I'm in Love with the Villainess

I'm in Love with the Villainess (Japanese: 私の推しは悪役令嬢, Hepburn: Watashi no Oshi wa Akuyaku Reijou) is a Japanese light novel series written by Inori and illustrated by Hanagata. It was serialized online between January 2018 and February 2021 on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō.[1] It was acquired by GL Bunko, who published the first light novel volume digitally in February 2019. The light novel has been licensed in North America by Seven Seas Entertainment.

I'm in Love with the Villainess
First light novel volume cover
私の推しは悪役令嬢
(Watashi no Oshi wa Akuyaku Reijou)
GenreIsekai, romantic comedy, yuri
Novel series
Written byInori
Published byShōsetsuka ni Narō
Original runJanuary 14, 2018 – February 21, 2021
Light novel
Written byInori
Illustrated byHanagata
Published byGL Bunko (digital)
Ichijinsha (paperback)
English publisher
Original runFebruary 26, 2019 – August 26, 2021
Volumes5
Manga
Written byInori
Illustrated byAnoshimo
Published byIchijinsha
English publisher
MagazineComic Yuri Hime
Original runJune 18, 2020 – present
Volumes3
Novel series
She's so Cheeky for a Commoner!
Written byInori
Published byShōsetsuka ni Narō
Original runMay 25, 2021 – present
Novel series
She's so Cheeky for a Commoner!
Written byInori
Illustrated byHanagata
Published byGL Bunko
Original runFebruary 28, 2022 – present
Volumes1

A manga adaptation with art by Anoshimo has been serialized in Ichijinsha's yuri manga magazine Comic Yuri Hime since June 18, 2020. It has been collected into two tankōbon volumes and also licensed in North America by Seven Seas Entertainment.[2]

Plot

Oohashi Rei, an ordinary office worker, is overworked to death and suddenly finds herself reincarnated as Rae Taylor, the heroine of her favorite otome game, Revolution. However, Rae has no interest in the game's three original romance routes with the Bauer Kingdom's princes. Instead, she sets her heart on Claire François, the game's main antagonist. Using her knowledge of the game's events that are yet to come, Rae tries to give Claire a happy ending before the coming revolution destroys any chance of it happening.

Characters

Rae Taylor

The main protagonist, previously known as Oohashi Rei before she died of overwork and reincarnated as the player character of her favorite otome game, Revolution. As she's gay, Rae has no interest in the game’s capture targets; in fact becoming vexed when they pay attention to her. Instead, she aims to give Claire François a happy ending; falling in love with her. At the end, they two get married and adopt twin daughters.

Claire François

The "villainess" of the original game and current target of Rae's affection. Claire is a noble who believe in the current aristocratic system within the kingdom and often has a low view on commoners, especially Rae. This only serves to make her flustered and confused by Rae's interest in her. At the end of the story, Claire and Rae are married and working as teachers.

Rod Bauer

The eldest heir within the Bauer Kingdom's royal family and first in line to the throne. He is a energetic young man who becomes interested in Rae, much to her dismay. Rod is the most popular capture target within the game.

Thane Bauer

The second heir within the Bauer Kingdom's royal family. Thane is often stoic and feels his abilities are inferior to his brothers, giving him a complex about it. Thane is considered as the least popular capture target within the game.

Yu Bauer

The third heir within the Bauer Kingdom's royal family. A charismatic and attractive prince type who uses charm to mask a cunning mind. Yu is the second most popular capture target within the game.

Misha Jur

Rae's roommate and best friend. Her family was once a noble house but they become commoners after falling from grace and becoming impoverished. She almost realized Rae isn't her old friend anymore; since the other Rei woke up in her, Misha must believes something is wrong with her head.

Media

Light novels

Five volumes of the official light novel were published digitally by GL Bunko from February 26, 2019 to August 26, 2021. The Light novels featured cover art and additional illustrations by Hanagata. In 2021 Ichijinsha announced it would begin publishing the light novels in paperback, with volume 1 released on December 18, 2021. The light novel has been licensed in North America by Seven Seas Entertainment.[3] On March 19, 2021, Seven Seas issued a statement that they would be releasing a new version of volume one due to the localization decisions in the original omitting several paragraphs.[4]

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 February 26, 2019 (e-book)[5]
December 18, 2021 (paperback)[6]		978-4758023191September 24, 2020 (e-book)
November 10, 2020 (paperback)[7]		978-1-64505-863-2
2 August 26, 2019[8]
June 17, 2022 (paperback)[9]		978-4758024150January 7, 2021 (e-book)
February 23, 2021 (paperback)[10]		978-1-64505-953-0
3 August 26, 2020[11]—June 3, 2021 (e-book)
July 6, 2021 (paperback)[12]		978-1-64827-557-9
4 February 26, 2021[13]—February 8, 2022[14]978-1-63858-111-6
5 August 26, 2021[15]—September 6, 2022[16]978-1-63858-646-3

Spin-off

She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner! is a retelling of the original series from Claire François' perspective. It began serialization online on May 25, 2021 on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō.[17] GL Bunko published the first light novel volume digitally on February 28, 2022, with Hanagata returning for cover design and additional illustrations.

No. Release date ISBN
1 February 28, 2022 (e-book)[18]—

Manga

A manga adaptation is written by Inori and illustrated by Anoshimo. It began serialization in Ichijinsha's yuri manga magazine Comic Yuri Hime on June 18, 2020.[19] It has been licensed in North America by Seven Seas Entertainment.

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 December 18, 2020[20]978-4758021937March 25, 2021 (e-book)
July 27, 2021 (paperback)[21]		978-1-64827-800-6
2 June 17, 2021[22]978-4758022637December 23, 2021 (e-book)
February 1, 2022 (paperback)[23]		978-1-64827-945-4
3 December 18, 2021[24]978-4758023184August 30, 2022[25]978-1-63858-639-5

Reception

In Anime News Network's Fall 2020 Light Novel Guide the series was generally received positively, though not as strongly as other yuri titles released at the time. However, it was noted that "if Rae and Claire both start off as almost intensely difficult to like, they do undergo enough of a change by about midway through the novel that makes them much easier to root for."[26]

Others had more positive reception to the series. Erica Friedman, the founder of Yuricon, awarded the first light novel an overall score of nine. Friedman also praised the series for its frank discussion of LGBT identity, writing "And then you hit a moment when Misha, Rae’s best friend, roommate and foil, turns to Rae and asks, 'Are you gay?'…and the characters have a frank discussion about sexuality."[27] Nicki Bauman noted that the series open focus on LGBT themes in its characters and storytelling was not typical of the yuri genre and proposed that it might signal change in Yuri themes and stories.[28]

In March 2021, I'm in Love with the Villainess placed 5th in AnimeJapan's annual Manga We Want to See Animated Ranking.[29] In June 2021, the series was nominated for the Best Printed Manga category in the Next Manga Awards and placed 17th out of 50 nominees.[30]

References
  1. "私の推しは悪役令嬢。". Shōsetsuka ni Narō (in Japanese). Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  2. "Seven Seas Licenses I'm in Love with the Villainess Manga". Anime News Network. February 2, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  3. "Seven Seas Licenses I'm in Love With the Villainess Novels, Roll Over and Die Manga". Anime News Network. April 22, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  4. "I'm in Love with the Villainess Author Responds to Alterations in English-Language Release". Anime News Network. March 19, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  5. 私の推しは悪役令嬢。【Kindle限定特典あり】 (GL文庫) Kindle版. Amazon (in Japanese). Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  6. 私の推しは悪役令嬢。-Revolution-(1) (in Japanese). Ichijinsha. ASIN 4758023190.
  7. "Book: I'm in Love with the Villainess (Light Novel) Vol. 1". Seven Seas Entertainment. Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  8. 私の推しは悪役令嬢。2【Kindle限定特典あり】 (GL文庫) Kindle版. Amazon (in Japanese). Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  9. 私の推しは悪役令嬢。-Revolution-(2) (in Japanese). Ichijinsha. ASIN 4758024154.
  10. "Book: I'm in Love with the Villainess (Light Novel) Vol. 2". Seven Seas Entertainment. Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  11. 私の推しは悪役令嬢。3【Kindle限定特典あり】 (GL文庫) Kindle版. Amazon (in Japanese). Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  12. "Book: I'm in Love with the Villainess (Light Novel) Vol. 3". Seven Seas Entertainment. Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  13. 私の推しは悪役令嬢。4【Kindle限定特典あり】 (GL文庫) Kindle版. Amazon (in Japanese). Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  14. "Book: I'm in Love with the Villainess (Light Novel) Vol. 4". Seven Seas Entertainment. Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  15. 私の推しは悪役令嬢。5【Kindle限定特典あり】 (GL文庫) Kindle版. Amazon (in Japanese). Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  16. "Book: I'm in Love with the Villainess (Light Novel) Vol. 5". Seven Seas Entertainment. Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  17. "平民のくせに生意気な！". Shōsetsuka ni Narō (in Japanese). Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  18. 平民のくせに生意気な！ (GL文庫) (in Japanese). GL Bunko. ASIN B09T1X4TPZ.
  19. "I'm in Love with the Villainess Yuri Light Novels Get Manga". Anime News Network. May 16, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  20. "私の推しは悪役令嬢。(1)". Ichijinsha (in Japanese). Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  21. "Book: I'm in Love with the Villainess (Manga) Vol. 1". Seven Seas Entertainment. Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  22. "私の推しは悪役令嬢。(2)". Ichijinsha (in Japanese). Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  23. "Book: I'm in Love with the Villainess (Manga) Vol. 2". Seven Seas Entertainment. Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  24. "私の推しは悪役令嬢。(3)". Ichijinsha (in Japanese). Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  25. "Book: I'm in Love with the Villainess (Manga) Vol. 3". Seven Seas Entertainment. Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  26. Rebecca Silverman (November 20, 2020). "The Fall 2020 Light Novel Guide". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  27. Friedman, Erica (2020-09-17). "I'm in Love With the Villainess, Light Novel Volume 1". Okazu. Retrieved 2021-07-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. Bauman, Nicki (2021-03-30). "LGBTQ Light Novel Review – I'm in Love with the Villainess Vol. 2". yurimother. Retrieved 2021-07-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  29. Joseph Luster (March 27, 2021). "Top 10 Manga Fans Want to Be Animated According to Anime Japan Poll". Crunchyroll. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  30. Loveridge, Lynzee (August 24, 2021). "Kaiju No. 8, Oshi no Ko Win Next Manga Awards Web, Print Categories". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
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