Romance Manga for Valentine’s Day: Must-Read Love Stories

Key Takeaways

In this romance manga guide, you will get to learn some of the most popular romance manga and understand what makes them truly viral. Manga fans can make this Valentine’s Day special by reading and sharing their favourite romance manga with their special ones. CCCI assists manga enthusiasts and publishers in writing and launching romance stories while adhering to the best industry practices.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Romance Genre in Manga
• Must-Read Mange You Should Know This Valentine’s Day
• Pro Tips
• Conclusion

Yes, it is cold outside, and it is the time of the year that is romantic, with lots of room to enjoy the holidays to the fullest. You might be like the romance manga fans around the world who are looking for love stories that have gone viral over the years. 

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to revisit some of the favorite romantic comedy manga or love stories. Doesn’t matter if you go after supernatural love stories or like some comic scenes between intense love; there are many stories that are worth reading for all. We have compiled some of the must-reads that focus exclusively on romantic relationships and feature romance and love as a major theme.

But before diving fully into the romance manga recommendations, let’s learn a bit about romance in manga.

Romance in manga is all about the depth of emotions going side by side with romantic relationships. It can typically be between a couple of love interests. The stories in romance manga discover themes such as first love, long-distance relationships, one-sided attachments, and overcoming obstacles in love. You might also see the struggles a couple face in building and maintaining a mutual and respected connection.

Here are some of the most popular romantic manga that captured the hearts and minds of romance manga fans worldwide.

In ‘I Want to Be a Wall’ by Honami Shirono, you can find a lavender marriage, which simply refers to a union between a man and a woman formed to hide the fact that one or both partners are queer. 

This manga explores this dynamic through Yuriko, who’s an asexual fan of Boys’ Love manga, and Gakurouta, a gay man who is quietly carrying feelings for his best friend. They both enter the marriage without romantic expectations, as the relationship did not start with love in the traditional sense. This romantic manga shows how companionship and care can come in multiple forms beyond conventional romance.

Love Is Hard for Otaku 

This series is a romantic comedy about relationships between adult otaku navigating work and their not-so-secret hobbies. 

Narumi tries to hide her obsessive manga fangirl side at the office until she runs into Hirotaka, who’s a serious gamer from her past and already knows her true self. They start dating because, honestly, it’s easier than pretending to be “normal” around other people. 

As the title suggests, ‘Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii’ lives up to its name, offering a promising and relatable take on romance for people with niche passions.

Here’s another romantic manga that you should add to your list, in which Chidori High and Kikyo Girls High sit side by side, yet they feel like worlds apart, with one carrying a rough reputation and the other serving elite families with polished expectations. 

Rintaro may look frightening at first glance, but he is gentle at heart, while Kaoruko carries an easy warmth that doesn’t quite fit the strict image of her school. As they grow closer, their connection develops in quiet moments shaped by judgment from classmates and pressure from social norms, which gives their romance a tender tension that feels especially right for Valentine’s Day reading.

Have you ever felt curious about a romance read that follows former troublemakers who are now trying to live calmer adult lives? ‘Catch These Hands’ brings fun in a heartfelt way. 

Takebe has decided to leave her rough delinquent past behind, even though she once dominated every fight with ease and now wants nothing more than a peaceful routine that keeps her away from chaos. That plan starts to fall apart when Soramori shows up again, the infamous Bloody Cardigan, who once stood as her rival and who now brings a completely unexpected confession instead of another challenge. Rather than throwing punches, Soramori wants to build something softer with Takebe, which turns their reunion into the beginning of an awkward and endearing romance. This manga by Murata may still be short in length, but it already captures the charm of two former delinquents stumbling through the early stages of affection in a way that feels especially relatable for readers who enjoy romantic stories with humor, heart, and a hint of a wild past.

After an injury leaves Rolando with a broken hand and costs him his job, he finds himself stuck in a heavy slump with no clear sense of where his life is headed.

Instead of finding comfort in romance, they discover motivation through working together as they rebuild Nera’s damaged food truck and decide to start a small business side by side. This read concentrates on two loners gradually creating direction for themselves and finding purpose through shared effort.

Kintetsu Yamada’s ‘Sweat & Soap’ has become one of the most talked-about romantic comedies in recent years because its premise feels refreshingly different from anything else in the genre. 

The story centers on Asako, who works at the popular fragrance company Lilla Drop, which already feels like a dream job since she genuinely adores their products. Everything shifts when her attractive boss begins talking about a scent he finds irresistible, which makes Asako wonder whether he could possibly be referring to her natural smell and what that might mean for someone who has spent so much time feeling ashamed of it. 

The series turns an office romance into something bold and oddly tender by exploring attraction through perfume scent and sweat, which are everyday human topics that rarely get treated with this much honesty or warmth.

Choosing the perfect romantic manga for Valentine’s Day revolves around matching the tone of the story to the mood you want to set. Here are some pro tips and manga romance recommendations that let you select the best romance manga, based on various preferences and themes.

• If you like watching pure and heartwarming romance, it is best to focus on classics such as ‘Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You’ or ‘A Sign of Affection’. And, if you love watching romance that is mature & emotional, go with ‘Nana’ or ‘Sweat & Soap’. 
• Valentine’s Day is the time to gift your loved ones, and nothing is better than gifting a physical volume that is thoughtful. Be sure to find a complete series like ‘Sweat & Soap’ or ‘Fruits Basket’ so they can easily enjoy the full story.
• Studios in the manga industry can reach out to CCCI to create their own manga stories. CCCI’s team has expertise in different genres and can craft your exact story from ideation to publication.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and people are looking for new ways to celebrate it to the fullest. For manga fans, a good read is a heaven that they read as well as share! The above-mentioned are the best romance manga recommendations that have grasped the attention of a significant number of readers globally. 

Romance Manga has earned the right spot among manga in the manga world, and with CCCI’s manga and comic services, manga creators and studios find a new way to stay in the manga news with new releases every year. 

Contact us today to create yours!