What do you think?
Rate this book
Rascal Does Not Dream of… Light Novel #1
青春豬頭少年不會夢到兔女郎學姊
圖書館沒有兔女郎棲息。
梓川咲太顛覆這個常識，遇見了野生的兔女郎。而且她不是普通的兔女郎，
是咲太就讀高中的高年級生，目前停止演藝活動的當紅藝人櫻島麻衣學姊。
幾天前，她身邊的人們開始看不見她，她似乎正在圖書館驗證這個現象。
這難道和網路上流傳的神祕現象「思春期症候群」有關？
咲太以查明原因為名目接近麻衣試著解謎，事態卻朝著意外的方向演變──？
在天空與大海圍繞的這座城鎮，我與她的戀愛故事開始了。
梓川咲太顛覆這個常識，遇見了野生的兔女郎。而且她不是普通的兔女郎，
是咲太就讀高中的高年級生，目前停止演藝活動的當紅藝人櫻島麻衣學姊。
幾天前，她身邊的人們開始看不見她，她似乎正在圖書館驗證這個現象。
這難道和網路上流傳的神祕現象「思春期症候群」有關？
咲太以查明原因為名目接近麻衣試著解謎，事態卻朝著意外的方向演變──？
在天空與大海圍繞的這座城鎮，我與她的戀愛故事開始了。
360 pages, Paperback
First published April 10, 2014
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
April 17, 2025
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai is my first light novel.
And maybe my last…
Maybe it’s because it wasn’t originally written in English, or maybe light novels based on anime just aren’t my thing, but I really didn’t enjoy this book all that much.
The premise is... well, anime. Sakuta meets Mai dressed as a bunny girl in a library, because of course, and while she’s a famous actress and the whole bunny suit thing kind of fits her background, it quickly becomes clear something weird is going on: people can’t see her. Like, she’s literally standing in public and no one notices her. And then people start forgetting she even exists. The mystery of it ramps up, but that’s basically the plot.
The banter between Sakuta and Mai is just okay. I straight-up did not like Sakuta. His snarky, sarcastic attitude might play better in anime, but in the book, he’s just fucking annoying. I was especially done with his overly horny personality, and that’s coming from a guy who lives for getting down and dirty. The jokes were either tired, unfunny, or just felt juvenile as hell. Or maybe I just don’t like the dude. That’s also possible.
Mai’s the better of the two, but she’s also your typical “strong front but shy with dirty jokes” type. I actually did like her storyline, being forgotten by the world is a damn sad concept, and that emotional thread was the best part. But the story moves so fast and stays so surface-level that you never really get to know her beyond “former child star with a rough home life.”
Sakuta’s backstory also feels weirdly tacked on. Supposedly he’s got this violent, traumatic past, but you don’t see any of that reflected in who he is now. It just doesn’t land.
Overall, it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever read, but it really didn’t click for me. Maybe this kind of story just works better in anime form. Maybe the cliches' that don't bother me as much in anime or manga really annoy me in novel form. The novel felt underwritten, more like fan-fiction than something by a serious author.
And maybe my last…
Maybe it’s because it wasn’t originally written in English, or maybe light novels based on anime just aren’t my thing, but I really didn’t enjoy this book all that much.
The premise is... well, anime. Sakuta meets Mai dressed as a bunny girl in a library, because of course, and while she’s a famous actress and the whole bunny suit thing kind of fits her background, it quickly becomes clear something weird is going on: people can’t see her. Like, she’s literally standing in public and no one notices her. And then people start forgetting she even exists. The mystery of it ramps up, but that’s basically the plot.
The banter between Sakuta and Mai is just okay. I straight-up did not like Sakuta. His snarky, sarcastic attitude might play better in anime, but in the book, he’s just fucking annoying. I was especially done with his overly horny personality, and that’s coming from a guy who lives for getting down and dirty. The jokes were either tired, unfunny, or just felt juvenile as hell. Or maybe I just don’t like the dude. That’s also possible.
Mai’s the better of the two, but she’s also your typical “strong front but shy with dirty jokes” type. I actually did like her storyline, being forgotten by the world is a damn sad concept, and that emotional thread was the best part. But the story moves so fast and stays so surface-level that you never really get to know her beyond “former child star with a rough home life.”
Sakuta’s backstory also feels weirdly tacked on. Supposedly he’s got this violent, traumatic past, but you don’t see any of that reflected in who he is now. It just doesn’t land.
Overall, it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever read, but it really didn’t click for me. Maybe this kind of story just works better in anime form. Maybe the cliches' that don't bother me as much in anime or manga really annoy me in novel form. The novel felt underwritten, more like fan-fiction than something by a serious author.
April 29, 2020
Saw that an English translation was published today and immediately dropped what I was doing to take a read.
The first arc in the series is my favorite one of the anime-adapted arcs, and reading this made me realize how good of an anime adaptation Bunny Girl got, given that it was pretty much one-to-one with the light novel event-wise. That said, it was still worth the read as a fan of the series for the extra bits of dialogue, monologue, and atmospheric insight. All the illustrations were top-notch too!
Can't help but get Monogatari and Oregairu vibes from the story/premise itself, but that's more than fine by me since I loved those too, and I even feel like Bunny Girl is more palatable to a broader scope of audiences (hard to say the other two aren't niche in comparison). Plus, this one has Mai Sakurajima, the undisputed best anime girl!
Personal preferences aside, I'm glad Bunny Girl's getting English translations, and I'll be looking forward to future installments!
The first arc in the series is my favorite one of the anime-adapted arcs, and reading this made me realize how good of an anime adaptation Bunny Girl got, given that it was pretty much one-to-one with the light novel event-wise. That said, it was still worth the read as a fan of the series for the extra bits of dialogue, monologue, and atmospheric insight. All the illustrations were top-notch too!
Can't help but get Monogatari and Oregairu vibes from the story/premise itself, but that's more than fine by me since I loved those too, and I even feel like Bunny Girl is more palatable to a broader scope of audiences (hard to say the other two aren't niche in comparison). Plus, this one has Mai Sakurajima, the undisputed best anime girl!
Personal preferences aside, I'm glad Bunny Girl's getting English translations, and I'll be looking forward to future installments!
November 8, 2018
ㄇㄉ男主角幹話連篇......
可以教我怎麼講幹話又不會被送去派出所的方法嗎Orz
是說日本人的生活壓力真的很大耶....
青少年小說總是離不開各種KY的慘狀
不過透過魔法師之眼來看全都是青春真好啦e04!
可以教我怎麼講幹話又不會被送去派出所的方法嗎Orz
是說日本人的生活壓力真的很大耶....
青少年小說總是離不開各種KY的慘狀
不過透過魔法師之眼來看全都是青春真好啦e04!
May 7, 2020
3.5
I started out not liking this very much and then by the last three chapters I had a hard time putting it down.
I started out not liking this very much and then by the last three chapters I had a hard time putting it down.
June 2, 2020
What stands out in this realistic fiction drama light novel is the character's chemistry and an entertaining plot. The story is interesting and mysterious, it could be a bit confusing for some, but it has the tendency that boosts the characters interactions and hooks readers with good pacing. In this anime, the author cared to develop a world where the school is the center, and the events affect the characters and the interaction with the outside world. We have two main characters, but their personalities differ a lot, so the contrast makes the characters more vivid. They aren't the typical high schoolers with the same generic background as most of the high school series. The main male character Sakuta has a nice introvert attitude and with an awkward past and could be considered as a weirdo. Furthermore, he is ironic, sarcastic and with some sense of humor executed flawlessly. The main female character is Mai Sakurajima, a famous actress but with a mature air that is not normal in this kind of series. Overall this novel's main features are from the genuine well written characters and develops a deep sense of realism in the characters. I would give this book a 4 out of 5 and would recommend this book to people who enjoy humor, romance, and a bit of fantasy.
December 18, 2025
One of the sweetest stories I’ve ever read involving quantum mechanics. I’m a big fan of the anime and I’m glad I finally tried the light novel. Mai remains one of the great best girls and Sakuta is such a kind and sarcastic protagonist.
April 5, 2025
I thought the light novel might include some scenes anime didn't have, but the anime covered pretty much the whole thing. The book was still amazing tho.
April 23, 2026
4.5 🙌
October 18, 2022
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai is my favorite anime. Naturally, I had high expectations when starting the light novel. But I honestly wasn't expecting to have those expectations exceeded!
Hajime Kamoshida is an amazing writer. His writing is easy to read yet heavily investing. He has such an amazing flow with his writing that I found it incredibly difficult to put this novel down at any point between chapters. I would manage to read forty pages in one sitting, where I could only get to a maximum of twenty in other light novels. I knew Kamoshida's writing was good, but I had no idea it was this caliber of good!
What makes Bunny Girl Senpai such a special series is its phenomenal pacing and strong use of emotions. In one book, we see more emotional and character development than we sometimes see in entire series! It blew me away how the anime managed to tell an entire anime's worth of narrative in three episodes, and it still blows my mind that Kamoshida managed the same in a single novel.
And, rather than focusing on the weird stuff that's happening to the characters, and only focusing on the emotional aspect on the side or as an afterthought, Bunny Girl Senpai focuses entirely on the emotions of the characters, making that the forefront of the entire series. The characters live through scenarios that we've all been through: tough social situations, being treated differently for acting weird, and learning how to adapt to the social atmosphere around us. Watching Mai and Sakuta grow closer as they try to understand the maze that is the high school social hierarchy will never not be satisfying to me. Side-note: I cried when I read the chapter title "A World Without You", I knew it was coming, but it still struck me straight in the heart.
My one and only criticism of this novel is that there's just a few too many sex jokes in the first half that it gets a little bit distracting. But honestly, this stops being a problem after the second chapter, so it's barely worth mentioning.
Overall, an amazing start to this series! I'll make sure to raise my expectations of the future novels, I know it's only going to get better from here on out.
Hajime Kamoshida is an amazing writer. His writing is easy to read yet heavily investing. He has such an amazing flow with his writing that I found it incredibly difficult to put this novel down at any point between chapters. I would manage to read forty pages in one sitting, where I could only get to a maximum of twenty in other light novels. I knew Kamoshida's writing was good, but I had no idea it was this caliber of good!
What makes Bunny Girl Senpai such a special series is its phenomenal pacing and strong use of emotions. In one book, we see more emotional and character development than we sometimes see in entire series! It blew me away how the anime managed to tell an entire anime's worth of narrative in three episodes, and it still blows my mind that Kamoshida managed the same in a single novel.
And, rather than focusing on the weird stuff that's happening to the characters, and only focusing on the emotional aspect on the side or as an afterthought, Bunny Girl Senpai focuses entirely on the emotions of the characters, making that the forefront of the entire series. The characters live through scenarios that we've all been through: tough social situations, being treated differently for acting weird, and learning how to adapt to the social atmosphere around us. Watching Mai and Sakuta grow closer as they try to understand the maze that is the high school social hierarchy will never not be satisfying to me. Side-note: I cried when I read the chapter title "A World Without You", I knew it was coming, but it still struck me straight in the heart.
My one and only criticism of this novel is that there's just a few too many sex jokes in the first half that it gets a little bit distracting. But honestly, this stops being a problem after the second chapter, so it's barely worth mentioning.
Overall, an amazing start to this series! I'll make sure to raise my expectations of the future novels, I know it's only going to get better from here on out.
October 11, 2022
Despite it's name, Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai has very little to do with bunny girls. Rather, it is a fascinatingly emotional supernatural romance story in which young people's internal struggles are manifested externally as adolescence syndrome, which can take the form of anything from getting physical cuts and bruises because of being bullied online to literally disappearing because you feel that is how others perceive you, or don't perceive you. The way this strange phenomenon forces the characters to face their own personal turmoil makes for a compelling read, enhanced even more by the main duo's entertaining sarcastic chemistry.
May 2, 2020
Loved it. Most of the time I love the light novels more than the anime, in this case they're about equal... the anime does a superb job of following this story. Which made reading the light novel (finally come stateside in English!) like revisiting old friends. I can only say if you haven't watched it, then give the light novel a read or watch the anime it is worth it.
Verdict: One of the best out there, pick this one up!
Verdict: One of the best out there, pick this one up!
March 9, 2023
OMG không thể tin được từ dứa cuồng tiểu thuyết của Hesse, Kafka, Mạc Ngôn như tôi đây cũng có ngày bị chinh phục với lối văn chương người ta cứ hay mỉa mai là "rom-com rẻ tiền" này. Quả không thử không biết mùi đời được.
September 12, 2020
To me this is totally a wonderful story, and quite unique, I haven't read anything like this before, and I loved how the author is exploring the whole phenomena called 'adolescence syndrome'.
This is the story of Sakuta, a high school student who one day encounters a girl dressed in a bunny outfit in the library. This would appear very uncommon, but he soon realises that people can't actually see this girl, despite the outfit, and that's when he realises she is sort of becoming invisible. Sakura knows this is a phenomena called 'adolescence syndrome' amongst youngsters and it has different effects on people. There is no explaining the phenomena, and no way of knowing what form it'll take or what brings it up.
***MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD***
This is a wonderful premise, because as you move along in the book, Sakuta and his friends start making up theories that whatever ails people is probably brought on by their own thoughts and emotions toward certain situations, adding to that the reaction that the people around them have towards it as well. So for this book, Mai is becoming invisible because she has always acted as if she is air around people, and her high school friends went along with that, not really knowing how to approach her since she is famous. And eventually it came to a point that her classmates thought of her as air and stopped seeing her, and Mai let that happen too.
So you have this complicated scifi/paranormal theme around what is basically a romance story, and I think it pairs up really nicely. Sakura is a complete rascal, always thinking how to provoke Mai just because it's fun, but he is quite the gentleman and he can be serious when the situation demands it. Plus I've seen the anime, so I know how the story will keep developing as well as the other cases that will come up later, and I can't wait to read the book, because the deep insights into the condition are far more detailed here. I loved this light novel.
This is the story of Sakuta, a high school student who one day encounters a girl dressed in a bunny outfit in the library. This would appear very uncommon, but he soon realises that people can't actually see this girl, despite the outfit, and that's when he realises she is sort of becoming invisible. Sakura knows this is a phenomena called 'adolescence syndrome' amongst youngsters and it has different effects on people. There is no explaining the phenomena, and no way of knowing what form it'll take or what brings it up.
***MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD***
This is a wonderful premise, because as you move along in the book, Sakuta and his friends start making up theories that whatever ails people is probably brought on by their own thoughts and emotions toward certain situations, adding to that the reaction that the people around them have towards it as well. So for this book, Mai is becoming invisible because she has always acted as if she is air around people, and her high school friends went along with that, not really knowing how to approach her since she is famous. And eventually it came to a point that her classmates thought of her as air and stopped seeing her, and Mai let that happen too.
So you have this complicated scifi/paranormal theme around what is basically a romance story, and I think it pairs up really nicely. Sakura is a complete rascal, always thinking how to provoke Mai just because it's fun, but he is quite the gentleman and he can be serious when the situation demands it. Plus I've seen the anime, so I know how the story will keep developing as well as the other cases that will come up later, and I can't wait to read the book, because the deep insights into the condition are far more detailed here. I loved this light novel.
December 19, 2023
The next step in my light novel journey. I started with the first volume of Haruhi Suzumiya, and thought it was really interesting but brought down by hypersexual anime tropes, and at first, I thought I was in for the same thing here. While the main character is still an ungodly amount of horny, this story luckily knew (mostly) when to tone it down and allow the more sincere parts of the narrative the space they needed to make their full impact. In addition, towards the latter half of the novel, the racey jokes and comments become somewhat mutual between Sakuta and Mai, and thus feel a lot more jokey and lighthearted, making it less of an issue. What does lie underneath all this is a really heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking story about young love between outcasts who come to understand and help each other in their journeys. Much of the story speaks to our collective anxieties about being forgotten and feeling lost, and how sometimes a gesture of genuine kindness and love can help to bring us out of those fears. After about the midway point, I started really enjoying my time with this story, and it left me with not only good feelings, but a solid cliffhanger that makes me eager to see where it goes in future volumes. A flawed piece of fiction, to be certain, but one with heart.
December 11, 2025
I could gush about this series for hours. I was already a fan of the anime, but now that I read (really more devoured) the entire light novel series I can solidly say that this is one of my favorite franchises of all time. The characters are so relatable (probably because there's not an allistic character in the bunch. Okay, there is one, but he's a himbo so he gets a pass), especially the MC Sakuta, who I really feel is a lot like me at that age, down the the making friends with mostly girls. The romance feels so earned and lived in as the series goes on, and the way that everyone's traumas manifest in adolescence syndromes is so clever and well done. To top it off, the LN's sense of place not only makes me desperately want to visit Fujisawa, but I feel like I already have and have been living there for years. (How do I know the author is autistic? Well, any time anyone goes anywhere he makes sure to describe every single train, station, and platform they take to get there).
I can't recommend this series highly enough, just be sure to pack plenty of tissues because you will need them.
I can't recommend this series highly enough, just be sure to pack plenty of tissues because you will need them.
November 8, 2022
An interesting concept with a hardy helping of cringy teenagers.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai is pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. Sakuta spots a "wild bunny girl" at the library, and decides to solve the mystery surrounding Mai Sakurajima, who seemingly has gone invisible to much of the world.
As a concept, it's pretty nifty. I like the idea of weird inexplicable supernatural stuff happening around teenagers. It's why I read a lot of light novels and YA in general.
And arguably, it's biggest selling point--the cringy teenagers--is also its biggest weakness.
Sakuta and Mai are super cringe, but in a way that reminds me SO much of my friends when we were in high school. And much of the time, they're hilarious in their weird teenaged hijinks. Sometimes, though, it just goes on a little too long.
Overall, this one reminds me a bit of Haruhi Suzumiya and Book Girl, so I think I'll give the next volume a shot before making my ultimate decision on this series.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai is pretty much exactly what it says on the tin. Sakuta spots a "wild bunny girl" at the library, and decides to solve the mystery surrounding Mai Sakurajima, who seemingly has gone invisible to much of the world.
As a concept, it's pretty nifty. I like the idea of weird inexplicable supernatural stuff happening around teenagers. It's why I read a lot of light novels and YA in general.
And arguably, it's biggest selling point--the cringy teenagers--is also its biggest weakness.
Sakuta and Mai are super cringe, but in a way that reminds me SO much of my friends when we were in high school. And much of the time, they're hilarious in their weird teenaged hijinks. Sometimes, though, it just goes on a little too long.
Overall, this one reminds me a bit of Haruhi Suzumiya and Book Girl, so I think I'll give the next volume a shot before making my ultimate decision on this series.
January 5, 2024
I remembered watching this anime when I was younger, and figured I’d read the light novel series to see if the story was any good. Doing this took the nostalgic positive light off of the story, as it is rather dull and nonsensical.
The characters are relatively one dimensional, Sakuta is a witty yet uncomfortable protagonist to listen to, from the way he describes all of the female character. Mai is pretty one-dimensional, serving only for her tragic backstory and being Sakuta’s love interest, and the relationship between Sakuta (brother) and Kaede (sister) is downright unnerving.
I realize I am likely not the target demographic for this story, but the perverse nature of the main character really made it hard to enjoy.
The characters are relatively one dimensional, Sakuta is a witty yet uncomfortable protagonist to listen to, from the way he describes all of the female character. Mai is pretty one-dimensional, serving only for her tragic backstory and being Sakuta’s love interest, and the relationship between Sakuta (brother) and Kaede (sister) is downright unnerving.
I realize I am likely not the target demographic for this story, but the perverse nature of the main character really made it hard to enjoy.
September 17, 2025
i am irrationally angry that they translated away things like honorifics and changed all the metric measurements to imperial. but i love this story so much and am glad to finally get to its original, slightly more fleshed-out form that it more than makes up for it.
and despite already being intimately familiar with the story from multiple rewatches of the anime and having read the manga adaptation, the end of chapter 4 literally almost made me cry, even though that part of the anime never made me tear up. so. kinda dreading getting to the parts where the anime makes me ugly cry!
and despite already being intimately familiar with the story from multiple rewatches of the anime and having read the manga adaptation, the end of chapter 4 literally almost made me cry, even though that part of the anime never made me tear up. so. kinda dreading getting to the parts where the anime makes me ugly cry!
August 24, 2021
3.5 stars
This story was quite cute along with its characters. I'm not sure I fully understood what actually drove the plot even though it was explained multiple times in the book. Very cute, I enjoyed it.
This story was quite cute along with its characters. I'm not sure I fully understood what actually drove the plot even though it was explained multiple times in the book. Very cute, I enjoyed it.
February 12, 2026
if u really wanna get into reading, and a great way to visualize what living on the edge of japan js like, look no further as will make u engaged with a sappy cute teen love. this is coming from someone who never reads and plays video games with guns btw.
December 1, 2018
Came for the Bunny Girl, stayed for the good story.
March 10, 2025
4.5/5
This was just a super cute, super sweet story.
This was just a super cute, super sweet story.
March 15, 2025
This is absolutely a cute story . I really have a good time reading it.
January 1, 2021
Terrific book. I finished it last month, but am getting around to some last minute reviews before the year closes out.
I loved the dialogue. I absolutely, absolutely loved it. There are those who like dialogue to be more realistic, but I prefer the skill in snappy banter. I realize the authors hand is heavily directing the conversation, but I just delight in cleverness. This book had wonderful, clever dialogue. As in movies of old, I find myself wishing that I could have conversations that were just as clever. This story also had a psychological component to it that I enjoyed.
Strong characters. Sensible character arcs with growth, room for further development. Intrigue. A delightful premise. A solid translation, so my hat tips to the translator. I wish I could write half as good as what I read here.
I loved the dialogue. I absolutely, absolutely loved it. There are those who like dialogue to be more realistic, but I prefer the skill in snappy banter. I realize the authors hand is heavily directing the conversation, but I just delight in cleverness. This book had wonderful, clever dialogue. As in movies of old, I find myself wishing that I could have conversations that were just as clever. This story also had a psychological component to it that I enjoyed.
Strong characters. Sensible character arcs with growth, room for further development. Intrigue. A delightful premise. A solid translation, so my hat tips to the translator. I wish I could write half as good as what I read here.
November 20, 2020
“One day, Sakuta Azusagawa met a wild bunny girl.”
The first line of Hajime Kamoshida’s new novel, Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, which is the first iteration of the Rascal Does Not Dream of … series, perfectly describes the odd tone and circumstance of the series. This novel is a quirky coming of age love story, following romantic and realistic fiction genres, but also delving slightly into fantasy and supernatural territories. The series has been given an anime adaption while also receiving a movie. After immense critical acclaim for the Rascal Does Not Dream of … anime series in the West, the novels were translated into English, with a new volume being released every 4 to 5 months since April 2020. If you have read similar works, such as My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected, Classroom of the Elite, or Kamoshida’s other series, The Pet Girl of Sakurasou, it is probable that you will enjoy this series as well.
Before I delve into the plot, I would like to explain the title. The “Rascal” is the main character, Sakuta Azusagawa, and the “Bunny Girl Senpai” is the deuteragonist, Mai Sakurajima, more on that pair later. To put a disclaimer: there is only one scene with a bunny girl, and it has a perfectly logical explanation; no, this is not erotic in any way, shape, or form. This title was used to bait readers and surprise them with a complex novel exploring emotion instead of a novel about bunny girls. If you picked this book solely for the bunny girls, you will be disappointed.
When high school junior Sakuta Azusagawa travels to the library, he meets acclaimed actress and high school senior Mai Sakurajima, who is sporting a playboy bunny girl outfit. To his surprise, however, he is the only one in the building who can see her. Through a chance series of encounters, Sakuta becomes intertwined with Mai as she disappears from the sight and mind of more and more people. As the novel progresses, the pair explore the mysterious phenomenon that is enveloping their lives, known as Adolescence Syndrome, in hopes of preventing Mai from disappearing entirely.
The two leads in this novel, Sakuta and Mai, have quickly become two of my favorite characters in fiction. Sakuta has a sarcastic and playful personality, but is known as the school loner due to an incident in his past that has left terrible rumors throughout his school. He is left with two friends and a little sister that refuses to leave the house. Mai is a serious yet just as playful character as Sakuta, possessing a caring and intelligent personality, but she hides her insecurities and flaws. Mai is currently on hiatus from her acting career due to a strained relationship with her producer. The driving point of the novel, to me, is the numerous scenes where Mai and Sakuta interact. During those conversations, there is never a dull moment, as Mai and Sakuta tease and game with each other while hiding their fears.
An excerpt from chapter 4, page 148:
“‘I’ll Never forget this.’
‘... But if you do?’
‘I’ll eat Pocky through my nose.’
‘Don’t play with your food!’
‘That was your idea!’
There was a smile on Mai’s lips, but that was all.
‘Sakuta.’
‘What?’
“You swear?’
‘...’
‘You really won’t forget me?’
Her eyes wavered. Like she was testing him.
‘The image of your bunny-girl outfit is seared into my brain.’”
Kamoshida does an excellent job at analyzing the psyche of teenagers going through high school, the development of the plot and characters, and developing relatability and realism in the story. The work offers a clear look into how a teenager thinks and behaves in and outside of school, highlighting the insecurities and sarcasm that are common among adolescent crowds. The plot is paced well, though it does slow down at a few points in the beginning, but quickly speeds up after the first few chapters. Mai and Sakuta both have fulfilling character arcs and development, and so do the other secondary characters. Each novel focuses on a new character experiencing Adolescence syndrome, offering specific development for those characters later in the series. The novel also offers a slight critique into the sexualization of child acting in media, shedding light on the situation that Mai is in as the novel begins. The relatability of the work comes in the realistic portrayal of teenage outlooks on life, despite the immensely weird situation that occurs. I, personally, felt connected to the main character throughout the story, and was deeply moved multiple times as the plot progressed.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai is in no way similar to what the title makes it out to be. A love story exploring the complex emotions of loss, fear, and youth would in no normal circumstance involve a bunny girl; yet, here we are. If it isn’t apparent by now, this novel series has become one of my favorites, pushing its way into my top 5 among the likes of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and Orwell’s 1984. I have given both the anime and novel a 10/10, and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good love story or mystery, or to anyone who just wants entertainment. I bought this book at Barnes and Noble (Barnes and Noble Buy Link), but it can also be bought at Amazon (Amazon Buy Link). If you’re lucky, you might be able to find it at a local library or bookstore, but I had no such luck. Each title in the series starts with “Rascal Does Not Dream of …” and the next two are Petite Devil Kohai and Logical Witch (I also recommend those). With that, I bid thee happy reading and good luck. And remember to watch out for wild bunny girls in libraries.
The first line of Hajime Kamoshida’s new novel, Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, which is the first iteration of the Rascal Does Not Dream of … series, perfectly describes the odd tone and circumstance of the series. This novel is a quirky coming of age love story, following romantic and realistic fiction genres, but also delving slightly into fantasy and supernatural territories. The series has been given an anime adaption while also receiving a movie. After immense critical acclaim for the Rascal Does Not Dream of … anime series in the West, the novels were translated into English, with a new volume being released every 4 to 5 months since April 2020. If you have read similar works, such as My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected, Classroom of the Elite, or Kamoshida’s other series, The Pet Girl of Sakurasou, it is probable that you will enjoy this series as well.
Before I delve into the plot, I would like to explain the title. The “Rascal” is the main character, Sakuta Azusagawa, and the “Bunny Girl Senpai” is the deuteragonist, Mai Sakurajima, more on that pair later. To put a disclaimer: there is only one scene with a bunny girl, and it has a perfectly logical explanation; no, this is not erotic in any way, shape, or form. This title was used to bait readers and surprise them with a complex novel exploring emotion instead of a novel about bunny girls. If you picked this book solely for the bunny girls, you will be disappointed.
When high school junior Sakuta Azusagawa travels to the library, he meets acclaimed actress and high school senior Mai Sakurajima, who is sporting a playboy bunny girl outfit. To his surprise, however, he is the only one in the building who can see her. Through a chance series of encounters, Sakuta becomes intertwined with Mai as she disappears from the sight and mind of more and more people. As the novel progresses, the pair explore the mysterious phenomenon that is enveloping their lives, known as Adolescence Syndrome, in hopes of preventing Mai from disappearing entirely.
The two leads in this novel, Sakuta and Mai, have quickly become two of my favorite characters in fiction. Sakuta has a sarcastic and playful personality, but is known as the school loner due to an incident in his past that has left terrible rumors throughout his school. He is left with two friends and a little sister that refuses to leave the house. Mai is a serious yet just as playful character as Sakuta, possessing a caring and intelligent personality, but she hides her insecurities and flaws. Mai is currently on hiatus from her acting career due to a strained relationship with her producer. The driving point of the novel, to me, is the numerous scenes where Mai and Sakuta interact. During those conversations, there is never a dull moment, as Mai and Sakuta tease and game with each other while hiding their fears.
An excerpt from chapter 4, page 148:
“‘I’ll Never forget this.’
‘... But if you do?’
‘I’ll eat Pocky through my nose.’
‘Don’t play with your food!’
‘That was your idea!’
There was a smile on Mai’s lips, but that was all.
‘Sakuta.’
‘What?’
“You swear?’
‘...’
‘You really won’t forget me?’
Her eyes wavered. Like she was testing him.
‘The image of your bunny-girl outfit is seared into my brain.’”
Kamoshida does an excellent job at analyzing the psyche of teenagers going through high school, the development of the plot and characters, and developing relatability and realism in the story. The work offers a clear look into how a teenager thinks and behaves in and outside of school, highlighting the insecurities and sarcasm that are common among adolescent crowds. The plot is paced well, though it does slow down at a few points in the beginning, but quickly speeds up after the first few chapters. Mai and Sakuta both have fulfilling character arcs and development, and so do the other secondary characters. Each novel focuses on a new character experiencing Adolescence syndrome, offering specific development for those characters later in the series. The novel also offers a slight critique into the sexualization of child acting in media, shedding light on the situation that Mai is in as the novel begins. The relatability of the work comes in the realistic portrayal of teenage outlooks on life, despite the immensely weird situation that occurs. I, personally, felt connected to the main character throughout the story, and was deeply moved multiple times as the plot progressed.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai is in no way similar to what the title makes it out to be. A love story exploring the complex emotions of loss, fear, and youth would in no normal circumstance involve a bunny girl; yet, here we are. If it isn’t apparent by now, this novel series has become one of my favorites, pushing its way into my top 5 among the likes of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and Orwell’s 1984. I have given both the anime and novel a 10/10, and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good love story or mystery, or to anyone who just wants entertainment. I bought this book at Barnes and Noble (Barnes and Noble Buy Link), but it can also be bought at Amazon (Amazon Buy Link). If you’re lucky, you might be able to find it at a local library or bookstore, but I had no such luck. Each title in the series starts with “Rascal Does Not Dream of …” and the next two are Petite Devil Kohai and Logical Witch (I also recommend those). With that, I bid thee happy reading and good luck. And remember to watch out for wild bunny girls in libraries.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2021
Could barely finish this book. As I read this, it constantly made me think of the Monogatari series. In fact, you could call this book "Diet Monogatari", as it really strikes me as a shallow imitator of the story. Mai is a mysteriously whimsical girl, Sakuta is an average hormonal teenager with a heart of gold, and both constantly quip witty dialogue. Mai's internal problems are barely discussed and talked about, only mentioned here and there to add some cheap drama to this fluffy romance story. Not my cup of tea.
Instead of continuing with this series, I'm going to save myself the time and money and continue with the much better Monogatari series. Or, just watch the Rascal anime instead.
Instead of continuing with this series, I'm going to save myself the time and money and continue with the much better Monogatari series. Or, just watch the Rascal anime instead.
April 1, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed the anime version of Seishun Buta Yarō, so after the show ended I tracked down and read an unofficial translation of this, the first novel in the series. Turned out the book was every bit as enjoyable as the episodes adapted from it, along with having the advantage of more space to dig deeper into the characters who I liked so much. I really hope this series get picked up by Yen Press or someone else for a full official translation someday, because I'll be one of the first in line to preorder them if that happens.
May 20, 2019
I really enjoyed this series. I started by picking up the manga adaptation of the first volume by accident and found out what a great read it was. Then I heard there was a anime adaptation and I couldn't be more hyped. After the anime, wanting more, and only then that I started reading the source materials, the light novels, and they were just as good if not better! I especially love the banters between the characters. Hope to see this series get officially translated. Thank you, Hajime Kamoshida-san, for this great series!
June 13, 2020
This is almost entirely redeemed by the sweet ending. The translation seems to be better than most as the dialog, while often cringe-worthy, is not as clunky as is typical for many light novels. Or, it may just be that the source material was better formed. Overall, this is a decent romance, somewhat plagued by gratuitous fan service, wrapped in an interesting mystery.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews