I feel like reading a chic manga that includes tastefully done romance, but I also don't want to put up with a weak, crying heroine who acts like she has a brain the size of a pinhead.

Can someone recommend me a shoujo/josei with a wise heroine? She doesn't have to be pretty and she doesn't have to be physically strong. However she must be extremely wise/intelligent/perceptive and valued because of those attributes.

Also, please none of those shoujos where the said heroine gets good grades in school but makes poor choices in all other aspects of her life. Just because she gets straight A's in school does not mean she is smart if she chooses to live with an abusive boyfriend, cries all the time while complaining about the tragedies of her life. She's just a whiny bi*ch who's good at taking tests.

my recommendation might not be manga with intelligent heroine but they no way are crybaby and annoying, so hope u r fine with that:
Dengeki Daisy
Arisa
Ghost Hunt
Shibariya Komachi
Hana ni Arashi
Kanata Kara
Katakoi no Tsuki
Mekakushi no Kuni
Miriam
Anastasia Kurabu
Ningyou Kyuutei Gakudan

Oh, by ML I thought you meant bara manga, and I was like... WTF?

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“𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝑜𝓈𝑒'𝓈 𝓇𝒶𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝑒𝓈𝓈𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇𝓃𝓈.” ― 𝑀𝒶𝓌𝓁𝒶𝓃𝒶 𝒥𝒶𝓁𝒶𝓁-𝒶𝓁-𝒟𝒾𝓃 𝑅𝓊𝓂𝒾.
あたしは腐女子です。少女漫画、たくさん読んでください。

Hmm, well, the main heroine is not a genius, but the story line is actually pretty realistic. She is not so fixated on love, and if she does make dumb decisions, I'm pretty sure it is one that ALL of us can understand. Its not like those overly exaggerated feelings that shoujo girls usually tend to have.

Shuukatsu

How about midnight Secretary, if you like vampire story? It's a very hard working woman with strong willing!

In Barairo My Honey, the story is also based on Koume, who in spite of her pretty face, has a very strong spirit!!

Enjoy

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Aja Aja Fighting!!!!!

Thank you sweetgirl for all your suggestions. Anastasia Kurabu and Kanata Kara seem promising. I'm sure the others are all good as well, it's just that they are not exactly what I'm craving for. I'm searching for a storyline centered on the main lead's mental acuity rather than any other virtues she may have. The main lead can be a valued adviser to a king who listens to her because of her insights, or maybe the main lead can be the queen who rules the land with wisdom. She could also be a war strategist or even a discerning wife to a noble man. An example of such a character would be Jhuge Liang's wife Yue Ying. It is said that she purposely spread rumors that she was butt ugly to weed out less intelligent suitors and later invented many new war "toys" that helped with her husband's strategies. Of course I got all that from playing Dynasty Warriors so I could be totally wrong about her. LOL Anyway that's just an example of what I meant when I said a wise main lead.

Bunny-chan, I had to google what bara meant and it scared me a little. I'm all for branching out and experiencing new things, but hot, steamy, raw, sweaty yaoi sex just isn't my thing... or is it? Maybe something for next time. For now, let's just focus on brainy heroines.

Joziess, thanks for your suggestion. But once again, it's not quite what I'm hoping for. I'm not sure if I'm asking for too much. Please let me know if I'm way over my head and is asking for something impossible.

I think you'll like Akagami no Shirayukihime. Apart from that..... maybe Mother Sarah?

And I'm not sure it fits the criteria, but I love Kanata Kara. So I second the rec.

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They say it's the thought that counts, but then they tell you, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions......"

Will no one scanlate Takahashi Miyuki?! T_T

Eoucoco, from what I gathered from the summary, Barairo My Honey doesn't look like what I was aiming for but still seems very interesting. I'll definitely give it a go. Also I've come across Midnight Secretary before but I never bothered to read it since I read from the reviews that the main female lead gets repeatedly "abused" by her boss and is a complete pushover. Furthermore, the main love interest happens to be a complete ass who likes to take advantage of all women. Unless I'm wrong on both accounts, I'm certain I would hate it with all my heart. Please let me know if I have the wrong idea about the manga.

Alannaeowyn, I think you're right. Akagami no Shirayukihime and Kanata Kara seem very good. They seem to have many of the elements I was craving for. Also what is Mother Sarah about? The summary seems rather vague. Thanks for all your suggestions. Please keep more coming.

Last edited by JerryShaw at 10:45 am, Nov 19 2009

No problem, I understand it's not really what you were looking for.
Just to add about midnight secretary, it's real that the vampire is a real jerk: he meets many women because he needs their blood and don't like his secretary at first because she has no sex appeal. We're still not in the kind of manga were the girl is a real crybaby .

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Aja Aja Fighting!!!!!

Running Through the City In the Sunset
ES
Otoyomegatari It's seinen but I find it very tasteful
Maybe Diamond Head
Maybe Suki-tte Ii na yo
Maybe Seduction More Beautiful Than Love

what ML mean

ML means main lead

Anyways... Maybe try Kare Kano?
Akuma to Love Song -- I'm not sure if you'll like the main lead, but she is certainly not a typical shoujo heroine
Dengeki Daisy -- I second this.

Well, that's all I can think about for now.


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Okay, then how about these.

Sapuri
Kimi wa Petto

In both, the women are educated and have a hard time finding a guy because of that.

I haven't gone far with them yet, but they both had really good reviews.

sounds a lot like Saiunkoku Monogatari. Have you tried it?

also, Four Daughters of Armian. This is one of the best manga I've read! About 4 princess of Armian. The oldest will inherit the throne judging by her talent but the youngest is said to be the one who shall inherit the throne and there should only be one who be the queen. One shall prevail while other perish... Definitely recommend it!

Yokohama Monogatari: it's the celebration of feminism at Meiji Era. And also other works by the same author

Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou is definitely must read if you haven't

Hana no Namae
Omake no Kobayashi kun
Silent Eye is pretty good. About a model turning to a photographer after her boyfriend's gone

second Miriam and Kanata Kara

also, try this link about non-genki shoujo lead
http://www.mangaupdates.com/showtopic.php?tid=14171&pa ge=2#post329063

Last edited by cliff at 10:37 pm, Nov 19 2009

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Help! I'm looking for... manga with dangerous guys http://www.mangaupdates.com/showtopic.php?tid=39874&pa ge=1#post594033

thanks crossyuuki