If you like A Sign of Affection this season, you might want to watch these.
It seems like the interest towards shoujo romance is being slowly revived. However, with so few being released these days, it's hard to find recommendations. Thankfully, we have prepared a list of older shows for you if you want to dive into the genre.
Maid Sama!
Maid Sama! (Kaichou wa Maid-sama!) was the go-to romance recommendation in the early 10s. It wasn't even limited to female audience, like many shoujo series are: the anime had a decently substantial male fanbase as well.
By now, it's largely forgotten about, but undeservedly so. It's just as entertaining as it was almost 15 years ago — granted, you can get through some clichés. The main characters are still brought up as some of the most iconic in shoujo romance.
You can find the anime on HIDIVE or Crunchyroll.
Fruits Basket
While the 2001 Fruits Basket adaptation was well-received during its time, we're talking about the 2019 version here. It fully adapts the classic manga, and does that in a very faithful way.
Fruits Basket has always been famous for one of the best love triangles in all of anime, as well as a nuanced portrayal of drama and social issues.
The series is quite long, but is very much worth the time — it can be found on Crunchyroll and Netflix.
Ouran High School Host Club
A classic from the 00s, Ouran High School Host Club (Ouran Koukou Host Club) was arguably the most famous shoujo romance during its era. Some even attribute the popularization of the reverse harem genre to this anime.
While that claim can be argued, there's one undoubtable fact: if you want to learn more about the evolution of shoujo romance, watching this (again, on Crunchyroll or Netflix) is basically a requirement.
Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You
Kimi ni Todoke is a very heartwarming series about Sawako, a shy and introverted girl, and Shouta, the most popular boy in school. While the setup might sound generic, their relationship is believable — and very sweet.
Both seasons of the anime can be watched on Crunchyroll, and you'd actually want to do it as soon as possible.
While the anime doesn't fully adapt the manga, after many years, a third season was finally announced, and it is scheduled for this year.
Nana
Nana is definitely a classic. Full of heartwrenching drama, it offers a more mature take on the genre. The anime deals with the issues of the music industry, and does so in a believable way — both the manga and the anime boast a huge fanbase. Sadly, the anime is behind the manga, which has been on hiatus for around a decade.
Regardless of that, the anime is worth watching — and, depending on your region, you will find it on Netflix, Crunchyroll or HIDIVE.