Light novel

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A light novel (Japanese: ライトノベル, Hepburn: raito noberu) is a type of popular literature novel native to Japan, usually classified as young adult fiction, generally targeting teens to twenties. The definition is very vague, and wide-ranging.^[1][2]

The abbreviation of "raito noberu" is ranobe (ラノベ)^[3] or, in English, LN.

The average length of a light novel is about 50,000 words,^[4] and is published in the bunkobon format (A6, 10.5 cm × 14.8 cm [4.1 in × 5.8 in]). Light novels are subject to dense publishing schedules, with new installments being published in 3–9 month intervals.

Light novels are commonly illustrated in a manga art style and are often adapted into manga and anime. While most light novels are published only as books, some have their chapters first serialized monthly in anthology magazines before being collected and compiled into book format, similar to how manga is published.