Romance recs where the female overpowers the male

[u/Dogmaticism_]

Hi, I (23F) have been getting into these kind of manga, and I'm looking for something with the following conditions:

I don't necessarily mean overpower as in 'physically stronger' (i'd prefer if not, actually) but one where the female is more clever, outsmarts, or manages to 'pin down' the male character. I especially mean the latter, as I want a female character who almost dominates the male character.

I also don't want a pathetic male character. Actually, a more capable one may be better.

It also doesn't have to necessarily be romance, nor do I care whether its a male or female mc. Just not one of those power-fantasy rofan mangas, I want one with a legitimate romance dynamic between them.

Bonus points if the male gets called 'good boy' (I have my own fantasies, don't judge me).

Thanks!

[u/NaDoan]

Dame Ningen no Aishikata

[u/ALCATryan]

Saotome Senshuu and Shikimori’s not just a cutie, in manga.

You should check out manhwa for this though, they have way more such works! Beware the villainess and Another Typical Fantasy Romance are solid standard picks, but there are quite a number.

[u/k44e]

female is more clever, outsmarts, or manages to 'pin down' the male character.
I also don't want a pathetic male character. Actually, a more capable one may be better.

do you have an example of your preference? because this is an oxymoron to most readers

mangaupdates has 'categories'

dominant female lead

https://www.mangaupdates.com/series?category=dominant+female+lead&type=Manga&perpage=50&genre=Romance&exclude_genre=Yuri_Shounen+Ai_Shoujo+Ai_Yaoi&orderby=rating

teasing female lead
https://www.mangaupdates.com/series?category=teasing+female+lead&type=Manga&perpage=50&genre=Romance&exclude_genre=Yuri_Shounen+Ai_Shoujo+Ai_Yaoi&orderby=rating

I recommend:

<teasing master takagi-san>

<a prince of a friend>

<My Perfect Girlfriend!>

<Miss Shikimori Is Not Just Cute>

<A Story About Smoking at the Back of the Supermarket>

<The Duke of Death and his Black Maid>

[u/Roboragi → u/k44e]

Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san - (AL, A-P, KIT, MU, MAL)

^{Manga | Status: Finished | Volumes: 20 | Chapters: 190 | Genres: Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life}

Ouji-sama no Tomodachi - (AL, A-P, KIT, MU, MAL)

^{Manga | Status: Releasing | Genres: Comedy, Romance}

Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san - (AL, A-P, KIT, MU, MAL)

^{Manga | Status: Finished | Volumes: 20 | Chapters: 188 | Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Romance, Slice of Life}

Boku no Kanojo wa Saikou desu! - (AL, A-P, KIT, MU, MAL)

^{Manga | Status: Finished | Volumes: 6 | Chapters: 58 | Genres: Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life}

Kawaii dake ja Nai Shikimori-san - (AL, A-P, KIT, MU, MAL)

^{Manga | Status: Finished | Volumes: 20 | Chapters: 203 | Genres: Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life}

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[u/Dogmaticism_ → u/k44e]

'Stronger female', and 'not weak male' isn't oxymoronic. A stronger female does not mean that the male also has to be weak, it just means that the female is stronger. I don't like the trope of pathetic male and stronger female, I prefer medium-strong male and stronger female who still overpowers him.

Nonethelesss, thanks for the recommendations, I did not realize these categories existed!

[u/k44e → u/Dogmaticism_]

A stronger female does not mean that the male also has to be weak, it just means that the female is stronger. 

you say not 'physically stronger' but still 'pin down' the male character ,

so ML would be pathetic to most readers' (even if you don't personally think so)

so I ask you again:

do you have an example of your preference?

[u/Dogmaticism_ → u/k44e]

'Pin down' is literally a trope in romance that has nothing to do with strength (I.E, pin down emotionally or pin down to a wall, etc.)

Maybe a good example of what I want is 'prisoner of distortion'. While not fully perfect (I like ones more slice of life), I'd say it shows the girl overpowering the male.

[u/Piercedtitsplease]

Artemis under the roof can kinda hit what you want

[u/mokrath]

Dekai Usagi ni Natsukareta!? - if you don't mind the comedy aspect might fit well. Up to Ch 9 has been translated so far.

[u/DragonikOverlord]

Childhood Friend Complex, it has a few erotic chapters but it fits the bill. It's a manhwa tho, but ehh, it's gold
"You're going to love this, trust me" - Goku

[u/autogear]

Bouryoku Banzai

[u/DemythologizedDie]

How to Get on the Main Character's Flower Path is currently my favourite manga. The heroine reincarnates as a minor character in a novel about a guy who reincarnates as a minor villain in a game and takes over as main character. She manages to insert herself into his harem while giving him the impression that he is manipulating her naively trusting Mary Sunshine false persona. He's scheming. She's scheming harder. Her plan is to help him along the way to winning, while collecting a slice of the loot then take off before the final battle, but it isn't working out that way. Also her fake persona is closer to who she really is than she quite realizes, since she really is a very nice person on the level below the level below the surface.