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How Can My Manager Be So Stupid?
Not yet published
Expected 3 Sep 26A candid story of one woman's fight to find her way through her working life, while, against all odds, clinging to her passion for reading and for sharing books.
Kyoko still loves books. Just about. But life at the Musashino Bookshop is starting to get her down. Above all, there's one question that keeps going round and round her How can my manager be so stupid?
From his obsession with self-helps books to his insistence on giving inspirational speeches at staff meetings, everything about Takeru Yamamoto seems designed to set Kyoko's teeth on edge. And, as the bookshop lurches from crisis to crisis, facing criticism from customers and authors alike, it's tough for her to keep her love of literature alive. Only the prospect of changing a life by handing over the perfect book keeps her going.
But then she herself is handed a book that changes everything. Within its pages, all the struggles of her daily life are reflected back at her. Was there more to her manager than meets the eye all along?
A winning blend of slice-of-life (somewhat romantic, occasionally ludicrous) comedy, satire, and human drama with a pinch of mystery to spice things up, How Can My Manager Be So Stupid is the perfect read for anyone who has felt that they can't even . . . with the idiots that walk among us.
Kyoko still loves books. Just about. But life at the Musashino Bookshop is starting to get her down. Above all, there's one question that keeps going round and round her How can my manager be so stupid?
From his obsession with self-helps books to his insistence on giving inspirational speeches at staff meetings, everything about Takeru Yamamoto seems designed to set Kyoko's teeth on edge. And, as the bookshop lurches from crisis to crisis, facing criticism from customers and authors alike, it's tough for her to keep her love of literature alive. Only the prospect of changing a life by handing over the perfect book keeps her going.
But then she herself is handed a book that changes everything. Within its pages, all the struggles of her daily life are reflected back at her. Was there more to her manager than meets the eye all along?
A winning blend of slice-of-life (somewhat romantic, occasionally ludicrous) comedy, satire, and human drama with a pinch of mystery to spice things up, How Can My Manager Be So Stupid is the perfect read for anyone who has felt that they can't even . . . with the idiots that walk among us.
- GenresFictionJapanContemporary
320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
2026
March 4, 2026Japanuary TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
If you’ve ever worked retail, parts of "How Can My Manager Be So Stupid?" may hit a little too close to home. What looks like workplace comedy sometimes reads more like documentary footage.
Kyoko Tanihara works at a small bookstore and spends most of her time trying to do her job despite her manager, Yamamoto. Imagine Michael Scott from "The Office". Same energy. A lovable dumbass who somehow manages to make everything worse while still meaning well. As someone who lives in a suburb of Scranton, I feel especially qualified to recognize this management style.
At first this feels like a sitcom about retail chaos. Terrible customers. Publishing nonsense. Corporate decisions made by people who clearly have never worked a day on the sales floor. But it also becomes a look at the literary ecosystem. Writers, editors, sales reps, critics, booksellers, readers. Kyoko is the lens through which we see all of it, and that part worked really well for me.
There is also a fun bit of meta weirdness where the story turns into a book about reading and reviewing books. Which felt... suspiciously relevant while I was reading and even more so while writing this review.
Some of the mystery elements are easy to see coming. I clocked one of the bigger reveals early, and the ending fires off a lot in quick succession, which made it feel a bit rushed.
Not perfect, but a smart little novel about the messy world between writers and readers... and the people stuck in the middle trying to make it all work.
If you’ve ever worked retail, parts of "How Can My Manager Be So Stupid?" may hit a little too close to home. What looks like workplace comedy sometimes reads more like documentary footage.
Kyoko Tanihara works at a small bookstore and spends most of her time trying to do her job despite her manager, Yamamoto. Imagine Michael Scott from "The Office". Same energy. A lovable dumbass who somehow manages to make everything worse while still meaning well. As someone who lives in a suburb of Scranton, I feel especially qualified to recognize this management style.
At first this feels like a sitcom about retail chaos. Terrible customers. Publishing nonsense. Corporate decisions made by people who clearly have never worked a day on the sales floor. But it also becomes a look at the literary ecosystem. Writers, editors, sales reps, critics, booksellers, readers. Kyoko is the lens through which we see all of it, and that part worked really well for me.
There is also a fun bit of meta weirdness where the story turns into a book about reading and reviewing books. Which felt... suspiciously relevant while I was reading and even more so while writing this review.
Some of the mystery elements are easy to see coming. I clocked one of the bigger reveals early, and the ending fires off a lot in quick succession, which made it feel a bit rushed.
Not perfect, but a smart little novel about the messy world between writers and readers... and the people stuck in the middle trying to make it all work.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
How Can My Manager Be So Stupid is a sharp, satirical look at dysfunctional workplace culture, told through the everyday frustrations of employees dealing with an incompetent boss. The best part is it takes place in the book store and publishing world. The biggest strength is how recognizable everything feels. The book excels at capturing small, specific moments such as pointless meetings, vague instructions and last-minute changes.
What was not as strong for me was the limited character depth. While relatable, most characters aren’t deeply developed. There is also no strong overarching plot or transformation in the book. Everything feels unresolved and because of this becomes a bit repetitious. There is human which I did appreciate and it helped me stay interested.
Overall, How Can My Manager Be So Stupid is great for readers who enjoy dry, observational humor and relatable work place satire. But if you prefer more plot, growth, or deeper character exploration you may be a bit disappointed.
What was not as strong for me was the limited character depth. While relatable, most characters aren’t deeply developed. There is also no strong overarching plot or transformation in the book. Everything feels unresolved and because of this becomes a bit repetitious. There is human which I did appreciate and it helped me stay interested.
Overall, How Can My Manager Be So Stupid is great for readers who enjoy dry, observational humor and relatable work place satire. But if you prefer more plot, growth, or deeper character exploration you may be a bit disappointed.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Interesting story that was probably not something I would normally pick up, but felt intrigued by the title (because it is just so relatable). The story follows Kyoko, a contract employee for a small bookstore who is barely scraping by, drowned in unmet potential but clinging to her mediocre job because of a deep seated love for books. The side characters feel straight out of a workplace sitcom, especially our clueless manager who is constantly trying to motivate and inspire (to death). There were time I lost track of the several role model type figures in the story, but I enjoyed the MC's inner monologue and connected with her struggles. There was a slight mystery element around an anonymous author that made the end a bit exciting. I did find Kyoko's arc to feel cut short, as I was sort of longing for a bit more for her, but it didn't bother me significantly. Overall, the pacing was decent, not excessively long, and kept things interesting throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Putnam Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Putnam Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Kyoko is an employee at a book store and she has the most infuriating boss imaginable. I can relate to her so much as it feels like her boss just has no brain cells and does the most insufferable things. It can definitely be hard to thrive in a work place that puts you in such a mind set.
One day, her mind changes a bit when she discovers a book that puts a new perspective on things. Maybe there is a reason her boss is the way he is even if it seems to annoy her constantly. This was a cute slice of life book, and while the pacing did feel a bit slower at times, I enjoyed it overall. Thank you to Netgalley, Putnam, and author for an ARC of this book.
One day, her mind changes a bit when she discovers a book that puts a new perspective on things. Maybe there is a reason her boss is the way he is even if it seems to annoy her constantly. This was a cute slice of life book, and while the pacing did feel a bit slower at times, I enjoyed it overall. Thank you to Netgalley, Putnam, and author for an ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars! How Can My Manager Be So Stupid? is a translated, satirical piece. I love Japanese literature, but this one did not completely wow me. I think that the translation was done well. The humor that Kazumasa Hayami had in the work was definitely brought into English very well. It is definitely a relatable piece in some aspects for everyone. You are focused in on the character, rather than the plot. I do really like this type of story, especially when it's short.
Thank you NetGalley, Putnam, & Kazumasa Hayami for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. How Can My Manager Be So Stupid? is released on September 3, 2026!
Thank you NetGalley, Putnam, & Kazumasa Hayami for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. How Can My Manager Be So Stupid? is released on September 3, 2026!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I found this book to be very interesting. I think it tackled some hard topics in the publishing industry, expectations of women, and feeling stuck. This is a character-driven story, which I enjoy. I felt like Kyoko Tanihara was still not sure what she wanted. I did like that we got to see her connecting with more people around her. The relationship with her dad was nice. This was a slice-of-life kind of book. I did want more from Kyoko Tanihara's story. But overall, it was an enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kazumasa Hayami, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kazumasa Hayami, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
*advance copy received from publishers
Utterly delightful - the perfect mix of wry humour, fascinating characters, and heartfelt thoughts on what it means to understand the world through stories. It was a treat to sink into this witty bookish world, and the main character balances both cynicism and optimism on a knife edge, which is so very relatable in this uncertain world. It’s one of those rare books that, when I finished, I wanted to turn back to the first page and start again, greeting the characters like friends.
Utterly delightful - the perfect mix of wry humour, fascinating characters, and heartfelt thoughts on what it means to understand the world through stories. It was a treat to sink into this witty bookish world, and the main character balances both cynicism and optimism on a knife edge, which is so very relatable in this uncertain world. It’s one of those rare books that, when I finished, I wanted to turn back to the first page and start again, greeting the characters like friends.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A cute story about a bookseller that’s just getting through the day. Her manager is an idiot that shouldn’t even be in charge. There’s a scandal in the publishing world, and her only ally at work abruptly leaves the store. Kyoko I trying to make it life dealing with a low paying job, angry customers, friendships, and the mystery of who the anonymous author really is. All of her coworkers think she is in love with her stupid manager, and the questions start planting seeds in her mind. This book is a crazy soap opera, that will suck you into the story and the bookstore.
March 7, 2026
🙄 How Can My Manager Be So Stupid?
This is a very character driven story that focuses more on people and relationships. The writing style is reflective and reads more like a slice of life novel. I enjoyed this book even if it wasn’t the most exciting.
✨ What to Expect
• Workplace satire
• Japanese bookstore
• Bookstore clerk FMC
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 1, 2026
📝 Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
This is a very character driven story that focuses more on people and relationships. The writing style is reflective and reads more like a slice of life novel. I enjoyed this book even if it wasn’t the most exciting.
✨ What to Expect
• Workplace satire
• Japanese bookstore
• Bookstore clerk FMC
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 1, 2026
📝 Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam for the ARC of this book!
This was a fun, light read about a bookstore employee in Japan. A very slice of life novel that focused of relationships and the mundane day of life.
It was slow at times, but that is almost to be expected in a slice of life book. I enjoyed reading it and enjoyed the break from my normal heavily emotional books.
This was a fun, light read about a bookstore employee in Japan. A very slice of life novel that focused of relationships and the mundane day of life.
It was slow at times, but that is almost to be expected in a slice of life book. I enjoyed reading it and enjoyed the break from my normal heavily emotional books.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4*** I loved the title and the cover. Fun, quirky, and fast read about a slice-of-life mundanity and daily frictions of work. I went in with no expectations and this was a very enjoyable, light read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
So as someone who has worked many a people facing/retail jobs this book hits a little to close to home on some parts but if you enjoy workplace satire this one is for you! I really enjoyed seeing the relationships bloom and connections being made! This is definitely a character driven story which I enjoyed!
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews