Hey y'all, this is an oddly specific request so I apologize in advance!
I've been an otome game fan for forever and I've been trying to get into novels for the longest time, but I think that since the writing in otome and Western novels tends to be so drastically different, I've struggled to find something suited to my tastes. For anybody who enjoys both, I'd be forever in your debt if you could help me out.
For better reference, here are some criteria:
Must have:
– A timid or more reserved heroine as opposed to snarky or feisty (I'd especially love if she got easily flustered around the male lead)
– An amicable/friendly relationship right from the get-go, though preferably not childhood friends
– Just an overall healthy relationship with clear communication
– Any setting that isn't too grounded in reality. For example, a fantasy or mystery would be fine, but an office-romance would not (I read to escape reality lol)
Must NOT have:
– Spice
– A love triangle
– Insta-love
– Love/hate or enemies to lovers (except if they're supposed to be enemies but…they're not. Starcrossed lovers ig.)
– In that same vein, I'd like to avoid gratuitous bickering. It just gets on my nerves when the couple fights more than they do get along and…be a couple.
Not a requirement, but it'd be pretty cool if the male lead had a cunning or mischievous personality.
Again, I'm so sorry for my pickiness! I know that the book I'm looking for might not even exist, but it was worth a try. Thanks!
by Emi1013
1 Comment
I don’t have any specific suggestions, but are you really needing to jump directly into Western novels? Have you considered reading Japanese light novels/ranobe? I think you might find the tropes you like in otome games more regularly in other stories that are aimed at the same audience and produced within the same cultural context. Just a thought! Good luck!