Summary
A lot ofgirl’s lovefans feel like moreGL light novelsshould be translated, at least as much as boy’s love light novels are localized into English. That’s why thebest girl’s love light novels with official English translationsreceive a lot of grassroots attention from GL fans who pay attention to titles that get picked up for licensing.
These yuri light novels have relationships that range from cliched-but-adorable, bittersweet, fluffy, and complicated, to nuanced and realistic. GL light novels that are focused on these relationships explore the couple’s identities as individuals and as partners, and celebrate their development. They also often have intriguing plots, world-building, and side characters that help make the main pair all the more special.
Light Novel Volumes In English
4
Flum is blessed/cursed with Reversal, an ability that makes her stats drop to 0. Despite this, her party appreciates her ability to keep them together. That is, until she’s sold to slavery and discovers Reversal’s true worth when it saves her and fellow slave Milkit from flesh-eating ghouls.
Roll Over and Dietracks Flum’s revenge tour, Milkit’s growing feelings for Flum, and a horrific conspiracy that threatens the world. As ahorror dark fantasy series, readers should beware that the level of gore is on the lower side of the spectrum, opposite fromIt’s Time For Torture Princess. However, horror and yuri fans should hold on to hope for Flum and Milkit, who are consistently tender with each other.
1
When an otaku awakens in the world of her favorite game “Drop Fantasia”, she has one goal: to run away with Fuuka Hamilton. The problem is, Fuuka is the villainess, and she’s never considered having arelationship with another girl, much less the otaku reborn as Miyako Florence. Fuuka gives Miyako 14 days to make her say “I’m happy” before she agrees to run away together.
A Lily Blooms in Another Worldis a tame work compared to writer Ameko Kaeruda’s other yuri light novel, the feminist comedySexiled. It’s also just a single volume compared toSexiled, though it’s got Kaeruda’s wit and willingness to make her characters act silly.A Lily Bloomsalso rounds out Miyako and Fuuka’s story nicely and features plenty of great female characters.
N/A, title in katakana
Amonotsuka Academy is an elite school with clear class stratification between rich and poor students. Misaki Hotaru learns this the hard way when she’s signed up to the Domestic Arts track, doomed to be the maid for students on the Societal Arts track.
Through a series of events, she ends up in a contract with the campus chairman’s daughter, Himeko Amonotsuka.Girls Kingdomis an ongoing GL series that follows Misaki and Himeko as they navigate their new life together, theschool’s strict system, and even a surprising turn to urban fantasy.
5
Rei Oohashi is a yumejoshi, a girl who “dreams” about being with their favorite fictional character. Luckily for her, working herself to death allows her to reincarnate as Rae Taylor, the protagonist of her favorite game, “Revolution”, and the rival of her beloved villainess, Claire Francois. To Claire’s chagrin, Rae enthusiastically enters her second life and dismantles the game’s events just to be with her.
Once fans are done with the series, they can hop over the spinoff. Carried by Seven Seas Entertainment,She’s so Cheeky for a CommonerretellsI’m in Love with the Villainessfrom the eponymous lady’s perspective. Claire’s POV cleverly spins the story and offers new details that fans will love.
Every year, a pair of girls are crowned as the Etoile Couple, representatives of the three prestigious all-girls schools atop Astrea Hill. Girls from St. Miator’s Girls' Academy, St. Spica’s Girls' Institute, and St. Lulim’s Girls' School have three rounds to win the Etoile Election, and possibly their lady loves.
Strawberry Panicis a fond classic that unapologetically declares “No Boys Allowed.” Quite literally, as Astrea Hill is considered, in-universe, as a sacred place where no men can set foot. St. Miator’s, St. Spica’s, andSt. Lulim’s couplesalso face different struggles, whether they be romantic, platonic, or somewhere in between.
Princess Anisphia is absolutely nuts over being reincarnated from modern Japan to a world with magic. She doesn’t let the fact that she can’t wield magic stop her from creating magicology to study and build magitek out of it. Her obsession eventually fishes Euphyllia out of trouble when the latter loses her reputation after Anisphia’s brother dumps and frames her for heinous works.
The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Ladytells of their struggle against classism and a succession conspiracy. Anisphia and Euphyllia’s relationship develops gradually, and it’s the strength of their bond that makes the series’ conclusion compelling.Reincarnated Princess’ animeand manga versionscompress much of the LN’s details, but they’re good supplements to the series.
The Executioner and Her Way of Lifeanswers the question: What if isekai heroes actually ruin the world they’re spirited away to? Executioner Menou is part of an order that eliminates castaways, known as Lost Ones, before they cause another Human Error or world-ravaging disasters.
Her biggest challenge comes in the form of Akari Tokito, a Lost One with the Pure Concept, or power, to control time. Afraid that Akari’s unnatural power, which makes her effectively immortal, would cause an unprecedented Human Error, Menouholds on to Akarito find a way to kill her.
The Executioner, befitting its premise, has a cast full of plotters fighting for their own agendas. Part of the fun when reading it is figuring out people’s real identities, the truth behind events, and how they will change Menou and Akari’s feelings for each other.
11
Sakura Adachi and Hougetsu Shimamura meet at the loft of their school gym to play hooky. Their tenuous friendship only exists in that space, which is a shame for Adachi, as Shimamura is her only friend. However, deep down, Adachi knows what she feels for Shimamura is more than friendship, even if she doesn’t have the words for it yet.
Adachi and Shimamurafollows their slow-burn friendship and romance. Its patience with the protagonist’s inner conflict, development as individuals and partners, iyashikei elements, and strong side characters left an impression on fans and the genre. Even its supernatural and multiverse elements feel wholly at home and elevate the couple’s syrupy-sweet connection.
Sorawo Kamikoshi loves urban legends. Unfortunately for her, that fascination almost kills her when she stumbles into the Otherside. Before she dies in the alien dimension full of creepypasta monsters, the gorgeous Toriko Nishina saves her, though not without a huge caveat.
Otherside Picnicfeels deeply rooted in the internet urban horror culture of 2017, the year it was published. However, despite its humorous moments, it takes itssci-fi-horror premiseseriously and ramps up to a bigger-picture kind of plot. Sorawo and Toriko aren’t necessarily virtuous, nor do they have cause to trust each other, yet they decide to make it work regardless. Their work partnership turns into friendship and, over the course of the series, may develop into something more.
Hatou “Gaku” Manabu thinks her purple-eyed friend, Marii Yukari, is just an oddball who claims to see every living thing as a robot. Gaku finds out that Yukari’s claims are actually a special power that draws the attention of dangerous elements. What follows is a science mystery story tethered to Gaku and Yukari’s emotions, and a plot best left unspoiled.
Qualia the Purplewas released in 2009, but it remainspopular among sci-fiand yuri fans. The theoretical quantum physics and science talk is dense, rooted in real-life theory, and critical to the plot and Gaku and Yukari’s story. Despite only having a single volume, it’s dense and complex enough that it holds up on re-reads to understand the girls’ fate.
