Novels that have no lasting romance or love interests. There will be no smut, harem (if MC attracts some people, I don't mind until it becomes a major part of the story or MC becomes interested in them), or ecchi, and BL/GL also count as romance. The list includes a personal rating and (often rambling) review/description.... more>>

Of course, it's also about my tastes, so this list will be mostly fantasy and action novels (op mc will be a common feature). I am a wordy person so I also don’t mind wordier books, too... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The list is in no particular order, but novels with <100 chapters and on hiatus/slow updating (less/around as often as 1 chap/month) will go in the back, starting at #33. This is because I assume people are looking for binge reads like me.

DISCLAIMER: The list is subject to change and revision - my impression changes as I think about them/read more. I cannot guarantee a novel has no romance later. I'll try to update this rec list as I read. No promises though, so my descriptions may be outdated.

~
Similar lists (insert after the "viewlist/" in the URL): 68396, 3797, 46727, 20556, 7097, 25820, 47958, 19335, 48107, 50847, 29345, 44031 <<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.

- - - - - - - - - - -

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

Get that harem sh*t out of here.... more>>

A BL reader's curated guide (with comments) to exciting non-BL stories with either no M/F romance or very little late romance. And NO idiotic, horndog MCs!!! <<less

i like them for very specific reasons. (i often edit my reviews/switch orders, as a heads up)

These are the novels that I personally enjoyed, though some of them might not be my favorites, they still had enough influence stay in my heart as a decent novel at the very least... well, most of them. (Also I'm actually back now 2022, got burnt out after reading too much reincarnation paradise)[2023 here, uhhh, oops]... more>>

*Rest of description is for when you enter the list*
{I'm back and ready to fix my younger self's s*upid tastes, some are pretty good though}

(My reviews will not be consistent with the list because I go into the read deeper rather than just a overview, make sure to check my oldest comment, it is also the most liked one, it has the unpublished reads)

[S tier is a 5 star read, A is a 4.5 star read, B tier is a 4 star read, C tier is a 3.5 star read, D tier is a 3 star read, E tier is a 2 star read, F tier is a 1 star read] 

[SS and X tier are special. SS is consistency and intrigue, and X is the top 3 with the SS tier also being applied] 

(exaggerated tier which is a new special tier has been added, this is when I give reads that just started a good tier even when there isn't enough chapters to properly review it, the tier of the read will most probably change someday)

(The special tiers will now be accompanied by a regular tier, Exagg. tier will be accompanied with a Z)  <<less

These novels include the 'Academy' in one form or another at a certain point in the story. Some of the novels are entirely based around... more>> an academy setting while others have a single arc. Some mc's are professors/instructors while some are students and others outsiders merely involved with the academy in one way or another.  <<less

No description.

Here is a list of my favorite action web novels. I really don’t like romance and/or harem in my action focused novels, because it almost always detracts from the plot. So, these action novels have absolutely zero romance or harem. ... more>>

The first five are the ones I recommended to everyone and are the only ones that are in order. The following are more of a case by case basis. 

More recommendations (that aren’t listed on NU) in the comments.

All the MTL I recommend are very readable. I can't stand most MTL, including Comrademao and MTLNovel, so the only website that I use is Novelhi. <<less

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

stories that regularly update, giving me the will to live :) consistency is key (some are better than others)... more>>

mostly action/fantasy novels without romance <<less

Novels which have been deemed to be excellent in some regard, irrespective of genres and themes. While not exhaustive in any way, this list will be periodically updated as I read more. Note that erot*c content might also be included. To better understand why I chose certain series, check out my reviews!... more>>

Note: I am biased towards reading more CN, and I have stopped reading any novel related to QI since the controversy with WW. Thus, you might find this list to be particularly biased, so take it with a pinch of salt. The order/numbering is not indicative of anything. <<less

These are some novels which you can read when you re bored they are not exceptional but can entertain you for a duration of time... more>> untill you find your type of novel to read. <<less

Read Lord of the Mysteries and fell absolutely head over heels for it. these are some novels i think have similar elements: lovecraftian/occult horror, steampunk/victorian vibes, themes of humanity fighting against fate, etc.  A mix of read and TBR, as well as BL/GL/gen.... more>>

Recs from outside of Novelupdates:

- Mother of Learning on RoyalRoad, TBR. time loop f*ckery babeyyy. apparently there’s a good magic system and some character development. I’ve heard nothing of good things about this one!

- The Forsaken Sovereign on Webnovel, TBR. LOVECRAFTIAN THEMES AND ELDRITCH GODS I AM SO EXCITED. 

(feel free to forum message me to gush about any of these novels!) <<less

This list is for people, like me, who are tired of romance and just want to read a good story.

sometimes i have no standards and it shows

Novels I have read or am reading, which include skills, level/game system and/or reincarnation, basically isekai, or just some kind of similar fantasy setting. The list also includes my score for them and what I thought about them which might include slight spoilers (sorry), some novel 'reviews' are shorter either because I've forgotten about them or just didn't have a lot to say about them. Mostly Korean and a few Japanese novels, I haven't and don't plan on reading any Chinese novels, i honestly can't understand the cultivation and divinity thing most of their novels have so i tend to avoid them, and I avoid slice of life novels like the plague. The list isn't... more>> in any particular order, the ones near the end are the ones I've read most recently. I will update this list and add novels I like and find worth reading every time I discover one. Unfortunately, there is a limit of a hundred novels per list on this site so if you want more recommendations, you can go to part 1 of my journey through isekai-esque novels!

Link to part 1 of the list: novelupdates.com/viewlist/11416/ <<less

Check title for date of latest addition Year/Month/Day... more>>

There are some female MCs on here as well. Mind the notes to avoid them.

You can also check the comment section where I will post Chinese novels that do not have a translation yet, and thus cannot be added to this list yet. 

Latest: Genius Warlock #8

I Became the 1st Floor Boss of the Tower #28

Past Life Returner #24

[Please note: rankings may change over time.] <<less

the ones w/o a rating are ones i haven't read yet 
(not in any order) will update regularly 

Sometimes, romance and the many love interests make good novels mediocre or rubbish, so this list has the top novels that either don't have romance at all, just bromance or some romance but no harem.... more>>

All of them are action and adventure novels or both and are at the top of any series ranking list, so happy reading! <<less

【Magic/Mystery/Horror/Occult/Supernatural/Sci-fi 】
【NOT IN ANY ORDER】

KR fantasy stories that takes place in a non-modern society
With the concepts of:... more>>

Regression, Reincarnation, Dimensional Travel and transmigration.... <<less

Good novels that you’ll find on the series ranking and underrated gems.

This list made for korean novel with only few chapter that have been translated but look interesting... more>>

- Male Protagonist

- No romance/harem (i hate this genre esp in action/fantasy, please recommend me novel that not contain this) <<less

All the novels here gave me goosebumps and were very poignant. I can vouch for their quality. ... more>>

They have very different genres. I didn't focus on any genre when making the list. Will definitely update in the future if I find more novels that move me If you've already read any of the novels on this list but would like to re-read, I could share my favorite chapter marker. that way your reading will be faster, and you will be able to see (if you want) the things I liked most about that novel. It's a habit I have, mark the chapters I liked the most in case I wanted to reread. I'll pass the list on to anyone who wants it in the comments.  <<less

Ongoing novels, most of them are updated regularly, though it may not reflect on novelupdates status. You can find them on other sites (eg.webnovel). Please... more>> read on the translators' site to support them. <<less