.

Ojikoi - normal dude, high school girl

Perfect World (ARUGA Rie) - well, it's not a mary sue ML for sure

Sekine-kun no Koi - he's awkward and she's average, they're cute together

Go Isshou ni Heart mo Atatamemasuka - he's a convenience store manager

Kawaii Hito (SAITOU Ken) - he's a florist, a "scary" one, it's cute AF

Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii - the cover they chose isn't great, but It's mainly a casual romance/comedy/slice of life about 2 otaku couples (and soon to be 3 with the added characters)

Itsuka no seishun - I couldn't find it here
Amber - again, couldn't find it here, he's a writer who doesn't take care of himself
Darenimo Ienai Maruhi - same, he's a widower

Kimi ni Koishite Ii Desu ka. - not sure this fits the search

Mizutama Honey Boy - 2 cute high schoolers


These ones I like, but they might not be what you're looking for:

Kore wa Koi no Hanashi - older man, young girl, timeskip

Watashi no Shounen (TAKANO Hitomi) - like the one before but the boy is young and she is older *seinen though, this one (couldn't resist linking those two)

Koi wa Amaagari no You ni - personal favourite at the moment, it even has an ongoing anime

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I live for good age gap romance.
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Wubba lubba dub dub!