Hollow Inside

by Asako Otani, Ginny Tapley Takemori (Translator)

In this skewed, mordantly funny novel, two women navigate ageing and relationships in divergent ways. Stuck in a bland, low-paying job, Hirai, 38, agrees to move in with her colleague Suganuma, 42. Both women are single and feel ambivalent at best about the prospect of marriage. Defying social expectations, they create their own soothing domestic routines. But when Suganuma reveals a secret affair, Hirai anxiously rejoins the world of dating apps. As she drifts through painfully adequate dates and endures intrusive questions at office socials, Hirai frets over whether she really needs to freeze her eggs again. In a dating world sapped of genuine connection, where can she turn to feel less hollow?

Genres: Japan, Fiction, Japanese Literature

112 pages, Paperback

First published February 3, 2023

Reviews

[Bella Azam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short read but raised great questions on sexuality, expectations on marriage & relationship, also on motherhood.

Full RTC

Thank u to Edelweiss and Pushkin Press for the review copy

[Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Nothing in this world had anything to do with me.”

This short novel is for the women who feel like their time will never come and who may need to hear that maybe it won't.

We move through the world as Hirai, a 38-year old woman working a boring office job who has recently moved in with her 42-year old female colleague. Uncomfortable with living with another woman at this stage of her life, Hirai drifts through her days with quiet unease, navigating a mundane routine while slowly coming to terms with both her present and her future.

She worries about what others think of her living situation. She worries about marriage, about her ability to love a man. She worries about having children as she moves further and further from the "ideal age of motherhood". Throughout it all, she just feels hollow inside no matter what.

Is there an answer to her fears, or are marriage and motherhood simply names we give to hope?

I read this in one sitting and really enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Suki J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In this translated Japanese novella we follow Hirai, a woman in her late 30s who decides to move in with Suganuma, her female friend in her 40s.
Neither woman is interested in the idea of a romantic relationship with a man, although they feel continual pressure from their families and the people around them.
As the story progresses they question their own attitudes and what they really want.

I found this an interesting look into societal expectations, tackled in a gently funny and quirky way, and it reminded me a little of Convenience Store Woman.
I'm happy to have found another Japanese author to watch out for, this was great.

[brokebookmountain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading Hollow Inside on my phone in the standing zone near the barricade, waiting for Magdalena Bay — a great artist, progressive and experimental but in the best way possible — to perform for their concert at my university. I know: it sounds pretentious and performative, but I was just too bored to be standing there doing nothing, and I went to the concert alone so I had nobody to talk to. And since I wasn't in the mood to make conversation with strangers, I thought I'd read a couple pages just to have something to get my mind off the dreadful tedium of waiting.

They arrived 30 minutes later, but it did not feel that long because I was so absorbed in this book. Honestly, the artist and concert have little to do with the book, I just wanted to make a point on how Otani successfully weaves a dull premise — two 40-somethings women started a life of platonic cohabitation for each other's companionship — into an engrossing tale on marriage, sexuality, and the dilemma of having or not having a child. I was truly into the story and finished it the same day I read it.

The writing reminds me of Nanae Aoyama and Mieko Kawakami — Hollow Inside is definitely reminiscent of All the Lovers in the Night — in that Otani writes in an unassuming manner, but sprinkled in the book are lines that just swept me off the floor, making me reflect and think about marriage, parenthood, and whether society's normal is something one wants to partake in or not.

Instead of the question of coerced conformity i.e. society pressures you to get married and have children à la Convenience Store Woman, Otani brings up the question of personal desires vs social pressures, and how the line between those two might be more of a gray area than one thinks. Are your personal desires truly personal, or were they influenced by social pressures and familial trauma? Is choosing to have children or to get married means that you are surrendering to societal standards? Hirai's dilemma on marriage felt personally relatable, especially her views on how she personally doesn't see marriage as the be-all and end-all in life.

The pressures of society and the judgements they have towards actions that they deem abnormal are still very much present in the narrative, but it is not as haunting as the what-ifs, the fear and anxiety one might have on making the decision itself to not conform. The fear of regretting your choices and the guilt of throwing it all away is the emphasis in this story, which has always been something that haunts me when I think about my own personal choice to opt out of marriage and parenthood (I'm not completely closed off to the option, but I don't hold it much value either). I ended up loving it, even though it isn't a life-changing book. Sometimes a good book is a book that just gets you.

I found the second half of the book to be more interesting than the first half, but overall it is still a thought-provoking, poignant read. The ending where we see Hirai becoming content with the 3D-printed dud baby instead of a real one is really a very smart callback to the whole story of the 3D-printed dead chihuahua being "hollow inside". Even if it's not what society wants, it is still a life Hirai cherishes, a life where she can choose to not be with a man and to not have children. Maybe a life of choosing yourself over society would be a choice of potential loneliness and isolation, but at least it's a choice you truly value and believe in, rather than a choice that will eat away at your soul, wondering if maybe, just maybe, you had chosen yourself.

4 ⭐️

Thank you to Edelweiss and Pushkin Press for the review copy!

[Ankur Goyal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story revolves around two central characters, Hirai, a 38 year old woman, and Suganuma, a 42 year old woman, whose lives quietly unfold in ways that feel deeply real and relatable. Through their experiences, the author beautifully shows the struggles of life: the uncertainties, the emotional pauses, and the small yet significant moments that make adulthood enriching yet challenging. Their innocent friendship becomes a gentle anchor, making it easier to deal with life’s unpredictability and unspoken pain. The narrative reminds us that life is not linear; it moves in fragments, setbacks, and unexpected connections. This is how fiction should be written, not to offer dramatic resolutions, but to reflect life as it truly is: messy, tender, and quietly meaningful.

[Ubarna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Hollow Inside focuses on how societal expectations around marriage and children can affect someone’s thoughts even when they don’t actually want those things. I really loved the overall ambience of the book, especially being inside Hirai’s head and following her constant stream of what-ifs and maybes. I did wish the friendship between Hirai and Suganuma had been developed more, since it felt slightly under-explored. The ending also felt a bit abrupt and left me wanting slightly more. Overall, it was a solid and enjoyable read, even if it wasn’t particularly memorable for me.

[Soph ♡ (elfmumma) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd little book about the pressure put on women by society to marry and have children. Whilst I enjoyed plodding along with this slow little story I can't say that it's necessarily one that will stick with me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this one.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Le iba a dar tres estrellas, pero la edición tiene demasiados errores ortotipográficos y algunas decisiones de la traducción son, cuanto menos, cuestionables, que le he quitado una.

[Afi (WhatAfiReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the most overwhelming urge to cry after finishing this. And I'm guaranteed its not my hormones talking (well partially blaming my hormones but oh well).

I came in with zero expectations for this book and read it in a point of my life where I'm a single woman, reaching my 30s and, as much as I was not 'pressured' by society reminding me of my body clock and the pains of being a woman (and just having an ovary in the first place), reading about Hirai felt like seeing my future coming soon, and that both terrified me but at the same time... eased me a bit.

Reading this book reminded me of a quote that I hold close by until now, and its written by Sayaka Murata in Life Ceremony :

"Normal is a type of madness isn't it? I think it's just that the only madness society allows is called normal."

Not only that I live by this quote, I also understood the notions of what Otani wanted to portray. Between the societal expectations that is deemed 'normal' and what is expected VS wanting to live your own life even if you'll be labelled as an anomaly or even weird. The wants of wanting to live your own life, especially as a woman , where the societal expectations to get married, build a family of your own and boring an offspring is the expected route vs just wanting to simply be. Simply live. Was it so wrong? And Otani definitely had led us to that route with Hirai. We both symphatize but also rooting for her to live her own life. At the end, in the pursuit chase of happiness, the most important is being content of the choices you, yourself have made in life instead of having to follow the societal expectations to be happy.

"My baby. Hollow inside, misshapen, defective. It was perfect for me."

I feel that the last paragraph of this book was so impactful to a point that it made me stared at my kobo screen for a whole 10 minutes. It felt jarring, almost an out of body experience. Otani's writing is subtle and yet, it carries strength in its message , which is pretty simple - even if something looks to be unimportant, uneventful and imperfect to one person, but to the other, it was the thing that they chose for themselves. And as long as they are happy, who are we to question them?

The longingness of wanting a child but not wanting to raise one.
The longingness of wanting a partner but not having the emotional capacity to love a person.
At the end, between what society expects you to do and what you feel content in doing, choose the latter. Life is short like that, and even through loneliness and everything that comes after, its a life that you chose to be happy in.

Honestly glad made this my first read of the year. Even if I'm left feeling a bit hollow inside (pun intended), Hirai is such an animated character that I enjoyed reading her train of thoughts. She's funny and sarcastic and unapologetically herself, and it makes me happy that she chose what she wants to do at the end.

For fans of Mieko Kawakami and Sayaka Murata, I would highly recommend.

4.25 stars!

Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC!

[Albus Elown · Rating 5 out of 5]

NADA DENTRO
TRADUCCION: ASAKO OTANI
EDITORIAL: @shirolibros
PAGINAS: 111
TRADUCCION: MATIAS CHIAPPE

¡Uff! Que libro acabo de leer. Una historia que te deja reflexionando sobre el papel de la mujer, la presión social, y sobre todo la edad adulta después de los 30. Una trama de dos amigas que comparten piso Hirai y Suganuma, que refleja también como es la vida después de la pandemia. A mí gusto es de las mejores historias que he leído hasta el momento de lo que lleva este proyecto. Pero bueno vamos por partes:

♀️ El protagonismo recae en dos mujeres pasadas de los treinta, y todo narrado por Hirai una mujer que trabaja en contabilidad , que vive con quizá su mejor amiga Suganuma "una artista creando trabajos en impresoras 3D" que la vida les unió por casualidades y gusto por un grupo Idol japonés y al vivir juntas , comparten alimento, techo y algo de sus vidas.

👫 En un momento se piensa que las dos mujeres son pareja, pero en realidad son rommies, y amigas que a lo largo de la historia conocemos como por su edad podrían ser "solteronas" Pero también son mujeres independientes, sobretodo Hirai tiene cierta repulsión hacia los hombres, aunque intentado salir y tener una relación con ellos, mientras Suganuma quizá es una mujer totalmente ocupada.

🇯🇵La historia tiene elementos críticos interesantes sobretodo en Hirai, siendo una mujer que en cierta forma es presionada por la misma sociedad a ser esposa, o cumplir con ser madre, y tener pareja, aunque a lo largo de la historia se explica el porque de esa repulsión y esos deseos que ella tiene. Es interesante poder entrar en la psique de este personaje ya que, también muestra que el reloj biológico y de vida de las personas sigue y pueden suceder cosas inesperadas que hagan replantearte la misma vida.

👺 Algo interesante es conceptos que se manejan : la vida laboral en Japón y el tema de soledad es un punto importante ya que en algún momento la protagonista se cuestiona esa parte. Hirai es una mujer reservada, introvertida, pero que ha experimentado de todo en la vida. (Esto hace que ella sea atractiva) Y sobretodo que a pesar de entrar en la crisis de la edad (40) ella sigue avanzando.

Cómo siempre, es un gusto poder seguir leyendo las traducciones que realiza Mat Chiappé. ¡muy recomendable!

[mika pajares · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this book completely blind but here are my thoughts:

I thought the friendship between Hirai and Suganuma was beautifully written, it reminds me of my friendship with my now best friend ( we also met at hit and constantly started talking and meeting up). And how Suganuma made Hirai feel comfortable and being able to show her true self without fear of judgement. I think the relationship with Suganuma help Harai realize she doesn’t have to follow societal expectations and that she can live whatever way she wants.

I wish the book was a little more structured, but I understand that we are in Hirai’s mind and she seems to be very emotionally avoidant for her thoughts and emotions and would rather turn off her brain and not think.

I also heavily related to feeling like an outsider in the workplace, I am young, childless (never want children) in a regular dating relationship. And the people around me are married with children. Like Hirai, I too often find myself self isolating and not wanting to attend after work event in fear of not having commonality with my peers or being judged.


I really enjoyed the small discussions about the societal pressure of being married or wanting children (but you can’t have children unless you are married). I wish we could’ve gotten bit but I see it as Harai barely understands herself about this peer pressure. I completely understand the constant back and forth of wanting a child but then changing your mind due to the thought of raising a child. It’s a never ending battle, and you constantly think “am I making the right decision” “what if I regret me decision”.

“I wasn’t even sure whether I really wanted to give birth to another human being, or how much of a responsibility raising them would be. Where on earth had this desire to have children come from”

Lastly, I enjoyed how Harai absolutely hates men but keeps telling herself to keep trying lol. That pyramid scheme guy was a WEIRDO.

Overall, this book was good but wish it was more organized. If you liked the Connivence Store Women, you might enjoy this book as well! This book is a perspective of an ordinary life which is refreshing to read. It’s real life and isn’t over dramatic.

[Heather Pacella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hollow Inside focuses on two single, middle-aged women who have recently moved into an apartment together. Though they are both similar in age, professional standing, and social status, Hirai and Suganuma feel very differently about what this move signifies. For Suganuma, who has no desire to get married, moving in with a roommate is an excellent strategic decision - by combining expenses with another person, she can upgrade to a much nicer apartment than what she can afford individually. As an added bonus, she gets to live with a friend whose company she genuinely enjoys. However, for Hirai, this living arrangement feels like finally admitting that she has failed at "life"; finding a husband and starting a family will surely be impossible from this point forward. As the story unfolds and Hirai begins to adjust to life with Suganuma, she is forced to reflect on what truly matters to her personally and how she envisions her future.

Though this was compared to Sayaka Murata's Convenience Store Woman, Hollow Inside is a much more subtle (and, I think, more realistic) work. As someone who has had a similar life trajectory to Hirai (strong professional career, unmarried, childless), I think this book really hit the nail on the head with capturing how much the expectation of marriage and motherhood is inherently encoded in society. It was wonderful watching Hirai come to the realization that maybe what she desires is not necessarily what is dictated by the world around her. Hollow Inside is another strong addition to the Pushkin Press Japanese Novellas collection.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for this ARC!

[Harvee Lau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel tells me that there are some social attitudes in Japan that reflect ambivalence towards women in their late 30s or 40s who are single, especially if they decide to become roommates, even if they are not partners.

Suganuma, 40, earns a living making hollow plastic dogs to order, for people who have lost their pets and want a replacement for the dogs. She does however, have an outside life, though with a married man. Hirai, 38, on the other hand, has been unlucky in the dating scene, and longs for a child but is strangely happy to have the hollow plastic baby that roommate Suganuma makes for her on her 3D printing machine.

The lives of the two women seem to be hollow, however, as they make do with replacements for a full life with a fake child and making fake dogs for people who have lost real pets. Hirai, however, comes to accept that the future of real children and a real family are not in the cards for her at this point.

I thought this was a sad but somewhat satiric commentary on single women finding themselves outliers in their own society. An unusual but very interesting novel

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quiet, contemplative novella about two single women in their late 30s/early 40s told in first person narrative around mundane daily activities and chores. There is a clear focus on perceived expectations around marriage and motherhood in Japan. As suggested by the novella's title, the central metaphor is brought to life through hollow 3D-printed figurines.

However, the subtlety through which Otani explores the metaphor, with characters ultimately finding fulfillment through alternative paths combined with a fragmented narrative style and stream-of-consciousness approach made it difficult for me to fully engage with the story. Chapter breaks could assist in providing the reader with some natural footing and helping with the narrative jumps.

The novella format ensures a quick read that discourages a DNF. At around 60-70% completion, pieces started to fall into place that helped ease the confusion from the first half. Otani raises interesting questions about social pressure and authenticity, but I struggled to connect with the narrative style and execution.

2.5-3 stars.

[lyraand · Rating 3 out of 5]

(This review is based on an advanced reader’s copy provided by NetGalley.)

I liked this, because it’s the kind of thing that I like, and it’s personally relatable to me as a single 30-something woman with maternal ambivalence. But it feels like it should have been either shorter or longer, either a short story or a full-length novel. There’s not much plot, and it sort of feels like the whole thing mainly exists to set up one paragraph at the end. It reminds me a little of Worry because of the premise (slice of life about two women of similar age living together platonically in a big city).

Rep: Main character is a Japanese cis woman who I would describe as probably aromantic and asexual, though she neither explicitly claims nor explicitly rejects any orientation labels. Rather, she says things like “I’m the sort of person who can’t fall in love” and “I had never once felt attracted to a man.” (She doesn’t seem to consider the possibility that she could be attracted to women, but she doesn’t seem particularly attracted to anyone.)

[LiarLiar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Hollow Inside felt uncomfortably familiar in that quiet, heavy way that hits close to home, especially if you grew up in an Asian household where feelings aren’t always talked about openly.
If you’re Asian, you might recognize that kind of emotional restraint. The “just endure it” mindset that’s so deeply ingrained in our culture.

The pacing is deliberately slow, which may not be for everyone, but it works well for the story Ohtani wants to tell. The quiet moments, pauses, and lack of clear resolution emphasize how unresolved emotions can persist in real life. There’s a sense that not everything needs to be explained, and that ambiguity is part of the experience.

What stood out most to me was how Hollow Inside explores emotional isolation not as something dramatic or loud, but as something subtle and normalized. It asks difficult questions about identity, connection, and what it means to feel whole, without offering easy answers.

[Helen Wu ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

I went in hoping for a quiet celebration of independence, women choosing each other, and the kind of happiness that does not need romance to be valid. Especially funny timing, since a close friend just asked if we should move in together. Instead, the book feels very blue. Heavy. Melancholy in a way that settles into your bones. There is a mid point twist that briefly wakes the story up, but even that gets wrapped back into a sense of quiet resignation. A very meh version of life. I kept wanting the story to argue that single women can be content, fulfilled, even joyful. Perhaps I am simply someone who is always hoping to read a happy ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Steerforth & Pushkin for the ARC!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley, Pushkin Press, and Asako Otani for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is an incredibly good debut. It really captures the difficulty of being an aging, unmarried woman, especially in a highly patriarchal society such as Japan. While short, it does an amazing job of showing the feelings of our main characters instead of just telling them. There is excellent use of metaphor throughout and it really paints a picture of all of the emotions. The length felt adequate for me as well. I enjoyed the way it ended. This is honestly a really raw take on aging, sexuality, relationships, and friendships. I really enjoyed this. On a personal note, it was great to feel like I was back in Japan.

[Lauren Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love a weird woman. Like Convenience Store Woman?
You will love this.
The writing is steady and comforting, like a warm hug. Some of the sentences really beautifully written at make the reader pause for a moment, others pull the reader along in a steady fashion. The book challenges the “adult” markers of life: motherhood, marriage, living alone, and growing apart from friends.
It’s so rare to come across a book about two women in their forties who are not married.
The story questions societal expectations of women in their 40s in a well-packaged format. Marry a man? Kids?
What if we flipped it on its head? What then. I'll be honest, I didn't want the book to end.
Short, fun read. Five stars.

[Ary アリ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hollow Inside is a short read that you could probably finish in one sitting. It revolves around Hirai, who at the age of 38 agreed to live together with Suganuma, a single woman in her 40s. The book centres on the life of Hirai, with issues like the norms and expectations of the society on a woman in Japan (or perhaps world in general) including singlehood, marriage and motherhood.

The author has a deadpan writing style, which reminds me of Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami, albeit much shorter and brief. Would’ve preferred it if the main issues were more discussed in detail rather than the mundane character observation.

Recommended if you like that emotionless narratives and detail observations with monotone plot and characters.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Pushkin Press and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this arc!

In a lot of ways I wish this was expanded into a full novel. The themes of singlehood and motherhood are tricky to write about and I think Otani encapsulated the modern-dating scene very cleverly. When online dating makes an appearance, I wasn't expecting the tongue-in-cheek commentary; I would've loved to see that subplot explored further.

Overall three stars. Idk if this would've ever been a favorite, but I'm v grateful this title was translated so I could give it a try. It'll definitely be one of those odd little novellas I think about in the future.

[Nicki Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hollow Inside was a short but thoughtful read that explored societal expectations on women regarding raising a family, work, living arrangements etc. It was quick and easy reading, but it still made you think and assess your own life, and consider your views on the issues Hirai and Suganuma were facing. If you enjoy this style of short, thought-provoking Japanese contemporary fiction then you are sure to find something to like in this book. I am giving it 4 stars.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Rocelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for providing this ARC.

As soon as I saw that this book was recommended to fans of Sayaka Murata, I immediately got excited. And I did see the similarities to Convenience Store Woman. It’s a really entertaining and lighthearted story about how women, their relationships and motherhood are perceived by Japanese society. It also did a great job reflecting life in Japan. The book felt like a big hug by your older sister who’ll tell you everything will be alright in the end, no matter what.

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very enjoyable and lighthearted. It shows how we navigate friendships and relationships and our age. The 3D printing of pets was a unique theme but I did enjoy it. Hiram and Suganuma are relatable and adorable and I loved their friendship and how it evolves. I truly enjoyed the writing style of this book and will be reading it again and again. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Madeline Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this! For such a short book, it manages to say a lot about isolation and loneliness, female friendship, sexuality, and the expectations society places on women, particularly in relation to relationships, ageing, and having children. I was not ready for how devastating the ending is! Definitely recommend for fans of Sayaka Murata (Ginny Tapley Takemori translates for both authors) and Mieko Kawakami.

eARC from NetGalley

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick, really enjoyable read. This novella gives a smart and funny look at dating, relationships, and being a single woman navigating Japanese society.

I loved the friendship between Hirai and Suganuma. There’s nothing flashy about their lives, just two slightly odd friends supporting each other.

I picked this up because it was recommended for fans of Sayaka Murata, and I am glad I did.

I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Dazanyel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5
Con ecos a Sayaka Murata y la dependienta, esta corta novela nos adentra en la vida de una treintañera casi cuarentona y su compañera de piso. Difícil no imaginarlas como personajes pertenecientes al manga de Kurage Hime.

[Jose Cruz · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5)