After Hours
by Yuhta Nishio

2017, Complete
Published in english by Viz Media

This is one of my favorite volumes, I think. A struggling college washout hooks up with a captivating DJ and both women start to find a new path in life through each other. There's such a fantastic sense of temperature in this book; the cold winter giving way to a deep warmth in Kei and Emi's relationship, and the ongoing tension between their lives on the outside and the life they're trying to forge together. A fantastic, frequently heartbreaking romance as well as some of the best panel and shading work in the business. I would call this a must-read.
Sexually Explicit Content

Mizuno & Chayama
by Yuhta Nishio

2019, Complete
Published in english by Yen Press

Content Warning: Parental Abuse

Nishio's massive 432 page one-shot tells the story of two high school girls on the eve of adulthood, embroiled in their individual families' petty political drama that's taken over the eyes and ears of the entire town. While the book is a bit less cohesive than After Hours, I find this really lends to the emotion of the girls in this piece. Even trapped in an impossibly hot summer where tensions are boiling people alive, love can still bloom.

Doughnuts under a Crescent Moon
by Usui Shio

2021, Complete
Published in english by Seven Seas

A lonely office worker falls for her mature senior colleague while trapped in her office's straight dating scene. Both quickly become tied up in each other's lives, but aren't sure enough of what love is yet to make it a true romantic entanglement. A brilliant exploration of how grief and mental illness affect your ability to understand love in its numerous forms, and an absolutely adorable adult romance besides. Even with the more ethereal style, there's such a realism to the framing and pace of the drama that it's hard to put down until you see the finale.

How Do We Relationship?
by Tamifull (@_tmfly_)

2018-Ongoing
Published in english by Viz Media

Two fresh college students with unexpressed and messy feelings for other women decide to shack up and immediately make So Many Good Decisions. I really love this book as an expression of that young adult immaturity; Tamifull has such a good hand for writing complicated relationships with a ton of empathy. They admit in the author's notes about how they really wanted to explore the full cast and their network of relationships, and it's incredible to see that impulse bloom as the relationship dynamics between all of these women evolve.
Sexually Explicit Content

Kase-san and...
by Hiromi Takashima

2010-2018, Complete
Published in english by Seven Seas

Sheltered girl and green-thumb Yui Yamada has a chance encounter with track star Kase Tomoka. As their meetings continue, they begin to find an attraction to each other - but can Yamada get it in her head that this is love?

There's a really fun dynamic going on in this book, as the two girls from totally different worlds try to navigate each others' expectations and needs in the relationship. The asymmetry continues into the format of the book itself, with Yamada's clueless and anxious perspective informing a lot of how the drama plays out, really letting both characters grow into each other at their own rate. There's a ton of humor and heart here; it's a yuri classic for a reason!

Catch These Hands!
by Murata

2018, Complete
Published in english by Yen Press

Two “ex”-delinquent women rivals fall into a relationship on a bet and try to become a “normal” couple. There's a sense of humor in this series that could really only come from the juxtaposition in its gimmick, and Murata manages to take the premise and run; pulling out a ton of relationship hitches and gags over its run. The more cartoon-y art style helps ground the series as well, letting expression do the heavy lifting and really allowing the mundane elements of the relationship to blossom and shine.

The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't A Guy At All
by Sumiko Arai (@agu_knzm)

2022-Ongoing
Fan Translation, syndicated via Pixiv/Twitter

A high school romance between a popular girl with unique tastes and the mysterious cashier over at the import alt-rock records shop. A really fantastic read; the blend of romance, comedy, and character drama are almost unmatched here; with the heat turned up by its unique coloring and incredible sense of fashion. Give this one a look.

My Female Friend Comes Home To Me
by Sumiko Arai (@agu_knzm)

2022, Hiatus?
Fan Translation, Web (?)

Two chapters of a tender but angst-ridden friendship/love between two women from different walks of life. Seemingly on hold due to the author's other ongoing project, potentially abandoned, this cliffhanger ending makes the short time we spend with these characters feel like a fleeting but complete peek into their lives.

The Real Momoka
by Sumiko Arai (@agu_knzm)

2021, One-Shot
Fan Translation, published in Yuri Hime vol 116

Another gorgeous, angsty one-shot from Arai about a barkeep and their new favorite customer. This one is delightfully short, but you can feel the relationship history between the pages as the two dive headfirst into something that can only be called "love".

She Loves to Cook, She Loves to Eat
by Sakaomi Yuzaki

2021, Ongoing
Published in english by Yen Press

Nomoto is a tired OL who loves cooking, but can never finish her serving sizes. Her neighbor, Kasuga, is a grocery vendor with a bottomless appetite. One thing leads to another, and they start sharing meals- then days off- then holidays? How long until they share their feelings for each other?

A very simple premise + grounded relationship unfolds into a book about finding security in your identity + love for other women. The way the relationship itself unfolds is quite sweet, without a ton of melodrama. This is a book about cooking and eating, after all, and it remains the focus of both the art and relationship.

Double House
by Haruno Nanae

2006, Completed*
Fan Translation, Abandoned (?)

An episodic character study surrounding a dejected corporate heiress, a trans woman working at a drag bar and the people surrounding their lives together as they begin to draw closer and closer into one another. This manga's exploration of gender identity feels so fresh in an ocean of contemporary heavy-handed anxiety that it stuns me that it comes from 2006; but that's the nature of LGBT stories! People have felt and discussed these same feelings for years, and it's important to recognize that history. It feels like a shame that the final chapter is currently lost or unavailable+untranslated because I would do anything to see the resolution to this story.

Pieta
by Haruno Nanae

2004, Completed
Fan Translation

Content Warning: Parental Abuse, Self Harm, Suicide Attempt

A young woman with a troubled home life struggles to make it to school in the morning. A young woman, distancing herself from her childhood, struggles to make real friends in her new station. Chance meetings and growing desires bring them together, but the hand of death threatens to tear them apart.

Nanae's masterful storytelling brings forward a truly emotionally resonant tale about the struggle with depression in an unhealthy childhood. There's a really biting emotional honesty on display here; this book goes to some dark places and though it handles them gracefully, it's the kind of bluntness that could open some old wounds. However, it is a (relatively) short book primarily focused on healing. Read with care!

School Zone Girls
by Ningiyau

2021-Ongoing
Published in english by Seven Seas

A comedy manga about an ensemble cast of high school girls with very few brain cells to go around. The expressions and comedy work consistently knock it out of the park, but the rock solid foundation is how well the characters and their relationships are developed through it all. I don't have a ton to say in this blurb; this book is phenomenal and really deserves a look!

Killing Me!
by Akiyama

2019, Completed
Published in english by Yen Press

A trained vampire huntress falls in with a vampire at her local school that thinks she's just the cutest thing. Hijinx ensue as the huntress fails to kill her mark, or process her feelings. This book is super sweet, and clocks in at a breezy 9 chapters.

A Monster Wants to Eat Me
by Naekawa Sai (@Naekawa_Sai)

2020-Ongong
Fan Translation, syndicated in Dengeki Maoh

Content Warning: Heavy Suicidal Ideation, Graphic Violence

Just as she has consigned herself to being swallowed by the sea, Hinako is approached by a strange girl - one marked by the sea - who claims she won't be ready to eat until she's lived a full and healthy life?

There's an incredible mood of isolation and depression with this title; the atmosphere conveyed by the art and writing do really well to build that this is really a horror text. There's plenty that is quite grim, but Hinako's struggles with grief ring astonishingly true to me, even amongst all the supernatural elements in this book; it's a shockingly measured work. Keep an eye on this book; it's really something special.

Ring My Bell
by Yeongol

2020, Completed
Published via Tapas

A lesbian webcomic artist, fresh off a breakup, discovers her next-door neighbor with an armful of homophobic propaganda. Her neighbor finds a moody but kind woman in the middle of emotional turmoil that she desperately wants to help. Can the two work past their college's homophobic environment?

There's a delightfully multifaceted cast here and a story with a lot of heart. While the author can't keep themself away from making a litany of gag panels, they're a welcome presence in a really lighthearted story about overcoming your environment and finding love. Even if the side character conflict can feel like it drops in a little unevenly, the way the leads' relationship twists together and blooms is a real delight on the page.

Vampire Girlfriends
by Potchimew (@potchimew)

2019, Completed
Published via Webtoon/Tapas

This slice of life/gag strip between two vampires living in Manhattan is an absolute treat. The sense of humor here is fantastic, and there's a wonderful balance with small chunks of story + character beats to give it a great sense of pacing for a long running strip. Give it a look if you're in the neighborhood for a gag strip with a lived in feel!

Wish You Were Gone
by Carbonara (@carboNo_non)

2016, Completed
TL Situation: Complicated

Pulled together by their two-timing mutual boyfriend, Jang-mi and Guk-hwa hash out their woes over the situation before finally realising in tandem: "Wow, this other girl is actually pretty cute!" Chaos ensues as the two begin to fall for each other, but can they fully escape the shadow of their ex-boyfriend, or even the emotional baggage from the rest of their lives?

Cranking the melodrama to full, the character work and fallout in this book is a ton of fun. Even though the title and key art promise something a bit more hate-love oriented, the relationship actually turns out to be pretty sweet, and ends up mainly tested by the ongoing emotional turmoil the cast are facing. It's a solid read with good character work, even if it doesn't quite hit hate-mance highs.

A note about the TL for this book: It appears at some point the author's Tapas contract expired, allowing them to begin shopping the work to other platforms (this is a net good for the author). However, this also means that the official english TL is no longer available (at time of writing) as it has been delisted from the site. With no mirror of this, it means that the unofficial TL we do have access to is a little patchy (especially going into the first half of season 2), so keep that in mind as you read.

Can't Defy the Lonely Girl
by Kashikaze (@Cat2Sora)

2019, Complete
Fan Translation, syndicated in Yuri Hime

Content Warning: Parental Abuse

A star student gets assigned by her homeroom teacher to help the class recluse come to school in her senior year. She agrees, but only on her own terms! The two's messy feelings and personal circumstances entwine into a really compelling yuri drama, with a full cast I really fell in love with by the end. This one does follow a high school romance, but I think the gimmick and cast really help give it its own spirit.

Ashita mo Mata Yuusha no Tomari
by KAIJI Supana

2023-Ongoing
Fan Translation

Two high school girls begin uncovering memories of each other from a previous life in a fantasy world, and try to create a new, loving relationship in an uneasy tension. The art style and character designs really make this feel like a love letter to 90s fantasy crossover stories, giving it some unique character in a sea of isekai and past lives stories on the market right now. Really excited to see where this story goes!

A Delinquent, A Transfer Student, and Their Silly Little Game
by Fujichika

2020-Ongoing
Fan Translation

Exactly what it says on the tin. An ongoing title extended from the adorable original one-shot, this yuri period piece tells the story of a forbidden love between two girls that could not be sillier trying to get their feelings across. A really well done grounded art style in this one.

Listening to the Stars
by 橘姬社 狍子窝工作室

2023-Ongoing
Fan Translation

A fan of illicit audio dramas discovers an abrasive woman in her college class with a voice eerily similar to her favorite actress. A cautious relationship begins to develop as they navigate their college's homophobic environment and truly develop feelings for each other. Not a ton is out, so this blurb is quite short for now, but I quite like the direction it's going!

The Love Doctor
by Bansook + Chamsae

2016-Complete*
Syndicated via Lezhin

A blunt college girl gets fed up with men assuming she's flirty, and turns to a "love doctor" to try and fix her mannerisms and be more "normal". However, during their lessons, the each find their romantic ideal begins to resemble the other...

This book has some INCREDIBLE character drama; everyone has a really well-found voice, and the author never misses an opportunity to spark drama by throwing characters into some uneven situations and interactions. The romance follows suit; it's a delight to see the main couple come together just as the drama begins to escalate and tear them apart in the future.

(7/28/23) Unfortunately due to the horrendous state of the fan TL, I was unable to finish this book at time of writing. I plan on picking it up through official channels when I can afford to! (50$ USD for enough points!!! The markup!!! I hope most of it goes to the creators.)

Irrational Us/An Absurd Relationship
by Takemiya Jin

2014-2020, Completed
Fan TL

Takemiya Emi, an exhausted, moody lesbian, is running out of prospects in her local dating scene, with her abrasive personality pushing people away. However, Emi finds herself infatuated with the new girl in the office, who seems straight but keeps managing to get past her bristling personality. Thus, the great challenge of life: how do you ask if your subordinate swings the same way?

Irrational Us opens as a moody workplace romance, but gradually lets down its tonal bristles in tune with the relationship in the book. The character work is really striking here, too; the entire community surrounding Emi feel really alive with their own drives. It's really interesting seeing those same characters have such continuity with a relatively short run that came through this long, even if I wish there had been even more drama.
Sexually Explicit Content

Rock It Girl
by Tanaka Minoru

2011, Complete
Fan Translation

A meek busker gets scouted by a talent agency and is forced to work with one of the most abrasive personalities in the industry to make a living. What starts as a gag series explodes into a love story about loneliness, self expression and the heat of the spotlight. Tanaka has an expert hand for shifting from humor to classical melodrama. At a brisk 12 chapters, it's a must read.

I Suddenly Found Myself Wanting To Have Sex With My Coworker
by Miura Koizumi

2020, Complete*
Fan Translation

A great collection of yuri vignettes covering couples across ages and circumstances. It's delightful seeing a collection of one-shots with so much variance; especially so when they each feel so lived in. Unfortunately, I'm only able to find 3/6 chapters translated online, but each one-shot is packed with so much character that I'm content with what we have right now.
Sexually Explicit Content

Lit a Light
by Sarakura Shikiji

2020, One-Shot
Fan TL

With the local mob war's pressure reaching an all-time high, a career mob sweeper finds her attachment with a meek checkout attendant pushed to its limit.

Super short, but this one's a delightful little read. I love mob yuri!

Modern Romanesco
by Kikurage

2021, Completed
Fan TL

Content Warning: Mild Gore, Nudity

An exorcist and enchanted girl have a chance meeting at a remote all-girls’ school, and in their mutual enrollment decide to investigate the other’s quirks while combating the demons and ghosts that stalk the halls.

This is one of those books with an art style that needs to be seen to be believed - while the narrative plays a bit fast and loose and can feel a bit shallow, it’s in service of an absolutely insane level of stylistic action visuals that do not let up across the entire 12 chapter run. Just an absolutely delightful, frequently high-octane read.

Additionally, while it’s not a very deep book by any means, one of the protagonists does have a case of Dissociative Identity Disorder that is a consistent element of her characterization, and the story doesn’t end with her being “fixed” in some way. I’m not one to really gauge if it’s a “good” representation, though. (Shoutout to the translators at Terribly Incompetent Scans for including afaik appropriate language + glossary resources in their TL; they knock it out of the park in the notes here. Great typesetting too.)

SHWD
by sono.n

2022-Ongoing
Published in english by Seven Seas

Content Warning: Gore, Implied Traumatic Violence

Women with dark pasts and unanswered questions join an organization dedicated to fighting strange horrors left over from the previous war. Billed as a "“"hard-boiled yuri manga” I really feel it hits that tenor without getting too grimdark. Koga's adorable, too, I can't wait to see how her story plays out!

Superwomen in Love! Honey Trap and Rapid Rabbit
by sometime

2019-2022, Complete
Published in english by Seven Seas

Content Warning: Platonic Siscon, Upskirt City

LILY CLIMAX! The general of an evil organization falls head over heels for the hero she's supposed to oppose! After her defeat, the hero takes her in and they start figuring out what exactly it is two women are supposed to do when they are madly in love with each other.

What could have easily been a book composed entirely of references very quickly establishes its footing as a tokusatsu + yuri fan's labor of love, with an immediately lovable cast and real grounding in both genre's conventions. The romance isn't slacking either; even with how packed the book already was, I did find myself really rooting for the main couple. The action could be a little hard to follow at points, but every volume brings a fantastic climax fight in true tokusatsu tradition. Definitely worth checking out if you've got a foot in either camp.

To address the CW in the room; there is a siscon angle to two side characters' relationship. They're not in the book too often outside of their big arc in volume 2 and the sentiment is always platonic, but be wary if that kind of thing upsets you.

I Can't Believe I Slept With You!
by Miyako Miyahara

2022, Complete
Published in english by Seven Seas

Content Warning: Dubious Consent

Heads up, this one opens page 1 with a scene of drunken, EXTREMELY dubious sexual consent, and a power dynamic that really puts a bad taste in your mouth for most of the narrative. It is something that is apologized for and deeply regretted, but it takes a while for the text to be that honest with itself (The original JPN title "Even if it was only once, I regret it!" emphasizes regret rather than scandal/disbelief, which I think might have conveyed the theme a bit better through its opening chapters.)

Beyond that opening, the book carries on volume 1 as cute fluff between a NEET landlord and their ailing tenant, gradually evolving past its hook into an exploration of a young lesbian's isolated powerlessness in a hostile world, and a woman realizing that attraction to other women is an option at all, fighting past her own sense of compulsory heterosexuality. The landlord even ditches that job by the end. Gears move. There is a heart to this book that I think is worthwhile, but if the hook pushes you away, that's alright.

I Wanna Quit Being a Hitman!
by Tonoki Sun

2022-2023, Completed
Fan Translation

Content Warning: Graphic Death, Late Teen/Adult Relationship

An intense thriller breaks out when a moody but incredibly compitent hitwoman becomes embroiled in a scheme between her agency and the agents of the Vatican. Trapped with her? The priest she's anonymously confessed her sins to, and his daughter - the assassin's girlfriend. The sense of character drama in this book is incredible; keeping the dynamics between the cast shifting and turning with incredible pacing as the chess game that dominates the narrative slowly turns up the heat. There's incredible action here as well; the book feels like a truly fully featured spy thriller, and never fails to deliver a new shakeup to the status quo. It's great!

What might be genuinely uncomfortable for some, though, is the age gap in the central pairing of the book. For what it's worth, it's quite platonic and mostly acts as an anchor for character drama. However, it does form the core emotional backbone of the book, so if it's not a subject you're comfortable with, this might be one to skip.

Tadokoro-san by Tatsubon (@TATSUBONi)

2018, Complete*
Fan Translation, Web/Print

Content Warning: Gaze Problems

(Word of note, Tatsubon publishes rough draft chapters as an ongoing webcomic, with remastered/finished pages and additional content published in the ongoing physical release. Both versions are generally listed as such; I like the pacing of the print release a lot more but YMMV.)

An aspiring but sheltered manga artist finds her muse in the seemingly shallow rich girl in her homeroom class. The blend of shojo elements with occasionally more hard-boiled action cut-ins is delightful; I definitely enjoy Tatsubon's style on the whole, but it's an acquired taste. It's not a particularly deep character study either, but the cast have some fun character arcs as everybody comes together to support their favorite rising star in Tadokoro.

My one major greivance with the book actually comes down to its depiction of intimacy; there’s a tendency to immediately push towards framing any and all of their physical interactions as erotic/lewd. I personally find it a bit voyeuristic for a book that is otherwise a delightful rom-com, but ymmv.
(For the most part I think the main story in Ch1-100 of the book is tolerable despite this framing, but the post-series chapters from 101-onwards get more sexually explicit with the pairing in a way that doesn't really sit right with me for how this romance was portrayed, and made me pretty uncomfortable. I put the book down when I saw the direction things were going. Keep your tolerances in mind for this one.)