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Rise of the Strongest Girl Next Door 1: LitRPG with a yandere twist

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"Unconventional relationships" doesn't quite cut it...As a C-Tier Lifeblade, Ethan keeps his head down, works hard, and always hits his mark. His skills might not be flashy, but they get the job done—and in SlayerCorp's cutthroat portal acquisitions industry, reliability makes you valuable. He’s built a solid rep as the go-to healer who can hold his own in any situation, with a resume that's earned him the respect and admiration of his peers. But Ethan's biggest challenge isn’t in the dungeons he clears or the creatures he fights.

It’s Lily Chen.

His cute neighbor and coworker is an A-Tier Berserker. Powerful, beautiful, untouchable—and living right next door. For months, Ethan’s been drowning in daydreams, but he knows better than to reach. The Tier gap between them, favoring her, makes the prospect of dating her seem next to impossible. So Ethan keeps his distance, telling himself she’s a dream that’ll never be his. What he doesn’t know?

Lily’s worshiped him for years.

She doesn’t care about Tier gaps. She doesn't care about what others think. All she wants in this world is Ethan.

But when a routine dungeon run goes sideways, Ethan and Lily find themselves permanently connected... for better or worse.

If Ethan can’t figure out how to navigate this twisted new reality and make do with the cards he's been dealt, the monsters waiting on the other side of the portal will be the least of his worries.

The real fight? Surviving the girl next door.

496 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 21, 2024

469 people are currently reading
162 people want to read

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Yuki Knightley

2 books13 followers

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5 stars
283 (60%)
4 stars
95 (20%)
3 stars
59 (12%)
2 stars
18 (3%)
1 star
14 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
Profile Image for Alfred.
134 reviews7 followers
August 25, 2025
Edit: Since this review, I have read significantly more harem books and found that, while I still prefer a mono-romance, there is a lot to enjoy about a good harem book too (provided there is a strong plot and genuine emotional connection/romance). One of the reasons I gave this book 3 stars rather than 4 was because I was disappointed that it goes down the harem route, but after reflecting on my change in attitude and leniency in other similar works, I feel that it is unfair to sustain my initial rating. I have therefore added a star back on as I think the quality of this book is better represented by such a rating. I've kept my original review below.

I often question whether I am well-suited to reviewing books, particularly when I find myself critiquing a story that is competently written but falls outside my personal tastes. I have read books within the harem genre before, but it has never truly appealed to me, as I tend to favor monogamous romances where the emotional connection between two characters is the central focus. That said, there have been rare instances where a harem book was so exceptionally well-crafted that I was able to overlook the harem aspect.

Considering that this is the author's debut novel, I must acknowledge that it is impressively written. The prose is polished, the pacing is steady, and the story is structured in a way that demonstrates a clear understanding of the genre's conventions. The first half of the book was the superior half in my opinion, as it focused on the two leads developing their relationship with each other, with a well-balanced dual-perspective narrative. I have always been most drawn to the early stages of romance - the slow build-up, the mutual discovery, and the gradual deepening of emotions. Stories that emphasize these elements tend to be marketed more toward women (though not always), and as a result, they often feature tropes that specifically appeal to that audience. This frequently includes emotional conflicts between the romantic leads themselves (misunderstandings, betrayals, or external forces that drive them apart) whereas romance written for men often prioritizes external challenges that the couple must overcome together. I enjoyed the first half of this book because it aligned more with my preferences in this regard. The only real obstacle between the protagonists was their mutual obliviousness to each other's feelings, which allowed for an engaging, tension-filled romance without unnecessary interpersonal strife.

Where the story lost me was around the 55% mark, where the singular romance I had been enjoying was abruptly and unintentionally broken. This shift was particularly egregious for me because it immediately preceded an intimate scene. On the topic of intimate scenes, I found that they were competently written but very clearly geared towards a male audience in a way that didn't resonate with me. For me, the appeal of romantic intimacy lies equally in its emotional depth - the sense of vulnerability and connection between two characters - as in the animalistic attraction. Here, however, the focus was on raw lust and, more notably, on showcasing Lily’s obsessive and psychotic devotion to Ethan. While I can appreciate that this was an intentional aspect of her characterization (and a necessity as the book is a yandere), it left little room for the kind of emotional complexity I personally look for in these moments.

Similarly, I found the male protagonist to be a little too flawless - an idealized figure without enough complexity or internal conflict to make him feel truly human. His only notable flaw was that he wasn't an S-tier Slayer. While some readers might appreciate this kind of character, I tend to prefer romantic leads with more depth, flaws, and emotional nuance. Of course, this is a matter of personal preference, and I recognize that others may enjoy the wish-fulfillment aspect of such a portrayal.

In the end, I can see this book appealing to those who enjoy both yandere and harem elements, and it is undeniably well-crafted for its genre. However, it simply wasn’t for me. While I found the first half compelling, my interest waned as the story progressed. As such, I would rate the first half a 4 and the second half a 2, ultimately arriving at an overall score of 3.
Profile Image for GrumpyOldMan.
448 reviews26 followers
November 27, 2024
I'm going to state up front that I really don't like the Yandere trope. Never have. If you've every known someone whose gone through a relationship with a mentally unstable and "too devoted" mindset, it throws you out of anything remotely fun about a Yandere. The book was rated with me giving leeway knowing I don't like that trope, and compensating for it.

The MC is a guy that is a C-tier healer type that has a cute next door neighbor that is an A-tier berserker that he's crushing on. But he doesn't have the confidence to ask her out, because his recent track record with women is go on a date or two and then get ghosted. But he ends up going on a group delve with her, and they start to talk a little more.

Unbeknownst to the MC, his crush is bat-bleep insane for him. Yandere to the power of 10. Photo wall, nail clippings, blood samples, stalking him as he sleeps, causing his recent ghosting issues, and any other unhinged thing you can think of. There is nothing healthy about her desires or behavior.

The saving grace for this book is the early half of the book when she's just awkward and creepily cute, and the awkwardness of the MC in trying to be suave. There were some awesome one-liners during this part, and I enjoyed the early parts.

But then it got dark, and it doesn't come back from that darkness. First, the girl is cloned in a res/revive fiasco, giving him two nutjobs to deal with. Each equally bad, so now we have Yandere to the power of 20. And at the very end, a third nutjob with the same personality but different body is created.

For a first time author, this showed a lot of promise, but the harem members were just so off-putting that I really couldn't enjoy it. I can't imagine what it will be like with three of them when two were so bad I struggled to finish the book.

I don't think I'll read a continuation of this particular series, but if the author writes a different one with no Yandere, I'd be eager to try it.
Profile Image for Johnny.
2,170 reviews79 followers
December 30, 2024
Book one

Okay first off a warning this is a harem story.
I don't normally like these types of stories all that much. This one though had me smiling and laughing through most of the story.
It's dark and twisted and so much fun. Who wouldn't want someone that devoted to them?
Honestly most of us couldn't handle that kind of devotion, but I think we all want it deep down.
I still think that sex is normally not needed in these stories, and yet, I think it works in this one.
It isn't overly graphic in detail, but if you pay attention you can tell that the words used to describe the sex are more vulgar than necessary. This in my mind perfectly displays the insanity
of the main female characters.
I'm looking forward to more of this series.

7.7/10 it deserves to be rated higher, I just can't get past my own prejudice for harem books.
27 reviews3 followers
December 10, 2024
All right I bought this book on the recommendation of the author's Husband and I have to preface this by saying I am a bit biased since I both loved the work of the author's husband and I do like the Yandere trope, sue me. And yes I realize this may be a bit telling into me as a person since I devoured this in a day. but I thought Lily was rather sweet, a bit quirky, especially with her collection of Ethan memorabilia and tendencies but the story was rather sweet though the girl could be a bit more honest going forward...Ethan....there was some character development and due to what happened toward the end of the story I feel like there are some things that need to be properly explained in the sequel, which of course I am buying. Hope the author puts out a lot more!!!

Regarding the foreword yes if you meet a woman like this the advice is to run which is clearly communicated in the foreword but me being me...if someone was THIS much in love with me who am I to deny this?
10 reviews7 followers
November 21, 2024
Intensely Yandere

There is absolutely no dispute that this is one of the most disturbingly yandere books I've ever read. I've read plenty of tales and watched plenty of anime with subtle nods to the yandere trope, but this book takes that trope, dials it up to a 15 and supersaturates it with elemental Norman Bates energy.

I thought I knew what I was getting into. Spoiler Alert: I did not. I was alternately fascinated and sickened; amused and appalled. I've never read a book quite like it in the harem-lit space before now. I picked this up because Virgil Knightley is one of my favorite authors in the genre and anything he can write such a wholehearted forward to I figured was worth giving a shot.

Well, now there are two Knightley's I have to follow on Amazon. One to fill my niche craving of light hearted and often goofy harem-lit and one for the kind of horror/suspense stories that make you judge yourself for finding your pants a bit tighter than they should be.

Well done. Kudos to Yuki and Gwen for a tale well told and I hope there is a follow up, though truth be told this could easily be a self contained tale.
53 reviews1 follower
November 21, 2024
I wish...

I had a girl like Lily. Also that the story was longer, it was so good that I didn't want it to end. I think the overall story is perfect for a first book not just in a series before an author as well.
There's enough development of the characters to really relate to them and the overall setting to build up the tension for what's going to happen in the rest of the series.
Probably the most ingenious thing about this book is how the harem gets formed without upsetting the yandere. It's a great idea and it works out really well in this book.
I'm excited for the next book in that series and hopefully it comes out soon. I would definitely recommend giving this book a read as the story is excellent and the characters are fun and relatable while also being crazy and unhinged.
Profile Image for James.
90 reviews
November 22, 2024
Great Book

Let's start off with this: you are warned about what a yandere is. Author and Author's Partner, thank you for explaining that, or I wouldn't have made it even halfway....which is actually where I stopped. Look, this is actually a pretty great book: good world, some nice character building, I really loved the System skills and usage. But holy crap was I not ready for the actual meat of what a yandere will do and go to. A mark of credit to the author, they went deep into this and made it feel extremely real. Too real, I was unsettled, and I couldn't finish it.

Tl;dr: This is a great book with the yandere element being too much for me. Maybe others won't have that problem, but I see great promise for this author.
Profile Image for Zé Manel.
38 reviews
November 27, 2024
Truly awesome live action anime

Sure we’ve all had stalkers we end up hooking up with, at least for a while, but when that stalker is so devoted to you that they basically worship you, you might as well keep them. This story hits all the wickets you ever want for LitRPG, cyberpunk cybernetics, magic, portals, monsters, a system with character classes, and a love story that is both deeply disturbing and highly entertaining.

Expect a well written and edited book, all the characters have depth and individualistic personalities, about as good of a live action anime as anything ever written in the genre. It’s insane how good this book is, couldn’t put it down, read it basically in one sitting.
130 reviews
December 26, 2024
I'm Surprised I'm Looking Forward to Book 2.
I normally don't like yandere stories - the trope of the ultrapowerful yet psychotically obsessed young lady and the hapless young man is a bit too cringy for my tastes. Yet this story did a great job of getting inside the two character's heads in a believable way, before adding an interesting fantasy twist. We understand perfectly well why she is the way she is, why he isn't running for the hills, and why their pairing almost sort of works, before things hop off the rails and their fantasy world intrudes.
This is, however, a book with an open ending for a book 2 which hasn't been published yet, not something which can stand complete on its own; which is the only reason it got 4 stars instead of 5.
1 review
January 16, 2025
Refreshing, unique, funny

I discovered this book on Reddit from a happy dude supporting his girl, and I wanted to support too, so I bought it. I forgot about it for a while but rediscovered it after binging through several books (none of which hit the door) until I came back to this title. I'm so glad I read this! I binged the whole book in a day and excitedly came home and told my partner all about it. It actually had me laugh out loud in several spots. As a fellow 5ft tall female with a shit ton of rage, lust, and love- I loved Lily! I look forward to the second book and even possibly a cosplay. Thanks for writing such a wonderful and fun book!
Profile Image for Chance.
1,106 reviews21 followers
November 22, 2024
Yandere a perfect girlfriend till death

Lay the reason behind the world was but like A happen then b came along and c was the world has it is.

The chacthers do that was amazing and horrifying has it played into everyone’s need to lived and the unknown fear of try to understand the other person. The RPG elements where focus to give the relationship of chacthers divide with innate strength, yet it created a style of chacthers we’ed never see in real life expect in a horror movie. Has it progress I was scared a drawn to the chacthers has I was waiting for the shoe to drop.

59 reviews1 follower
December 9, 2024
Read the whole book in 1 day

Wowzer, that book was perfectly written crazy. Like, bro I’m not sure I wouldn’t had run away with her(s) either. Man, what a crazy ride. The writing was literally perfect for this type of story. The little added details about her crazy thoughts, the hints of the corruption affection slowing affecting him making the ending make a ton of sense. But outside the crazy, I’m super excited to know how he evolves, will he become S, unlimited? What about new crazy, will she be added? I haven’t been this hooked on a book in a while!!!!
Profile Image for tester.
315 reviews1 follower
February 11, 2025
I’ve not read anything outside specific Light novels that actually depict an accurate yandere, the fmc is straight up insane and it kind of works. I’m not sold on the later half of the novel the tone gradually shifts over the course of the story as the mc learns more about the fmc. I was almost expecting an ending with her killing him and taking parts out on a boat...school days still gives me creeps a decade plus later.
It's a 3/3.5 but I'll give it four as it's this author first foray into the genre.
Profile Image for Donny Clearwater.
18 reviews
November 25, 2024
Perfectly crazy

For starters keep three things in mind when u read this book. One is that people have many, many faces and not all of them are 'socially acceptable'. Two is that there is always more then one side to a story that doesn't always follow the exact same logic. And three is that this is about as accurate for actually dating as a guy is likely to get in this day and age.
Profile Image for Brian Hurt.
15 reviews2 followers
November 26, 2024
Excellent! Oh,that roller coaster of an ending.

I love this book. The characters were dynamic. The world was really interesting. The story had me guessing what was going to happen next and then being pleasantly surprised when I just wasn't quite right. I wasn't sure about the yandere genre at first but man was I pleasantly surprised. 😁

I'm definitely looking forward to book 2 release and will certainly be purchasing it as well.
Profile Image for Nikolay Georgiev.
84 reviews1 follower
January 4, 2025
Тази година мисля малко да поекспериментирам с жанровете и тази книга е първият резултат. LitRPG харем със силно изразени яндере нотки. Като за харем (роментъзи за мъже) сюжета ставаше. Яндерето ми дойде малко в повече. Това е някакъв японски фетиш - жените са силно обсебени и влюбени в някой мъж и са готови на всичко (буквало) за да го имат. Като цяло книгата е предимно за мъже и става за убиване на някой друг час.
2 reviews
January 30, 2025
Husband & I laughed & were shocked!

Oh my goodness! My husband and I could not have enjoyed it more! We have totally different interests, but I'll be danged if this book did not match us both so well. It was just the right amount of laughs, cringe, love interest, litrpg, hotness, character/plot intrigue. We were both surprised when we saw it was this author's first book, and we are anticipating the second one(GREAT JOB)!
267 reviews7 followers
November 22, 2024
Omg, Amazing!

This book did not go the direction I thought it would go. I'm happy with the way it went. I love the darker tones, and the level of crazy and obsession was great, I feel most books like this don't lean into it enough, but here I feel we see that obsession to it's fullest, looking forward to more!
18 reviews
November 22, 2024
First yandere story I've read, and I love it!

Well done on your first book! I absolutely love the characters and the world building. This would be the first yandere type story I've read, and it's definitely my most favorite. There were certainly some twists I never saw coming, and I'm excited to see what happens in the next book.
6 reviews1 follower
November 23, 2024
Wholesome

Incredibly wholesome book which I thoroughly enjoyed in one sitting.
Spoilers:
I really love the concept of somebody being in a technically monogamous harem, just brings the cuteness of the novel way up. Looking forward to book two where I'm curious as to what our possible third member will get up to.
Profile Image for Donny.
279 reviews
November 23, 2024
This was an interesting read. Most books that touch on the Yandere trope rarely feature their POV prominently in the books. Not so with this volume. We learn just how much Lilly loves Ethan and the steps she has taken to "protect him". There is twist halfway through the book and another at the end that raises the stakes on their "relationship". Looking forward to future volumes.
38 reviews
November 24, 2024
Terrified and Aroused

The beginning was a bit rough, but it just got more unhinged the further it went. Wow, that sentence doesn't make much sense, but yeah, umm, WTF?! The last thing I read that left me this confused was 'Behold Humanity', but even that didn't leave me this...discombobulated?

Terrified to admit, but I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
10 reviews
November 27, 2024
It Screams Yandere

This book was amazing start to finish. This is the epitome of "Yandere" and I now have an unhealthy obsession for these types of women in books.

Trust me on this, if you want a book that starts off lovingly funny to just having your mouth hanging open then you need to read this book!

Wish I could give this 6/5 but that would be too fricken much ❤️
1 review
December 9, 2024
Excellent start to a demented series!

Usually not one for yandere girls, but this book hit the nail on the head for me. Lily's demented tendencies actually sold me on her character, and I actually loved reading about the crazy girl!
And that cliffhanger at the end! The next book cannot come out soon enough! I need more!
36 reviews
December 29, 2024
interesting new series

The book takes an interesting slant on the LitRPG universe.i guess that’s how you would classify it. I thought it was an interesting read and looking to see what Ethan will do with 3 psychotic significantly stronger females that are beyond anything you can imagine a stalker to be.. at least the evil twins are hot.
Profile Image for Kaxie.
5 reviews
February 10, 2025
A lot of interesting ideas, both in character/plot and litrpg elements. My problem is it felt like it tried to fit everything it could into book one by the end. I'm interested to see where it goes, but I think we could have slowed down a bit more to fully develop what was introduced before adding more.
28 reviews
May 22, 2025
When this book says yandere, it means yandere. I thought I knew what I was getting into. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

It did make me laugh at the ridiculousness, but I couldn’t even finish it.

The writing might be great for a yandere story, but I couldn’t tell you. Definitely not for me though.
7 reviews
July 4, 2025
True yandere stuff

I mean it, guys. Absolutely every other book out here on amazon with a “yandere romance” nametag is pure vanilla only slightly touching the subject. This one is real deal. And with a few nice twists to the genre, to make it more interesting.
If you’re into cute bodacious ultra-violent crazy devoted FMCs, this is your stop, fellow man of culture
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews

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