Rental Girlfriend

In Rental Girlfriend, a German-language manga-style series from Carlsen Comics that began in 2020, the story follows a college student who, after a painful breakup, turns to a rental girlfriend service—only to discover the hired companion is a classmate. Over 35 issues and counting, the series explores the awkward, often comedic tension between professional distance and genuine emotion, blending romantic comedy with social commentary on modern dating. While the original Japanese manga by Reiji Miyajima is the source, this German edition has become a key title for Carlsen, introducing a wide readership to the genre's nuanced take on transactional relationships. Its ongoing popularity reflects a growing appetite for relatable, character-driven romance in the European manga landscape.