No romance, no harem. Just MC with their brotherhood/sisterhood or found-family ^^~.... more>>

Novels with adaptations are noted.

Recommendations are appreciated! <<less

Stories with a close friendship/relationship between two male characters that is not romantic in nature.

1st List -
https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/44031/... more>>

3rd List -
https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/61691

I am doing this list for people like me who enjoy family and friendships or gets entrained by MC building there organizations directly or indirectly—
(Unedited) They are all in alphabetic orders, # or A-Z

There will also master-follower relationship or master-disciple relationship being recovered or building up between them…

And some overstate themselves even though they are OP or haven’t released their power-

There are no romance nor harem but there might be people around them having favorable impressions on them or bad reputation trying to be fixed or just leaving it…

I will try to put on novels that I’m sure there isn’t any romance nor harem and have already read them so to be double sure and some are recommended to me and had told me there isn’t :>

Any that are involve with the tag romance is explained in the bottom ^^*

Loving family for the beginning, knowing, and get transmigrated in a novel or another world ✌️

MC - Main Character
OP - Over Powered
OG FL - Original Female Lead
FL - Female Lead
OG ML - Original Male Lead
ML - Male Lead
BL - Boy’s Love
GL - Girl’s Love
GB - Genderbend <<less

Here some of my favorite novels, i tend to like novel without romance, harem, ecchi, or tragedy tags. I also like stories with great side characters rather than just focusing solely on MC. So if you look for those harem seeking protag and usual face slapping novel then sorry~ this isn't for ya...... more>>

P.S (edit 12/21) i removed all novel with romance hints, enjoy~ <<less

I'm gonna sort this list from gaeey-est to straight-est/ "brotherhood" level lol (except of course those novels which I haven't read yet, just recommended by many . I will just put them on the bottom, in accordance with their NU ratings) - you may also recommend some below if I ever missed one or anything. This is all for our quest on finding these types of novels anyway lmao.... more>>

.

EDIT: On second thought, I won't put the ships anymore cuz some readers may put off reading it because they're spoiled as to who to focus on or that they're already suggested as to which relationships between 'bros' to invest on so yeaahh~~ Just gonna put some of my thoughts and its synopsis instead.  <<less

Personal favourites, in no particular order.... more>>

Idk if I'm allowed to put this here but anything QI in this list? Aggregators lmao

More recommendations (this list is non-exhaustive): [The Menocht Loop][Azarinth Healer][Deathworlders][Mother of Learning][Delve][There is no epic loot here, only puns.][Spellgun][The Abyssal Dungeon][Daedalus][Those who aspired to become gods][Apex Predator][I am going to die (in this game-like dimension)][Metaworld Chronicles][The last angel: Ascension][Unbound][Vainqueur the Dragon][Deeper Darker][Mud's Mission][Empire of Salt][Gaia Awakens][The Gam3][Never Die Twice][The Forgotten Conqueror][Tallrock][The Only Real Cultivator][Seabound][Worm][Vaudevillain][A Hermit's Life for Me][Shade Touched][Just A Bystander][Sylver Seeker][Magic-smithing][The House Witch][Apocalypse: Generic System][Rebirth in a Magical World][The Oscillation][Fork this Life][Beware of Chicken][The House Witch][Valkyrie's Shadow][Salvos][First Contact][A Sense for Magic][Romantically Apocalyptic][The Stars Have Eyes]

Extras:[I don't  want this kind of Hero][Weak Hero][Jigokuraku][World Trigger][Hunter x Hunter][Eleceed] <<less

Chinese Edition that I've read and am able to give some comments for. The list numbering is random. I'll classify it with EASY, MEDIUM and... more>> HARD to divide the focus needed to read these novels.  <<less

Novels with little to no romance because sometimes you just don't want to read romance.... more>>

MCs are more interested in their career, making their life better and only have platonic relationships with other characters. <<less

Translated Taiwanese light novels (physical books). Most are no or minimal romance, focusing on plot and bonds between family and friends instead! The writing style... more>> usually has a comedic undertone as well. <<less

I searched everywhere for bromance WITHOUT romance, harem or the shitty romantic subplot tag . ... more>>

I 'm searching for good stories no boring sh*t and interesting characters : I want QUALITY 

Only stories without YAOI or SHONEN AI TAG 

Open to recommendations  <<less

Edit: I will no longer update this list. For more recommendations, please refer to my other list “golden collection”... more>>

Books I found  good enough to be called fantastic. Warning: Some books may have triggering/disturbing content. Please read the tags before reading. 

In no specific order. Ratings: 1-6 <<less

For novels that look like BL but aren't actually. Also for fun.
~
So the real reason I made this is because I thought it was quite interesting how many BL shippers there are for no-romance and minimal-romance novels I've collected in my other lists. As you can imagine, most of these are novels that prominently feature male characters and their relationships with one another.... more>>

Although I do read BL, I'm not much of a shipper myself, so most of the stuff on here is here because there really are people out there shipping the MC with one of the male characters that's not canonically a love interest. Yes, I confirm these ships by searching for fanarts, fanfics, and forum articles asking if it's BL. Think of it as my weird hobby.
~

I'm not going to rate or review the novels here. It's more of a compilation than a rec list. Note that I haven't read many of these, and that it is in no particular order.

There has to be an uncommon degree of fujobait going on. I'm not going to add just any series where male characters have a significant friendship. Although series with exceptionally thirsty fandoms will leak into this list anyways since, like I said, I'm not actually reading some of these. I will occasionally ramble in the description.

I'm well aware that there are plenty of other similar lists out there, so I'll link them below as I find them.
(insert after the "viewlist/" in the URL): 30062, 1733, 64324 <<less

Badass novels that I read, with strong protagonist. 

Just the good stuff I’ve read over the years. Fair warning, it is mostly danmei. I’ll try my best to read other genres.... more>>

not in any order** <<less

I am not a fan of Harem. These are novels focused in plots I have read, no BG or BL.

Great Books, various tags/genres... more>>

Refer to list 5/5 rating for my first choice of novel <<less

This is a list of fun romps and good stories to sink your teeth into. As I read many types of stories there are many different types on here. Ignore the ranking check my descriptiors. I hope this list can help you find a story to satisfy your current reading needs.... more>>

Edit: I will add to or remove from this list as I see fit. <<less

 male protagonist, female protag , second chance, some romance, reincarnation, and adventurers. Contain novels that I like. KR, JP, CN.           ... more>>            EDIT: I LIKE ALL OF THESE NOVELS SO MAKE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN, I DIDN'T SORT THEM OUT ACCORDING TO HOW MUCH I LIKE THEM EACH. <<less

No description.

 list of my favorite novels with great mc, plot and literally just great. mostly action tho and no harem.

Continuing this list https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/24031/?ft=yes

I will need to find time and read these kids soon!

Mostly no romance, some I dropped because I started reading others, but still recommend. The order doesn't matter.

Really good transmigration/reincarnation, second chance and fantasy novels were the MC is not an adult yet (appearance-wise).... more>>

Tell me if I should add something. <<less

The premise is silly, but everything else isn't. OR... it's just silly serious.... more>>

The list includes novels I like that are that are uniquely amusing (crack) yet still coherent (treated seriously).  

F/M, M/M, OR no romance included. Usually not very explicit. Lots of genres, so be careful. Order doesn't really matter, but I'll try and stick inactive/unavailable novels toward the end and completed ones earlier.

Any quotes included may NOT accurately reflect the overall story... but they're funny. And the fact that the author actually included them in the novel is hilarious.

Crack? More like creativity. <<less