The Best Romance Manga That Ended In 2024

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Key Takeaways

  • Completed romance manga of 2024 offer diverse and emotional stories, from bold confessions to gritty realism.
  • Themes range from acceptance of teen pregnancy to supernatural romances with vampires, showcasing unique love narratives.
  • Despite translation delays, fans can still enjoy heartwarming and bittersweet tales that explore love and self-discovery.

As a long-time enthusiast of romantic manga, I must say that this list has truly captured my heart and sparked my imagination. It’s as if these stories were crafted just for me! Each tale unfolds with such depth, emotion, and intrigue that it’s impossible not to become invested in the lives of their characters.

As we’re deep into December and the festive season, it means that 2024 is nearly over and the new year, 2025, is just around the corner. This will mark halfway through the 2020s decade, a period that has been quite challenging so far, with no signs of a smooth start for 2025 either. However, it’s important to remember that hard times don’t last forever and there’s always room for finding pleasure in life’s simple moments.

2022 marked the conclusion of several beloved romance manga series, either in their original Japanese publications or through English translations. Although these stories have reached their ends, it’s now possible for romantic comic enthusiasts to immerse themselves in the complete narratives from start to finish. Ranging from delightful rom-coms to poignant dramas, these manga series are the best completed romance reads of 2022, offering a satisfying conclusion that every fan can appreciate.

10. You Are Too Naïve, My Sweetheart!

MyAnimeList Score: 7.58

  • Creator: Akari Hatta
  • 7 Volumes, 28 Chapters
  • Fan Translations only

In some problematic relationships, the rough characters are made to retreat when faced with their gentle partners’ charm. However, in stories like “You Are Too Innocent, My Darling“, the roles reverse, and the passionate character, Sutaka, aggressively declares his love for Nana, doing so openly and boldly. This may cause her discomfort.

Nana has a fondness for love stories and manga targeted at girls, but finds actual romantic encounters overwhelming. The mere contact with the opposite gender makes her heart race and nerves fray. Therefore, when Sutaka openly expresses his feelings towards her, it’s nearly too much to bear. In essence, it’s a charming narrative that concluded in January 2024.

9. Love’s In Sight

MyAnimeList Score: 7.59

  • Creator: Uoyama
  • 8 Volumes, 127 Chapters
  • Available in English via Viz Media

In my gaming world, I’ve found that not every rough-around-the-edges character is truly rotten. Take the story of “Love’s in Sight,” for instance. Here, a legally blind girl named Yukiko bravely navigates through the intimidating exterior of Morio, the infamous ‘Black Panther.’ Instead of seeing an all-out jerk, she discovers a tender soul hidden beneath the tough guy persona. That’s what makes Morio endearing to readers like me.

Typically, Morio exhibits delinquent behavior that makes others recoil at first sight, or even fear him due to his fighting prowess. Yet, Yukiko manages to bypass these intimidating factors by failing to recognize the threatening aura around him and treating him as an ordinary individual instead. This unexpected kindness endears Morio deeply, leading him to develop feelings for her and strive to safeguard her. The final volume of this series was translated completely and published in September 2024.

8. My Girlfriend’s Child

MyAnimeList Score: 7.74

  • Creator: Mamoru Aoi
  • 10 Volumes, 37 Chapters
  • Available in English via Seven Seas Entertainment

In every heartwarming love tale and dramatic romance, you’ll find a story that delves deeper into the raw, authentic aspects of love. The manga My Girlfriend’s Child explores the repercussions of teen pregnancy as Sachi learns that her relationship with Takara has led to an unexpected turn of events – she’s pregnant. Facing this life-altering situation won’t be easy, but she won’t have to navigate it alone. This manga handles its subject matter sensitively, refraining from passing judgment on its characters.

In simpler terms, Sachi carefully considers her choices and strives to manage them effectively. Furthermore, the story primarily follows Sachi’s point of view due to her being the one with the baby (which is fitting). The English translation of this manga is still in progress, but Sachi and Takara’s challenging predicament was resolved by November 2024 in the original manga.

7. The Fallen Student And The Hopeless Teacher

MyAnimeList Score: 7.88

  • Creator: sora
  • 20 Volumes, 141 Chapters
  • Fan Translations only

The title “The Fallen Student and the Hopeless Teacher” is not yet officially used for “Tsuiraku JK to Haijin Kyōshi”, as it hasn’t been adopted by Yen Press, Seven Seas, or any other English publishing company at the time of writing. This manga depicting a tragic romance between a suicidal high school student and her lazy teacher did gain a live-action drama in June 2024, which coincided with the publication of its final chapter.

In a difficult moment, after being turned down by her admirer, Mikoto contemplated taking her own life. However, Jin, the teased physics teacher, intervened and inquired casually about her intentions. Rather than forbidding her from acting, he proposed a date first, allowing her to decide later if her life was worth continuing. This scenario might appeal to readers who enjoy bittersweet romantic tales with an edge of taboo.

6. Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible

MyAnimeList Score: 7.90

  • Creator: Nene Yukimori
  • 12 Volumes, 152 Chapters
  • Available in English via Viz Media and MANGA Plus

The manga titled “Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible” concluded in 2023 for Japanese readers. However, for those who aren’t fluent in Japanese or didn’t follow fan translations, the final English issue published by Viz Media was released in March 2024. This is where they discovered whether Junta continued to be a non-playable character (NPC) in his life, or if Kubo managed to transform him into the main character he deserved to be. Often, due to his quiet nature, people tend to overlook Junta and consider him more as a crowd or background figure.

Initially, I’ve been comfortable with my reserved nature and preferred to keep a low profile. However, that changed when Kubo, my classmate, started reaching out and attempted to bring me out of my comfort zone. Typically, he would poke fun at me, but it was all in good spirits as the manga we both love is essentially a heartwarming story about love and self-confidence growth.

5. All About My Two Dads

MyAnimeList Score: 7.91

  • Creator: Roji
  • 2 Volumes, 12 Chapters
  • Available in English via Media Do International/Animate International

On MyAnimeList, it’s stated that the publication of “All About My Two Dads” is ongoing, but its final chapter was included with its second volume, which came out early in 2024. Unfortunately, pinpointing an exact release date can be challenging since many search results lead to its first translated volume or discuss the old sitcom “My Two Dads” instead. Despite the annoyance of searching, this series is definitely worth seeking out.

This story follows the journey of Nao and Ai, a same-sex couple, as they embark on family life after the legalization of same-sex marriage. As they nurture Hiro, a child they adopted, they discover more about each other while navigating the ups and downs of parenthood. The manga has been widely praised, often being hailed as one of the most heartwarming portrayals of a queer couple in comic form.

4. The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses

MyAnimeList Score: 8.04

  • Creator: Koume Fujichika
  • 12 Volumes, 120 Chapters
  • Available in English via Comikey and Square-Enix’s Manga UP!

The stereotype of ‘the unattractive person transforming into a beauty without glasses’ is so outdated that mocking it has become a commonplace joke. In the movie “That Touch of Mink” from 1962, this was portrayed when the secretary removed her glasses and let down her hair to reveal… someone with a lot of squinting hidden beneath their tangled tresses (“It always works in the movies”). However, what if someone found them appealing regardless?

Kaede finds himself smitten with his classmate Ai, even as she often leaves her glasses behind. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, his feelings for her remain strong. Since she frequently relies on him for navigation, he emerges as the sort of man she desires, both figuratively and literally. The final instalment was published in June 2024; however, its English translation’s release date remains undetermined at this point.

3. Teasing Master (Former) Takagi-san

MyAnimeList Score: 8.08

  • Creator: Mifumi Inaba
  • 23 Volumes, 319 Chapters
  • Fan Translations only

Translating manga can be a time-consuming process, especially when it comes to officially published and distributed volumes like “Teasing Master Takagi-san”. The original series concluded in October 2023, but the final tankobon wasn’t compiled until January 2024. The English version of this manga won’t be available until March 2025. This might seem strange to those who have been reading fan translations of its sequel, “Teasing Master (Former) Takagi-san”.

In this new version, we find Nishikata and Takagi as adults, married, and parents of a girl named Chi who bears a strong resemblance to her mother. Despite Takagi’s efforts to play pranks on her, she remains skillful at outsmarting her. On the other hand, Nishikata continues to struggle against both his wife and daughter but would never trade them for anything else. This heartwarming sequel to the original manga concluded with its final tankobon in October 2024.

2. Call Of The Night

MyAnimeList Score: 8.17

  • Creator: Kotoyama
  • 20 Volumes, 203 Chapters
  • Available in English via Viz Media

There are numerous stories about supernatural love affairs, frequently centered around vampires. Works like “Dracula” and subsequent novels have popularized these creatures, luring both characters and readers with the allure of a darker existence. In essence, “Call of the Night” follows this trend, as a disillusioned high school student named Kou decides to quit school for night wandering, ultimately transforming his life in a significant way.

In a different life, he encounters Nazuna, a vampire known for her fondness for alcohol and bawdy jokes, who introduces him to the luxuries of the afterlife. Later on, Kou yearns to abandon his human existence and be with her. However, to achieve this, he needs to develop feelings for her. This emotional journey peaked in January 2024, although the final English edition won’t be released until 2025. It’s hoped that this will coincide with the second season of its anime adaptation.

1. The Summer You Were There

MyAnimeList Score: 8.59

  • Creator: Yuama
  • 6 Volumes, 32 Chapters
  • Available in English via Seven Seas Entertainment

It seems like eons ago when “The Summer You Were There” concluded its story, with its final chapter having been published in January. However, it’s not until the end of January 2025 that the last officially translated volume will be available. The narrative revolves around a solitary student named Shizuku, who penned an entire girls’ love novel she prefers to keep hidden.

Initially, Kaori, the school’s most beloved student, unexpectedly discovered and read it. Shizuku anticipated her harsh reaction, but instead, Kaori expressed affection for it and challenged Shizuku to either compose a Girls’ Love story about them or go out on a date with her. It’s unclear whether she was joking or sincere; the audience will have to wait until the final chapters of this series to find out, as its narrative keeps readers in suspense and heightens the tension.

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2024-12-08 20:04