Romance Manga That Ruined My Chance at Finding Love

Have you ever read a love story and thought, "How will I ever find love even remotely compared to this?" Or the soul-crushing thought, "If my partner doesn't love me like this, how will I ever be satisfied?" I have. Definitely not all love stories make me feel that deep pit of envy, but here are three manga series that paint love in a way that reminds me how alone I am. (At least romantically.) On this list, there is a range of different couple types, so it has a little something for everyone. ♡

Sweat and Soap - written and illustrated by Kintetsu Yamada

♡GirlxBoy♡

Like a lot of manga, the premise for this romance is a bit strange. Our male love interest, Kotaro Natori, is a scent fiend. Asako Yaeshima, our female lead, is a timid woman with deep shame regarding her sweat and body odor. With both of them working at the same toiletry company, fate works in their favor by allowing their paths to cross in the form of Kotaro catching a whiff of Asako's sweat. Yes, so strange and every girl’s fear but, hear me out!

This story takes loving your partner’s scent to a whole new level, and as crazy as it sounds, I'm here for it. Many others have as well since it placed 2nd in the Tsutaya Comic Awards in 2019. Although the beginning is farfetched and there are lots of awkward moments that follow, the romance and commitment that unfolds are nothing but pure. The pace is steady, and the only things that stand in their way are their insecurities and doubt. No need to worry about a love triangle or a hidden fiancé in this one. The way Kotaro treasures and cares for Asako is downright enviable. Watching Asako's confidence grow through the thoughts of a woman with self-confidence issues is relatable and inspiring.

It's also the only love story on this list that features older characters who are part of the working class. Since both of the characters are adults, it was pleasant to see them merge their lives in a way that is relatable as well. There's only so much that I, as an adult with an ordinary life and a full-time job, can identify with in fantastical or high school romances. From moving in together to discussions of marriage and starting a family, this manga portrays a relationship flourishing naturally. (As natural as a story like this can get.)

19 Days - written and illustrated by Old Xian

♡BoyxBoy♡

Luckily for me, as someone who absolutely adores this storytelling style, we get two different couples to follow. Jian Yi and Zhan Zheng Xi are childhood friends who spend nearly every moment together. Their love is best described as suppressed, soft, and awkward but full of depth due to their long history and just how deeply they care for each other. On the other hand, the second romance is mostly driven by He Tian and his obsession with the bratty and defiant Mo Guan Shan. Their love is one-sided and reluctant, but actually, my favorite of the two as we find Mo Guan Shan bearing his raw and broken side to He Tian who would literally kill anyone who crosses his red-headed baby.

This story has a high school setting and features a series of hilarious slice-of-life moments with both couples. The situations they encounter are at times ridiculous, painfully tender, and sometimes violent. Although a deep overarching plot has yet to be revealed even 200 chapters in, the short snippets of their lives still keep the romance flowing and follow shorter storylines for each character. If anything, the biggest takeaway is each character’s development and how their growth directly impacts the relationship with the ones they care about most. Innocent isn't the right word to describe this story but it will definitely stir your heart with longing and envious sighs.

Although this story falls into the Chinese online manhua category, the colored panels and vertical flow of the story are a refreshing change from regular Japanese-style manga. A great bonus to the story is the fan art the artist produces on their Twitter! The art style can only be described as sharp, tender, and always giving. And I mean, giving the reader the sweet and sometimes compromising moments between the characters they want to see.

This story is not yet finished, but waiting for each chapter release has never been more exciting!

Old Xian Twitter: @old_xian

Whispering You a Love Song - written and illustrated by Eku Takeshima

♡GirlxGirl♡

This story begins with Himari Kino on her first day of high school. During the opening ceremony, she falls in love at first sight with an upperclassman, Yori Asanagi, who was singing with her band. Himari later runs into her and confesses her feelings at which Yori then also falls in love at first sight with her endearing underclassman. As the word 'love' is thrown back and forth, we realize that Himari's 'love' is not what we think, and a coming of age story featuring music, beautiful art, and chasing one's love unfolds.

As I am not a fan of the 'doubting my feelings' trope myself, I was surprised to find Himari's doubt was not rooted in her sexuality. It was rooted in the adolescent-like mindset of "What is love exactly?" In fact, the story never questions the fact that there are two girls in love and treats it like any other romance. I was waiting for the ball to drop but instead found so much acceptance and encouragement from their friends and peers it made me think, "This is exactly the content I want my children to see."

Let me just say this story is geared towards a younger audience. Not just for the high school setting but also for the way the characters think about relationships to the very casual and teen angst-filled way they speak with their friends—it never has a scene that is inappropriate for their age. Despite this, it's still one of my most heartfelt recommendations if you want to ruin love for yourself. Although high school settings are nothing new to me, high schoolers acting like actual high schoolers is. Romance manga often portrays characters as mature and place them in very adult situations. Through Himari's and Yori's eyes we find a love so innocent, it's almost toothache inducing. We find the root of what love possibly used to be like for us; plain and simple adoration.

After constantly being caught up in the stress of adult life where dating is treated like online shopping, it was simply revitalizing to find a love so pure. It was a reminder to recheck my standards and clean up my dating apps because if someone isn't going to love me like Yori, I don't want it.

Article edited by Rebeca Edwards and Lindsey Huddleston.