So lately I've been addicted to yaoi manga, and I haven't gotten much shoujo reading in. I'm not dissing yaoi fangirls/boys (I'm one too, you know) but I really want to read some shoujo. There's something about girl's love that's so nice.
However, I have some requirements for the heroine (or female love interest, in case it's a male point of view)
1. Cannot be an idiot
There's all these mangas where a girl is acting like an idiot. Maybe she's really violent, or she let's people walk all over her because she's "too nice". It's okay if she's love ignorant though. That's the kind of idiot I mean.
Bad Ex: Akuma de Sourou or Junai Tokkou Taichou! or Special A
2. For most of the plot, cannot be "fighting" with the male lead.
Though I have read these, I'm kind of sick of where the male and female lead "hate" each other and randomly fall in love.
Bad Ex: Hana Yori Dango
Cool heroines would be:
Kanako from Koi Dano Ai Dano
Mei from Sukitte Ii na Yo
Kiri from Beauty Pop
Mafuyu from Oresama Teacher
Even Hime from Seiyuu-ka!
Other requirements:
Art style: Cannot be old fashioned: see SHINOHARA Chie or HWANG Mi Ri manhwa.
Also cannot have a weird use of toner like Gakuen Alice

Ao Haru Ride has beautiful art and an amazing female lead. Hope you like it! ^^

I can't say much about the screentones in these series that I'll be listing, because I never had issues of the screentones with Gakuen Alice. I had more issues with the artwork, itself, than the toning. ^__^; In terms of the year, all of these manga are made from year 2000, and up. (For Hwang Mi-Ri, I think it's more to do with her art-style rather than being "old-fashioned" in her manhwa. O_o)

Several shoujo works by ANDOU Natsumi. What I found attractive about her work are the strong female protagonists even when they're at their weakest points. Some of them could be written off as "typical" shoujo, but at least, Natsumi stays away from love triangles (-- Kitchen Princess' cheerful main character never got jealous over love. That was a PLUS in my book. --) and girls remaining with popular "school princes".

Skip Beat! is a fun read with the main character bearing a grudge against the non-main male character.

Penguin Brothers - The main protagonist is not scared of being bullied. (Btw, the ending is open ended in the romance department. I don't mind...)

Hiiro no Isu - The main character is a tomboy. It's an adventure type of story and romance isn't really a big factor here. Heard of Natsume's Book of Friends? Same mangaka.

Siesta - This may be stretching a little of your second requirement, because the two main characters don't easily get along in the beginning. However, the main female character really does develop and sees the "light" that the main male character shows when everyone else instantly judged him for who they think he is. The main male character is definitely arrogant, but he's like that because I recommend this story because of the strong female lead and well, this is done by my favorite manhwaga. ^^; Hehe...

Shiawase Kissa 3-choume - This is a cute shoujo. One of the few exceptional "harem" stories that I read, where I really don't see much of it as a harem since it focuses mainly on two characters. (It's quite obvious who the main female character is going to end up with among all the character stories.) It features a strong female lead, who can be a little oblivious when mis-hearing things, but she's likeable in my book.

Tennen Pearl Pink - Aside from the age-gap, this was one sweet series to read/buy. ^^; Everyone's likeable.


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I've already tried this one, but I thought Kou was way too annoying. Thanks for the suggestion though!

These are really great suggestions. I've already read Skip Beat! And Penguin Brothers (I like Skip Beat! better).
I've read some of Andou Natsumi's works, but they didn't really appeal to me.
Otherwise, I think I'll try reading all of your other suggestions; except I should do my homework now.
Thank you very much!

You're welcome! ^_^ Yeah, focus on all your work first.

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Orange by Takano Ichigo
Six Half
Love So Life
Hirunaka no Ryuusei
Hibi Chouchou
Horimiya
Kyou no Kira-kun
Dengeki Daisy

These are some good suggestions. I'll try Kyou no Kira-kun and Six Half. They look interesting.
I'm already reading Love So Life, Hibi Chouchou, and Dengeki Daisy. I'm reading Horimiya, but it's actually shounen. But it really does seem like a shoujo manga.
I've tried Orange (TAKANO Ichigo) but the past-future thing didn't really hit it off with me. And I don't like reading student-teacher, so I won't be reading Hirunaka no Ryuusei. But other than that I definitely agree on your suggestions.

Kimi wa Petto ~ MC is awesome, art is gorgeous, and it's the perfect mixture of seriousness and fun. It's josei though. Oh and it's not like Sumire hates Momo... It's just a heavy dose of friend zone... Or should I say pet-zone?

Nineteen, Twenty-One ~ once again, awesome MC, gorgeous art(fully colored!), and perfect mix. I found it bittersweet. And who doesn't love cats with their romance? Nya~

Ichigo no Gakkou ~ great MC! Nice mix! Only problem? Art is sketchy. Not sure if it's your cup of tea. Very bittersweet.

That's all I can offer =( Most shoujo/romance I read are either dark or not exactly... Romance.

________________
I am vindicated!
I am selfish;
I am wrong!
I am right,
I swear I'm right.
Swear I knew it all along
And I am flawed!
But I am cleaning up so well
I am seeing in me now
The things you swore
You saw yourself...

~"Vindicated" by Dashboard Confessional

I loved nineteen, twenty-one, and Ichigo no gakkou (even if it was seinen).
I've seen the live action for Kimi wa Petto, and I can say it doesn't really appeal to me. But thank you for all your suggestions!

kiss/hug
14-sai no koi
W juliet


Hidarite no Love Letter-fluffy one shot

well... these manga ain't very new but i think they fit your criteria...

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🙂

other new(er) shoujos:
Taiyou no Ie as shoujo reader you should know this already
Hajimari no Niina
Hana to Rakurai
Namida Usagi - Seifuku no Kataomoi
Nijiiro Days (MIZUNO Minami)
Pika Ichi

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in need of romance?
uncommon, sad, sweet

i've noticed that you don't have Kodocha on your lists, so try this one ^^
also Saboten no Himitsu

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lιvιɴɢ ιɴ α yαoι woɴderlαɴd
-QaF-

I'm going to second Nijiiro Days! I absolutely love the art, and the characters are all adorable. The female love interest is really nice as well.

I also liked these ones:
Last Game - This is super cute and a lot better than what the summary leads you to believe!!
Joou no Hana - Both main characters are really great...though no too much has been released yet!
Akagami no Shirayukihime - I read this a long while ago and need to catch up...but as i remember I really enjoyed it.
Hanatsukihime - I read this ages ago so all I can really remember is that I liked it...haha. It's short but good.
Sarashi Asobi - A good supernatural romance. The main character is a bit tsundere, but I still liked her.
Kyou mo Ashita mo - There is an age-gap! There isn't many chapters out yet, so I'm not really sure the direction this manga will take, but so far its very sweet with not a super strong focus yet on the romance.

Well, hopefully at least one of those looks okay.

These aren't exactly new - I just figured you were looking for something new to you:
Beauty is the Beast - one of my favorites, definitely love ignorant. If you like it, try the other works of MATSUMOTO Tomo
MARS - I didn't see this on your lists, but you may have read it.
Baby Pop - a girl and her stepfather, but it does not go that way
Stroke Material - told from the POV of the guy, she is a cool beauty and he is an idiot, very funny and a little smutty