yeah
There are both those that do not center it, but it might be something happening in the manga (to main or side characters), and those that do not have romance in sight, even criticizing it.
https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/benjirou_of_the_attic/
https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/nukoduke/
https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/gakuen_babysitters/
https://www.mangago.me/read-manga/a_gentle_time/
Here are some recs if you’re looking for them ヾ(❀╹◡╹)ﾉ~
Fun fact Junji Ito is a shoujo writer
Thanks sm!!
Wait really maybe I really should up my shoujo reading game lol
I wouldn't call myself an avid shoujo reader, but it is a really interesting genre to explore.
I'm currently reading Mystery to Iunakare by Yumi Tamura.
And my all time favorite is Banana Fish (as stated by author herself, the characters were made both male at the time of writing for people to look past what would usually be a romance plot and explore other/platonic relationships. I would also say that it is much better, more logical, and the characters have more depth and realism than the anime adaptation.)
Overall, most of the shoujo mangas that I tend to enjoy are published by Flower Comics (was surprised to find out how many of my highlights were published by them)
For a more lighthearted, still sometimes sad, manga I would recommend Minato Machi Neko Machi.
But there are quite a few non-romance, non-sparkly, non-magical-girl shoujo mangas out there. You name it horror, sci-fi, detectives. (Are they as graphical and heavy as their seinen/josei counterparts? Maybe not. Are they still interesting and well written? Yes)
Thanks for enlightening me, I've always thought all of it was for teenage girls who likes romance, especially that when I scroll through the genre, it's filled with romance of prince and princess. I never thought it would have something deeper and that I actually enjoyed a few shoujos already. Again thanks!!
Are there shoujos without romance? (Genuinely asking)