When it comes to manga, seinen (targeting adult men), shonen (targeting young boys), and shojo (targeting young girls) tend to be the core three. They all envelop different genres as romance tends to be at the forefront of shojo, with the stories often always leading up to the big confession at the very end.

RELATED: 10 Shojo Beat Series That Need An Anime

To some, they are filled with clichés and are often the same story just slightly repainted. That isn't the case for any of these mangas, many bucking every troupe often associated with the genre. The following shojo manga are all either still going or only recently finished in the past few months.

10 Fruits Basket Another (7.1)

Fruits Basket Another

Fruits Basket is one of the best series in the genre, and one that's almost universally beloved. Anything with popularity like that is bound to get spinoffs, and that's the case here. Unfortunately, when you have something so great, it's hard for the sequel to live up to it. It's still a fun read of course, one that flips certain things from the original on its head, just don't expect it to be as good as the original.

9 I Love Hana-Kun (7.6)

While the title leaves a little to be desired as it's very on the nose with regards to its topic, the manga bucks a lot of the typical shojo clichés: Nanase has friends, isn't clumsy, and is actually very smart. For Haru, he's a mislabeled delinquent who's quietness is unjustly seen as being standoffish around others. As is to be expected, a lot of the manga focuses on their interactions with one another and the relationship that buds from it— and it's not necessarily a romantic one.

8 Takane And Hana (8)

Takane lying on a pile of money holding Hana from the manga series Takane and Hana

The premise is far different than what you typically get with shojo that often focuses more on school settings. Here, Takane is a wealthy heir to the Takaba company and in line to inherit millions.

RELATED: 5 2000s Shojo Anime That Got Overlooked (& 5 That Were Way Too Popular)

Hana is a sixteen-year-old girl forced to stand in for her sister in a miai, which is essentially a meeting between arranged marriage partners. Naturally, they don't hit it off right away. The story is very funny and cute, but the age difference of the characters might not sit well with Western audiences.

7 The World Is Still Beautiful (8)

Nike (left) and Livius (right) laying in grass together on a sunny day in The World Is Still Beautiful.

The World Is Still Beautiful defies a lot of trends in both setting and how the story progresses, using a fantasy conceit for its story rather than something in the present day. Nike is the fourth princess of the Rain Dukedom and the one who has control over the rain. She travels to the Sun Kingdom to marry its king, only to discover a big surprise: He's still a child. It's a unique premise that isn't for everyone but is certainly worth digging into.

6 Oresama Teacher (8.2)

Hysterical is the best way to describe Oresama Teacher, a manga that turns the usual delinquent main character trope on its head. Rather than being forced to hide her insecurities, Mafuyu is meeting them head-on, all the while trying to be a normal high school girl. Takomi, one of her teachers, throws a further wrinkle in her scheme as his teaching methods are interesting, to say the least. It's the perfect light read for anyone who's a fan of shojo.

5 Snow White With The Red Hair (8.3)

Surprised Shirayuki

This series recently got an anime that's been a resounding success, and for good reason, as it's a fun take on a story that's been told many times. Shirayuki was a friendly apothecary who's striking red hair attracted everyone's gaze, including the vain prince of the kingdom.

RELATED: The 5 Best Shojo Heroines In Anime (& 5 We Can't Stand)

While many may have jumped at the chance to be with the prince, Shirayuki instead cut off her hair and fled the kingdom. She eventually comes into contact with Zen, a prince from a neighboring country who helps her make a new life for herself, only for feelings to begin sparking between the pair.

4 Orange (8.4)

Orange manga

Stop-starts have plagued this series, with hiatuses spanning a year or more at times and leaving fans to never know for sure if it's done or if it's eventually coming back. While the original series came to a close, a spin-off is carrying on strong, and it's a series well worth continuing. The premise of getting a letter from yourself ten years in the future is an interesting one and can be used to tackle touchy topics, as the main series did very well. Even now, it continues to be one of the stronger titles in shojo.

3 Skip Beat! (8.6)

Kyoko Mogami Skip Beat

Who knew a revenge tale could fit into the genre? Skip Beat manages to go against the grain, having Kyouko have her seemingly perfect relationship go up in smoke when it's revealed her partner saw her as no more than a housekeeper. From that point on, she swears revenge, entering the idol industry he so loves to get it. It has its fair share of humorous moments, but there's a level of darkness here that you don't often see with a shojo, helping set it apart.

2 Natsume's Book Of Friends (8.7)

This supernatural slice-of-life manga is the tale of Natsume, a fifteen-year-old boy who inherited the ability to see Yonkai, and not only that, he also has a book of contracts from his grandmother Reiko. On top of dealing with Yonkai wanting to be freed, he has to deal with his everyday school life as well. Thankfully, he has Madara, a rotund magical cat to help keep him company.

1 Yona Of The Dawn (8.8)

Yona stares (Yona Of The Dawn)

Yona starts as a character that is initially hard to cheer for as she has everything she'd ever want and lives a lavish lifestyle as the princess of Kouka. That quickly changes when her beloved cousin stages a coup, forcing her to go on the run. With hopes of saving her kingdom, she goes in search of the legendary dragon warriors with the aid of an exiled priest. Her character undergoes great development throughout the series, and chapters are deftly left on cliff hangers that leave readers wanting more.

NEXT: 10 Mangas You Should Read In 2020