Japanese publishing company Takarajimasha released their 2023 edition of Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! (This Light Novel is Amazing) guidebook, revealing the top ranking light novels in the country for both bunkobon and tankobon versions.

Syougo Kinugasa and Shunsaku Tomose’s Classroom of the Elite light novel topped the bunkobon list and Miya Kazuki and You Shiina’s Ascendance of a Bookworm topped the tankobon list. Mushoku Tensei, meanwhile, came in at number 5 and Overlord came in at number 9 in the tankobon list.

Bunkobons are basically light novels that are published as a book directly. On the other hand, tankobon compiles the light novel chapters that were initially published in a magazine and then releases them as a book.

Bunkobon rankings:

1. Author Syougo Kinugasa and illustrator Shunsaku Tomose’s Classroom of the Elite: Year 2
2. Author Hiromu and illustrator raemz’ Chitose-kun is in the Ramune Bottle
3. Author Taiga Shiki and illustrator Sue Yanagi’s Watashi wa Anata no Namida ni Naritai
4. Author Saekisan and illustrator Hanekoto’s The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten
5. Author Sunsunsun and illustrator Momoco’s Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian
6. Author Yuiko Agarizaki and illustrator Aoaso’s Brunhild The Dragon Slayer
7. Author Joyo Nishi and illustrator ReTake’s Watashi, Nibanme no Kanojo de Ii kara (I’m Fine With Being the Second Girlfriend)
8. Author Takemachi and illustrator tomari’s Spy Classroom
9. Author Ghost Mikawa and illustrator Hiten’s Days With My Stepsister
10. Author nigozyu and illustrator Umibozu’s The Detective Is Already Dead

Tankobon and Novel rankings:

1. Author Miya Kazuki and illustrator You Shiina’s Ascendance of a Bookworm
2. Author Hisaya Amagishi and illustrator KEI’s Dahlia in Bloom: Crafting a Fresh Start With Magical Tools
3. Author Rocket Shokai and illustrator Mephist’s Yushakei ni Shosu
4. Author Matsuri Isora and illustrator Nanna Fujimi’s Silent Witch
5. Author Rifujin na Magonote and illustrator Shirotaka’s Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
6. Author Mizuki Nagano and illustrator Saori Toyota’s Koishita Hito wa, Imouto no Kawari ni Shindekure to Itta.
7. Author Buncololi and illustrator Kantoku’s Sasaki and Peeps
8. Author Ayaka Sakuraze and authors As and Border’s Kusuri no Mamono no Kaiko Riyū
9. Author Kugane Maruyama and illustrator so-bin’s Overlord
10. Author Kamihara and illustrator Shiro46’s Tensei Reijou to Suki na Jinsei wo

New Title rankings:

1. Author Taiga Shiki and illustrator Sue Yanagi’s Watashi wa Anata no Namida ni Naritai
2. Author Yuiko Agarizaki and illustrator Aoaso’s Brunhild The Dragon Slayer
3. Author Joyo Nishi and illustrator ReTake’s Watashi, Nibanme no Kanojo de Ii kara. (I’m Fine With Being the Second Girlfriend)
4. Author Hideaki Mashiroya and illustrator Misumi’s Tomodachi no Ushiro de Kimi to Kossori Te wo Tsunagu. Dare nimo Ienai Koi wo Suru.
5. Author Rocket Shokai and illustrator Mephist’s Yuushakei ni Shosu
6. Author Mirito Amasaki and illustrator Hechima’s Wasuresaseteyo, Kouhai-kun
7. Author Moroyaka Marumi and illustrator Nagu’s Tenshi wa Tansan Shika Nomanai
8. Author Aienkien and illustrator Ayaka Chihiro’s Unmei no Hito wa, Yome no Imouto Deshita.
9. Author Uraura Tachikawa and illustrator Kaeru Ochi’s Koumuin, Nakata Shinobu no Akutoku
10. Author Chiaki Konno and illustrator Mai Okuma’s Kisekai Traverse

Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! is an annual light novel guide book published by Takarajimasha. The guide book publishes a list of the top ten most popular light novels according to readers polled on the Internet and votes from critics, influencers, and other people related to the light novel industry.

The guide book also ranks male characters, female characters and illustrators from all works released each year. Only on two occasions did a series rank first in all four lists in the same issue: A Certain Magical Index in 2011, and My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected in 2015. Both these light novels were inducted into the hall of fame.

Source: ANN