I'm looking for a romance manga that's vaguely original. As in it's not so full of cliches that it's stupid and repetitive. It can be both shonen/shojo tho I'd prefer seinen/josei. Also I'm kinda looking for a school life or slice of life kind so no huge "action" mangas either. finally, it can be a manga where romance isn't the main theme but an underlying theme.

Examples:
Yamato Nadeshiko shichi henge
Ouran High School Host Club
Ichigo 100% (i kno this is a harem, but for a harem it's quite original)

REC is the first thing that comes to mind.
I suppose Ai Kora, if you can stand all its fetish jokes, is pretty original just because of how far it takes everything.

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Reviews of my Work:
You are kind of boring - Blackorion
Congratulations! Ur an asshole! - tokyo_homi
Your awesome!!! - Cherelle_Ashley
NightSwan also said that she wanted to peg me, once, but I'm not sure whether to take that as a compliment or a threat...

Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora is quite nice and original. It's a manga, a novel and an anime.
Unfortunately (for what I've seen) the manga or the novel haven't been scanlated though.

I've just read a good one: Densha Otoko It's really sweet

Kaichou wa Maid-sama?..its pretty original

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i was nervous at first it was big & long & went straight up i had to try it i eased onto it & liked it! i went up & down on it.... i love escalators now!


(great onizuka ftw)

I second REC.

Emma
Solanin --> not listed under romance, but it's somewhat of an underlying theme
Hoshi no Koe
Honey and Clover --> Might have to watch the anime, since its licensed
Ai-Ren
Chobits


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"When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained."
- Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain

I liked IO quite a bit and that sounds like it fits what your looking for really well. The romance isn't necessarily at the forefront of the story, but it's one of the main driving forces and the most well done aspect of it I think. It's technically a Harem, but not shonen style. Everything is just a bit less silly and more mature.

I thought the ending was satisfying enough. It did feel a bit rushed, especially the mystery elements, and could probably have used another volume to really fill in some gaps, but I still highly recommend it.