It’s Not Cheating if It’s With Your Stepsister

I have a girlfriend, her name is Shiori Hoshino. She is known as the “Ice Empress” because of her overwhelming appearance and cold personality. And surprisingly, she is an anime fan, and also considers herself an otaku. But in reality she hides a secret, and that is that she has a phobia of men. Although for some strange reason, she usually feels at ease with me. But, there is something that I have not been completely honest with her about. And that is that I maintain a secret relationship with my stepsister. Although, it’s not infidelity if it’s with her, right?

Original Publisher

fantasia bunko

Original Language

japanese

Type

Light Novel

## My Thoughts on It’s Not Cheating if It’s With Your Stepsister This title definitely grabbed my attention! "It’s Not Cheating if It’s With Your Stepsister" promises a potentially scandalous and comedic ride, and while the current translation is limited, I've formed some initial impressions. ### First Impressions Okay, so going in, I was expecting a certain level of…*ahem*, sibling intimacy. The title is pretty bold, right? However, the initial chapters paint a different picture. Our protagonist is an anime-loving, cosplay-obsessed high schooler who happens to cosplay *with* his stepsister. They're a popular duo! So far, so good. The "cheating" aspect seems to stem from him secretly accepting a request from the school's "ice princess" to create a cosplay costume for her. He feels guilty because he's hiding it from his stepsister. It's a fun twist that subverts my initial expectations. ### What Works Well The premise is genuinely interesting. The clash between the protagonist's otaku life and his high school existence, especially with the addition of the "ice princess," is ripe for comedic situations. I appreciate the hints of a developing relationship between the MC and the ice princess, especially considering her initial fear of men. The step sister dynamic is also quite interesting and I am interested in seeing how this dynamic plays out. ### Areas of Concern My biggest concern is the limited translation. It's hard to fully judge a story when only a small portion is available. Also, the title is a bit misleading at this point. The story seems to be going in a different direction than what the title implies, which might disappoint some readers. ### ⚠️ Spoiler Warning Okay, if you want to go in completely blind, skip this section! Apparently, the current story arc revolves around the MC hiding his costume commission for the ice princess from his stepsister. There are hints that the stepsister might have feelings for him, but as of now, it seems like he only views her as family. The potential love triangle is brewing, but it's still in its early stages. ### Final Verdict "It’s Not Cheating if It’s With Your Stepsister" has a lot of potential as a lighthearted rom-com. The premise is intriguing, the characters are engaging, and the potential for comedic situations is high. However, the limited translation and slightly misleading title are drawbacks. I'm cautiously optimistic and hoping for more translated chapters soon to see where this story goes! I'd give it a tentative 3.5/5. I'm interested enough to keep an eye on it.