7 Manhwa To Read If You Like Shojo Manga & Anime

What’s better than a light story to read after a long, hard day in real life? Blowing off some steam with something refreshing while indulging oneself with a fluffy romance with the right amount of plot, comedy, and drama. Manhwa (or the Korean version of manga) offers a refreshing take on the shoujo genre with its usually colored art and relatable characters.

For those who want to venture into new experiences, there are many manhwa that are perfect for shoujo manga enjoyers who run out of reading material. Readers should note, however, that Manhwa are slightly different. Oftentimes, manhwa incorporate Korean culture into the plot, so it can be just as enjoyable for those who also want to learn about other East Asian cultures.

7 Our Secret Alliance

The Childhood Friend Trope Done In Manhwa

• Released: January 18, 2022
• Author & Illustrator: Cakenyam
• Genre: Romance

Nothing screams “shoujo” more than the childhood friends trope, and that is what Our Secret Alliance offers to its readers. Se-i Yun and Jaeha Kim are childhood friends who are drifting apart due to a circumstance in the past. However, now that they are both model high school students, they are forming an alliance. This surprising alliance was formed because they both have strict parents who never let their kids out of their eagle eyes.

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Their alliance is not a typical one, as they are also (fake) dating. The conflict is centered around how their secret alliance will turn out, how they are going to address the issue that caused them to drift apart in the first place, and whether they will date for real at the end.

6 A Good Day To Be A Dog

A Combination Of Shoujo And The Supernatural

• Released: August 6, 2017
• Author & Illustrator: Lee Hey
• Genres: Romance, Fantasy

Supernatural meets shoujo and comedy can be said to be stress relieving at its best, as exemplified in A Good Day to Be a Dog. The protagonist, Han Hae-na, is unlucky. She suffers from a family supernatural curse that ruins all her relationships. The curse isn’t a deadly one, but it is not a normal one either. It causes her to turn into a dog every night whenever she kisses someone.

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To break the curse, she has to kiss the same person who kissed her in the first place. Although it sounds easy, it is not. She got drunk and kissed Jin Seon, a coworker of hers who is super scared of dogs. With her curse revealed, the conflict revolves around how she is going to solve her problems.

5 What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?

A Mature Shoujo Story Within A Manhwa Setting

• Released: June 28, 2016
• Authors: Kim Myeongmi & Jung Kyung-Yoon
• Illustrator: Kim Myeong-mi
• Genres: Comedy, Romance

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? is the perfect shoujo manhwa for those looking for a slightly mature story within the shoujo realm. This manhwa tells the story of Lee Young Joon, the perfect young executive who has it all. He is nearly too perfect. He has looks, intelligence, wealth, and most importantly, he has a very reliable secretary on his side. Miso Kim is the only one who fits Young Joon’s perfectionist tendencies, and they have been supporting each other side by side in the field they are working in.

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However, out of nowhere, Secretary Kim is now resigning from her position, hoping to start her own life. Young Joon does not want to let her go, not only because of her work ethic, but because there is something deeper that he has to tell Secretary Kim. All of its plot elements are a hallmark example of a shoujo plot that is wrapped nicely in a manhwa format.

4 See You In My 19th Life

A Shoujo Story With An Isekai Twist

• Released: June 6, 2020
• Author & Illustrator: Lee Hey
• Genres: Romance, Fantasy

Another great read from the same author of A Good Day to be A Dog, See You in My 19th Life tells a romance story but with a twist of reincarnation. While the isekai genre is quite well-versed in both the manhwa and manga mediums, this particular manhwa offers a refreshing take. Ban Ji-eum is no ordinary girl. This life is the 19th time she has been reborn into the world. The strangest part is that she remembers everything from her past lives, including the one where she had a romantic relationship.

The only thing that she needs to do now is live her best life despite knowing that, in her past 18 lives, tragedy has always come for her, resulting in her passing away very young. The isekai plot and romance elements make this manhwa an incredibly engaging read for shoujo fans.

3 Positively Yours

The Classic Shoujo Romance Triangle In Manhwa

• Released: June 8, 2020
• Author: Lee Jung
• Illustrator: Kang ki
• Genres: Drama, Romance

Heewon’s crush is now dating her best friend. Saddened by this, she decides to just let everything go and has an incredibly wild night. After a one-night stand with a stranger she meets in a bar, she becomes pregnant. To make matters worse, she doesn’t even know who the handsome stranger is.

However, it does not deter Dojoon’s strong will to take responsibility, and he proceeds to marry her due to his love for Heewon. Although Positively Yours carries a more adult theme, this manhwa never crosses its line and is the perfect read for shoujo lovers. It is light, fun, and features a perfect male lead.

2 A Business Proposal

Romance Meets Corporate Life

• Released: Sep 19, 2018
• Author: HaeHwa
• Illustrator: Narak
• Genres: Drama, Romance

A Business Proposal tells a story about Kang Tae-Moo, a handsome and rich CEO who is pressured to get married by his grandfather. A potential wife is Jin Young-Seo, but she is definitely not ready to get married yet. In an attempt to scare her suitors away, her best friend, Shin Hari-Ri, takes her place and creates an absurd persona every time.

When she met Kang Tae-Moo, she was dressed in a “not dateable” outfit with thick makeup and a pink wig. She even acted very wildly, putting on a ridiculous comedic persona to push him away. However, Kang Tae-Moo seems to be very unbothered by this. He even proposed to her while still believing that she was the real Young-Seo. The mix-up of mind games and romance makes this a must-read for fans of the shoujo genre.

1 True Beauty

A Shoujo Story That Features Coming-Of-Age And Slice-Of-Life Elements

• Released: April 2, 2018
• Author & Illustrator: Yaongyi
• Genres: Romantic Comedy, Slice-of-Life

One of the most shoujo manhwa to ever exist, True Beauty is the perfect read for those who enjoy topics such as insecurities, makeup, and high school romance. Jugyeong Lim has always been looked down upon by her peers due to her unkempt appearance. The bullying got so bad that she tried her best to leave her past life and transform herself with the power of makeup.

Although she was very bad at makeup in the beginning, by the time she started high school, just like a butterfly, her beauty blossomed. She turned into a high school goddess and amassed a lot of adorers, although she swears to keep her bare face a secret. However, everything changed when Lee Su-ho, the handsome new student, entered her life. From its fascinating plot to its loveable male leads, fans of the shoujo genre are sure to enjoy what True Beauty brings to the table.

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