GL Manga in 2024–2025: A Golden Age
Girls love manga — also called GL or yuri — has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade. Where the genre once consisted primarily of bittersweet high school romances with ambiguous endings, today's GL manga spans everything from joyful adult romances to psychologically complex narratives that rival the best of any genre.
If you've dismissed GL as "not your thing" or haven't checked in recently, this list is for you.
Best New GL Manga (2023–2025)
The Moon on a Rainy Night — Kuzushiro
The most acclaimed GL manga of 2024. Follows Kanon, a girl who is hard of hearing, as she meets Kaya, who is obsessed with music. The manga handles deafness and musical experience with genuine research and sensitivity, and the romance that develops is anchored in two characters who feel like real people.
Multiple year-end "best of" lists named this the standout GL title of 2024. The emotional intelligence on display is exceptional.
Best for: Readers who want romance with genuine depth and careful character construction.
The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy At All
One of the most-talked-about GL titles of 2025, trending on social media for its vibrant art and fun energy. A music-themed story about a girl who falls for someone she assumed was a boy — and the delightful, warm story that unfolds from that discovery. Charming and accessible.
Best for: New GL readers, fans of music-themed romance, anyone who wants something bright and heartfelt.
I Can't Say No to the Lonely Girl
Long-awaited in English translation, this title arrived in 2024 and immediately became a fan favorite. Complicated emotions, morally grey dynamics, and beautiful art make it one of the more emotionally challenging GL reads — in the best way.
She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat
An adult GL manga that celebrates domestic intimacy and food as a language of love. Two women — one who loves to cook, one who loves to eat — develop a bond that becomes something more. Warm, grounded, and genuinely adult in its emotional register without being explicit.
Best for: Adult readers who want romance without the high-school drama.
Classic GL Manga (Essential Reading)
Kase-san and Morning Glories — Hiromi Takashima
The gold standard for sweet, wholesome GL manga. Two high school girls — shy garden-club Yamada and athletic Kase-san — navigate their first relationship with humor, tenderness, and the specific anxiety of being young and in love. Has an OVA adaptation. Absolutely essential.
Citrus — Saburouta
The gateway GL manga for a generation. Two step-sisters, intense rivalry, complicated feelings. Dramatically plotted and the title responsible for introducing many Western readers to GL. Has an anime adaptation. Required reading for understanding how GL manga works.
Sweet Blue Flowers (Aoi Hana) — Takako Shimura
Quiet, literary, and beautifully melancholy. Two childhood friends reconnect in high school and navigate first love with the nuance of a literary novel. Shimura is one of the most respected GL authors in the industry and this is her masterwork.
Bloom Into You (Yagate Kimi ni Naru) — Nio Nakatani
One of the most emotionally sophisticated GL manga ever written. Yuu has never felt the rush of romantic love she reads about — until she meets Touko, who is loved by everyone but can't love herself. The exploration of asexuality, identity, and what love can mean beyond the conventional script is handled with remarkable care. Has an excellent anime adaptation.
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