(There's a second list, just add a 2 to the name of this list and you'll find it) ... more>>

There are too many novels with cliché romance and harems with annoyingly useless girls. Reading them gets extremely tiring. There are too few novels with absolutely no form of romance or harem. Here are some novels I've found to not have romance/harem or have an harem/romance theme that didn't affect the plot of the novel to the point of it being annoying. 

Feel free to recommend novels that fit the criteria, arigatou^o^

P. S. I haven't read all the novels in this list so I might not be accurate in judging them. And there are some I've read but didn't finish and the novel ended up having romance or harem elements in a later chapter, please feel free to correct me anytime you see that I wasn't accurate. Arigatou minna-san <<less

Here's a list of novels you might enjoy if you, like me, want to read some good stories that don't force an unnecessary & underdeveloped romance subplot where it isn't needed.... more>>

So these stories will have minimal to no romance, and I despise the harem trope in general. On the other hand, I'm a sucker for good bromance/brotherhood/friendship/found family stories. I also won't add any series to the list that I haven't personally read.

I decided to create this list because I've seen many similar 'no romance' lists on the site from which I've gotten many great recommendations to the point they have now become my go-to sources for new novels.

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I'll be trying to organize the list based on how good I personally think the books are, but I'm only really certain about the first 4 being my favorites, the list then gets quite ambiguous, but I personally really like everything on the first page.

In the descriptions, I'll include how many chapters of the series I have read as well as how much romance there has been up until where I've read, as well as additional thoughts/opinions/warnings that I might have about the series.

I'll try to update the list whenever I find another good series to add. If you know of any series you think I'd like based on my list I'm more than open to suggestions! 

UPDATED JAN 1ST: Added 'The Nebula's Civilization' to the list. <<less

Action, Adventure and Advance. The triple AAA that the following novels have in my opinion^^.... more>>

Irregular updates but you are welcome to recomend. Continuation in PART 2 & 3 which will link down.

Korean Action Novels Part 2: https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/25364/

Korean Action Novels Part 3https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/25368/?ft=yes <<less

They won't all have something in common with each other, they're not all badass, but they are all likeable and lovely people in some way... more>> that I get why the ML fell in love with them, because I'd definitely fall for them too. Priority goes to bold MCs that chase first because usually those are the ones that exhibit such lovable traits. But they won't make up the entire list.  <<less

fls that i love so much because they are so dumb that it's so cute. ... more>>

these fls have all made me laugh, and are my favorite out of all the novels i have read. 

i'm a supporter of women's rights and wrongs

 be warned that there are spoilers <<less

A list consisting of novels that had/has/have  ‘Age Gap’ couples. As the saying goes: age doesn't matter when it comes to love. ... more>>

(; ^ω^)/.♡✧*。好きです・・・冗談です

I am still adding some more novels in the list as I just added the ones I have remembered～There's also a bit of review (☞ﾟ∀ﾟ)☞ <<less

Great story until the end of the story

Slimy rat mc that u love to hate or hate to love with morally grey personality such as money hungry, shameless, cunning, power hungry, results over process but overall with own bottomline (mostly saving the word or live own life or for friendship) ... more>>

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Additional novel not listed in novel updates (highly recommended) :
Quick Transmigration: Is it Better to be a Beta?

https://chrysanthemumgarden.com/novel-tl/btbab/

Summary:
One bis*xual tr*shcan joins hands with one cheap system and they do their best to improve the world. Sort of... 

In short Mc is such a scum of a mansl*t that in one of the world he cause rebellion in his country cause he f*cked too many ppl while the system is useless n can't even recognise the Protagonist of the world cause he spent all his tech point in space Canon  <<less

These stories captured me, and I keep up with them, think about them...laugh, cry, tear my hair out...They make me think I want to put them in my "FOREVER Overthrowing My Heart" list...but there's something missing, maybe? And am I willing to be okay with that? Should I put them in FOREVER Overthrowing my HEART or not...... more>>

But I have a soft spot for them and don't want to say that I don't love them...but...eeehhhh, sometimes it's just eeehhhhh....but I love them...sigh. 

So, here's a list of that. Worthy to be saved in a titled list and remembered. Memories in my photo album that I can look back to and feel my heart soften with nostalgia and longing.  <<less

List of novels that are just really sweet and heartwarming – MOST of them rated.

#1-10 are BL novels,   #11-15 are BG novels Thrillers, Time Travel, E-sports, and Acting/Entertainment Industry are all included in here. This includes Reincarnation or Transmigration.I will... more>> keep updating as I find more. If some summary's feel incomplete I've asked you to go to my Reviews to get a better Idea of the story as I tried to keep these relatively short. <<less

Na verdade, sou muito exigente com os romances, então aqui está uma pequena lista dos meus romances favoritos.... more>>

está na ordem de favoritismo

- HE

- 1V1 <<less

No description.

I felt the need to make a separate list dedicated to the fantasy and story focused novels, ranging from xianxia, wuxia, ancient times to mystery, sci-fi and horror genres, with a more mature bl romance subplot.... more>>

One of the most memorable novels that kept me on tenterhooks through the whole read.

Mostly slow-burn romance. Also, this list contains quite a few of more well known novels, nevertheless I hope you'll be able to uncover something new to pick up!

As always 1v1, HE <<less

Do I want to marry them? Do I want to be them? Do I want to be their friend? Idk, it’s confusing 

Genuinely great books that I would recommend to anyone. After years of reading webnovels, these are my standouts.

BL Powerful couple
Gay Couple.
Bromance

Female MCs that fight against the restrictions men place on them.

Enter a realm where darkness reigns supreme and malevolent protagonists cast their chilling shadows across the pages of our curated collection. Each book unveils characters of sinister allure, driven by ruthless ambition to achieve their goals by any means necessary. These tales entwine readers in a web of intrigue and suspense, blurring the lines between heroism and villainy. Prepare to be captivated by the enigmatic charm of these nefarious figures as you embark on a literary odyssey into the heart of darkness itself, where morality fades and the allure of evil beckons.
Other Novels not in NovelUpdate : ... more>>

Naruto: The Lost Thousand Names

Extreme Fist Tyrant

God-level high-player

Apocalyptic Abyss Summoner

Lord God Hunter

Soul-Eating Guixuanlu

Zhutian Xianwu (Heavenly Martial Arts)

Who made your ability to use it like this?

Paradise of Reincarnation: Vests everywhere

Cultivation of immortality steadily, the entire world of immortality is my home

Chapter of the olden days (best one for me), synopsis: I exist in darkness, disappear into the light, and will eventually devour the great sun and become the shadow of all things......Known as the unspeakable Black Terror, the Lord of Shadows, the Dark Sun, and the shadow of the world.

Disaster Frontier

The Troll Comes to the World

The Immortal Picking Order

The Wizard's Journey

The Infinite Evolution of the Giant Snake

Lord of the Silver Crows (Lord Of The Mysteries type novel) <<less

These are novels that have manhwa versions, I deeply enjoyed either the novel manhwa or often times both!! 

bl novels where cut-throat enemies which are determined to kill each other, become lovers, in manner where they can't let anyone even say bad words... more>> about their partner. <<less

No description.

My "waiting for chapter update" + "want to read" novel that are guaranteed to be A+ novels (some already completed novel).... more>>

Mostly are Chinese novels but rest assured, they're not like the "ordinary" Chinese novel, better than some popular K-novels! 

Also these novels are only the "new" novel that I've been reading recently (2021) so if you want to read the older good novel that I've been reading before 2021, just check on my other lists! :) <<less

Transmigrated or reincarnated or back in time. Where the FL has no affection for the original “ML” but still would enjoy looking down on him... more>> and the “FL”. Putting hoez where they belong: under her feet. <<less

Completed cultivation novels that I have read and enjoyed. Expect this to be updated over time as I devour more and more.... more>>

I enjoy: life in sects, the dao and enlightenment, scheming, growing in power/levelling, alchemy, 'dungeon' crawling and more.

Western novels I enjoy include Cradle, worth the candle, Mother of Learning, A Thousand Li, Painting the Mists, Ten Realms, Divine Dungeon.

Tags - general themes that are present in the majority of these novels <<less