Yuri manga have long been not as popular as other genres and it is quite difficult to find good ones.
For years, yuri was one of the least represented anime and manga genres and was most often associated with negative stereotypes. Fans had to settle for debatable works that came out very rarely. Fortunately, the situation has changed significantly. And even though there are still fewer yuris than any other manga, their number is constantly increasing.
Newer yuris are filled with beautiful romances and complex themes presented from a slightly different perspective. Now, the choice is so varied that it is difficult to determine where to start. For this reason, we have created a list of the 20 best yuri manga you must read.
20. Sakura Trick
- Genres: Comedy, Slice of life, Romance
- Status: Finished
Yuu Sonoda and Haruka Takayama have been friends since middle school. Now, they go to high school together where they are even in the same class, but sit far from each other. Knowing that the school will close in three years, they decide to enjoy every moment. After a misunderstanding occurs between them, the two girls kiss and their relationship develops into something more than friendship.
Sakura Trick is a weirder manga that focuses on both romantic and social relationships between the characters. The focus is on the ordinary life of the main heroines without excessive drama and plot.
This manga also has an anime adaptation that came out in 2014 and is worth checking out.
19. Lonely Wolf Lonely Sheep
- Genres: Drama, Romance
- Status: Finished
Two girls with the same name meet by chance in the hospital. Both want to get to know each other, but to succeed and develop a relationship, they must face their insecurities.
This manga focuses on the development of a relationship that can save both girls from the problems that surround them. The two must trust each other in order to finally free themselves from the burden of the past and move on.
Lonely Wolf Lonely Sheep also has psychological elements that are very well developed in just a few chapters and make the characters feel alive. By reading this work, you are exposing yourself to tangible topics that may make you uncomfortable but are very much connected to the real world. On the other hand, you will feel a strong empathy for the protagonists and wish them the best.
18. YuruYuri
- Genres: Comedy, Slice of life
- Status: Publishing
Four girls illegally occupy the club room to make the “Amusement Club”. Despite all the warnings, these girls decide to stay in the room until they get up and do something. Through this unusual manga, we follow their lives.
YuruYuri is simply a feel-good story about girls who want to have fun. While there is no complex story and characters, the feeling of satisfaction and fun while reading this manga is guaranteed. Characters who are very likable contribute the most to this. The whole manga is addictive and hard to stop reading.
YuruYuri also has its 12-episode anime adaptation of the same name, which is worth watching.
17. She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat
- Genres: Slice of life
- Status: Publishing
Nomoto releases her stress by cooking. However, one evening she prepares much more food than she can eat, so she invites her neighbor Kasuga, who also lives alone, as a guest. This unplanned dinner becomes the beginning of a relationship that will continue to develop through delicious meals.
She Loves To Cook, She Loves to Eat is a work that keeps the readers’ attention with its simplicity and certainly deserves a place on the list of the best yuri manga. Although the story is nothing special, it will awaken the most beautiful feelings within you. This yuri manga guarantees you a good time and great food drawings.
16. I Love You So Much, I Hate You
- Genres: Drama, Romance
- Status: Finished
From the sidelines, Saori Fujimura and her boss Ayako Asano seem to have a strictly professional relationship. However, that changes when, after finishing their project, Ayako invites Saori for a drink. Saori gets drunk and confesses to her boss, after which they spend the night together. However, the next morning Ayako must return to her husband. Dissatisfied with their current situation, they decide to discover the source of their happiness.
I Love You So Much, I Hate You is a yuri manga that will push you to the edge in ways you never imagined. The themes that are included, such as cheating, getting to know yourself, and fighting the pressure of the environment, make this story feel so real that you don’t know how to react. The length of the manga also contributes to the quality because unnecessary details and over-dramatization are avoided.
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15. Our Teachers are Dating!
- Genres: Romance, Slice of life
- Status: Finished
Hayama and Terano work at the same school and have just started dating. The two are a bit shy when it comes to their relationship. However, all their colleagues, and even the students, cheer for them and their love.
Our Teachers Are Dating is the ideal manga for those who are sick of high school romance and want a non-toxic yuri with adult protagonists. The story is fun and full of beautiful moments. It definitely deserves to be on the best yuri lists.
14. Ikemen Girl to Hakoiri Musume
- Genres: Comedy, Romance
- Status: Finished
Satomi Ooguma has never been in love, at least until she meets Mizuki Kanda who she thinks is a guy. Kanda notices that and decides to play a prank on her, but instead of clearing the misunderstanding, the two go on a date.
Ikemen Girl to Hakoiri Musume is mostly popular among beginners because it shows all the sides of the yuri genre that you need to familiarize yourself with. Comedy is the dominant genre and the entire misunderstanding between the protagonists will make you laugh.
13. Ki ni Natteru Hito ga Otoko Janakatta
- Genres: Music, Romance
- Status: Publishing
Aya Osawaa is a high school girl who likes a guy from a music store. However, it turns out that this guy is actually her classmate, Mitsuki Koga. After a few comic interactions, the girls resolve this misunderstanding. However, Aya’s attraction to Mitsuki has not changed, and Mitsuki seems to have some feelings for her classmate as well.
Ki ni Natteru Hito ga Otoko Janakatta is a real refresher when it comes to yuri manga, both in terms of story and art style. This is another simple story about high school love, but with a little twist. The whole misunderstanding is very comical and will definitely make you laugh. Another big plus of manga is the music, that, even though you can’t hear, you can feel.
12. Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon
- Genres: Drama, Romance, Slice of life
- Status: Finished
Hinako Uno is a young woman who is pressured by her family and friends to find a lover. Therefore, she pays a lot of attention to her physical appearance in order to fit the image of an ideal woman. She believes that if she manages to make someone fall in love with her, she will be able to fall in love with herself, but of course, it doesn’t go according to plan and she feels like a failure.
On the other hand, her colleague, Asahi Satou gets custody of her sister and devotes herself completely to providing her sister with a good life. After two colleagues share a sensitive moment and open up to each other, they realize that this relationship is what they need.
This yuri manga deals with all those topics close to today’s person, which is why it is on the list of the best. The development of the story and complex characters was done with a lot of attention, and you’ll find yourself relating to the characters or at least their problems.
11. Aoi Hana
- Genres: Drama, Romance, Slice of life
- Status: Finished
Fumi Manjoume and Akira Okudaira were childhood best friends, but that changes when Fumi moves away. A few years later, Fumi returns to her hometown where she starts high school. There, she meets Akira again, but their relationship is not the same as it was. And while Fumi tries to figure out who she is, Akira wants to rebuild their relationship.
This yuri manga was considered a revolution when it first appeared. In a time when queer romance almost didn’t exist, Aoi Hana appeared like a miracle. Of course, the mere presence of lesbians is not enough to make this one of the best yuri manga. Unlike other romances where the development is slow and stereotypical, here the characters actually show their feelings and talk about them.
In addition, it is worth mentioning how relatable the female protagonists are, not only when it comes to their sexuality, but also in their day-to-day life.
This is another one of the few yuri mangas to have an anime adaptation.
10. Yuri is My Job
- Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Status: Publishing
Hime Shiraki is a girl with a perfect reputation whose goal is to be loved by everyone and become the trophy wife of a billionaire. Going down the stairs, she accidentally injures Mai, the cafe manager. Due to an injury, she is unable to work and Hime is forced to replace her. At an all-girl academy-themed cafe, all the staff loves her, except for one girl who threatens to ruin Hime’s perfect image.
The manga’s popularity skyrocketed after an anime adaptation was announced. The biggest charms of “Yuri is My Job” are the development of the relationship between the protagonists and the fun scenes that are caused by that relationship.
ALSO READ: Yuri is My Job Opening Theme Released
9. Girl Friends
- Genres: Drama, Romance
- Status: Finished
Mariko Kumakura is a shy girl who is isolated from the rest of the class due to her withdrawn personality. Outgoing Akiko Oohashi wants to change that by becoming her best friend. As they spend more and more time together, feelings begin to emerge that friends shouldn’t feel for each other.
Girl Friends is a classic when it comes to the yuri genre. It stood out for its story, which may seem like an ordinary high school romance, but is again highly relatable and will touch anyone who was in a similar situation. The characters are also seemingly simple, but if you pay enough attention to them, you can see the depth that brings them closer to the readers.
8. Gunjou
- Genres: Drama, Romance, Psychological
- Status: Finished
Soko Ezaki is abused by her husband. Unable to bear the violence any longer, she asks Chiyomi Otaka, a girl who has been in love with Ezaki since high school, to kill him. Unable to say no to the woman she loves, Otaka agrees.
Gunjou is not for everyone, both because of the complex emotions and themes, and the unique art style. It simply deviates so much from the standard yuri manga and you’ll have a hard time finding something similar. The reason for this is the fascinating characters that you will both love and hate. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
7. Still Sick
- Genres: Romance, Slice of life
- Status: Finished
Shimizu Makoto is a team leader at her job known for good work. However, what no one knows is that in her spare time, she likes to draw girls-love doujinshi. Her secret is discovered by her colleague, Akane Maekawa. Since then, the two girls have grown closer and developed feelings for each other.
Still Sick is another work that deviates from the standard high school love story. In addition to a very interesting relationship, this manga also offers everyday problems that adults deal with. Getting to know yourself, family relationships, and following your own dreams are just some of the topics that Still Sick deals with and shows in the most realistic way.
6. Adachi to Shimamura
- Genres: Romance, Slice of life
- Status: Publishing
Sakura Adachi and Hougetsu Shimamura skip class for their reasons and accidentally meet on the second floor of the school where they start meeting regularly. These two girls are different in many ways, but they manage to develop a friendship that slowly grows into something more.
The first thing readers notice about Adachi to Shimamura is the very slow pacing. But in this case, that’s not a bad thing. Thanks to the slow development of the story, everything feels more real, and you can see the complexity of the characters. The female protagonists are very different as people, so following their relationship is very interesting.
Adachi to Shimamura is originally a light novel and has its anime adaptation. There is also an older version of the manga from 2014, however, it doesn’t compare to the new 2019 manga.
5. Kase-san and…
- Genres: Comedy, Romance, Slice of life
- Status: Finished
Yui Yamada is a shy girl who spends her days with her small circle of friends and performing her duties as a “Plant Appointee”. One day, she meets the ace of the racing team, Tomoka Kasa. Although they are complete opposites, these girls manage to bond and develop a special relationship.
The Kase-san Series is a standard light-hearted romance about two completely different girls trying to develop a relationship. In order to succeed in this, they must harmonize their different ways of life and find understanding for each other. This is one easy read filled with nice scenes and good character development.
4. I’m in love with the Villainess
- Genres: Isekai, Romance, Comedy, Drama
- Status: Publishing
Rei Oohashi is an ordinary office worker who wakes up one day as Rae Taylor, the heroine of her favorite game, Revolution. In the game, she is surrounded by men who want her, but none can compare to the game’s villain, Claire François. In the original game, Claire bullies the heroine into getting close to a male character, but Rae wants Claire.
I’m in love with the Villainess is kind of an upturn when it comes to yuri manga. The reason for this is the departure from the slice-of-life genre and the introduction of a fantasy element. Although this is not the only fantasy or isekai yuri, it popularized this phenomenon. Thanks to that, as well as a great and funny story, “I’m in Love with the Villainess”, got a spot on the list of the best yuri manga.
3. Whisper me a love song
- Genres: Romance, Slice of life, Music
- Status: Finished
After a school ceremony where her band performed, Yori Asanagi meets Himari Kino, who declares her love for her. Not knowing what to do, Yori seeks the help of her friends. She decides to try to reciprocate these feelings, however, it turns out that Himari is not in love with Yori, but with her music.
This is another must-read that even those who don’t read yuri manga have heard of. Whisper Me a love song is a unique story about the different types of love that a person can feel. While in other romances the story starts from sympathy for a person, here enthusiasm for someone’s work is the driving force behind everything.
The story is the most wholesome thing you will see, and yet you will come across some more serious topics and intense scenes.
ALSO READ: Whisper Me A Love Song TV Anime Reveals First Promo Video
2. Hello! Melancholic
- Genres: Romance, Music, Slice of life
- Status: Finished
Minato Asano is a withdrawn student who plays the trombone amazingly and always tends to stay in the background. However, she somehow manages to attract the attention of her lively senpai, Hibiki, who forces her to become a member of the school band.
Hello! Melancholic is another in a series of musical yuri romances that have a twist. This time, the story’s protagonist is a very anxious person who cannot function normally in society. Therefore, apart from the development of the relationship between the main characters, there is also a great focus on the development of the protagonist, who faces her condition with the help of music and friends.
The story seems simple, but the complex characters bring this high school romance to the list of the best yuri manga.
1. Bloom Into You
- Genres: Drama, Romance, Slice of life
- Status: Finished
Yuu Koito always wanted to experience the love she saw in shoujo manga. However, when a classmate confesses his feelings to her, she feels empty and believes she is incapable of experiencing love. Now, Yuu is entering high school and doesn’t know how to respond to her suitor.
She seeks advice from Touko Nanami, the flawless student council president who dismisses other people’s feelings with ease. However, instead of advice, Yuu receives another confession that will be the beginning of a strange relationship between the two girls.
To say that Bloom Into You is the face of this genre would be an understatement. Although it is a work from 2015, this yuri manga has influenced the popularity of the genre like no other before. A great story, intriguing characters, and the reality of the situation they find themselves in, fully justify the popularity of Bloom Into You.
With this manga, a new era of yuri begins, full of new themes, characters, and stories that deviate from stereotypes. Overall, Bloom Into You is definitely the best yuri manga to date.
Conclusion
In addition to the ones mentioned, there are a couple of other series, that excelled as yuri anime. The most popular among them are Revolutionary Girl Utena, Strawberry Panic, and Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury.
There are also series like Happy Sugar Life which, although it is yuri, pays more attention to the psychological part of the story. However, the genre of anime that is particularly associated with yuri is magical girl anime. Since almost all the characters in them are women, lesbian relationships are not a surprise. Such anime are Sailor Moon and Madoka Magica.
All these series show different sides of relationships between women. Through them, we can see the lesbian experience from a new angle. Another thing that makes yuri special is the portrayal of things like mental health, everyday life, and even religion.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous Yuri manga?
There are a few yuri mangas with a large audience, such as BloomInto You, Whisper Me a love song, etc. But the most popular is probably Citrus.
Where to read Yuri manga online?
There are several legal sites where you can read yuri, and some have a couple of free manga. These are Lezhin Comics, INKR Comics, etc.
