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Hollow Inside
Not yet published
Expected 5 May 26A witty, deadpan novel about modern relationships, pets, and living as a single woman; for fans of Sayaka Murata, offbeat humor, and sharp social observation
In this skewed, mordantly funny Japanese novel, two women navigate aging and relationships in divergent ways.
Hirai, 38, has recently started living with her colleague Suganuma, 42. Both women are single and feel ambivalent at best about the prospect of marriage. Stuck in bland jobs that don’t pay enough for them to afford one-bedroom apartments in the city, they defy social expectation and create their own domestic routines, allowing space for Suganuma’s side-hustle—3D-printing figurines of beloved dead pets for their grieving owners.
Though initially united by their resistance to romantic love, the pair begin tentative forays toward partnership. Suganuma strikes up a secret affair, which shocks Hirai into action and back into 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?
The debut novel by a bright new voice in Japanese fiction, Hollow Inside won the prestigious Subaru Prize. With a dark, deadpan tone and sharply witty observation, Asako Otani satirizes the myths and pressures of contemporary romantic love, as Hirai and Suganuma try to chart their own paths in a precarious world.
In this skewed, mordantly funny Japanese novel, two women navigate aging and relationships in divergent ways.
Hirai, 38, has recently started living with her colleague Suganuma, 42. Both women are single and feel ambivalent at best about the prospect of marriage. Stuck in bland jobs that don’t pay enough for them to afford one-bedroom apartments in the city, they defy social expectation and create their own domestic routines, allowing space for Suganuma’s side-hustle—3D-printing figurines of beloved dead pets for their grieving owners.
Though initially united by their resistance to romantic love, the pair begin tentative forays toward partnership. Suganuma strikes up a secret affair, which shocks Hirai into action and back into 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?
The debut novel by a bright new voice in Japanese fiction, Hollow Inside won the prestigious Subaru Prize. With a dark, deadpan tone and sharply witty observation, Asako Otani satirizes the myths and pressures of contemporary romantic love, as Hirai and Suganuma try to chart their own paths in a precarious world.
Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
February 20, 2026
Lástima la corrección a la traducción y de estilo que le falta :(
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A curious commentary on life, where society meets the self.
I fell asleep and awoke to the wonderful life inside this book. We follow the life, the passions, desires or lack thereof of Hirai. A woman in her near-forties, she isn't lost. She has her life panned out, go to work and come home to her flatmate, Saganuma (which seems to be the only odd part of her life, living with another woman).
There are a lot of themes to get snagged up on here. The integration of the lives of celebrities to ourselves is one of the most prominent ones. The way how we let them into our life or how much we want their lives into our lives. We form a specific image of them, decorate it, adorn it with our expectations. We blatantly project on them, our feelings, our reflections. And then we are broken when they don't live up to it. We wish we hadn't even know what they had done to break the picture-perfect image of them we have in our heads.
Repulsion or confusion to sexuality
And lastly, the want of a child. Another running theme is how she wants a child. So badly it refuses to listen to her reason of reality and circumstances. The want even she can't put a finger on why she wants one except it being a projection of society's expectation and it being the logical next step planned for her by the community.
All these themes form an amalgamation of the crude and raw reality of today, being different, and feeling hollow inside.
⋆⭒˚𖠋𖠋𖠋*.⋆⋆⭒˚𖠋𖠋𖠋*.⋆⋆⭒˚𖠋𖠋𖠋*.⋆⋆⭒˚𖠋𖠋𖠋*.⋆⋆⭒˚𖠋𖠋𖠋*.⋆
𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𝓹𝓻𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭
Looking forward to a short social satire, that leaves me questioning the real meaning of a society and people.
Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the eARC of the book.
I fell asleep and awoke to the wonderful life inside this book. We follow the life, the passions, desires or lack thereof of Hirai. A woman in her near-forties, she isn't lost. She has her life panned out, go to work and come home to her flatmate, Saganuma (which seems to be the only odd part of her life, living with another woman).
There are a lot of themes to get snagged up on here. The integration of the lives of celebrities to ourselves is one of the most prominent ones. The way how we let them into our life or how much we want their lives into our lives. We form a specific image of them, decorate it, adorn it with our expectations. We blatantly project on them, our feelings, our reflections. And then we are broken when they don't live up to it. We wish we hadn't even know what they had done to break the picture-perfect image of them we have in our heads.
Repulsion or confusion to sexuality
And lastly, the want of a child. Another running theme is how she wants a child. So badly it refuses to listen to her reason of reality and circumstances. The want even she can't put a finger on why she wants one except it being a projection of society's expectation and it being the logical next step planned for her by the community.
All these themes form an amalgamation of the crude and raw reality of today, being different, and feeling hollow inside.
"I'm the sort of person who can't fall in love."
"My baby. Hollow inside, misshapen, defective. It was perfect for me."
⋆⭒˚𖠋𖠋𖠋*.⋆⋆⭒˚𖠋𖠋𖠋*.⋆⋆⭒˚𖠋𖠋𖠋*.⋆⋆⭒˚𖠋𖠋𖠋*.⋆⋆⭒˚𖠋𖠋𖠋*.⋆
𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𝓹𝓻𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭
Looking forward to a short social satire, that leaves me questioning the real meaning of a society and people.
Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the eARC of the book.
January 28, 2026
MASTERPIECE MASTERPIECE MASTERPIECE!
It’s always the random tiktok recs that end up being the most incredible reads for me.
This was like a combination of all the most perfect contemporary Japanese authors (Sayaka Murata, Rin Usami, Kikuko Tsumura, Junko Takase, etc) and their themes, but also it focused on different facets of the human experience (being in your 40s, not following societal conventions, female friendships in your 40s, asexuality, loneliness).
I’m shocked this is a debut, and so grateful I’ve read it for January in Japan.
Will be recommending it nonstop!
It’s always the random tiktok recs that end up being the most incredible reads for me.
This was like a combination of all the most perfect contemporary Japanese authors (Sayaka Murata, Rin Usami, Kikuko Tsumura, Junko Takase, etc) and their themes, but also it focused on different facets of the human experience (being in your 40s, not following societal conventions, female friendships in your 40s, asexuality, loneliness).
I’m shocked this is a debut, and so grateful I’ve read it for January in Japan.
Will be recommending it nonstop!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“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.
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.
February 16, 2026
4,5 ⭐️
Me encanta como esté libro testimonia la generación de mujeres que deciden mantenerse solteras.
Tanto con las incertidumbres y convicciones que llevan esa decisión pero no sin evidenciar la culpa de sentir que hay algo en nosotras que no es normal y necesita ser cuestionado.
Creo que es un libro que dialoga muy bien con Pechos y huevos de Mieko Kawakami. En lo personal, Nada dentro me resultó con una fluidez mucho más amigable, puede deberse a la comparación de páginas entre uno y otro.
Una pluma sutil, directa pero nada brusca, sin dudas volvería a leer a Asako Otani.
Me encanta como esté libro testimonia la generación de mujeres que deciden mantenerse solteras.
Tanto con las incertidumbres y convicciones que llevan esa decisión pero no sin evidenciar la culpa de sentir que hay algo en nosotras que no es normal y necesita ser cuestionado.
Creo que es un libro que dialoga muy bien con Pechos y huevos de Mieko Kawakami. En lo personal, Nada dentro me resultó con una fluidez mucho más amigable, puede deberse a la comparación de páginas entre uno y otro.
Una pluma sutil, directa pero nada brusca, sin dudas volvería a leer a Asako Otani.
October 25, 2025
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
Full RTC
Thank u to Edelweiss and Pushkin Press for the review copy
January 11, 2026
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.
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.
January 9, 2026
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.
February 19, 2026
This was a short, just okay read, in my opinion… though I’m wondering if it’s because of the book itself or the marketing for said book. It was billed as something fans of Sayaka Murata would enjoy, but aside from the main character being someone who doesn’t necessarily conform to society’s expectations when it comes to dating and marriage, I don’t see the likeness. Murata very intentionally often makes the reader feel deeply uncomfortable while tackling societal norms and taboos, where this book skimmed the surface of the main character’s life. Aside from an odd fixation on the logo from her colleague’s polo shirt, I don’t feel like we really got enough character depth to really understand or relate to her.
There were so many threads we could have followed that probably would have made the book more enjoyable for me, especially because some of the themes brought up were really interesting. Some of these include societal pressure to raise a family, friends in problematic relationships, and the desire to find a new job while also understanding the safety that can be found in settling for the mundane).
I really wish we’d learned more about her strained relationship with her mum to the aversion she has to her stepfather, her pondering her identity as she comes to terms with the fact that she doesn’t want to date but also doesn’t want to be lonely, or even the dynamic with her odd flatmate. It feels like the main character didn’t really do much introspection, which means that we as the reader weren’t able to really know her.
Maybe that was the point?
All in all, I didn’t dislike the book, but I also didn’t feel like it told a really unique or thought-provoking story. That being said, if you’ve never tried Japanese literature before, you might have a totally different perspective and may learn something about the culture or experiences as laid out in the book!
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the advanced ebook!
January 31, 2026
Para mí es un 3.5
Me la he leído en un solo día, es una historia ligera y cotidiana. Me ha gustado porque se entiende (y se vive) la incomodidad de la protagonista tal y como lo describe la autora. Al principio me ha parecido curioso que en Japón sea algo inusual que dos mujeres alrededor de los 40 se planteen no casarse, compartir piso juntas y la (no)maternidad. Luego he caído en que en realidad aquí aún hay muchas personas que lo ven algo "demasiado" progresista. Trata también sobre la asexualidad, un tema del que se habla y trata poco en general. El final me ha gustado por lo inesperado, raro y original.
Me la he leído en un solo día, es una historia ligera y cotidiana. Me ha gustado porque se entiende (y se vive) la incomodidad de la protagonista tal y como lo describe la autora. Al principio me ha parecido curioso que en Japón sea algo inusual que dos mujeres alrededor de los 40 se planteen no casarse, compartir piso juntas y la (no)maternidad. Luego he caído en que en realidad aquí aún hay muchas personas que lo ven algo "demasiado" progresista. Trata también sobre la asexualidad, un tema del que se habla y trata poco en general. El final me ha gustado por lo inesperado, raro y original.
February 18, 2026
A tale of non conformity and the uncertainty of being different in a society that values sameness almost to the level of virtuousness.
This is a short story of the realities of being a late thirties woman, childfree and single, in the marriage and family focused Japan. And while I appreciate these kinds of stories and usually enjoy them. Hollow Inside felt like it added nothing new to the genre.
And partly I feel like the advertising this book received is part of the problem. Advertised on NetGalley as for fans of Sayaka Murata, I kept waiting for this book to get weird or have some kind of reality shifting twist and it never came.
I also felt frustrated with the way the author spent so much time analysing the shirt of our MC’s coworker. With how short this book is, it felt like we were wasting words focusing on some truly unimpressive details that have nothing to do with the story.
Ultimately I thought this book was fine, there was nothing wrong with it but it also gave me nothing new and ultimately it’ll be forgettable by the end of the year.
2.75
This is a short story of the realities of being a late thirties woman, childfree and single, in the marriage and family focused Japan. And while I appreciate these kinds of stories and usually enjoy them. Hollow Inside felt like it added nothing new to the genre.
And partly I feel like the advertising this book received is part of the problem. Advertised on NetGalley as for fans of Sayaka Murata, I kept waiting for this book to get weird or have some kind of reality shifting twist and it never came.
I also felt frustrated with the way the author spent so much time analysing the shirt of our MC’s coworker. With how short this book is, it felt like we were wasting words focusing on some truly unimpressive details that have nothing to do with the story.
Ultimately I thought this book was fine, there was nothing wrong with it but it also gave me nothing new and ultimately it’ll be forgettable by the end of the year.
2.75
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you so much for the e-arc!
3.5
I liked how this questions the expectations of women. Women are supposed to get married and have babies to many people and society still pushes that idea. The stigma non-married, childless women get is beyond flabbergasted for someone who just wants to live their own life the way they want, not what is expected of them.
Also would say some representation of being asexual which again gets the discussion on expectations of people.
How this is written to express the above and put that forward was great but the ending just left me wanting just something a tad more, for my own taste of course!
3.5
I liked how this questions the expectations of women. Women are supposed to get married and have babies to many people and society still pushes that idea. The stigma non-married, childless women get is beyond flabbergasted for someone who just wants to live their own life the way they want, not what is expected of them.
Also would say some representation of being asexual which again gets the discussion on expectations of people.
How this is written to express the above and put that forward was great but the ending just left me wanting just something a tad more, for my own taste of course!
December 6, 2025
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 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!
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 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!
January 23, 2026
This was short enough to read in one sitting and I’m still deciding whether that helped or hurt my experience.
Intentionally quiet, observational fiction can be hit or miss for me. The kind of story that doesn't explode but reflects because it pays attention to routine, character interiors, and expectation. Hollow Inside has all of that on the surface with 38 year-old Hirai who's drifting through adulthood under the weight of what women are expected to want (marriage, children, a "normal" timeline). I understood the commentary and could see the themes.
But I never felt it. The emotional thread stayed just out of reach for me, even when I thought, near the end, I was almost there. Maybe it's timing, I have been sick and I'm coming off a 5-star Irish horror high, so the contrast between immersion and distance was sharp. Maybe it's that I've been struggling to find my footing with literary fiction this year. It's thoughtful enough, but I just didn't connect as deeply as I expected to.
Intentionally quiet, observational fiction can be hit or miss for me. The kind of story that doesn't explode but reflects because it pays attention to routine, character interiors, and expectation. Hollow Inside has all of that on the surface with 38 year-old Hirai who's drifting through adulthood under the weight of what women are expected to want (marriage, children, a "normal" timeline). I understood the commentary and could see the themes.
But I never felt it. The emotional thread stayed just out of reach for me, even when I thought, near the end, I was almost there. Maybe it's timing, I have been sick and I'm coming off a 5-star Irish horror high, so the contrast between immersion and distance was sharp. Maybe it's that I've been struggling to find my footing with literary fiction this year. It's thoughtful enough, but I just didn't connect as deeply as I expected to.
January 26, 2026
Hollow Inside is a quietly brilliant, deeply human story that stayed with me long after I finished reading. Through Hirai’s everyday life — her work, friendships, dating missteps, and the subtle weight of societal expectations — Otani captures that strange, hollow feeling many of us carry as adults trying to figure out what “fulfillment” is supposed to look like.
The writing is understated yet sharp, blending deadpan humour with moments of surprising tenderness. The characters feel achingly real in their imperfections, and I loved how the story sits in the small, mundane moments that end up meaning the most.
What truly stood out was how gently this book explores loneliness, connection, and the freedom that comes with choosing your own version of happiness — without ever being loud or preachy. Short, poignant, and emotionally resonant, this was an easy 5/5 for me and a must-read for fans of quiet, introspective Japanese literature.
Thank you NetGalley and Steerforth & Pushkin for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
The writing is understated yet sharp, blending deadpan humour with moments of surprising tenderness. The characters feel achingly real in their imperfections, and I loved how the story sits in the small, mundane moments that end up meaning the most.
What truly stood out was how gently this book explores loneliness, connection, and the freedom that comes with choosing your own version of happiness — without ever being loud or preachy. Short, poignant, and emotionally resonant, this was an easy 5/5 for me and a must-read for fans of quiet, introspective Japanese literature.
Thank you NetGalley and Steerforth & Pushkin for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
January 26, 2026
*Thank you to NetGalley & Pushkin Press for the e-ARC*
This is a sharp, highly readable novella that I flew through in one sitting.
The central idea isn’t particularly original, yet Asako Otani presents it well. While the brevity means the characters don’t get the depth or development they might have in a longer work, they still come across as vivid, believable, and oddly memorable—impressive given the length. The pacing is also excellent, making every page feel purposeful and engaging.
I will admit that from the blurb, I was skeptical that a book this short will be able to discuss the issues suggested well enough. Boy, I’m happy I was wrong.
There are no loose threads here: every idea introduced is neatly tied up by the end, which gives the story a satisfying sense of completeness. I particularly love how it ended, it really summed up the whole personality/humor of this book.
Overall, this is a well-executed, very readable book that knows exactly what it wants to do—and does it well. I genuinely enjoyed it. My only complaint is that I wish it’s longer.
This is a sharp, highly readable novella that I flew through in one sitting.
The central idea isn’t particularly original, yet Asako Otani presents it well. While the brevity means the characters don’t get the depth or development they might have in a longer work, they still come across as vivid, believable, and oddly memorable—impressive given the length. The pacing is also excellent, making every page feel purposeful and engaging.
I will admit that from the blurb, I was skeptical that a book this short will be able to discuss the issues suggested well enough. Boy, I’m happy I was wrong.
There are no loose threads here: every idea introduced is neatly tied up by the end, which gives the story a satisfying sense of completeness. I particularly love how it ended, it really summed up the whole personality/humor of this book.
Overall, this is a well-executed, very readable book that knows exactly what it wants to do—and does it well. I genuinely enjoyed it. My only complaint is that I wish it’s longer.
January 30, 2026
eARC from netgalley
i would recommend this book to fans of female experience oriented japanese literature. a la mieko kawakami’s breast and eggs + all the lovers in the night
it’s short, sweet, and gets its themes across nicely. because it’s so short i don’t have so much more to say about it other than that i enjoyed it lol. it’s a nice one sitting kind of read. i wish they explored her obvious lesbianism lol and some of the other plot threads would make an interesting long form novel; however, this book was only meant to be a glimpse into hiromi’s life, so i understand why they didn’t. i also liked how simple and plain the prose was, pointing out the every day things. really grounded the story and helped the themes, but it’s also something many might not like
i really liked the final paragraph, it’s nice to see one of these motherhood books ending differently
i would recommend this book to fans of female experience oriented japanese literature. a la mieko kawakami’s breast and eggs + all the lovers in the night
it’s short, sweet, and gets its themes across nicely. because it’s so short i don’t have so much more to say about it other than that i enjoyed it lol. it’s a nice one sitting kind of read. i wish they explored her obvious lesbianism lol and some of the other plot threads would make an interesting long form novel; however, this book was only meant to be a glimpse into hiromi’s life, so i understand why they didn’t. i also liked how simple and plain the prose was, pointing out the every day things. really grounded the story and helped the themes, but it’s also something many might not like
i really liked the final paragraph, it’s nice to see one of these motherhood books ending differently
February 22, 2026
Cuốn sách này khiến mình nhớ về những tác phẩm cùng chủ đề của Sayaka Murata.
Khai thác nhân vật mắc kẹt dưới áp lực và kỳ vọng của xã hội, đồng thời khắc họa cuộc sống cô đơn và khó khăn của xã hội hiện đại. Dễ đọc và dễ hiểu, nhưng đôi lúc lại dễ đoán và có nhiều chi tiết đáng để được khai thác sâu hơn.
Khai thác nhân vật mắc kẹt dưới áp lực và kỳ vọng của xã hội, đồng thời khắc họa cuộc sống cô đơn và khó khăn của xã hội hiện đại. Dễ đọc và dễ hiểu, nhưng đôi lúc lại dễ đoán và có nhiều chi tiết đáng để được khai thác sâu hơn.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this one.
February 14, 2026
Rápido, breve pero interesante en su planteamiento de la asexualidad. Poco se habla de aquello, especialmente en obras literarias.
No es mi típico tipo de lectura, pero no se me hizo tedioso en ningún momento.
No es mi típico tipo de lectura, pero no se me hizo tedioso en ningún momento.
February 3, 2026
creo que es un buen libro, pero conecté cero
February 23, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
Es el segundo libro de una autora japonesa que leo, y la verdad es que noto un estilo. Es delicado, orgánico y contemplativo.
No tenía ninguna expectativa de este libro, porque me lo regalaron y no lo conocía, pero me gustó, es una lectura que da para analizar.
Es el segundo libro de una autora japonesa que leo, y la verdad es que noto un estilo. Es delicado, orgánico y contemplativo.
No tenía ninguna expectativa de este libro, porque me lo regalaron y no lo conocía, pero me gustó, es una lectura que da para analizar.
January 21, 2026
This short story is about a woman in her 40's in Japan. She is navigating being alone and dating while not being attracted to men, living with a woman flatmate so she can afford a bigger place and feels hollow inside.
I wish this novella had been longer, at just over 100 pages it's too short to really delve deep into the important issues of loneliness, conformity & societal pressure to bring the awareness and normalcy to them that is needed.
I really enjoyed this novella though & can't wait to read more from Asako Otani
Thanks to netgalley and pushkin press for the e-arc for my honest opinion.
I wish this novella had been longer, at just over 100 pages it's too short to really delve deep into the important issues of loneliness, conformity & societal pressure to bring the awareness and normalcy to them that is needed.
I really enjoyed this novella though & can't wait to read more from Asako Otani
Thanks to netgalley and pushkin press for the e-arc for my honest opinion.
on-hold
February 5, 2026I read this one early and its style is so thoughtful that I can already see some people going wow and others going meh. Full review coming on release day.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
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 :
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.
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!
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!
February 10, 2026
🇮🇹
Amo leggere libri che mi fanno immergere nella quotidianità di altre culture, e questo libro riesce a farlo in modo davvero unico. Una delle cose che mette chiaramente in evidenza è il fatto che il modo di vivere della protagonista non sia né comune né stigmatizzato, ma anzi risulti piuttosto frainteso dalle persone che la circondano.
Attraverso una narrazione in prima persona, Hirai cerca di indagare le ragioni per cui è “finita” a vivere in questo modo, ovvero condividendo un appartamento con un’altra donna quarantenne con cui non ha alcun legame se non una solida amicizia.
La storia segue la presa di coscienza della protagonista del fatto che non esista un unico “modo giusto” di vivere la propria vita e che, soprattutto, cercare di seguire la massa non porta a nulla di buono: non ti farà sentire meglio e, anzi, le persone che contano davvero nella tua vita ti accetteranno a prescindere dalle tue scelte.
Il punto di forza di questo libro è il suo modo ironico e arguto di esprimere questo concetto: grazie a personaggi ben costruiti, in meno di 120 pagine l’autrice riesce a esplorare temi come la sessualità, l’amicizia, la pressione sociale, l’identità e gli stereotipi.
Ciò che ho apprezzato di più di questa storia è stata l’atmosfera accogliente e calma che la accompagna dall’inizio alla fine; allo stesso tempo, però, ho avuto la sensazione che mancasse qualcosa: avrei preferito che la storia approfondisse un po’ di più alcuni aspetti.
🇬🇧
I love reading books that have me diving into other cultures’ daily life, and this book does this in a really unique way. One thing it clearly wants to point out is the fact that the protagonist’s way of living is neither common nor stigmatised, yet it’s quite misunderstood by her acquaintances.
Through a first-person narration, Hirai tries to uncover the reasons why she “ended up” living this way, that is sharing a two-bedroom apartment with another forty-year-old woman with whom she has no relationship apart from a long-standing friendship.
The story follows the protagonist’s realisation that there is no such “right way” to live one’s life and most of all, trying to follow the crowd will bring you nothing good in the end: it won’t make you feel better in any way and mostly, the people who genuinely matter in your life will accept you regardless of your choices.
The strength of this title is its humorous witty way to explain this concept: thanks to the exceptional characters in less than 120 pages, the author manages to explore themes such as sexuality, friendship, social pressure, identity and stereotypes.
What I appreciated the most about this story was the way it felt cozy and calm throughout its course, yet I felt like something was missing, maybe I would have preferred the story to go a little bit deeper!
Amo leggere libri che mi fanno immergere nella quotidianità di altre culture, e questo libro riesce a farlo in modo davvero unico. Una delle cose che mette chiaramente in evidenza è il fatto che il modo di vivere della protagonista non sia né comune né stigmatizzato, ma anzi risulti piuttosto frainteso dalle persone che la circondano.
Attraverso una narrazione in prima persona, Hirai cerca di indagare le ragioni per cui è “finita” a vivere in questo modo, ovvero condividendo un appartamento con un’altra donna quarantenne con cui non ha alcun legame se non una solida amicizia.
La storia segue la presa di coscienza della protagonista del fatto che non esista un unico “modo giusto” di vivere la propria vita e che, soprattutto, cercare di seguire la massa non porta a nulla di buono: non ti farà sentire meglio e, anzi, le persone che contano davvero nella tua vita ti accetteranno a prescindere dalle tue scelte.
Il punto di forza di questo libro è il suo modo ironico e arguto di esprimere questo concetto: grazie a personaggi ben costruiti, in meno di 120 pagine l’autrice riesce a esplorare temi come la sessualità, l’amicizia, la pressione sociale, l’identità e gli stereotipi.
Ciò che ho apprezzato di più di questa storia è stata l’atmosfera accogliente e calma che la accompagna dall’inizio alla fine; allo stesso tempo, però, ho avuto la sensazione che mancasse qualcosa: avrei preferito che la storia approfondisse un po’ di più alcuni aspetti.
🇬🇧
I love reading books that have me diving into other cultures’ daily life, and this book does this in a really unique way. One thing it clearly wants to point out is the fact that the protagonist’s way of living is neither common nor stigmatised, yet it’s quite misunderstood by her acquaintances.
Through a first-person narration, Hirai tries to uncover the reasons why she “ended up” living this way, that is sharing a two-bedroom apartment with another forty-year-old woman with whom she has no relationship apart from a long-standing friendship.
The story follows the protagonist’s realisation that there is no such “right way” to live one’s life and most of all, trying to follow the crowd will bring you nothing good in the end: it won’t make you feel better in any way and mostly, the people who genuinely matter in your life will accept you regardless of your choices.
The strength of this title is its humorous witty way to explain this concept: thanks to the exceptional characters in less than 120 pages, the author manages to explore themes such as sexuality, friendship, social pressure, identity and stereotypes.
What I appreciated the most about this story was the way it felt cozy and calm throughout its course, yet I felt like something was missing, maybe I would have preferred the story to go a little bit deeper!
January 5, 2026
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!
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!
January 9, 2026
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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