Not all shoujo/josei are created equal, and these? These are the ones that laughed in the face of clichés, gave tropes a personality transplant, and made me feel something real. Strong leads, actual chemistry, stories with spine—if a series made it onto this list, it’s because it did more than just exist; it thrived. I don’t just recommend these; I would physically throw them at people if I could. If you end up liking them too, great! If not… well, I respect your opinion (but I will be judging you a little).