10 Manga Like A Side Character's Love Story — Data-Driven Picks (2026)

If you finished A Side Character's Love Story and want your next read, these recommendations are not someone's opinion — they are computed from comic-lab's database of every manga published in Japan since 1968, combining three similarity axes (art style, setting, story) with real reader-behavior data.

1. After the Rain (恋は雨上がりのように)

by 眉月じゅん · since 2015 · 14 volumes in Japan · ongoing

Why it matches: close in setting & themes and story & tone.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

2. A Condition Called Love (花野井くんと恋の病 : I'm addicted to you)

by 森野萌 · since 2018 · 16 volumes in Japan · ongoing

Why it matches: close in story & tone and setting & themes.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

3. Mono (Mono)

by あfろ · since 2018 · 5 volumes in Japan · ongoing

Why it matches: close in setting & themes and story & tone.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

4. Kanojo no Tomodachi (彼女の友達)

by じゅら · since 2022 · 5 volumes in Japan · ongoing

Why it matches: close in setting & themes and story & tone.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

5. Blue Box (アオのハコ)

by 三浦糀 · since 2021 · 24 volumes in Japan · ongoing

Why it matches: close in story & tone and setting & themes.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

6. Police in a Pod (ハコヅメ~交番女子の逆襲~)

by 泰三子 · since 2018 · 20 volumes in Japan · publication status unknown

Why it matches: close in story & tone and setting & themes.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

7. More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers (夫婦以上、恋人未満。)

by 金丸祐基 · since 2018 · 12 volumes in Japan · no new volumes in recent years

Why it matches: close in story & tone and setting & themes.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

8. Koi no Tsuki (恋のツキ)

by 新田章 · since 2016 · 7 volumes in Japan · publication status unknown

Why it matches: close in story & tone and setting & themes.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

9. Girlfriend, Girlfriend (カノジョも彼女)

by ヒロユキ · since 2020 · 15 volumes in Japan · publication status unknown

Why it matches: close in story & tone and setting & themes.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)

10. Gazing at the Star Next Door (隣のステラ)

by 餡蜜 · since 2022 · 9 volumes in Japan · ongoing

Why it matches: close in setting & themes and story & tone.

Find on Amazon Japanese editions (CDJapan)
Method: similarity is computed over cover-art embeddings, thematic categories and plot descriptions of 133,000+ works, blended with co-reading behavior. Volume counts and dates reflect Japanese editions and update automatically.

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