
This May, we’re trying something new in celebration of our tenth ever blog post. The seasons may have changed, but the Teen Blog is stronger than ever!
What is it, you ask? Our first ever Manga Spotlight! There are a ton of awesome manga in the TADL collection, and we want to highlight them all! So without further ado, please give a round of applause to our first featured manga– the one and only Ouran High School Host Club!

Written and illustrated by Bisco Hatori, Ouran High School Host Club has been around from September 2002 to November 2010, with a total of 18 volumes to its name. That’s a lot, but that’s not all! Ouran High School Host Club also got a beloved anime adaptation in 2006 that added on another 26 episodes worth of content for fans to enjoy. The manga has remained a huge staple in our teen collection, with over 171 circulations of the first volume alone.
If you’re not someone who’s read Ouran High School Host Club before don’t worry– we’ll convince you! These are our top three reasons why you should be reading Ouran High School Host Club!
#1: The unique cast of characters!
Ouran High School Host Club has a full cast of dynamic and engaging characters for readers to bond with. Here’s a quick introduction to the main members.
- Haruhi Fujioka: As the only commoner in a school of rich people, Haruhi is the latest addition to the Ouran Academy Host Club after an expensive accident causes her to be in debt to the club. But Haruhi has a secret– while she plays the part of a boy in the club, she’s actually a girl! With her pragmatic and blunt personality, Haruhi holds a fond exasperation for the shenanigans of the Host Club.
- Tamaki Suoh: The self proclaimed “Prince Charming” of the Host Club, Tamaki can be more accurately described as a huge drama king. Flamboyant and charming, Tamaki is the star of his own one-man show! But he’s also deeply caring, leading to a combo that both fans and female students adore.
- Kyoya Ootori: With a background in business, Kyoya is the logical and calculating vice president of the host club. Don’t let his calm exterior fool you though– he’s also known by friends as the ‘Shadow King’ for his manipulative and ambitious nature. Whatever you do, don’t get on his bad side!
- Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin: As the popular twins of the Host Club, this duo does everything together! Unfortunately for everyone else, their favorite hobby is getting into mischief. If you care enough to look however, each twin has hidden depths that make them interesting and unique in their own right!
- ‘Honey’ Haninozuka: The cute and childish type of the Host Club, Honey plays up the sweet and innocent act for those around him. He’s much tougher than he looks though– let’s just say you wouldn’t want to take him on in a fight! Honey usually hangs out with his BFF and cousin Mori.
- ‘Mori’ Morinozuka: Known as the strong and silent type of the Host Club, Mori is very protective of those around him– in particular his cousin Honey. He might seem scary at first, but he’s actually very sweet and loyal with an adorable soft spot for small things.
#2: The manga’s lighthearted and comedic tone!
You may not know this, but Ouran High School Host Club is actually a parody of the Shojo romance genre– and that comes with a whole host of jokes that poke fun at overused tropes within the Shojo world! The manga’s entire premise is of a host club, with each main host acting as a satirical version of popular types in their own amusing ways. Other than parody, the manga’s humor also relies heavily on character-based comedy, hilarious visual slapstick, and self-aware meta humor that often breaks the fourth wall for readers. Ouran High School Host Club even goes so far as to have Tamaki himself declare that the others are merely the supporting cast– and the shenanigans that follow as a result of that declaration are as amusing as they are deserved!
#3: Haruhi’s charming relatability!
As a ‘commoner’ in a world of rich people, Haruhi is often seen shaking her head at the things her friends are clueless about– like pre-bagged instant coffee. Or shopping malls. Or a life without fancy tuna. Gasp! We’re right there with her. As readers we find Haruhi to be incredibly relatable for her common sense and practicality in the midst of her clueless rich friends. But that’s not all. Rather than being a girly girl, Haruhi is more of a tomboy and is fine with ignoring stereotypical gender roles in favor of staying true to her authentic self. That’s something we can certainly relate to, and we think that a lot of modern readers will relate to it as well.
So, what do you think? Have we convinced you to give this manga a try? If so, don’t delay! Whether you’re a new reader or a long-time fan, Ouran High School Host Club is a fun manga to try– so check it out here or stop by the Teen Section to pick it up in person!