Popular Male Lead

Shoujo Manga and Josei Manga with a Popular Male Lead.

Screenshot from the manga A Kiss with a Cat. The male lead hugs the heroine from behind she is surprised. They are in swimsuits at the beach.

A Kiss with a Cat

Name: A Kiss with a Cat (Neko to Kiss)
Mangaka: Senri Miko

Volumes: 6 (Complete)
Licensed: Kodansha (6 Volumes: Digital)
Type: Manga
Genre: Comedy/Supernatural
Age Group: Teen

Summary:  
Erina loves cats more than anything, even though she looks like the haughty princess type who could have any guy she wants. But even with his cat-like name, she can’t stand her aloof classmate, Nekoyama-kun. But when she rescues a hurt kitty in her yard and gives it a perfect, snuggly kiss. She suddenly finds a very human Nekoyama-kun in her room. What gives? 
–Manga Updates

Graphics Rating: 4/5
Plot Rating: 4/5

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Screenshot from the manga Getting Closer to You. The male lead holds a tie in his mouth seductively

Getting Closer to You

Name: Getting Closer to You
Mangaka: Kamino Ruri

Volumes: 7 (Complete)
Licensed: Kodansha (7 Volumes: Digital)
Type: Manga
Genre: Comedy/Sports
Age Group: Teen

Summary:  
For Kaho, a man’s muscles are all that matters. She’s sports-agnostic, type-agnostic—all she cares about are that those abs, pecs, biceps and delts look good. She thinks she’s found her perfect Muscle Prince in Natsume-sempai…that is, until he finds out what a muscle-freak she is. But instead of ridiculing her, he instead suggests she becomes manager of the basketball team—the one he just so happens to be on? For a muscle-lover like Kaho, there’s nothing to lose…and everything to gain.
–Manga Updates

Graphics Rating: 4/5
Plot Rating: 4/5

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Desire Climax Manga screenshot. The male lead leans into the female lead grinning as she hesitates.

Desire Climax

Name: Desire Climax
Mangaka: Tachibana Oreco

Volumes: 7 (Complete – Scanlations)
Type: Manga
Genre: Drama/Smut
Age Group: Mature

Summary:
Omori Mio is 17 years old. To help out her desperately poor family, she takes on a part-time job. Then, one night, a boy snatches a kiss from her and offers her money, saying, “I’ll buy you.” Who is the boy who stole Mio’s first kiss…!?

–Manga Updates

Graphics Rating: 4/5
Plot Rating: 3/5

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Happy Hustle High manga screenshot. The heroine leans on the male lead while smiling.

Happy Hustle High

Name: Happy Hustle High
Mangaka: Takada, Rie

Volumes: 5 (Complete)
Licensed: Viz (5 Volumes: Digital (App) / Paperback (OOP)
Type: Manga
Genre: Comedy
Age Group: Teen

Summary:  
What happens when an all-girls’ high school reigning tomboy finds out her school is about to be filled with boys!?

Hanabi Oozora is a rambunctious sixteen-year-old tomboy who comes to the rescue of her less assertive friends–sometimes in exchange for food. So what does she do when, all of a sudden, her all-girls’ school is about to be integrated with an all-boys’ school?!

She meets and falls in love–naturally–with one of the three most popular and handsome boys in the Student Council, Yasuaki Garaku! Unfortunately, Yasuaki doesn’t care for girls… and when the girls’ Student Council clashes head-on with the boys’ Student Council, Hanabi steps in to become a member – hoping she’ll change Yasuaki’s mind!

– Mangaupdates

Graphics Rating: 4/5
Plot Rating: 3/5

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The heroine leans in to kiss the male leads face in the manga choking on love

Choking on Love

Name: Choking on Love (Museru Kurai no Ai wo Ageru)
Mangaka: Iwashita, Keiko

Volumes: 5 (Ongoing)
Licensed: Seven Seas Entertainment (Digital (App) / Paperback – Feb 2025)
Type: Manga
Genre: Slice of Life/Drama
Age Group: Teen

Summary:  
Hibari, a single-minded art student with dreams of becoming a graphic designer, feels insecure about being “ordinary” compared to her peers. Gaku, a free-spirited guitarist from the same university, turns her world upside down after a chaotic encounter at a ramen shop. Hibari wants nothing more than to escape the disorder Gaku brings to her perfectly planned life. But as he slowly breaks down her walls, Hibari starts to realize that a little chaos might be just what she needs.

– Mangaupdates

Graphics Rating: 3/5
Plot Rating: 4/5

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