Japanese Light Novel Book Club discussion

This is the thread to nominate Japanese Light Novel books for September and possibly October 2025. Nominate by the end of 8/9 please, then we will have a week or two to vote.

Remember to turn on the “Notify me when people comment” box.

The poll will go up on August 10 where we can vote for our 1st choice and leave a comment for our second one. If we have a clear second choice between the votes and comments then it will be our October 2025 group read.

Please nominate only one book. If your nominee isn't (a.) in print in both North America and the UK+ and/or (b.) originally in Japanese, please say so. (No worries. If you don't have time to look this up, We will look it up for you.)

How about The Drab Princess, the Black Cat, and the Satisfying Break-up Vol. 1?

Selene, you are so dependable for great suggestions… thanks

ソードアート・オンライン 1: アインクラッド Sōdo āto onrain 1: Ainkuraddo , because I can't believe the group hasn't read it yet??

How about Your Forma by Mareho Kikuishi?

Naomi’s nomination is Sword Art Online, Vol. 1: Aincrad by Reki Kawahara. It is a great series.

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear (Light Novel) Vol. 1 By Kumanano is my nomination for September. Seven Seas Siren is publishing the audiobook and is up to volume 3 if you would like to listen to this light novel.
It has two anime seasons and a manga adaptation of the light novel series.

Jack wrote: "Naomi’s nomination is Sword Art Online, Vol. 1: Aincrad by Reki Kawahara. It is a great series."

Thank you! I couldn't figure out how to get the English text to show, it defaults to the Japanese edition ><; .

Naomi wrote: "Jack wrote: "Naomi’s nomination is Sword Art Online, Vol. 1: Aincrad by Reki Kawahara. It is a great series."

Thank you! I couldn't figure out how to get the Engli..."

We are here to help.
Yen Press also has an audiobook version.
There are also 3! anime seasons with about 100 total episodes for anyone who likes the light novel. I believe they are available on crunchyroll. (I haven't checked this though. ) It is a huge franchise, many LNs, mangas, and anime.

I second The Drab Princess.

Mine's more for October but oh well: "Associate professor Akira". It has urban legends and paranormal stuff

Jen wrote: "I second The Drab Princess."

Jen, The Drab Princess, the Black Cat, and the Satisfying Break-up Vol. 1 will be in our upcoming poll. If you have a second choice, please nominate it. Hopefully we will have enough nominations and votes to pick for both September and October.

Glamy wrote: "Mine's more for October but oh well: "Associate professor Akira". It has urban legends and paranormal stuff"

Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki's Conjecture (Light Novel), Vol. 1: Folklore Studies by Mikage Sawamura.
An interesting story premise, I find the folklore theme pretty enticing. English translation publish by Yen On. There is a manga version of the series also and One anime season in 2021.
“
Naoya Fukamachi is a university student whose ability to infallibly detect lies has left him friendless and isolated. But when he writes a paper about a strange festival he wandered into as a child, he catches the fancy of his folklore studies professor Akira Takatsuki, a handsome and eccentric man with a passion for all things mysterious. Soon, Naoya finds himself working as Akira's assistant, helping him to interpret an array of unexplainable phenomena, from haunted objects and cursed effigies to urban legends. As this odd couple continues their investigations, however, Naoya realizes that his professor has had a few bizarre childhood experiences of his own…”

Aydan wrote: "How about Your Forma by Mareho Kikuishi?"

Your Forma, Vol. 1: Electronic Investigator Echika and Her Amicus Ex Machina by Mareho Kikuishi is an interesting LN series that (jack’s opinion) is strongly influenced by Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot and, to a lesser extent, by The Ghost in the Shell series by Junichi Fujisaku. I have only seen a little of the anime series but it looked good. Manga is available also.

Nominations are closed. I will have the poll posted today. Sorry for delay. I was lost in preparing for a kamishibai story time for the local rural library. … it was lots of fun.