In the mood for romance~ please recommend me what you consider to be the ONE greatest love story you've ever read in manga. The genres don't matter, so do the vibe, I don't mind it being awfully sweet, tragedic, or just straight up taboo and creepy. Dramatic or short and simple, whatever. Thank you!


P.S: This is my first time posting in YEARS, I'm glad to find out this site is still alive, love you guys lots.

Hmm, well if we're talking the "greatest love story, EVER", there's only one that really stands out in mind for me. It's called Two Soaked In Sin/Tsumi ni Nureta Futari. Be warned, this story contains themes of incest. While that's kind of disturbing, the way it's handled is just... wow. You can really feel the intensity of their feelings. Even though our brains tell us it's wrong, the love of these two is so intense that you can't help but to root for them, yet the world conspires to keep them apart. I know the incest thing is a bit, well, you know, but seriously, give it a chance; you'll be shocked at how much it draws you in. Link below.

https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=240

Some completed stories to come to mind are...
Basara
Kanata Kara
Kamisama Hajimemashita
Jack, The American Ghost
Light and Shadow (Ryu Hyang)

Last edited by spazzmatron at 7:12 pm, Dec 7 2019

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Hmmm I think there are really different categories when it comes to "Greatest Romance"

Model (Soul Mates / Forbidden Love)
Can't Lose you (Fast paced Passion)
Kimi wa Pet (Unrequited Love / Slow Romance)
Can I kiss you everyday? (Slice of Life)
kingyo sou (Light Hearted)

Definitely Shoujo biased 😉


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Interesting! I'll read it tomorrow, one of the romantic manhwa that stood out to me is also incestous: flowers of evil. Yet I can't help but be drawn in, thanks for the heads up.

@spazzmatron
I've read all of them except for Jack, and while I agree with the others on the list, I think Light and Shadow is nowhere as good nor engaging, it passed as a fluff read to me, but thank you! I was also a big fan of Basara!

@ Kitteh_13
Have read all of them except for can I kiss you everyday?. Thanks for the suggestion, and I agree that there are so much categories of romance.

For example Baby Steps may just be another sports manga for most people but I like the romance in that manga the most, simply because it's the healthiest, most supportive relationship ever, the greatest in it's own way.

Last edited by lambchopsil at 4:12 pm, Dec 8 2019

I can refer you to my rated lists and the stuff in my signature.

But especially Bonnouji and Taiyou no Ie

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in need of romance?
uncommon, sad, sweet

Seconding American Ghost Jack and Taiyou no Ie, and here's a list of some of my other favorites:

Do Chokkyuu Kareshi x Kanojo (there is a group who scanlated this, idk why it's not up on MU)
Hananoi-kun to Koi no Yamai
Okashiratsuki
Oogami-san, Dadamore desu
Sekirara ni Kiss
Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet
Taisho Wotome Otogibanashi (complete) and its sequel Shouwa Otome Otogibanashi (ongoing)

I've read plenty of Shoujo manga, but in my completed list those are not the top "romance".

Greatest love story, EVER
Ookami Shounen wa Kyou mo Uso o Kasaneru

You will get plenty of shoujo suggestions from other users, so here you have my personal selection of honorable mentions (not in order):

The weird ones:
Uwagaki
Ashita Dorobou
Molester Man
Onani Master Kurosawa
Sugar Dark - Umerareta Yami to Shoujo

The funny ones:
Jitsu wa Watashi wa
Yandere Kanojo

The serious one:
Ookami to Koushinryou

The ones that are good, but no so good:
Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha.
Hana yori Dango
Karin
Mizutama Honey Boy
Prunus Girl

And the ones that are on the list but could have been a lot better:
Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo
Angel Densetsu

Maybe Sennen no Yuki? Not without faults but it becomes very romantic.

Since Kanata Kara was already mentioned and you've read it:

Chrno Crusade - romance isn't the main part of the story, but it definitely is a great one to me. Even if the ending is

Hana to Akuma - what I liked the best about this romance and made it truly great is the ending of the manga. Not spoiling it totally, but...the mood of it? ->

Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori aka Anatolia Story aka Red River - it was kinda great.

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~Nothing is Eternal but Eternity~
Enjoy life as much as you can and do whatever you want, because it may be only one.

@alimeru
Yes! I also like Do Chokkyuu Kareshi x Kanojo, I think it was refreshing, Tsubaki-chou lonely planet is one of the best shoujo I've ever read. Unfortunately I've read all your suggestions.

@contrasena
uwagaki was pretty good in my memory, I'm intrigued to read Ookami to Koushinryou, its my first time coming across it, thanks.

@lorska
Haven't read bonnouji, will save it for when I'm idle hmm

@rouzmary
Haven't read chrno crusade because it's sci-fi, an old one. Definitely not something I'd usually dive into immediately, but maybe I'll consider. The male lead looks like he has a backbone. I used to like Anatolia Stoty very much as a young girl, but I tried to reread it again a couple of months ago and it wasn't as good as I had thought, I guess taste do change as you grow.

Thank you all!!

As an owner of the complete series (as it's released, the last volume coming out in 2 weeks), if you want to read Ookami to Koushinryou then go for the novel instead. The manga is quite the step down in terms of presentation and art style.

I can fully recommend it though. If novel recommendations are allowed too, this one would be my first pick.

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in need of romance?
uncommon, sad, sweet

Romance genre isn't my forte but the few I've came across are quite memorable.

Your Lie in April - Greatest love story for me but I'm sure you've heard of this since it's quite popular.

Some Others:
Hatsukoi Limited - High-schoolers experiencing their first love stories.
Salad Days - Although there's a main couple that shows up from time to time but it's mainly a collection of oneshots. Has great ending iirc.
Nineteen, Twenty-One - Short, quick-read, light and heartwarming. Highly recommended if you wanna feel fluffy.

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I really like Namaikizakari

https://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=104388