Shoujo, Shounen, Josei, Seinen, etc.. For the most part I don't really care about the genre as long as the story is good.
Having said that I do avoid some genres because I am not interested in them.
But Shoujo tends to be my favorite.
Shoujo Isn't Tropes
Rivals are well-established tropes in shoujo. The same way that losing and leveling up is a well-established trope for most battle/fighting manga.
Some manga that I think don't have any asshole/bitchy characters:
- High School Debut
- Hirunaka no Ryuusei
- The best shoujo artwork i've seen as well
- Hanatsukihime
- Hana Kimi
- Dangan Honey
- Karakuri Odette
Pretty oneshot collections by Andou Yuki.
Most of Shimotsuki Kayoko's works are different from the normal conventions. Stuffs made by the mangaka of Natsume Yuujinchou.
I think it's a matter of you finding the right ones to read. Demographics doesn't necessarily equate to content. But anyway, it's not like I'm arguing or anything. It's generally correct but not necessarily true for all. One of the fluffiest and cutest series I've read, even by shoujo manga standards. If you don't like it, too bad.
I have plenty of favorites and also reading at the moment, but Koukou Debut, Strobe Edge, and Akatsuki no Yona are definitely just a few of the best I have read.