Do you love Japanese books?
Do you love books written by booksellers?

Then I highly recommend this book!

It’s a non-fiiction chronicle that follows a period where a Japanese woman goes through a divorce and tries to find her new direction by recommending books for people she meets online. We read about her encounters with strangers from online (some weird, some good) and her bookseller career. I found it peculiar at times but very interesting.

I wasn’t sure in the beginning as I couldn’t really understand her decision on going online, but this book grew on me. I could see her passion for books and recommending books, and that resonated with me. Loved seeing all the Japanese authors’ names. If you love Japanese fiction, you might reconigze some names! Not just books, but I also enjoyed the second half where she comes terms with divorce and have a closure with her husband, moving on.

The author owns a cool bookshop in Tokyo. This book made me want to visit it when I go to Tokyo in the future!

3.5 🌟

This was a relatively quick and insightful read. In a sharp and self-reflective voice the author tells us a moving story of a middle aged woman who is facing the end of her marriage. She is a bookseller and her gradual self-discovery is essentially an ode to the comforts of reading. I loved how the book gave a glimpse into bookselling in Tokyo and how it speaks of the diversity of the city‘s people.
I did find that it began to drag a little about halfway through though and I ended up skimming the last chapters.