GL for winners
Manga
I edit this list often.
Manga, 8 vol, 2015
Me:-
Author:10
Easily the best GL manga out there, a seriously great character drama that avoids most tropes, with great asexual/aromantic representation as well. Very realistic and well-written.
Manga, ? vol, 2018
Me:-
Author:10
This manga follows two young women in college who both accidentally admit to the other that they are lesbians, and end up dating due to the lack of potential partners they might find. A very accurate depiction of the struggles of being in a same-sex relationship in a prejudiced society. While there are some sweet and wholesome moments, this story follows the pain and struggles two young women as they navigate a college relationship while trying to keep it a secret, and move past their own difficulties.
This manga does include some minor and censored explicit scenes, however, they make sense in context and explore the feelings the two main leads feel for each other.
This manga does include some minor and censored explicit scenes, however, they make sense in context and explore the feelings the two main leads feel for each other.
Manga, 3 vol, 2018
Me:-
Author:10
A beautifully tragic tale about two women who used to date in high school reuniting as adults, each struggling to get by in their complicated lives. This is a very realistic story about overcoming abuse and getting away from it all, and broaches topics such as abusive relationships, homophobia, sexism, and societal ideals for women. This is also one of the only manga to have ever made me cry. This is a must-read for everyone, especially those looking for a grounded, adult romance about women just trying to get through life.
Includes some extremely mild sexual content, some nudity, and depictions of an abusive relationship.
Includes some extremely mild sexual content, some nudity, and depictions of an abusive relationship.
Manga, 4 vol, 2019
Me:-
Author:9
A fashionable office worker has spent her entire life believing something was wrong with her for not being able to fall in love. She has never enjoyed dates with men, and feels different from her friends for this reason. After a particularly bad day, she meets her stoic co-worker in a fateful encounter that might involve eating doughnuts under the crescent moon, and learns more about herself and her desires for her future.
This is a very realistic and sweet relationship between two office ladies that focuses on issues of sexism and societal ideals for women. It truly is a fantastic read, and I highly recommend it to those looking for a more mature, but still fluffy, GL romance.
This is a very realistic and sweet relationship between two office ladies that focuses on issues of sexism and societal ideals for women. It truly is a fantastic read, and I highly recommend it to those looking for a more mature, but still fluffy, GL romance.
Manga, ? vol, 2019
Me:-
Author:9
The story follows a lesbian high school senior who learns that her father has arranged a marriage between her and an older man who helped her father's company. After realizing there is no way for her to escape the situation, she decides to spend the rest of her last year of high school creating a sketchbook full of imaginary stories of queer romance about the people around her with the help of her best friend. The story follows the main lead as she draws the people around her who she imagines are in relationships, and then switches periodically to the people she has drawn and shows their true relationships with each other.
Manga, ? vol, 2021
Me:-
Author:9
A mouth-watering modern romance between two neighbors: one of whom loves to cook, the other of whom loves to eat! This is a wholesome read about two women who start a mutually beneficial relationship, and slowly fall in love. It manages to broach topics like societal ideals for women and the stigma against enjoying eating while still remaining a fluffy and cute read. I recommend this to everyone, especially those who love series about food!
Manga, 10 vol, 2019
Me:-
Author:8
A grounded manga about two women who meet and start a connection at a bar, only for one to learn that the other one is married. This is probably the best handling of cheating I have ever seen in any type of media, because the series does not try to excuse the actions of the characters, and doesn't drag out any scenes. The characters come clean very early on, and the story is mostly about navigating complicated familial and romantic relationships. I recommend this series to anyone who would like a more grounded take on the cheating trope, or who are looking for stories largely about family dynamics.
Manga, 3 vol, 2018
Me:-
Author:9
Historical drama about a forbidden romance between an immigrant maid and a wealthy lady. Very melodramatic, but does reflect the judgement at the time.
Manga, 2 vol, 2018
Me:-
Author:8
A story about two elderly women who both loved each other, but who never were able to be together due to the poor decisions each one made. It is told in achronological order, with the first chapter featuring our two main protagonists as old women, and each chapter going back several years until the story shows how they first met. This is a story about regrets, bad decisions, and a love that never came to fruition. I recommend this to those looking for an introspective story about looking back to the past and regretting what could have been, from a queer perspective.
Manga, 1 vol, 1989
Me:-
Author:9
A classic manga about two former high school best friends meeting as adults, one of whom is on her way to be married. This is a painfully realistic manga about regrets, overcoming abuse, overcoming heteronormativity, and coming to terms with queerness.
Includes some sexual content, some nudity, and depictions of an abusive relationship.
Includes some sexual content, some nudity, and depictions of an abusive relationship.
Manga, 2 vol, 1998
Me:-
Author:8
A short manga about a love between two high school girls: one of whom was never loved enough, the other of whom was always loved too much. This is a story tackling mental illness, and the trauma inflicted on children by parental abuse. It is a story about finding solidarity in dark times, and learning to love oneself.
Includes depictions of self-harm, suicidal ideation, and parental abuse.
Includes depictions of self-harm, suicidal ideation, and parental abuse.
Manga, 1 vol, 2016
Me:-
Author:8
Author memoir about dealing with mental illness and learning to accept one's sexuality. Quick read, and has a sequel, "My Solo Exchange Diary". Does contain minor sexual content that is not graphic.
Manga, 1 vol, 2018
Me:-
Author:7
Wholesome romance between a workaholic office lady and her professional artist best friend. Discusses issues of sexism and homophobia from families as well.
Manga, 3 vol, 2018
Me:-
Author:8
Wholesome romance between two office workers, one of which is secretly a GL doujinshi artist. Short and sweet, and does delve into the issues manga artists face.
Manga, 2 vol, 2019
Me:-
Author:7
Cute girl thinks cool girl is a boy, they date and she realizes she is wrong. Short and sweet. Includes a small amount of censored nudity.
Manga, 5 vol, 2006
Me:-
Author:8
This is a classic high school yuri romance. While it isn't the best GL of all time, it definitely deserves its place as a series that heavily influenced much of the work that came after it.
The story follows two high school girls, an outgoing gyaru with a love for fashion and a quiet, lonely girl, who start an unlikely friendship that slowly evolves into love. It is full of lots of drama, misunderstandings, and plenty of classic tropes, but what stands out the most is the realistic internal monologue of the girls as they navigate their crushes for each other.
Includes some minor amounts of sexual content and nudity.
The story follows two high school girls, an outgoing gyaru with a love for fashion and a quiet, lonely girl, who start an unlikely friendship that slowly evolves into love. It is full of lots of drama, misunderstandings, and plenty of classic tropes, but what stands out the most is the realistic internal monologue of the girls as they navigate their crushes for each other.
Includes some minor amounts of sexual content and nudity.
Manga, ? vol, 2018
Me:-
Author:10
A fantastic fantasy manga following the unlikely relationship between two young women attending a boarding school for child soldiers. The story has powerful anti-war messages, and broaches the topic of war in a respectful and serious light. I highly recommend this manga, it balances the romance and fantasy war aspects very well.
Includes some depictions of violence, injuries, and blood.
Includes some depictions of violence, injuries, and blood.
Manga, 6 vol, 2020
Me:-
Author:9
A serious manga about the relationship between a girl who is looking forward to the future, and a girl who is hung up on the past. This series is largely about apologies and forgiveness, and I highly recommend this to fans of A Silent Voice. It is best to go into it blindly.
Includes depictions of suicidal ideation, bullying, and terminal illness.
Includes depictions of suicidal ideation, bullying, and terminal illness.
