While not as big an industry as manga, light novels like The Apothecary Diaries are a fundamental part of anime culture. Some of the biggest anime in the world were based on light novels, and with how much adaptations tend to change stories around, even if it’s only subtly, the original light novels are always the best way to read certain stories as they were originally intended to be seen.

The impact of light novels cannot be understated, and 2025 has been no different in that regard. Oricon, Japan’s biggest group for ranking sales figures in Japanese media, has released the half-year sales figures for light novels in 2025, and sure enough, 2025’s current best-selling light novels are all some of the biggest light novels in the world right now, thanks to their well-established fan bases and the popularity of recent anime adaptations. The best of the bunch are all more than worth highlighting, and at least some of them will undoubtedly go down as the best of 2025, overall.

10 Doraemon: Nobita’s Art World Tales

Approximately 57 Thousand Books Sold Worldwide

Satoshi Ito’s Doraemon: Nobita’s Art World Tales is a light novel based on the recent Doraemon film of the same name. In the latest Doraemon adventure, Nobita, Doraemon, and all their friends get sucked into a painting that transports them to a medieval-style world called Artoria, and as they look for a way home, they end up having to work with new friends to protect a legendary and valuable jewel from being stolen by thieves.

With Doraemon being one of the best-selling manga of all time, it’s only natural that the light novels would be a hit, and sure enough, Doraemon: Nobita’s Art World Tales is currently the tenth best-selling light novel of 2025 with approximately 57 thousand books sold worldwide. The original film is still going strong in Japan, and as such, the light novel will probably only get more successful from here on out.

9 Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback

Approximately 58.12 Thousand Books Sold Worldwide

Shima Mizuki’s Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback is the light novel adaptation of the Detective Conan film of the same name. After an old friend of his is killed right in front of him, Kogoro—and Conan, of course— Kansuke Yamato and other detectives on a manhunt for the killer, with Kogoro’s target possibly being connected to the events that left Kansuke crippled so many years ago.

The Detective Conan manga has long since been one of the best-selling manga of all time, and every movie based on it is treated as a major event in Japan. One-Eyed Flashback is probably the biggest one yet, and because of that, Detective Conan: One-Eyed Flashback is currently the ninth best-selling light novel of 2025 with approximately 58.12 thousand books sold worldwide, and at that rate, it’s only going to get bigger.

8 Haruhi Suzumiya

Approximately 59.93 Thousand Books Sold Worldwide

Nagaru Tanigawa’s Haruhi Suzumiya stars Kyon, a sarcastic high schooler forced to the SOS Brigade, a club made by the eccentric Haruhi Suzumiya for discovering supernatural oddities. Ironically, all the other are the exact supernatural oddities Haruhi has been searching for, who have gathered to observe Haruhi and her godlike powers, all of which Haruhi is kept blissfully unaware of, much to Kyon’s constant frustration.

While Haruhi Suzumiya has been largely forgotten, it still pulls in big numbers whenever a new book comes out, and thanks to the recent release of The Theatre of Haruhi Suzumiya, Haruhi Suzumiya is currently the eighth best-selling light novel of 2025 with approximately 59.93 thousand books sold worldwide. It’s a perfect testament to the franchise’s enduring legacy, and hopefully, there’s plenty more in store for it.

7 The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten

Approximately 77.17 Thousand Books Sold Worldwide

Saekisan’s The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten stars Amane Fujimiya, a stoic loner who, by chance, was able to help the school idol, Mahiru Shiina, when she was left without an umbrella on a rainy day. As it turns out, Amane and Mahiru are neighbors, so Mahiru repays the favor by helping Amane with his chores, and a relationship slowly begins to develop between the two of them.

Thanks to a recent anime adaptation that already has a second season in development, The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten is incredibly popular right now, and sure enough, The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten is currently the seventh best-selling light novel of 2025 with approximately 77.17 thousand books sold worldwide. It’s a true breakout romance series, and once season 2 comes out, it’s bound to get even bigger.

6 Classroom Of The Elite: Year 3

Approximately 91.58 Thousand Books Sold Worldwide

Shogo Kinugasa’s Classroom of the Elite has officially entered its third installment with the appropriately titled Classroom of the Elite: Year 3. Kiyotaka Ayanokoji and his friends are now seniors at the Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School, and it’s now their last chance to prove to everyone that they have worth, despite their low standing.

Ever since the anime came out, Classroom of the Elite has been one of the biggest light novels in the world, and sure enough, Classroom of the Elite: Year 3 is currently the sixth best-selling light novel of 2025 with approximately 91.58 thousand books sold worldwide. The fact that it did that with only one book to its name is even more impressive, and overall, Classroom of the Elite: Year 3 is bound to become the biggest installment of the franchise to date.

5 Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon?

Approximately 93.14 Thousand Books Sold Worldwide

Fujino Omori’s Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, also known as Danmachi, stars Bell Cranel, a rookie adventurer looking to impress his idol, the legendary Ais Wallenstein. While initially a foolhardy quest, with Bell’s determination and a unique ability that lets him gain more experience because of it, Bell’s quick to make a name for himself and even catches the eye of numerous girls in the dungeon, although he remains adamant in only having eyes for Ais.

Danmachi is easily one of the biggest light novel franchises of the past decade, and sure enough, Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? is currently the fifth best-selling light novel of 2025 with approximately 93.14 thousand books sold worldwide. The series has officially entered its final arc, and at this rate, it’s only going to get bigger before it ends.

4 Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!

Approximately 101.21 Thousand Books Sold Worldwide

Takibi Amamori’s Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! stars Kazuhiko Nukumizu, a reserved high schooler who would prefer to stay in the background, reading light novels. One day, however, Nukumizu inadvertently finds himself acting as a sounding board for Anna Yanami, a girl who just lost her childhood friend to a new girl, and from there, Nukumizu keeps finding himself having to comfort the “losing heroines” of different romantic situations.

Thanks to its gorgeous visuals and clever writing, the Makeine anime was a massive success in 2024, and sure enough, Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! is currently the fourth best-selling light novel of 2025 with approximately 101.21 thousand books sold worldwide. Makeine season 2 is officially in development, and when it finally comes out, there’s no telling how much success the light novels will have.

3 That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime

Approximately 147.8 Thousand Books Sold Worldwide

Fuse’s That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime opens with ordinary office worker Satoru Mikami dying and reincarnating in a fantasy world as a slime. Satoru soon adopts the name Rimuru Tempest, and with the power to copy the abilities of anything he absorbs, Rimuru gradually becomes one of the strongest characters in the series who’s constantly at the center of major political conflicts.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime has been one of the biggest anime franchises around for the better part of a decade, and 2025 was no different, as That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is currently the third best-selling light novel of 2025 with approximately 147.8 thousand books sold worldwide. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime’s grand finale is set to happen in 2025, but even then, it’s unlikely to drop in popularity anytime soon.

2 Classroom Of The Elite: Year 2

Approximately 174.34 Thousand Books Sold Worldwide

Classroom of the Elite: Year 2 is the second installment in Shogo Kinugasa’s Classroom of the Elite. As the title would imply, the series saw Kiyotaka Ayanokoji and his friends enter their second year at the Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School, and despite how much they all grew in their first year, they’ll all have to take things even further if they want to survive another year.

Between Year 2 ending in 2024 and Year 3 starting in 2025, there has been plenty of hype around Classroom of the Elite, and sure enough, Classroom of the Elite: Year 2 is currently the second-best-selling light novel of 2025 with approximately 174.34 thousand books sold worldwide. Year 2’s finale means it won’t rank too highly again after 2025, but the fact that it had so much success is a testament to how big the overall franchise has become in recent years.

1 The Apothecary Diaries

Approximately 409.38 Thousand Books Sold Worldwide

Natsu Hyuga's The Apothecary Diaries takes place in an Imperial China-esque setting and follows Maomao, a sharp-witted apothecary abducted and sold into the emperor's palace. Using her extensive medicinal knowledge and keen observation skills, she demonstrates her value beyond just being a worker, and her talents soon attract the attention of the enigmatic eunuch Jinshi, leading to a deeper and more dangerous involvement in court affairs.

The Apothecary Diaries is one of the biggest breakout hits of the past few years, and it’s been just as strong in 2025, as The Apothecary Diaries is currently the best-selling light novel of 2025 with approximately 409.38 thousand books sold worldwide. The fact that The Apothecary Diaries’ sales are over double second place’s sales is a true testament to its amazing rise in popularity, and there’s no story better fit to be the best-selling light novel of 2025.

Source: @Josu_ke on X.