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

A hundred and three novels starred by male protagonists that you might like with NO HAREM.... more>>

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《 Good 'Male-Protagonist-no-harem' novels but unlisted in NU 》

↠The Beginning After The End

↠The Author's POV

↠ Mother of Learning

 

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THIS IS NOT ARRANGED BY RANK

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p.s.

I haven't read all of these books and only a few of them. I wanted male pov books that didn't have a dozen of females flocking hence after tons of reading genres and tags and a h*ck amount of reviews making sure there ain't no imposter in here I've finally formed a hundred (and two) "MALE PROTAGONIST WITH NO HAREM" READING LIST!!!! TADA ~ ~~

You're welcome ;D

Oh, and If you guys wanna recommend books and found out there's an imposter among us (diz books) please tell me- tell us! and even more so if you wanna recommend a good book ANY GENRE you know about please please please..? *with sparkling eyes* 

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⤜ Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ⇻ <<less

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.

2nd List -
https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/50277/... 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

This list a mishmash of all kind JP novel, hope you find good stuff to read, rank doesn't matter

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

No description.

if you're looking at this list then you're probably tired of seeing the same novels over and over again.... more>>

Well then here are some good novels that you might not have seen yet.

Hidden Gems!

here are some other lists I made: https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/46420/ and https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/47255/  check them out if you're interested <<less

MC gets transmigrated or reincarnated into a baby/toddler/child body.... more>>

Includes: Male Protagonists - Female Protagonists 

*unlisted novel/manhwa suggestions are also in the comments as well

**Also just read the MTLs for these Novels if their translations are unavailable or slow** <<less

I’ve been using this cite for a while without an account so I’ve never made a reading list but I thought people might be interested... more>> in the books I’ve curated over the years. TBH I have a pretty high literary standard but at the same time I like to indulge in tr*sh taste, so the quality of these books might be mixed but they should at least leave an impression. Be prepared for a lot of isekai. Also I'm a bit*h for completed novels, proper conclusions are great. <<less

Essentially, either a weak or strong protagonist has subordinates or people who are all very loyal and protective/possessive of him. Most of them are stronger than the MC. There are mainly male protagonists, but female protagonists are included.... more>>

NO HAREM OR ROMANCE-FOCUSED NOVELS! Contains mainly friendship or comradeship-focused Novels.

Other Novels/Mangas that can't be found on novelupdates: Eleceed (Manhwa), How to Survive as a Terminally-Ill Dragon (Manhwa) <<less

The isekai here is pointed to another world, but not only to the usual Jpn isekai with reincarnation/rebirth/transmigrate MC. It can be the world that's totally not in the earth, and maybe it's not a reincarnation/transmigration and MC is from that world. ... more>>

My ideal isekai novel is the one with the world building as its central theme and the romance is non existent, even if there's romance element in it, usually it's slow and just as unnecessary side dish.

NO HAREM for me. Tho few of them has harem and romance tags, for me there are those that are not romance and harem, so I'll explain in related description instead. 

  <<less

Surrounded by loyal protective companions? Good stuff. Platonic harem and bonds? Heck yeah. MC smartly planning ahead and sometimes humorously misunderstood?  Dig it. Bromance? YES!... more>>

This is my jam~ ✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧

I like stories where the MC is loved and cherished by his people (but not romantically, not into harem).Though I still ship MC with other characters sometimes (〃'▽'〃). 

Some are more of a slice-of-life, with little actions, but more focusing on the deep bonds of the main characters.  I only put series that I've actually read, with my little comments on it, I'm definitely up to recommendations for similar trope.  

Top best three asides, the rest are in no particular order. Enjoy! <<less

This a list of my all-time favourite stories. Adding reviews in-progress. (May take over a long span of time.) Novels are sorted in descending worthwhileness.... more>> (Again from perspective.) <<less

As an introverted person with social anxiety its hard for me to recommend things however when I do recommend novels to friends I usually recommend... more>> these <<less

My personal list, mix of KR, CN, JP novels.

These novels contain a male MC who gets a second chance at life and use it to their advantage in business/management! Some novels are BL. This list... more>> doesn't feature quick transmigration/multiple world hopping.  <<less

Novels that i am/have read and like or (will probably like) after my num 1 list. Randomly put,not sorted. Have all kind of genre in it.... more>>

Below is the continuation for this list:

https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/87170/?ft=yes

Other lists:

https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/87166/?ft=yes <<less

I put a variety of novels that I personally enjoyed into this list. I'd say this is for you if want a surprise or well... more>> variety. Sometimes you want something new but your not quite sure what. I've definitely felt that way before so I decided to make a list for that exact feeling.  <<less

me n my weird taste... more>>

some reviews contains spoiler (⁠๑⁠•⁠﹏⁠•⁠)

not on the list:

- The beginning after the end

2: https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/82408/ <<less

This Isekai list deals with stories, where the protagonist is a person from Earth transported, reborn, or is trapped in a fantasy or parallel universe (with memories of a prior life intact). It includes being transmigrated to novels as well as games.... more>>

The following recommendations would be labeled whether they belong to BG, BL, GL, or No Love Interests. There is no ranking in my list, it was just according to the time when I chronologically added the novel inside this list.

Link for part 2: https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/51110/?ft=yes <<less

All novels that I did not put in my other list/belongs in here. I enjoyed most of them as I definitely did read enough chapters to add these here.... more>>

Though  these reasons are not simply negative though as some good novels are here ---- reasons these may be here:

(a) Dropped because not good enough, not to my taste, too boring, was mistaken of the story, or I enjoyed them without thinking of the quality itself (b) Not bad, but reading-on-hold for now, (c) Hiatus, Stopped novels (d) Enjoyed and read but not good enough (e) Locked behind paywall so I put aside for now because I'm paying for other things (e) Not translated yet or only read the start so I have initial impressions (which may be neutral or has some negative in it, for example: Dungeon defense WN as I inevitably get somewhat disappointed it isn't more like the LN) 

My list for books the have passed a 'quality' muster: https://www.novelupdates.com/viewlist/16488/?ft=yes?st=1 <<less

No description.

Action-packed and plot-heavy novels. No romance.... more>>

Love is temporary, EXP is eternal. <<less