Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs (Light Novel) Vol. 1

This is a novel I would never try reading after seeing the title and synopsis. The only reason I gave this a shot was because it shares the same author as another novel series I loved (evil empire). I was not disappointed, it reads pretty much the same as the other novel. This author is great at designing characters with horrid personalities and then brutally tearing them down with either the mc or karma. It's really satisfying to read.The world setting is one of nobles and aristocrats but with the position of men and women reversed... except not really. The men still have to do all the shit jobs and hard labor as well as shoulder all responsibility in life, throw their lives away for women, earn all the money, etc. The only difference is they no longer get any social benefit from it or are able to take any pride in it, instead they are socially pressured into marriage where they give everything they earn to their wives and (more often than not) their wife's lovers. So it's pretty much exactly like what modern society is becoming.Even though the setting is an otome game, the only time the character really interacts with it is to throw a monkey wrench into things or take a dig at it.It seems all the women that have any form of half way decent personalities are getting drawn to him, which is nice but I really hope this doesn't turn into a harem.Anyway, was a fun read, on to the next book!

Loved it. Highly recommended. The story pace is perfect. The characters are engaging. And it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

I bought this book having watched the anime craving more of this story, and this book delivered. Reading this book on it’s own is a great time, and I also enjoyed seeing how similar yet different it is from the anime.

I came from watching the anime to wanting more. First book covers about half of the first season. The idea isn’t new but the take definitely is. Life is hard when you’re the background characters and you definitely learn to love and relate to the everyday struggle of the Main Character (Leon). If you enjoy the anime you’ll definitely enjoy this novel. It’s short enough that it’s not a major investment, as well as, adding so much more detail that the anime didn’t add. It’s not a perfect novel but an enjoyable one. 9/10

I loved this concept I'm a sucker for my guilty pleasure of dating Sims. I actually enjoy the romance options in video games and I'll do multiple playthroughs just to get the romance options in different scenarios. This was that but with a comical world got flipped turn upside down point of view. And I love it Leon as a protagonist is every but the every man just trying to make it by and basically trying his best to fail and still falls up. The characters are fun and not as one note as they are made to seem and it's exciting. This first novel is the beginning a wonderful adventure that will surely have you ready to continue your story.

The MC is blackmailed into finishing what he feels is a horrible otome game for his younger sister in a weekend even spending money on microtransactions to get to the end. Hating every minute of it, he is exhausted by the end of the weekend, dying while he falls of the stairs of his apartment. Of course, he wakes up in the body of a low-ranked noble in the world like the game he just played and hated. While hoping for the lazy life of a nobody, events transpire against him, especially since he is too good natured to ignore the plight of the official heroine of the story who is pushed out of her position by somebody else.Trapped in a Dating Sim is a funny story, a satire on dating sims (both otome and regular), questioning (and subverting) some of its tropes or at least openly questioning their viability. The MC is not always likeable, and I think it would have worked better if he regained his memory at 14 instead of 5 (now leaving me wondering what he did in those 10 years). Most of the other characters are great, having more depth then most in these kind of stories. His actions fit the comedy, but do make the MC look a bit stupid or at the very least unwilling to accept the truth and keeping himself blind on purpose. Still, it was an entertaining story, a first arc in a bigger overall one. Up to the next part.

Considering how much the market is saturated with reincarnation Otome-game series, this is fresh in a way that works with the genre. With elements of political intrigue, both in the academy and the Royal Court, it follows a different route compared with others. Rather than a protag who constantly tries to predict what happens next, Leon is very proactive in doing the things he wants to do without always thinking through where it might take him: something that makes him feel that much more alive as a character.If you want to read an Otome-game series but fancy a change of pace from the usual "girl's attempts to avoid bad endings lead her on the harem route" this is a good read, even moreso if you're a fan of the "everyone thinks he's weak sauce but the MC is overpowered" trope.

If someone had told me that I would choose to read a book about an otome game, I would have said they were crazy. Yet it took about 10 seconds after finishing this first volume to buy volume 2.

I admit I was excited when I learned this series would be officially published, I had read to certain extent the web novels and boy does the light novel version does not disappoint, can't wait to see how it handles the other volumes!!!!

Really enjoyed this - Leon and Luxion are hilarious together and the story flows in a way that makes it addictive - definitely excited for the next instalment!

Genius spin on the isekai genre I would recomend everyone reads this. I am now eagerly awaiting the next book