This isn't intended as a slight against anybody, but I've yet to meet a straight guy who reads a lot of shoujo. The guys that I do know who read it regularly are also extremely fond of yaoi, BL, hurghblegh etc.

That said, I have tried some of the more well-known shoujo series to see what it is that makes them so damn popular, and though I think I understand why, most of the time I just want to beat my head against the nearest wall after a few chapters.

Probably the only shoujo series I will ever admit to liking is Skip Beat. It has all the typical annoying shit that makes me not want to read shoujo, but the story and characters are fascinating when the author isn't trying to drag the plot out with filler.

Interesting. I am female but prefer reading from a guy's perspective, no matter it is romance or not. But girl perspective is OK with me too. I never identify with anyone when reading manga. And I don't read much shoujo or shounen. Finding realism in manga is not easy, let alone realistic romance from whoever's perspective.

Im a guy and I read alot of shojo / Josei mangas because im interested in stories with romance. I like action as much as the next person but not pointless action. I prefer action stories were characters have actual feelings for each other or devolp romantic interest. Since there isnt a large number of them I tend to stick to romance stories since I enjoy character devolpment and romantic interests between characters.

I'm a guy and recently i've been reading a few shoujo mangas. Thruth be told, like in every genre, there are some interesting stories. And that's what really interests me, sure some i've read left me wondering how can anyone read that sort of stuff, but storywise it amuses me, and it provides me with a ligh read. Still can't get over the flowery and blubbly paterns though

i read some shojo cause im a sensitive individual.

and for the smut too

but mostly its for the stories and because i lack experience in the field of love

i like stuff like skip beat, wallflower (cant remember how to write the name), maid-sama and some other stuff.

i hate yaoi and boy love creeps me out... my limit is that manga with that girl band that all looked like dudes (cant find the name)...

Last edited by mike0dude at 2:34 pm, Jun 1 2010

I'm a girl, and basically I'll read anything if the story's good.
Though I have to say, the worse the art is, the better the story has to be in order for me to get addicted to it.

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Shoujo is guilty of that, too. The only "depth" they are facts related to or give rise to the reason why character A loves character B. Few shoujo explores the characters outside the realtionship.

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Shoujo Manga Reviews

lol ya lonnnnnnggg time =P i have been extremely busy is all i can say in my defence

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"I won’t tell him not to envy, but that man sure is a bag of b*tchery" - Sevens (novel)
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I think that manga was by shinjo mayu...one of the few onez from her that didn't involve the dude raping the chick.

Personally except ofcourse BL and yaoi which I just find to be disgusting lol I don't mind the other genres at al. Have read a whole lot shoujos and if the art is good and storyline is good why not?? One of the main reasons I read shoujo is because they don't usually degrade the dude like in shounen romances out there. Shoujoz with strong female leads are especially good and its a plus when the girl is beautiful as well.


@mewarmo99---- I do read a lot of shoujos if they are good enough because of reasons most of which said above but I absolutely detest yaoi and Bl, i won't even read good mangas if they have hints of shounen ai in them so you see there are exceptions

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I love romance stories but I've realize that sometimes there are romance stories and sometimes there's masturbatory aid for the ladies. And I can't take much of the latter.

I don't think guys in shoujo are strong guys, they usually aren't manly or normal or even normal looking, they aren't diverse either. So if I'm reading a shoujo its usually because its actually funny, or the heroine is into some kind of fighting(or just particularly awesome or a good character). Not to mention a lot of shoujo suffer from all the fetishes manga has built up.

So I don't think guys that read shoujo are anything special, and the humour is important to me, as is how likable the main heroine is.

My hubby pointed out a good shojo manga to me and i got hooked. He reads shojo because the girls always seem to be a lot more realistic looking (less overemphasized tits, I know). It also gives him an idea what 'romantic sex' really means, how it starts and why it's the only type of sex that really makes a difference (to women).

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"I love you like the plant that never blooms yet carries in itself the light of hidden flowers.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul" - Sonnet XVII

Well im a straight man and I read quite a few Shoujou/Josei. All the ones I read and enjoy have a constant male lead presence. So long as its good manga (Hentai/Yaoi is not) I read it.

Kinda the same as girls that read Shounen/Seinen IMO.

^ this and also



I'm straight and i read shoujo, i dont see there anything weird that guy likes to read shoujo manga, tough there are some that are just too horrible to read.

But for example Kaichou wa Maid-sama is very good (anime at least so far need to start manga once anime ends) and Special A (same here tough i havent started it yet), Bitter Virgin was good and many short storie ones cause there forced drama isnt prolonged over and over again.

And propably reason i started on shoujos is because on shounen there are almoust never any progres on couples..

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i read pure shoujo once in a blue moon but i do like shounen mangas with romance as subplot

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I do Read some shoujos... I skip parts tho. When the endless drama begins and it starts draggin or ...when the girl pissed me cuz she cant understand which guy she loves and so. I read those that are funny and have a real life feeling i dont care if they are from a girls perspective as i never try to fall into char with any of the main chars as most mangas change narrative style as they grow.


IF reading a shoujo makes ya less man lol makes me wonder wut happends to those girls following lucha libre and football.

Stuff i read right now:
Skip beat.
cheeky angel... dont know if this is shoujo or shounen as they mess up whos the lead here
Girl Got Game (i read it a while ago)
Goong
hands off (i read it a while ago)
They too love

And maybe some others ... i must confese those arent even a 4% of the mangas i read cuz the other %96 is mostly shounen with romantic plot like smash or harem like ai yori aoshi, change 123... But i do enjoy shoujos and i dont skip a series if it is labeled as shoujo unless i give it a try with 1 or 2 vols... (right now im trying to read superior but it gets on my nerves)

Last edited by aagcnet at 6:54 pm, Aug 1 2010