What is this genre all about? Media targeting women roughly 18-40
We present you the list of Josei manga you should read right now.
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Top 20 Josei manga you should read right now. [2025 List]
- 20. Helmut (Kim Nan Sae)
- 19. Angnyeoui Mungujeome Oji Maseyo!
- 18. Heunhan Binguimurin Jul Aratda
- 17. Eojjeodaboni Cheonsaengyeonbun
- 16. Angnyeoraseo Pyeonhago Joeundeyo
- 15. How to Hide the Emperor's Child
- 14. Teikoku Ichi no Akujo ni Dekiai ga Tomarimasen!
- 13. Hwangjewa Hamkke Tarakagetseumnida
- 12. Cheating Men Must Die
- 11. Age of Arrogance
- 10. My Mom Got a Contract Marriage
- 9. The Male Leads Were Stolen by the Extra
- 8. Ibyangttal Yeoka-rol Jinachige Jalhaebeoryeotda
- 7. Ikoku Nikki
- 6. Eonni, Ibeon Saengen Naega Wangbiya
- 5. Cross My Heart and Hope to Die
- 4. I Became the Tyrant's Servant
- 3. Sesange Eomneun Iut
- 2. My Unexpected Marriage
- 1. Call Me Master
20. Helmut (Kim Nan Sae)
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Helmut was a child who had been abandoned in the Demonic Beast Forest at birth.
Raised by Demonic Beasts, the first human that he met was the Sword Saint Darien.
Little did Helmut know that the chance encounter would soon shake the foundation of his fate…
“Grow stronger If you want to get out of here.”
The boy who’d lived like a beast was thrown into the human world!
He possessed overwhelming swordsmanship, outstanding looks and sharp intelligence, but there was one thing he lacked: humanity.
I am no longer a prey. I am now a predator!
Helmut (Kim Nan Sae) is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Helmut (Honyo), Helmut: The Forsaken Child
19. Angnyeoui Mungujeome Oji Maseyo!
“A useless thing like you has no value in our family. Take this money and leave immediately!” “Yes! Goodbye!” She became the incompetent villainess who commits wrongdoings in order to earn the love of her fiance, the male lead. Her reputation was already at rock bottom and the main characters, who can’t live without each other, are having an affair. “Getting kicked out and receiving money is good enough!” So after she was kicked out, she set up a stationery store in front of a school. She reminisces of snacks, beer candy, and even bubbles! Just you wait, kids! But… somehow her young customers are a little weird? “I’ll find you a handsome and modest man, and not someone who has an affair like my brother!” “Ha, then what about my brother, the crown prince?” The great magic swordsman, the next crown prince, the villainous tower master, and finally, the hidden villain...
The Villainess's Stationery Shop is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Please Don't Come to the Evil Lady's Stationery Store!, Please Don't Come to the Villainess' Stationery Store!, A papelaria da vilã, Cửa hàng văn phòng phẩm của ác nữ, Jangan kunjungi toko alat tulis wanita jahat!, Kötü kadının sevimli mağazası!, La papeterie de la méchante, Please Don't Come to the Villainess' Stationery Shop!, Por favor, não venha para a papelaria da vilã!, Đừng đến văn phòng phẩm của ác nữ!, Не приходьте в канцелярський магазин лиходійки!!, อย่ามาร้านเครื่องเขียนของนางร้ายกันเลยนะ!, 悪女の駄菓子屋へようこそ, 請勿進入惡女文具店！, 请不要来恶女的文具店!
18. Heunhan Binguimurin Jul Aratda
Of course it would be like this, I’m not the main character in my new life either. Even though I knew that I was just the Villainess in this cliche story who dies at the hands of her husband at the end, I thought I could make it work as a new opportunity to live a new life after having an unjust death before, ¡Or at least that was until I realized that I might can’t get out of the flow of the original storyline!. But if I’m going to die just like the original Villainess, ¡Then I’ll at least give a kiss to my extremely handsome husband!.He’s going to learn how to treat me right despite being the “Flower like snake woman of the Rigelhof family that he thinks I am”, And who knows? Since I’m the one in this body… maybe the plot of the story could actually change?
Not Your Typical Reincarnation Story is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: I Thought It Was a Common Isekai Story, I Thought It Was a Common Transmigration
17. Eojjeodaboni Cheonsaengyeonbun
‘How long have I been laying down at home…?’ Han Jia, who is turning 32 this year (she’s a freelancer who still doesn’t have a full-time job/jobless), suffers because of the pressure given by people around her that keep telling her to get married. Around the same time, Jin Mincheol, her childhood friend who came to Jia’s hometown for holiday, is having the same problem. Then, the two people got married just like that. Now that they have married….. ‘Huh? We match each other more than i thought?’
Source: MU
Maybe Meant to Be is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Accidentally Heavenly Match, Match Made in Heaven by Chance
16. Angnyeoraseo Pyeonhago Joeundeyo
Do-Hee lived as a pushover, died miserably, and was reborn in a novel as a notorious villainess. But it turns out that her new life is not without its perks, as Deborah Seymour is also the richest villain alive. Now, all that's left for her to do is lay low and enjoy her carefree lifestyle... if not for the fact that Deborah is fated to be sent to a monastery! Will this ex-doormat find a way to avoid yet another tragic ending, or will the challenges of being a villainess be too much for her?
The Perks of Being a Villainess is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: What's Wrong with Being the Villainess?, Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better?, 當個惡女輕鬆又愉快, เป็นนางร้ายก็สบายดีนะคะ, What's Wrong With Being the Villainess?, 因为是恶女所以很舒服, 当恶女很舒服很好啊？, Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better?
15. How to Hide the Emperor's Child
“You never loved me anyway, did you?” The marriage that Astell had been waiting for all her life came to an end in one day. She wanted to be Kaizen's wife since she was 10 years old, but all she had left was the stigma of being an empress. Astell wanted to leave. "Yes, yes, I didn't love you," Astell lied one last time to the man who was the reason for living, to the man who had been her husband for a day, so she thought she would never have any contact with him again, however... "I... I think you're pregnant?” Six years later, Astell, reunited with Kaizen, lied to him again in order to protect her child. “Who… who is that boy?” “He’s my nephew.”
Source: MU
How to Hide the Emperor's Child has finished publishing and it has 113 Chapters. It is also Known as: How to Hide the Emperor's Child
14. Teikoku Ichi no Akujo ni Dekiai ga Tomarimasen!
In high society, Raven is known as a womanizer and a free spirit. But suddenly, Estella, who’s rumored to hate men and is said to be the cruelest girl in the empire, walks into his bachelor life. And this girl proposes that he marry her! “There’s not a chance in hell this marriage will succeed,” thinks the young guy. But... Estella is convinced he’ll be the one to fall head over heels for her. How will it all pan out, and in the end, who will be right...
I Can't Stop Doting the Empire's Most Notorious Villainess! is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: I Can't Stop Doting On the Empire's Most Notorious Villainess!, I Can't Stop Doting the Empire's Most Notorious Villainess!, ¡No Pude Evitar Enamorarme de la Mujer más Malvada del Imperio!, 帝国一の悪女に溺愛が止まりません！, 제국 최고의 악녀를 사랑하게 되었습니다
13. Hwangjewa Hamkke Tarakagetseumnida
“You, too, will be corrupted. Then I will make it all come true.”
If I had only joined hands with him and agreed to become his mistress then, could I have lived a little longer?
At least I would not have know the pain of my eyes being gouged out. But instead I shouted: “I refuse. I will not betray my country”, not realizing that my country, my family, had betrayed me long ago.
Sacrificed, used, abandoned, and finally executed by my own family... I only realized after returning to 10 years in the past that the reason why you wanted me to stand by your side is because you and I were so much alike.
Let us fall together this time.
I Will Fall With the Emperor is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Впасти разом з імператором, お求め頂いた暴君陛下の悪女です
12. Cheating Men Must Die
One moment oppressing scum yields a moment of satisfaction. Continuously oppressing scum yields continuous satisfaction. Our female main lead, Su Lüxia is bound to the Second Female Lead Counterattack System and transmigrates to several small worlds. Using elaborate means, she beats up countless cheating bastards and bitches. Su Lüxia: "Only a cheating bastard's tears of remorse, and the pained moans of a bitch unable to get what she wants bring me solace." System: "Has my host tapped into her humanity today? Nope."
Cheating Men Must Die is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Cheating Men Must Die
11. Age of Arrogance
The lord of Pervaz, who led the 28-year war to victory, Asha Pervaz.
For Pervaz, who was devastated by the long war, Asha heads to the imperial family to receive the victory reward promised by the emperor. However, the only reward that came back was the "right to choose a marriage partner."
As the best choice, Asha pointed out the Duke of Carlisle Haven, the first prince who had recently been deprived of the title of crown prince. If she was refused, she intended to receive compensation from the emperor...
"Marquise Perbaz. I will accept your marriage proposal."
Contrary to expectations, the Duke of Carlisle accepted Asha's choice. Promising tremendous support for Pervaz...!
Age of Arrogance is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: City of Arrogance, The Age of Arrogance, The Era of Pride, अहङ्कारको युग, ยุคแห่งความโอหัง, 傲慢的时代
10. My Mom Got a Contract Marriage
Lilyca is a poor girl who used to spend every day with her alcoholic mother.
However, one day...
"Kyaa, it's hot! No!"
Her mother woke up screaming and nonsensically asked, "Lily, you're alive! Have you gotten younger?"
"What's the date?"
She'd lost her mind!
"This can't be... I've come back!"
She started spouting more puzzling things, even going so far as to say, "We need to go to the Imperial Ball and meet the Emperor!"
Lilyca began to worry that something had gone wrong with her Mother's head...
My Mom Got a Contract Marriage is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: My Mother Gets Married Again, My Mother Got Married By Contract
9. The Male Leads Were Stolen by the Extra
A woman who has lost her male leads to an extra who did not appear in the original story... That's me.
Selonia fell into a coma on the way back from defeating the Demon King. After wandering through death for several months, she survived, but what?
“I want you to break off the engagement. I want to hurry up to marry Grace.”
“I want you to pretend my knight’s oath to you didn't happen.”
“Give me back my heart. I’ll give it to Grace.”
The fiancé who was the male lead, the paladin and the dragon who were the sub-male leads, and the fellows all turned away. These reckless bastards! There was a lot of cursing, but what can I do to stop it? I was trying to start a new life in a cool way. By the way…
“Do you know me?”
How is the dead demon king alive?
“What, I don’t know…”
“No, you know me. tell me Who am I?”
To make matters worse, the Demon King, who has no memory, sticks to my side and does not leave. Inevitably, I tried my best to prevent the return of the Demon King.
“How can I always hold your hand?”
Why is it not enough to spit out vulgar words?
“Are you going to kill all those who left you? Just speak.”
He’s even going to kill the male leads for me!
The Male Leads Were Stolen by the Extra is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: The Male leads Were Stolen by an Extra, The Male Leads Were Taken Away by the Extra, 被群演夺去了男主们
8. Ibyangttal Yeoka-rol Jinachige Jalhaebeoryeotda
Transmigrating into the main character of your favorite book sounds like a dream come true, but knowing Viola Vellatoux grows to be disappointed in her ending, Arin Han sets out to rewrite the story. However, her adoptive family will not hesitate to assassinate one another in their fight for control. The new Viola needs to use her wits to convince everyone that she has what it takes while remaining true to her goal. Further complicating her schemes, the male lead looks eerily familiar and has a strange effect on her when she gets too close.
The Unintentionally Ideal Adopted Daughter is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: I Played the Role of the Adopted Daughter Too Well, 過度稱職的養女, 完美演绎养女角色, 过分扮演了领养女儿的角色, ฉันเล่นบทลูกสาวบุญธรรมได้ดีเกินไปซะแล้ว
7. Ikoku Nikki
The daily lives of a 15-year-old orphan and the 35-year-old lady novelist she ends up living with, and what happens when two polar opposite worlds try to -awkwardly- interact.
Ikoku Nikki has finished publishing and it has 54 Chapters. It is also Known as: 違国日記, Different Country Diary, Journal with Witch
6. Eonni, Ibeon Saengen Naega Wangbiya
Her fiance, her sister, and her parents. Ariadne returns 14 years from the past, the day she was cast aside by everyone. "Shit! I am trying to court you right now!" From her fiance, who acted much different than he did in the past, "Don't cry, Ariadne. Don't you know how pretty you are to me?" to the kind Prince, who fell for her at first sight. This time, she will get revenge on everyone and become Queen.
Eonni, Ibeon Saengen Naega Wangbiya is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Sister, I Am the Queen in This Life, Nesta Vida, eu serei a Rainha, In This Life, I’ve Become The Queen
5. Cross My Heart and Hope to Die
In pursuit of a natural death, Silvia reluctantly agrees to a strategic marriage. To deceive the gods, she must convincingly play the role of a married couple.
"Shall we turn off the lights then?"
"Why would we...?"
"Don't we have to consummate our marriage on the first night?"
"Why is that necessary?"
Isn't my husband too conservative?
Silvia, who yearns for a chance to die, and Randal, who struggles with conflicting emotions, embark on an unexpected healing romance.
Cross My Heart and Hope to Die is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Hope For Death, Hoping for My Death, Hoping to Die, I Hope to Die, Je souhaite mourir, ปล่อยให้ข้าตายเถอะ, 因为厌世才结婚, 希望死亡, 私を死なせてください
4. I Became the Tyrant's Servant
A former call center employee finds herself transported into a fantasy novel, where she becomes the "servant" of the male protagonist, a cruel tyrant who kills anyone he doesn't like and lives in lust.
She doesn't want to die like the original character, so she plans to escape before the tyrant finds the female protagonist, who is the only one capable of changing his heart. To do this, she begins to do business, buy ships and train concubines for the tyrant. However, her plans are thwarted when the tyrant begins to take an interest in her and pursues her relentlessly.
Will she be able to escape her fate or will she fall in love with the man she was supposed to hate?
I Became the Tyrant's Servant is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 成为暴君的奸臣
3. Sesange Eomneun Iut
Here are the key components of our story: two unusually beautiful boys (known only as Big Master and Small Master), an abandoned church, a blood-buying business, and a homeless young girl named Hansoo – who has unwittingly contracted herself to participate in said business. Big Master wants Hansoo out of the church as soon as possible, but it turns out that each of these characters needs something from each other. Big Master needs customers for blood (and Hansoo’s blood asap); Small Master needs a link to the human world, and any way to aggravate Big Master (read: Hansoo); and Hansoo needs to keep away from Big Master long enough to stay in the church until she can afford her own place. It seems the boys might have a lot of time on their hands, but how long does Hansoo have to figure out what she’s gotten herself into?
Source: Lezhin
Blood Strangers has finished publishing and it has 90 Chapters. It is also Known as: Sesang-e Eobsneun Ius, Neighbors of The World
2. My Unexpected Marriage
"Dirty wench! You stole my necklace!” “Unless I knew where your necklace was, I wouldn’t have been able to take it.” As an illegitimate child, Laritte’s biggest sin was being born. In the year she became an adult, she was sent to marry the ghost duke who was rumored to be dead. Her miserable life seemed to get worse and worse, however her life changed when the duke came back alive. “Madam, how do you like it?” Kind servants, “You have enough luxury to buy some residences in the capital.” “…no one will be able to look down on you anymore.” And the empire’s devoted and murderous duke. It was already too late for those who tormented Laritte to regret.
My Unexpected Marriage is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: When the Count's Illegitimate Daughter Gets Married
1. Call Me Master
If you cannot remember, listen to your body.
If anyone discovers that slave master Ananse has lost her memory, she will be killed. So to save herself, she ropes in Solteo, a slave who hates her beyond compare. Her proposal?
"Help me uphold my old image, and you'll be freed."
His reply?
"I'll make you regret ever requesting that, my master."
Call Me Master has finished publishing and it has 58 Chapters. It is also Known as: Llamame Master
