I do not read as much shōjo manga as I would like to because of several personal reasons but I can point out one of the mangaka of this genre that I like, and that is Ashihara Hinako. Although her drawings are somewhat similar to other shōjo mangaka, her stories however really stood out the most. And the way she complements her drawings with the emotions of the story are really what caught me the most. One of her manga that show this skills is Awan Kupu-Kupu (translated in English as Butterfly Cloud).
Awan Kupu-Kupu, or in Japanese is called Chouchou Kumo, is a love story between four childhood friends. Complications and conflicts occur when a friend loves the other one, and another one got jealous, and another one trying to fix things up. Accidents happens and they start breaking apart. Heartbreak is a must but what's more important is to let things go. It's confusing I know, but that's what one look forward to in a love story. Besides, I'm not going to spoil the story for you. Set on an island, the story revolves around the four friends during their childhood up to their teenage years. Once you read the manga, you will feel the emotions straight from the pages, and that's what I love about Ashihara Hinako's manga, you can always 'feel' her stories.
Aside from the main story, there are 3 more short stories that come together with this manga, each with new protagonists and new conflicts. While the short stories are not up to par with Buttefly Cloud, but they are still enjoyable and worth to spend time with.
Overall, Awan Kupu-Kupu is a fun read and a must have for those who love shōjo manga, and also for those who are a fan of Ashihara Hinako's work.
