Those Not-so-sweet Boys

In 2023, Crunchyroll published Those Not-so-sweet Boys, a seven-issue comic series that reimagines the classic shōjo romance setup with a sharp, contemporary twist. Written by Yumiko Tsukamoto and illustrated by Kiyo Tanaka, the story follows a high school girl who finds herself caught between two handsome, seemingly perfect boys—only to discover that their sweetness masks far more complicated, and far less romantic, personalities. The series stands out for its deconstruction of familiar tropes, offering a darker, more realistic take on teen relationships while still delivering the addictive drama and emotional stakes that fans of the genre love.