The Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! (This Light Novel is Amazing!) guidebook has revealed its annual light novel rankings for 2024. This list includes the ten most popular light novels, characters, and illustrators as polled by readers. Light Novels*1. Otonari no Tenshi-sama ni Itsunomanika Dame Ningen ni Sareteita Ken *2. Shibou Yuugi de Meshi wo Kuu. *3. Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Aalya-san *4. Bathtub de Kurasu *5. Toumei na Yoru ni Kakeru Kimi to, Me ni Mienai Koi wo Shita. *6. Stella Step *7. Bokura wa "Yomi" wo Machigaeru *8. Koibito Ijou no Koto wo, Kanojo ja Nai Kimi to. *9. Shuuniichido Classmate wo Kau Hanashi: Futari no Jikan, Iiwake no Gosen Yen 10. Tantei wa Mou, Shindeiru. Books *1. Koishita Hito wa, Imouto no Kawari ni Shindekure to Itta. *2. Tensei shita Daiseijo wa, Seijo de Aru Koto wo Hitakakusu  *3. Akuyaku Reijou wa Dekiai Route ni Hairimashita!?*4. Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu *5. Loop 7-kaime no Akuyaku Reijou wa, Moto Tekikoku de Jiyuu Kimama na Hanayome Seikatsu wo Mankitsu suru *6. Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken *7. Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute! *8. Tutorial ga Hajimeru Mae ni: Boss Kyaratachi wo Hametsu Sasenai tame ni Ore ga Dekiru Ikutsu Kano Kato *9. Arasa ga VTuber ni Natta Hanashi. 10. Nageki no Bourei wa Intai shitai: Saijaku Hunter ni Yoru Saikyou Party Ikuseijutsu Female Characters *1. Shiina Mahiru (Otonari no Tenshi-sama ni Itsu no Aida ni ka Dame Ningen ni Sareteiru ken) *2. Alisa Mikhailovna Kujou (Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Aalya-san) *3. Wisteria (Koishita Hito wa, Imouto no Kawari ni Shindekure to Itta.) *4. Siesta (Tantei wa Mou, Shindeiru.) *5. Luciana Dianthus (Akuyaku Reijou wa Dekiai Route ni Hairimashita!?)  *6. Fia Ruud (Tensei shita Daiseijo wa, Seijo de Aru Koto wo Hitakakusu)*7. Rishe Imgard Wertsner (Loop 7-kaime no Akuyaku Reijou wa, Moto Tekikoku de Jiyuu Kimama na Hanayome Seikatsu wo Mankitsu suru) *8. Umi Asanagi (Class de 2-banme ni Kawaii Onnanoko to Tomodachi ni Natta) *9. Maomao (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto) 10. Yuki Suou (Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Aalya-san) Male Characters *1. Amane Fujimiya (Otonari no Tenshi-sama ni Itsu no Aida ni ka Dame Ningen ni Sareteiru ken) *2. Masachika Kuze (Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Aalya-san) *3. Kiyotaka Ayanokouji (Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e) *4. Lloyd Allen Reuning (Koishita Hito wa, Imouto no Kawari ni Shindekure to Itta.) *5. Safia Dianthus (Akuyaku Reijou wa Dekiai Route ni Hairimashita!?) *6. Sakuta Azusagawa (Seishun Buta Yarou Series) *7. Kimihiko Kimizuka (Tantei wa Mou, Shindeiru.) *8. Saku Chitose (Chitose-kun wa Ramune Bin no Naka) *9. Bell Cranel (Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka)  10. Shinei Nouzen (86)Illustrators *1. Hanekoto (Otonari no Tenshi-sama ni Itsunomanika Dame Ningen ni Sareteita Ken) *2. Momoco (Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Aalya-san) *3. Shunsaku Tomose (Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e) *4. raemz (Chitose-kun wa Ramune Bin no Naka) *5. Umibouzu (Tantei wa mou, Shindeiru.) *6. Saori Toyota (Koishita Hito wa, Imouto no Kawari ni Shindekure to Itta.) *7. Hiten (Gimai Seikatsu) *8. Hachipisuwan (Loop 7-kaime no Akuyaku Reijou wa, Moto Tekikoku de Jiyuu Kimama na Hanayome Seikatsu wo Mankitsu suru) *9. Shirabi (86) 10. Machi Yoi (Akuyaku Reijou wa Dekiai Route ni Hairimashita!?) Source: Official Guidebook ← Previous Year |
 ‖ Submit News × Guidelines ✦ Part of U × Color Your Night × Limelight × Headline ‖ ˙⊹܀⁺☁︎˚˙⊹⁺.˙⁺ |
Reply to alphaoro
It seems that romance is starting to become rather popular.
| @alphaoro LN rom-coms have always been popular, especially the conversational type. But this is the first time I've seen it dominate so much compared to other trends like fantasy, espers and others. Especially Otonari, who personally seemed to me subjectively to be quite focused on lovers of wholesome romance. |
 |
| If it weren't for school yuri, another office rom-com and a couple of action (?) titles, I would have thought that I had already stopped understanding anything about LN. I didn't think Russian waifu and Otonari would be so dominant this year. Also, is the original dead detective really as much better than the adaptation as they say? |
|
Reply to alphaoro
@RobertBobert I know that; just...
It feels like we are truly entering something that can be called an "era", in this case "boy meets (special) girl, where we could be getting many different adaptations of those.
For what is worth, looking at your avatar, they could even make a new Air and Kanon anime.
Imagine one of those with modern KyoAni treatment.
It feels like we are truly entering something that can be called an "era", in this case "boy meets (special) girl, where we could be getting many different adaptations of those.
For what is worth, looking at your avatar, they could even make a new Air and Kanon anime.
Imagine one of those with modern KyoAni treatment.
| @alphaoro In “my time” the main trend of LN was urban fantasy about espers and harems in school clubs, after which the era of isekai came and I just stopped paying much attention to it. But now it feels like we're living in a time of "talk" rom-coms, where the characters basically talk most of the time. At least that's what I see most often in anime. Are you talking about a unique waifu x gray protagonist type of romantic stories? Well, it seems that this has always been trendy, including in those days when KyoAni was not doing only moe. But if you look at it from this perspective, then yes, it seems popular. Just combine constant talking and "I've met the perfect love interest" and you've got a typical hit today :D. Speaking of KyoAni. If their LN is any example, then they have enough base for 3-4 similar shows. Especially those two that look like yuri and a romantic drama in the vein of PAWORKS. |
|
Reply to NagoyaR
are specific books only able to get into this ranking a specific amount of time? I wonder where Honzuki went. It was in the top 5 for books since the start of the series.
| @NagoyaR Bookworm entered hall of fame last year, so it is illegible for the annual polls, same goes for COTE, Chitose Is In The Ramune Bottle. I am more surprised that Myne and Ferdinand did not make it to top 10. Well, Yuki Suou makes it to the top 10. This proves that voters like ‘smart’ characters, we can see Kiyopon, Saku, Masachika (I am aware he is a lazy bum), Yuki there. |
Reply to NewestPersonHere
@NagoyaR
Bookworm entered hall of fame last year, so it is illegible for the annual polls, same goes for COTE, Chitose Is In The Ramune Bottle.
I am more surprised that Myne and Ferdinand did not make it to top 10.
Well, Yuki Suou makes it to the top 10. This proves that voters like ‘smart’ characters, we can see Kiyopon, Saku, Masachika (I am aware he is a lazy bum), Yuki there.
Bookworm entered hall of fame last year, so it is illegible for the annual polls, same goes for COTE, Chitose Is In The Ramune Bottle.
I am more surprised that Myne and Ferdinand did not make it to top 10.
Well, Yuki Suou makes it to the top 10. This proves that voters like ‘smart’ characters, we can see Kiyopon, Saku, Masachika (I am aware he is a lazy bum), Yuki there.
| @NewestPersonHere Speaking of Bookworm, what are her demographics? I thought it was shoujo, but it turns out that LN is marketed to a male audience...sort of. |
|
| Yosha, can’t wait for Otonari Tenshi-sama! Looking forward to the adaption of Russia-go Aalya-san and the Mushoku Tensei sequel, and here’s hoping for more quality adaptions of the rest! |
#Anime4Life be my Life Motto! #PrayForKyoAni  |
| Why does Otonari no Tenshi-sama ranks high on these things? There's absolutely nothing on it that makes it worthwhile. |
Reply to Ionliosite2
Why does Otonari no Tenshi-sama ranks high on these things? There's absolutely nothing on it that makes it worthwhile.
| @Ionliosite2 Uh maybe because enjoyment is subjective??? You don't enjoy the series but many does, and the proof for that is right here. Mahiru is one of the best LN characters I've ever seen. 100% deserved success. |
| Of course, a series about the prettiest girl in the town(I mean they call her angel) coincidently living next door to our apathetic protag would be number one. What's there to surprise? |
 |
| As usual haven't heard the name of half of them and they don't even their MAL entry. |
 |
Reply to Ionliosite2
Why does Otonari no Tenshi-sama ranks high on these things? There's absolutely nothing on it that makes it worthwhile.
| @Ionliosite2 Because it targets the correct audience. |
 |
| I love Otonari, the only problem with the LN is the very SLOW release of volumes, which makes it very annoying to follow, both translation and original release in japan are too slow. |
 |
Reply to RobertBobert
@NewestPersonHere Speaking of Bookworm, what are her demographics? I thought it was shoujo, but it turns out that LN is marketed to a male audience...sort of.
| @RobertBobert As someone who's read up until the most recent EN LN release, I believe the story can be enjoyed by a wide range of audiences. |
Reply to Chaduos
@RobertBobert As someone who's read up until the most recent EN LN release, I believe the story can be enjoyed by a wide range of audiences.
| @Chaduos can be and intended, slightly different things. President Maid has a huge fan base of both men and women, but it has always been a shoujo rom-com. |
|
Reply to RobertBobert
@Chaduos can be and intended, slightly different things. President Maid has a huge fan base of both men and women, but it has always been a shoujo rom-com.
| @RobertBobert Yeah, that was my personal opinion. You could probably consider it shoujo, as its a young girl protagonist challenging / breaking barriers in the new world she was reincarnated in. There's no super heavy romance, as the story largely focuses on the plot: books! |
Reply to Chaduos
@RobertBobert Yeah, that was my personal opinion. You could probably consider it shoujo, as its a young girl protagonist challenging / breaking barriers in the new world she was reincarnated in. There's no super heavy romance, as the story largely focuses on the plot: books!
| @Chaduos To think that any shoujo focuses on romance is as strange as expecting fights and super powers from any shonen. This stereotype. |
|
Reply to RobertBobert
@Chaduos To think that any shoujo focuses on romance is as strange as expecting fights and super powers from any shonen. This stereotype.
| @RobertBobert It was not my intention to engage with stereotypes, simply wanted to include that in the reply as I saw romance was mentioned earlier in the comments above. Its a great story and if you enjoy other fantasy slice-of-life-ish stories, I highly recommend reading Bookworm! |
Reply to Chaduos
@RobertBobert It was not my intention to engage with stereotypes, simply wanted to include that in the reply as I saw romance was mentioned earlier in the comments above. Its a great story and if you enjoy other fantasy slice-of-life-ish stories, I highly recommend reading Bookworm!
| @Chaduos I see, I apologize for any possible misunderstanding. It's just that I quite often see people saying that some show is not like shoujo because of the lack of ultra-focus on romance. |
|
Reply to UrSissyLiebert7
It's kinda surprising that the Goat Classroom of The Elite and its characters didnt make it after dominating for 4 years in straight. I wonder, so now people is more interested in romcom story than heavy psychological thriller?
| >heavy psychological thriller There are at least three lies in this sentence. |
Reply to RobertBobert
@NewestPersonHere Speaking of Bookworm, what are her demographics? I thought it was shoujo, but it turns out that LN is marketed to a male audience...sort of.
| @RobertBobert None. The publisher TO Books doesn't have different label for different demographics, and doesn't specialise in one single type / demographic either. And while some other of their series could be say to be more directed toward one specific demographic or another, in case of Bookworm, it's a perfect example of a story that is "for all". To the point that it even has now a version for children with easier to read characters, while being one of the LN series that appeal the most to the older audience; and both men and women seem to like it about equally, especially when it comes to the older part of the audience. |
 |
Reply to UrSissyLiebert7
It's kinda surprising that the Goat Classroom of The Elite and its characters didnt make it after dominating for 4 years in straight. I wonder, so now people is more interested in romcom story than heavy psychological thriller?
| @UrSissyLiebert7 Because this LN is so popular that it has been in the hall of fame for a long time and is not included in the vote. This is generally known information, which you can also find on Wikipedia. There is no need to reproach people for their favorite genres, especially without reason. |
|
Reply to Zefyris
@RobertBobert
None. The publisher TO Books doesn't have different label for different demographics, and doesn't specialise in one single type / demographic either. And while some other of their series could be say to be more directed toward one specific demographic or another, in case of Bookworm, it's a perfect example of a story that is "for all". To the point that it even has now a version for children with easier to read characters, while being one of the LN series that appeal the most to the older audience; and both men and women seem to like it about equally, especially when it comes to the older part of the audience.
None. The publisher TO Books doesn't have different label for different demographics, and doesn't specialise in one single type / demographic either. And while some other of their series could be say to be more directed toward one specific demographic or another, in case of Bookworm, it's a perfect example of a story that is "for all". To the point that it even has now a version for children with easier to read characters, while being one of the LN series that appeal the most to the older audience; and both men and women seem to like it about equally, especially when it comes to the older part of the audience.
| @Zefyris Well, in my experience, even the men who enjoyed the work thought it was female-focused because of the protagonist and the way the female experience was portrayed in the show. But I don't think it makes the work worse in any sense. |
|
More topics from this board
» Main Cast of 'Nukitashi the Animation' AnnouncedDatRandomDude - Nov 22 |
10 |
by RamTrinity98
»»
2 hours ago |
|
» Novel 'Anne of Green Gables' Gets New TV Anime in Spring 2025DatRandomDude - Nov 19 |
39 |
by WatchTillTandava
»»
10 hours ago |
|
» 'Shin Samurai-den Yaiba' Unveils Cast Pair, Second Teaser Promo, Spring 2025 PremiereDatRandomDude - Yesterday |
11 |
by Washizo
»»
10 hours ago |
|
» 'Übel Blatt' Unveils Additional Cast, Staff, Theme Songs, Second PromoDatRandomDude - Nov 15 |
5 |
by SuperAdventure
»»
Yesterday, 3:41 PM |
|
» Manga 'Cat's Eye' Gets New Anime Adaptation in 2025Vindstot - Nov 20 |
41 |
by nandao
»»
Yesterday, 8:27 AM |