Related Review: Pretty Boy Detective Club~ The Dark Star that Shines For You Alone Vol. 1 (Light Novel) humor mixed with deep maturity

Pretty Boy Detective Club~ The Dark Star that Shines For You Alone Vol. 1 (Bishounen Tanteidan) written by NISIOISIN/ art by Kinako/ translated by Winifred Bird

Mayumi Dojima is searching for the star she saw as a kid. She asks for help from the Pretty Boy Detective Club which consists of Manabu the Aesthete, lover of beauty; Michiru the Epicure, he of the beautiful palate; Hyota the Adonis, he of the beautiful legs; Nagahiro the Orato, he of the beautiful voice and Sosaku the Artiste, creator of beauty.

The burning question is: is it a reverse harem or not? There's a room converted into a decadent club room. The club members are beautiful, weird, and one who's filthy rich. There's a gender bender moment. The only thing missing is the twins and the broken vase. It all seems to point to Ouran High School Host Club but it's not. It's more like Ouran meets Disease Outburst Boy. But using these to describe the story doesn't give it justice.

After I'm done reading, I was confident to say that it's not a reverse harem but my confidence kept on wavering whenever I remember them calling her beautiful or the situations she got herself with the boys specifically with Hyota and Michiru that can be interpreted as something more. When I try to imagine how the anime will play out and I'm confused again. It has the reverse harem feels but it's lacking that one crucial element of romance that will officially make it as one. I'm still hoping though it may turn into one in the future? But reverse harem or not, I'm still looking forward to reading it.

And fair warning, I am not familiar with NisioIsin other works but his reputation precedes him. It felt dragging at first from the POV of the teenager with so many things running in her head but then it hooks me in with the characters and the humor and wit of the author. The novel is beautifully written and I revel in the play of words. It feels simple yet complex at the same time. It jumps from craziness then to a serious nugget of wisdom that strikes your heart then to more craziness again. Repeat. This is my first non-isekai light novel since Mia and the Forbidden Medicine Report. It's a refreshing change of pace that broke my streak of consuming isekai light novels.

The novel made me realize that I enjoy mystery. Now thinking about it I don't proactively pick mystery shows like how I would be intentional say with sci-fi or stylish shows. Nancy Drew is my first book series in elementary and I looove the Elementary series. (I sound like Manabu here.) My only problem was how they figured out what happened. There is no explanation whatsoever. But the twist in the ending got me. It's so simple and I didn't even guess it although I already felt something was off.

Mayumi Dojima in the anime

key visual from upcoming anime adaptation

No favorite character but I feel passionate about them as a group. The eccentricities in the characters even her reaction to each boy. Dojima's flair for dramatic POV and teenage angst in her head reminds me of Ruby Oliver of western fiction novel The Boyfriend List. I certainly enjoyed the character development of Dojima from gloomy as India ink girl. But in the midst of the outlandish elements in the story, I can't let go of the tiny detail of her knowing what a pressured job interview is. She's still a student who doesn't have an idea what the future of job hunting awaits right? Or maybe they prepare highschool students in Japan?

I can't wait to see the visuals of a certain villain. I love the vibrant art but I'm getting a shonen vibe or maybe a neutral vibe? I dunno what I'm talking about. Near the end, it is hinting something that makes it father from reverse harem. The twist I mentioned also has questionable consequences if it does get to romance. But I'm still excited to watch the anime which will premiere on April 10. I wonder how many volumes it will cover? Should I continue to read and review volumes 2 and 3? It may take a while though since there is no digital edition yet. The book cleverly ends with so many questions that make you look forward to the next one.

Special thanks to Patreon supporter K and Kofi supporters Hana and anon for making this purchase possible. I will forever be indebted if you consider supporting Reverse Harem Garden. Thank you! :)

Purchase titles/ related to the titles mentioned: (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):

Pretty Boy Detective Club Light Novel Volume 1 https://amzn.to/3lMhj7q

Pretty Boy Detective Club Light Novel Volume 2 https://amzn.to/3rdJH3b

Pretty Boy Detective Club Light Novel Volume 3 https://amzn.to/3sioRkH

Pretty Boy Detective Club Manga Volume 1 https://amzn.to/3d1K5wH

Ouran High School Host Club Box Set Manga (Vol. 1-18) https://amzn.to/3vWRmq2

Mia and the Forbidden Medicine Light Novel https://amzn.to/3skClfy

The Boyfriend List Novel https://amzn.to/3faJzz8

The Secret of the Old Clock: 80th Anniversary Limited Edition (Nancy Drew Mysteries Book 1) https://amzn.to/3cY0yCc

Elementary: The Complete Series (TV) https://amzn.to/3vVq8A7

Love Reverse Harem Garden? Follow on: Youtube | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

You can support through Kofi. Shares and whitelisting the site are also appreciated. :)

Comments

👑 18 Treasures: Favorite Reverse Harem Reads from 2020-2025 (Manga, Manhwa, Webtoons, Light Novels & More!)

Hello, Wallflowers! This is Ayreesa. I recently shared my 18 Gems : reverse harem reads from 2007–2019 that shaped me. Now it’s time for my personal favorite* reverse harem reads from 2020 to present , listed in the order I read them. Personal favorite = Some are problematic. 😅Sorry! Who knows, this might turn into one of your treasured favorites, too! Winning a copy of Mia and the Forbidden Medicine Report back in 2020 gave me the push to request review copies and start covering licensed titles + licensing news . I’d love to cover even more stories, but both time and budget keep me from reading everything on my list. To make the most of my schedule, I share quick impressions and mini-reviews on Patreon. If you’d like to help me keep exploring new titles, you can support me through Patreon or Ko-fi . E very bit means so much! This is Part 2 of 4 of Reverse Harem Garden 18th birthday series . In the Philippines, a debut ball includes dancing with...

🌸 Spring Reverse Harem 2025 🌸 (anime, dramas, manga, manhwa, webtoons and light novels)

Hey there, wallflowers! 🌸 Spring is here, and if you're new to Reverse Harem Garden, I also include kinda and unconfirmed reverse harem titles. And I have actually created five different levels of reverse harem and to know more about it, I highly recommend checking out Levels of Reverse Harem after this. This list will be updated continuously, so stay tuned. Let me know if I missed anything. Happy watching and reading! And a few disclaimers: There's a separate spring list on Patreon so make sure to check it out. Follow Reverse Harem Garden's socials. ( Youtube | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Tiktok ) Titles that haven’t been reviewed yet are considered unconfirmed reverse harem. Dates may change, and videos might not be available in all regions. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Ko-fi – If you enjoyed this post, you can support me wi...

All-Time Top Ten Reverse Harem Anime

Hello Wallflowers! I am not going to do a decade in review since I did that already a couple of years ago. but I am loooong overdue for my top 10 anime. I actually made one coincidentally a decade ago but it's a consolidated top 10 of everything from anime, manga and dramas as the titles are fewer back in 2010. I should have done it sooner but it's the nagging feeling that I should finish everything before I can post this. What if there's a hidden gem in my backlog that piled up beginning 2015 (due to pregnancy)? Fast forward to last year and major life events later, I have finished nine anime in eight months. It felt like forever. And after that, I found out I could actually start the list even without watching the backlog. LOL But the good thing is I was able to finish it and that has put off a lot of guilt feelings from me. I mean who blogs about reverse harem and never watches past the first episode??? Sadly, I don't remember most of the story of the anime...

Reverse Harem Manga on Manga Million

DISCLAIMERS: -Some are not confirmed reverse harem unless reviewed. -Some may fall under kinda reverse harem. See more of Bloom Index/ Levels of Reverse Harem . -As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Shueisha has launched MangaMILLION, a global digital manga platform featuring over one million pages of translated manga in 100 languages. Shueisha has stated that the translations were not produced using AI. Source: ANN However, the project has faced concerns over its ties to companies that use AI-powered translation. Readers may want to look into the issue before deciding whether to use the platform. The service will run until December 2027. One of its goals is to see which manga are popular worldwide and use that information for future translations and partnerships with local publishers Source: Shueisha via Shonen Jump News Here are the reverse harem titles currently available on MangaMILLION, including confirmed, k...

Defining Reverse Harem Through Different Lenses: Reverse Harem Garden's Bloom Index, Joseimuke, and Why Choose

Originally posted as an editorial piece in Reverse Harem Gazette: Issue # 44, July 2025. With revisions. from Hajimete Koi o Shita Hi ni Yomu Hanashi Hello wallflowers! I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how reverse harem means something a little different to each of us. Reverse harem has always been a wild garden. It’s a trope with no strict rules, open to endless spins and reinterpretations. At one point, someone even got upset with me because our definitions didn’t line up. (Re: Earl & Fairy on Myanimelist Forum). That’s exactly why I created Levels of Reverse Harem classification, which I’ll now be calling The Bloom Index. See original post here . It’s also fascinating to see how different perspectives add nuance to our understanding of this trope. from sakaimii In joseimuke (media aimed at women, especially games), you’ll find subcategories like otome games, bishonen with no romance, and boys’ love. Otome games overlap with five flowers and four flowers, wh...

Reverse Harem Freshest News: Please Save My Earth Live-Action Adaptation & Twisted Wonderland Episode of Savanaclaw PV

DISCLAIMERS: -Some are not confirmed reverse harem unless reviewed. -Some may fall under kinda reverse harem. See more of Bloom Index/ Levels of Reverse Harem . -As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. OVA trailer Please Save My Earth manga is getting a live-action adaptation that will stream exclusively worldwide on Amazon Prime Video in fall 2027. Alice Hirose will play the role of Mokuren. The manga ran from 1986 to 1994 and was published in English by Viz Media. It received a six-part anime OVA in 1993, followed by a sequel manga in 2004 and another sequel that has been ongoing since 2015. Source: ANN See OVA review. (But maybe spoilerish?) Manga synopsis: Life's hard when you're shy, harder still when you move from your quiet hometown to the bustle of a big city and a new high school. Poor Alice also has to cope with being regularly harassed by the bratty neighbor boy, Rin. Her life turns upside-down when she's stuck babysitting Rin...

💎18 Gems: Reverse Harem Reads That Shaped Me from 2007-2019 (Manhwa, Manga & Novels)

Hello wallflowers! This is Ayreesa. These 18 titles span 2007–2019 , my ultimate scanlation era . I didn't include series that already have anime adaptations and focused on stories I’ve finished or followed through many volumes. They are arranged in the order I read them. If you are new to reverse harem, treat these as hidden gems of reverse harem, but be warned that some tropes may feel dated or problematic today. This is Part 1 of 4 of Reverse Harem Garden 18th birthday series . In the Philippines, a debut ball includes dancing with 18 boys who each offer a rose—known as the 18 Roses—and receiving 18 candles and messages from girls. Some even add their own twist with 18 gifts, 18 bills, or even 18 shoes… you get the idea. Some are kinda reverse harem. See Levels of Reverse Harem. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases 1. Hot Gimmick manga by Miki Aihara Manga Review Hot Gimmick, Vol. 1 https://amzn.to/42fIZIa Hot Gimmick S https...

Reverse Harem Freshest News: Red River Anime Gets 2nd Cour, My Happy Marriage Specials Update, Anime NYC 2026 Announcements & More!

DISCLAIMERS: -Some are not confirmed reverse harem unless reviewed. -Some may fall under kinda reverse harem. See more of Bloom Index/ Levels of Reverse Harem . -As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Anime News: 🗡️𝙲𝙷𝙰𝚁𝙰𝙲𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙿𝚅🗡️ ▶︎ラムセス CV: #斉藤壮馬「言ったろ、俺は欲しいものは　必ず手に入れるってな　国も女も」公式TikTokでも公開中🎥 https://t.co/LSBXkWFRto #アニメ天河 9月29日(火)より第2クール放送決定！これまでの放送回は各配信サービスにて配信中🌟… pic.twitter.com/L2haRDKwM8 — 『天は赤い河のほとり』TVアニメ公式 (@tenkawa_anime) August 24, 2026 Red River anime is getting a second cour, which will start on September 29, 2026, bringing the series total to 24 episodes. Two new characters have been unveiled: User Ramses and Juda Haspasrupi. More details on CR . See Manga Review . Anime Mini-reviews on Patreon. Yuri, a pretty Japanese girl, is ecstatic after passing her college entrance exam and having her first kiss with her childhood friend-turned boyfriend. However, her luck soon changes. She starts to notice that wa...

🌸 START HERE 🌸 Reverse Harem Garden: The Ultimate Resource Guide

Welcome to Reverse Harem Garden! 18 years of chronicling the past, present, and future of reverse harem through curation and commentary. Whether you're new to reverse harem or a longtime fan, here's a curated collection of the Garden's most popular guides and recommendations. 🌷The Garden Essentials Reverse Harem Anime 2026 Reverse Harem Dramas 2026 Archive Yearly lineup of OT titles on Patreon 🍃 Seasonal Guides Winter 2026 Spring 2026 Summer 2026 Archive 👩‍🌾 Editor's Picks 18 Roses: Top 18 Reverse Harem Anime 18 Candles: Top 18 Reverse Harem Dramas 18 Treasures: Favorite Reverse Harem Reads (2020-2025 Manga, Manhwa, Webtoons & Novels ) 18 Gems: Reverse Harem Reads That Shaped Me (2007-2019 Manhwa, Manga & Novels) Other Top 10s 🪏 Reverse Harem 101 Intro to Reverse Harem and Reverse Harem Garden Bloom Index / Levels of Reverse Harem UPDATED Defining Reverse Harem Through Different Lenses: Reverse Harem Garden's Bloom Index, Joseimuke, ...

Reverse Harem Freshest News: Villains Are Destined to Die Is Getting an Anime Adaptation!

DISCLAIMERS: -Some are not confirmed reverse harem unless reviewed. -Some may fall under kinda reverse harem. See more of Bloom Index/ Levels of Reverse Harem . -As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Villains are Destined to Die is getting an anime. It was announced on the Japanese Piccoma app following the release of the webtoon's final main chapter. The anime is currently in production. Source: xomyseries . The manhwa/webtoon ended in Korea on July 10, while the English releases are still ongoing on Tapas, Tappytoon, and Manta. It is based on a web novel, which is also available on Tapas. Both the manhwa and web novel are also available in print under Ize Press. See Novel Review . This game’s got me obsessed! It’s like it’s taken over my life... wait—HARD MODE ACTIVATED. No-no-no-no-no! It has literally taken me and thrown me into the part of Penelope Eckhart. Love is easy as the heroine, but as the hated villain, I’m trying very har...

Reverse Harem Garden

Search This Blog