So you’ve heard about I’m in Love with the Villainess — the series where the protagonist Rae falls head over heels not for the prince, but for the villainess Claire François — and you want the manga reading order. Good news: it’s pretty straightforward. Whether you plan to read the manga (the Japanese comic format, with illustrated panels you read page by page) or the light novel (a prose novel, similar to a regular book, with occasional illustrations), there are only a few pieces to keep track of. This guide lays them all out so you can jump in with confidence.
For anyone new to the premise: Rae is a young woman who gets reincarnated into the world of her favorite otome game — a story-driven romance game — and instead of pursuing any of the handsome princes, she sets her sights on winning the heart of the so-called villainess, Claire François. It’s a yuri (girls’ love) romance set in a fantasy world, and it’s as charming as it sounds.
I’m in Love with the Villainess Manga Reading Order at a Glance
Here’s the quick-reference version. You can always come back to this table if you lose your place.
| Order | Title | Format | Publisher (English) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I’m in Love with the Villainess | Light Novel | Seven Seas Entertainment | Main story |
| 2 | I’m in Love with the Villainess | Manga | Seven Seas Entertainment | Adaptation of the light novel |
| 3 | She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner | Light Novel | Seven Seas Entertainment | Spin-off retelling (Claire’s POV) |
| 4 | I’m in Love with the Villainess: Come on and Notice Me Already | Light Novel | Seven Seas Entertainment | Next-generation sequel — follows Rae and Claire’s daughter Alea (EN Vol. 1: January 2027) |
A few things to note right away:
- The light novel is the primary version of the story. It originated as a web novel (a story published for free online), was then expanded and polished into the light novel, and the manga adapts that same narrative.
- The manga and the light novel tell the same core story. You don’t need both — pick whichever format you prefer.
- She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner is a spin-off retelling of the main story from Claire’s perspective. Reading the main series first is recommended for the fullest experience, but it covers the same events rather than continuing past the ending.
- I’m in Love with the Villainess: Come on and Notice Me Already is a next-generation sequel set after the main story, following Rae and Claire’s daughter Alea. Save it for last.
If you want the fullest, most detailed version of the story, the light novel has more world-building and internal monologue. But if you prefer visual storytelling and want to see Rae and Claire’s relationship play out in illustrated panels, the manga is a perfectly valid entry point — and given that you searched for the manga reading order, it may be exactly the right starting place for you. Neither choice is wrong. They’re two doors into the same house.
What Each Part Covers and Where It Fits
Let’s break down each piece of the series so you know exactly what you’re getting.
The Light Novel Series (Main Story)
The light novel covers Rae Taylor’s complete story — from her reincarnation into the world of Revolution (the otome game she loved in her previous life) to her relentless and very entertaining pursuit of Claire François.
What makes the light novel stand out is depth. You get the most complete world-building (the way the author constructs the rules, history, and politics of the fantasy setting), the deepest character development, and the fullest exploration of the series’ themes — which go well beyond romance into territory like class inequality, political intrigue, and identity. Rae is a wonderfully unusual protagonist: she’s not confused about her feelings, she’s not shy about them, and watching her bulldoze through social conventions to get closer to Claire is genuinely delightful.
The English edition is published by Seven Seas Entertainment, a North American publisher that translates Japanese manga and light novels into English. The series originally ran as a web novel by author Inori before being revised and expanded into the light novel format. That expanded version is considered the definitive text — more on why that matters in the “What You Can Safely Skip” section below.
The Manga Adaptation
The manga adaptation brings Rae and Claire’s story to life visually, with artwork by Aonoshimo. It’s a faithful adaptation of the light novel storyline, so if you’ve read one, you’ve essentially experienced the same narrative beats as the other.
That said, the manga has its own strengths. Aonoshimo’s art does a great job capturing the comedic timing of Rae’s over-the-top declarations of love, and Claire’s flustered reactions hit even harder when you can see them on the page. The pacing is naturally different from prose — some scenes that take pages of internal monologue in the novel land in a single, well-composed panel (one of the individual illustrated frames that make up a manga page).
The manga is also published in English by Seven Seas Entertainment, making it easy to find alongside the light novels. For readers who are more comfortable with manga than novels, or who simply prefer the visual medium, this is a completely fine starting point. You won’t miss the “real” story by choosing it — it is the same story.
One thing to keep in mind: manga adaptations of light novels sometimes lag behind the source material or don’t cover the entire story. If you start with the manga and want to continue into the sequel, you may eventually want to check the light novel for any material the manga hasn’t reached yet. The most recent English manga volume — Volume 10 — is linked below for readers catching up:
I'm in Love with the Villainess (Manga) Vol. 10
The Spin-off Light Novel — She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner
She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner is a spin-off retelling of the main story, also written by Inori and published in English by Seven Seas Entertainment. Rather than continuing past the ending, it covers the same events from Claire François’s perspective.
Here’s the one ironclad rule: do not start this series until you’ve finished the main I’m in Love with the Villainess storyline. Reading the main series first lets you fully appreciate how the same events feel from Claire’s side — her motivations, her internal struggles, and the moments that hit differently when you already know Rae’s perspective. Picking this up early would undercut those layers.
The spin-off offers a fresh lens on familiar events, giving you new insight into Claire’s character and expanding your understanding of the relationship from the other side. If you finish the main series and find yourself wanting more time with these characters, this is a great way to revisit the story you already love.
What You Can Safely Skip
Not everything in the series needs to be on your reading list. Here’s what you can set aside without missing anything critical.
The original web novel. The light novel is an expanded, polished version of the same story Inori originally published for free online. The light novel adds scenes, deepens characterization, and refines the writing. Reading both would be redundant — the light novel is the definitive text version, and that’s the one Seven Seas translated into English.
The anime adaptation. An anime adaptation exists and covers early portions of the story. It’s fun supplementary viewing — especially if you want to hear the characters voiced — but it doesn’t cover the full narrative. You won’t miss any story content by skipping it, and you won’t be confused by the reading order if you haven’t seen it. Watch it before or after reading, or skip it entirely — all fine choices.
Side stories. There are no essential side stories that gate your understanding of the main plot. The core reading path (main light novel or manga → sequel light novel) is self-contained.
Where to Buy the Manga and Light Novels in English
All English editions of both the light novels and the manga are published by Seven Seas Entertainment, which makes collecting the series pretty simple — everything lives under one publisher’s umbrella.
Here’s where to find them:
- Amazon — Physical and digital editions available for both the light novels and manga volumes. This is the most common purchasing option for North American readers.
- Barnes & Noble — Carries physical copies and digital editions through its Nook platform.
- BookWalker — A digital storefront that’s a great option for manga and light novel readers, especially those outside North America. BookWalker frequently has the full Seven Seas catalog available.
- Crunchyroll Store — An online retailer for physical copies, often alongside other anime and manga merchandise.
- Local bookstores and libraries — Worth checking. Many bookstores can order Seven Seas titles, and an increasing number of libraries stock popular manga and light novel series. If your library offers a digital lending app like Libby or hoopla, that can be a great way to sample the series before committing to a purchase.
For digital readers, the convenience is hard to beat — you can start reading within minutes of purchasing, and digital editions don’t take up shelf space. For collectors who love having physical volumes on display, the Seven Seas editions have clean, attractive cover art that looks great lined up on a bookshelf.
Common Mistakes New Readers Make
These come up again and again in reader communities, so flagging them here might save you some confusion.
Reading She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner before the main series. She’s so Cheeky retells the same story from Claire’s point of view, so while it won’t spoil a sequel plot, it will reveal character motivations and emotional beats that hit harder if you experience the main series first. Reading I’m in Love with the Villainess before the retelling is the recommended order.
Thinking the light novel and manga are different stories. They aren’t. The manga adapts the light novel, which adapted the web novel. All three versions follow the same narrative: Rae reincarnates into an otome game world and pursues Claire. The details and depth vary between formats, but the story is the same. You don’t need to read both unless you want to experience the same story in a different medium (which is totally valid — some fans enjoy doing exactly that).
Relying solely on the anime for the full story. The anime covers only a portion of the complete narrative. If you watch the anime and think you’ve seen the whole story, you’re missing a lot — including some of the series’ best material. The anime is a nice complement, not a replacement.
Confusing the web novel with the light novel. The web novel is the original free version Inori posted online. The light novel is the commercially published, expanded, and revised edition — and it’s the one that got the official English translation from Seven Seas. When people recommend “reading the light novel,” they mean the Seven Seas edition, not the web novel.
FAQ
Do I need to read both the light novel and the manga?
Nope. Pick whichever format appeals to you more. They tell the same story. The light novel gives you more internal monologue and world-building detail; the manga gives you visual storytelling and expressive art. Both are great. If you love the series after finishing one, going back to experience the other format can be a fun way to revisit favorite moments — but it’s entirely optional.
Should I watch the anime before or after reading?
Either works. The anime covers the early portions of the story, so watching it first gives you a visual and audio preview of the characters and setting before you read. Watching it after reading lets you see scenes you already love get animated. There’s no wrong order here — the anime is supplementary to the reading experience, not a required step in the reading path.
Where does She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner fit in the reading order?
She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner is a retelling of the main story from Claire’s perspective, not a sequel. It’s best enjoyed after completing the main I’m in Love with the Villainess series so you can appreciate how the same events feel from the other side — but it covers the same story, not a continuation. The next-generation sequel I’m in Love with the Villainess: Come on and Notice Me Already, which follows Rae and Claire’s daughter, goes last.
Is this a finished series or still ongoing?
The main I’m in Love with the Villainess light novel story has been completed in Japan. The English publication of the various editions is handled by Seven Seas Entertainment. For the most current volume counts and release schedules, checking Seven Seas’ official site or your preferred retailer’s listing page will give you the latest information.
What if I’ve already watched the anime — where do I start reading?
Start from the beginning — light novel volume 1 or manga volume 1. The reading experience adds significantly more detail and nuance than the anime covers, so even scenes you’ve already watched will feel richer on the page. Starting from volume 1 also ensures you don’t miss any content the anime may have condensed or skipped.