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Hello, Limerence
Not yet published
Expected 18 Aug 26For fans of Asako Yuzuki and Fleabag, an audacious, unhinged debut following the major humiliations and minor triumphs of an overworked, undersexed young woman in Tokyo who must save herself from the hazards of her own lust, obsession, and delusion.
limerence. [li-mer-uhns] noun
the state of being obsessively infatuated with someone, usually accompanied by delusions of or a desire for an intense romantic relationship with that person; e.g., her limerence lasted for around three months before she actually met him
Mika is about to turn 25, and all she has to show for it is a soul-sucking office job and a terminal case of virginity. Between unwanted advances from co-workers and subway commuters, and love-bombing from unappealing fuckboys, Mika’s ready to explode. Her only therapeutic outlet is her imagination, which manifests in a series of comically violent and horny fantasies.
Determined to change her fate, and with the encouragement of Nana, her certified “Hot Girl” best friend, Mika loses half of her virginity to Tyler, a Japanese-American boy with an allergy to commitment. The other half is taken by a man with a drawer full of red flags, all while Mika indulges in fantasies of women much to her titillation and confusion.
Caught in a love(less) triangle, Mika also must weather a mysterious outbreak spurred by the unhygienic bathroom practices of white male westerners. Will she emerge from quarantine a new woman? Or, spurred by a reunion with an estranged friend, can she shift her life in a new direction? Could this be yet again limerence, or might it be the beginning of something a bit less one-sided?
Scathingly funny, delightfully profane, and surprisingly heartfelt, Hello, Limerence is a story for the unloved and the unhinged—a madcap spin through the frenzy of one woman’s desire.
limerence. [li-mer-uhns] noun
the state of being obsessively infatuated with someone, usually accompanied by delusions of or a desire for an intense romantic relationship with that person; e.g., her limerence lasted for around three months before she actually met him
Mika is about to turn 25, and all she has to show for it is a soul-sucking office job and a terminal case of virginity. Between unwanted advances from co-workers and subway commuters, and love-bombing from unappealing fuckboys, Mika’s ready to explode. Her only therapeutic outlet is her imagination, which manifests in a series of comically violent and horny fantasies.
Determined to change her fate, and with the encouragement of Nana, her certified “Hot Girl” best friend, Mika loses half of her virginity to Tyler, a Japanese-American boy with an allergy to commitment. The other half is taken by a man with a drawer full of red flags, all while Mika indulges in fantasies of women much to her titillation and confusion.
Caught in a love(less) triangle, Mika also must weather a mysterious outbreak spurred by the unhygienic bathroom practices of white male westerners. Will she emerge from quarantine a new woman? Or, spurred by a reunion with an estranged friend, can she shift her life in a new direction? Could this be yet again limerence, or might it be the beginning of something a bit less one-sided?
Scathingly funny, delightfully profane, and surprisingly heartfelt, Hello, Limerence is a story for the unloved and the unhinged—a madcap spin through the frenzy of one woman’s desire.
224 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 2, 2026
14 people are currently reading
547 people want to read
About the author
Momo Yamaguchi
2 books5 followersMomo Yamaguchi was born in Tokyo, educated in the U.S., and lives and works in London. Hello, Limerence is her first novel.
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2026
December 22, 2025Japanuary TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books
February 15, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
Man... this book is a whole vibe. Mika is 24 years old with a soul-sucking corporate job and a “love life” that consists of unwanted advances at work, being groped on the train and being strung along by Tai, a Japanese-American expat who keeps her at arm’s length (and doesn’t know how condom sizing works), and Jojo, a man-whore who hands out toothbrushes like he’s the oral care aisle at CVS (but can’t locate the human female clitoris). In the case of the latter two prospects, she’s desperately infatuated. Completely obsessed. Hence the title. Her inner monologues are horny and violent. Harrowing and vapid. At any given moment, I wasn’t sure if I loved her or hated her. It’s still unclear. Reply hazy. Ask again later.
Every relationship in this book is toxic and every character is living in a vacuum, dripping with venom or inadequacy or obliviousness... or hell, all three. Somewhere toward the middle of the book, it takes a weird turn. We’re treated to a parallel universe version of Covid… but it’s violent, explosive diarrhea. Then we logically segue into coronalingus, job applications, bisexuality and tasty, tasty pasta recipes. Well… one tasty pasta recipe.
This was kind of a blast. Mika is infuriating. She feels superior to everyone while somehow having an inferiority complex. She thinks being in one’s early thirties is equivalent to having one foot in the grave. She pushes everyone away… unless she actually should. Then she’s like a dog doing tricks for scraps. But honestly… I kinda loved this. 🤷🏻♂️
Man... this book is a whole vibe. Mika is 24 years old with a soul-sucking corporate job and a “love life” that consists of unwanted advances at work, being groped on the train and being strung along by Tai, a Japanese-American expat who keeps her at arm’s length (and doesn’t know how condom sizing works), and Jojo, a man-whore who hands out toothbrushes like he’s the oral care aisle at CVS (but can’t locate the human female clitoris). In the case of the latter two prospects, she’s desperately infatuated. Completely obsessed. Hence the title. Her inner monologues are horny and violent. Harrowing and vapid. At any given moment, I wasn’t sure if I loved her or hated her. It’s still unclear. Reply hazy. Ask again later.
Every relationship in this book is toxic and every character is living in a vacuum, dripping with venom or inadequacy or obliviousness... or hell, all three. Somewhere toward the middle of the book, it takes a weird turn. We’re treated to a parallel universe version of Covid… but it’s violent, explosive diarrhea. Then we logically segue into coronalingus, job applications, bisexuality and tasty, tasty pasta recipes. Well… one tasty pasta recipe.
This was kind of a blast. Mika is infuriating. She feels superior to everyone while somehow having an inferiority complex. She thinks being in one’s early thirties is equivalent to having one foot in the grave. She pushes everyone away… unless she actually should. Then she’s like a dog doing tricks for scraps. But honestly… I kinda loved this. 🤷🏻♂️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As a reader, I personally don't mind having an unhinged female main character. In this case, Mika. Especially since the blurb promised something more frontal or even vulgar. To be honest, the blurb itself was the reason I picked up this book. I was expecting obsession and delusion from her.
But unfortunately, the more I read, the more I felt like this book didn't really have a clear plot or direction, so it didn't match the blurb. I don't mind book that aren't very plot-driven, but here it felt like Mika spent most of the time just talking and yapping about herself and her own thoughts, ignoring what really happens around her. Everything was too focused on her opinions and her inner monologues. Until that became too much and felt unnecessary. The story didn't really go anywhere. I wan't even sure what actually happened in that chapters. This made the book feel boring to read.
I also felt like the time skips or shifts were'nt clear. Sometimes I got confused about when things were happening or how much time had passed. The same goes for the setting. At the beginning, I thought the story was set in Japan, Tokyo, but later I wasn't really sure anymore because of the unclear time jumps and transitions. And unfortunately, this leads to my next point;
The characters, especially Mika. Isn't she supposed to be Japanese? She works in Tokyo, but while reading, I never really felt like she was Japanese at all. I don't know if this is because of the writing style or her behavior, but she has absolutely no 'Japanese' characteristics at all (like how they speak or the culture etc. ykwim). I noticed this a lot because I'm quite familiar with Japan. And, well, then I realized that this book isn't a translation from a Japanese book, which is fine. But if the story is set in Japan, shouldn't it feel like Japan? Because this one really dosen't. And that bothered me a lot.
The frontal and unhinged elements I was hoping for ended up just making me feel bored and lost instead. It felt like too much yapping that never failed to make me sigh and roll my eyes. In the end, I couldn't really get into the story. I wouldn't recommend this book if you're hoping for more.
But unfortunately, the more I read, the more I felt like this book didn't really have a clear plot or direction, so it didn't match the blurb. I don't mind book that aren't very plot-driven, but here it felt like Mika spent most of the time just talking and yapping about herself and her own thoughts, ignoring what really happens around her. Everything was too focused on her opinions and her inner monologues. Until that became too much and felt unnecessary. The story didn't really go anywhere. I wan't even sure what actually happened in that chapters. This made the book feel boring to read.
I also felt like the time skips or shifts were'nt clear. Sometimes I got confused about when things were happening or how much time had passed. The same goes for the setting. At the beginning, I thought the story was set in Japan, Tokyo, but later I wasn't really sure anymore because of the unclear time jumps and transitions. And unfortunately, this leads to my next point;
The characters, especially Mika. Isn't she supposed to be Japanese? She works in Tokyo, but while reading, I never really felt like she was Japanese at all. I don't know if this is because of the writing style or her behavior, but she has absolutely no 'Japanese' characteristics at all (like how they speak or the culture etc. ykwim). I noticed this a lot because I'm quite familiar with Japan. And, well, then I realized that this book isn't a translation from a Japanese book, which is fine. But if the story is set in Japan, shouldn't it feel like Japan? Because this one really dosen't. And that bothered me a lot.
The frontal and unhinged elements I was hoping for ended up just making me feel bored and lost instead. It felt like too much yapping that never failed to make me sigh and roll my eyes. In the end, I couldn't really get into the story. I wouldn't recommend this book if you're hoping for more.
February 22, 2026
4.75⭐️ If you love a book with a somewhat unlikable, delusional main character, please do yourself a favor and pick this up.
Ever spiraled over a crush, already fantasized your entire life together before you ever even said ‘hi’ to each other? Yea… so does our main character Mika. She’s 24 years old and tired of her boring life and more importantly, tired of being a virgin. But not for much longer. She’s determined to change this.
Her inner monologue is downright crazy and ridiculous at times, but I can’t help but love her for it. She’s not afraid to speak her mind and boy does she have a lot to say. A Gen Z girl at heart.
She’s just so incredibly funny and relatable while simultaneously being completely delusional. I caught myself giggling, just having so much fun while reading this.
It feels similar in a way to My Year of Rest and Relaxation in the sense that it’s relatable, kind of depressing, humorous and not afraid to mock itself at times. In other words, my kind of book.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the arc. Truly couldn’t have wished for a better arc to start the year with.
Ever spiraled over a crush, already fantasized your entire life together before you ever even said ‘hi’ to each other? Yea… so does our main character Mika. She’s 24 years old and tired of her boring life and more importantly, tired of being a virgin. But not for much longer. She’s determined to change this.
Her inner monologue is downright crazy and ridiculous at times, but I can’t help but love her for it. She’s not afraid to speak her mind and boy does she have a lot to say. A Gen Z girl at heart.
She’s just so incredibly funny and relatable while simultaneously being completely delusional. I caught myself giggling, just having so much fun while reading this.
It feels similar in a way to My Year of Rest and Relaxation in the sense that it’s relatable, kind of depressing, humorous and not afraid to mock itself at times. In other words, my kind of book.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the arc. Truly couldn’t have wished for a better arc to start the year with.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Momo Yamaguchi is a first generation immigrant, a Japanese woman who currently lives in the UK and writes in English. Unlike many second gen migrant stories, her work does not concern itself with 'good immigrant' or identity crisis narratives. Hello, Limerence follows Mika, a 24-year old Japanese salarywoman who lives in Tokyo. Think all those social media accounts of 'real-life Japan' showing overwork, tiny apartments, unhealthy combini meals every day and workplace sexism. Mika's main woe, however, is her struggles to form a romantic relationship and her obsession with the first guy who sort of looked in her direction.
Hello, Limerence reads like one of those hot mess young woman narratives that have over-saturated the Anglophone book market. Its closest cousin is I am a Fan by Sheena Patel, so if you liked one, you will probably like the other. Hello, Limerence seemed more realistic and relatable to me because of how young Mika is - the sort of obsessions she has in her early 20s are less believable in Patel's 30-something narrator. I think I would have enjoyed this book much more about ten years ago, when the narrator's more explosive emotions would have been more relatable. I do think Yamaguchi captured something very raw and precise about emotional and sexual pressures on young women, and for that, the novel is worth reading. The ending was satisfyingly set up and telegraphed throughout the book.
The writing style is quite interesting. It is clearly inspired both by modern Anglophone and Japanese literature. Despite Japanese authors' willingness to explore sexuality frankly (see Sayaka Murata, in particular), there is something particularly in your face and vulgar about the endless sex scenes in Hello, Limerence, much more reminiscent of the tone taken by Western writers. That vulgarity doesn't quite translate into punk - Yamaguchi is no Ryu Murakami, hovering somewhere around the 'hot mess girl' level throughout. I have never read a book set in Japan written quite like this, and I have never read a book written like this set in Japan.
Despite references to a thinly veiled Covid pandemic, the tone, the narrative and the themes of the book seem quite outdated and out of place in 2026, as if this was written a decade ago (and for the world we had a decade ago). Everything from the macro-narrative to the smaller details (eg the chiselled 2015-style makeup Mika wears to a party) seems like something from another era. It is hard to focus on how obsessed this young woman is with a guy who would never consider actually dating her in the context of the news cycle we live in today.
Mika often comments on Amercian cultural imperialism, and the narrative details emphasise it, from the microaggressions she faces as a tourist in New York to the KFC Christmas dinner she gobbles by herself when the guy fails to respond to her for the millionth time. It is all well and good (albeit a bit repetitive), but Yamaguchi's utter failure to critically engage with what imperialism means in Japan grated me the wrong way. Mika and her friends go to Korean BBQs all the time - a bit rich to be talking about the incandescent American imperialism as a Japanese woman in a Korean eatery in Tokyo! Read The Pachinko Parlour by Elisa Shua Dusapin for a contrast. This is not whataboutism - this is a comment on how dull, from a literary perspective, Yamaguchi's take on imperialism is (R.F. Kuang's line about 'yet another sob story about how you were bullied because of your lunch box' from Yellowface comes to mind).
Overall, I underlined quite a few bits and enjoyed reading this, but the text would have been more meaningful with more thorough editing and pruning. I also wish that after all that it actually said something a bit more interesting.
Hello, Limerence reads like one of those hot mess young woman narratives that have over-saturated the Anglophone book market. Its closest cousin is I am a Fan by Sheena Patel, so if you liked one, you will probably like the other. Hello, Limerence seemed more realistic and relatable to me because of how young Mika is - the sort of obsessions she has in her early 20s are less believable in Patel's 30-something narrator. I think I would have enjoyed this book much more about ten years ago, when the narrator's more explosive emotions would have been more relatable. I do think Yamaguchi captured something very raw and precise about emotional and sexual pressures on young women, and for that, the novel is worth reading. The ending was satisfyingly set up and telegraphed throughout the book.
The writing style is quite interesting. It is clearly inspired both by modern Anglophone and Japanese literature. Despite Japanese authors' willingness to explore sexuality frankly (see Sayaka Murata, in particular), there is something particularly in your face and vulgar about the endless sex scenes in Hello, Limerence, much more reminiscent of the tone taken by Western writers. That vulgarity doesn't quite translate into punk - Yamaguchi is no Ryu Murakami, hovering somewhere around the 'hot mess girl' level throughout. I have never read a book set in Japan written quite like this, and I have never read a book written like this set in Japan.
Despite references to a thinly veiled Covid pandemic, the tone, the narrative and the themes of the book seem quite outdated and out of place in 2026, as if this was written a decade ago (and for the world we had a decade ago). Everything from the macro-narrative to the smaller details (eg the chiselled 2015-style makeup Mika wears to a party) seems like something from another era. It is hard to focus on how obsessed this young woman is with a guy who would never consider actually dating her in the context of the news cycle we live in today.
Mika often comments on Amercian cultural imperialism, and the narrative details emphasise it, from the microaggressions she faces as a tourist in New York to the KFC Christmas dinner she gobbles by herself when the guy fails to respond to her for the millionth time. It is all well and good (albeit a bit repetitive), but Yamaguchi's utter failure to critically engage with what imperialism means in Japan grated me the wrong way. Mika and her friends go to Korean BBQs all the time - a bit rich to be talking about the incandescent American imperialism as a Japanese woman in a Korean eatery in Tokyo! Read The Pachinko Parlour by Elisa Shua Dusapin for a contrast. This is not whataboutism - this is a comment on how dull, from a literary perspective, Yamaguchi's take on imperialism is (R.F. Kuang's line about 'yet another sob story about how you were bullied because of your lunch box' from Yellowface comes to mind).
Overall, I underlined quite a few bits and enjoyed reading this, but the text would have been more meaningful with more thorough editing and pruning. I also wish that after all that it actually said something a bit more interesting.
February 23, 2026
Thanks to Netgally and Faber and Faber for the advanced copy for an honest review.
One thing about me, I enjoy an unhinged female character, but Mika was not the one for me.
My biggest issue with this is that the blurb did not end up matching what this story is about, sadly. I had expected Mika to be an obsessed, deluded woman who stopped at nothing to find love and act out her fantasies. Ultimately though, this fell flat and went nowhere, a big shame as the first half had a decent path and plot to it that I was interested in.
The plot itself isn’t one I can recap well, beyond a woman named Mika who lives in Japan, is extremely male-centred and spends too much time speaking like a Gen Z influencer, who feels rage and imagines moments of acting out that rage, and who one day meets Tai and falls in lust with him after he half takes her virginity.
This felt very scattered as a story, with a very unlikeable main character but not in a good way, and which left me shrugging for the last 50 pages and not caring, and at times I had no real idea what was even happening, whether a chapter was her imagination, set in the future, or her inner monologue ranting.
A shame as I had high hopes for this!
One thing about me, I enjoy an unhinged female character, but Mika was not the one for me.
My biggest issue with this is that the blurb did not end up matching what this story is about, sadly. I had expected Mika to be an obsessed, deluded woman who stopped at nothing to find love and act out her fantasies. Ultimately though, this fell flat and went nowhere, a big shame as the first half had a decent path and plot to it that I was interested in.
The plot itself isn’t one I can recap well, beyond a woman named Mika who lives in Japan, is extremely male-centred and spends too much time speaking like a Gen Z influencer, who feels rage and imagines moments of acting out that rage, and who one day meets Tai and falls in lust with him after he half takes her virginity.
This felt very scattered as a story, with a very unlikeable main character but not in a good way, and which left me shrugging for the last 50 pages and not caring, and at times I had no real idea what was even happening, whether a chapter was her imagination, set in the future, or her inner monologue ranting.
A shame as I had high hopes for this!
January 6, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Momo Yamaguchi, and Mariner Books for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I have so many thoughts about this incredible and emotional journey!
First off, I relate to Mika in ways that I am both proud of and embarrassed by. I’m sure many other freshly 25 year olds will feel the same way :) She is so intense with her feelings, simultaneously sure of herself and unsure of so many of her actions. Her sense of self is so grounded in reality and dreams. What I mean by that is she self-deprecates and understands her place in the patriarchal world, while also hoping, planning, and wishing for difference.
I unfortunately just didn’t love the ending, which took a turn that many will enjoy, but I felt no longer reflected a journey that many of my friends and I have been on. It was a fun ending, but there wasn’t the growth or reflection I ultimately craved. Mika has faced many problems other 20-something women have. I would’ve loved to learn more from her resolution.
Still, I found this to be a fun romp of a book, check the TW for language and sexual content, and all that jazz. If you like Girls, you’ll likely enjoy this book too!
First off, I relate to Mika in ways that I am both proud of and embarrassed by. I’m sure many other freshly 25 year olds will feel the same way :) She is so intense with her feelings, simultaneously sure of herself and unsure of so many of her actions. Her sense of self is so grounded in reality and dreams. What I mean by that is she self-deprecates and understands her place in the patriarchal world, while also hoping, planning, and wishing for difference.
I unfortunately just didn’t love the ending, which took a turn that many will enjoy, but I felt no longer reflected a journey that many of my friends and I have been on. It was a fun ending, but there wasn’t the growth or reflection I ultimately craved. Mika has faced many problems other 20-something women have. I would’ve loved to learn more from her resolution.
Still, I found this to be a fun romp of a book, check the TW for language and sexual content, and all that jazz. If you like Girls, you’ll likely enjoy this book too!
February 22, 2026
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Faber & Faber for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First things first, the cover design by @manonlouart is insaaanne! It’s eye catching and just downright gorgeous. I can’t wait to see what it looks like in person.
Okay now on to the book itself. Reading the blurb this seemed right up my alley and I was in the mood for some juicy literary fiction but when I read the first 10 pages and I won’t lie I was not connecting with it. I was questioning if it was for me. I picked it up again the next day and oh my god I could not put it down!!! I got sucked into Mika’s (FMC) world.
I think what initially threw me off was the formatting but once I got use to it I really enjoyed the book. The entirety of the story is told from Mika’s point of view so we know her most inner thoughts and how she navigates her relationships. I found it hilariously honest. There are moments where you think the FMC is crazy or wild for what she has done or said but honestly that is what limerence is truly like. I really felt for Mika. Where was this book when I was 19? Because giiirlll I was going through it just like Mika.
I enjoyed the fast pace and bite sized chapters,it moved the story along well and at no point did I think the story dragged. Overall I really enjoyed this book once I got used to the formatting. I thought it was funny, relatable and a all-in-all good time
Thank you to NetGalley and Faber & Faber for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First things first, the cover design by @manonlouart is insaaanne! It’s eye catching and just downright gorgeous. I can’t wait to see what it looks like in person.
Okay now on to the book itself. Reading the blurb this seemed right up my alley and I was in the mood for some juicy literary fiction but when I read the first 10 pages and I won’t lie I was not connecting with it. I was questioning if it was for me. I picked it up again the next day and oh my god I could not put it down!!! I got sucked into Mika’s (FMC) world.
I think what initially threw me off was the formatting but once I got use to it I really enjoyed the book. The entirety of the story is told from Mika’s point of view so we know her most inner thoughts and how she navigates her relationships. I found it hilariously honest. There are moments where you think the FMC is crazy or wild for what she has done or said but honestly that is what limerence is truly like. I really felt for Mika. Where was this book when I was 19? Because giiirlll I was going through it just like Mika.
I enjoyed the fast pace and bite sized chapters,it moved the story along well and at no point did I think the story dragged. Overall I really enjoyed this book once I got used to the formatting. I thought it was funny, relatable and a all-in-all good time
January 29, 2026
Hello, Limerance is an unhinged story centering around obsession, and is a good show in what happens when someone lives entirely in their own head. Mika is…not well, in a way that is kind of fascinating, sort of sadly funny and often off-putting. Seeing her spiral outwardly by overanalyzing every situation, fixating and self-justifying her often inappropriate responses is uncomfortable but also kind of relatable.
Yamaguchi nails the feeling of Limerance. The repetitive thoughts and refusal to let go of the story you’ve curated in your mind are just spot on. She writes an acutely self-aware character who is frustrating but still somewhat redeemable.
My only criticisms are that some parts of the story were harshly written, and some transitions feel a little bit choppy. But I think the aggressiveness of the book adds to its charm and is purposefully done.
Overall, I really liked the book. I found myself reading passages to my husband because they were laugh out loud funny to me. I hadn’t read a book with a main character who is just so outwardly and openly flawed, so there was a bit of shock factor initially but my the end of the book I was just cheering her on and hoping she’d find the love and happiness she was looking for.
Yamaguchi nails the feeling of Limerance. The repetitive thoughts and refusal to let go of the story you’ve curated in your mind are just spot on. She writes an acutely self-aware character who is frustrating but still somewhat redeemable.
My only criticisms are that some parts of the story were harshly written, and some transitions feel a little bit choppy. But I think the aggressiveness of the book adds to its charm and is purposefully done.
Overall, I really liked the book. I found myself reading passages to my husband because they were laugh out loud funny to me. I hadn’t read a book with a main character who is just so outwardly and openly flawed, so there was a bit of shock factor initially but my the end of the book I was just cheering her on and hoping she’d find the love and happiness she was looking for.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
TW: Violent fantasies (including murder, and shoving things up orifices) sexual assault, rape, death of a family member, isolation (pandemic related), homophobia (slight)
When the blurb compared this to Fleabag, they weren't kidding. A ridiculous and relatable romp, Hello Limerence isn't for everyone, but for the ones who click with it, they'll love it.
But first, the plot: Mika is a 25 year old salarywoman in Tokyo Japan.Stuck in a dead end job, she seeks escape in romance and sex, desperate to lose her virginity. When she meets Tyler, a Japanese American expat, and another man, she does proceed to lose her virginity, but that isn't enough. Obsessed, or experiencing limerence if you prefer, she spirals when Tyler doesn't reciprocate her feelings. Together with her best friend Mika, she tries to navigate her 20's in modern Tokyo, even through a pandemic and a really shitty boss, which she murders in elaborate fantasies. Can Mika find true love, or will she be in limerence for the rest of her life?
The best part of the book was main character, Mika. She is an incredibly relatable 20 something, self-obsessed and chronically online, trying to find herself in our world. This novel is written in first person POV, so readers are in her head the entire time, and are privy to her wild and vivid revenge fantasies, and every sordid detail of her lust driven insanity. As a former 25 something, she's painfully realistic, including the chronically online obsession with social media and her need to find her true self. I also appreciate her perspective as a Japanese woman and her critiques of Western imperialism and her own culture. She's a mess, but a mess with potential past the solipsism. (I also resonated hard with her jobless status later in the novel.) I love the messy queer representation as well; but to go into that would be spoilers, so I will not.
I also like the tone. Mika's perspective is a roller coaster ride, one minute she'll be calling herself a 'loyal ho,' and the next minute she'll be mourning the death of a family member. Her sardonic tone can be a bit much sometimes, but I enjoyed it. I especially loved the fantasies, which were patently hilarious and insane.
The setting is a bit less vivid; I never forgot that we were in Tokyo but a large chunk of the later parts of the book takes place in her apartment because of a (satirical) COVID-like pandemic. I wish that the setting was fleshed out more, but I understand why it wasn't.
Hello, Limerence is a graphic and raunchy read, which isn't for everyone. Be prepared to read about close examinations of the body, and also to read gory fantasies against misogynists. However, if you can move past these roadblocks you will get a raw character portrait of a complex and morally grey character.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Final rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars (rounded up to 4)
Check out my blog for drink parings and other reviews: https://theredreaderreviews.blogspot....
When the blurb compared this to Fleabag, they weren't kidding. A ridiculous and relatable romp, Hello Limerence isn't for everyone, but for the ones who click with it, they'll love it.
But first, the plot: Mika is a 25 year old salarywoman in Tokyo Japan.Stuck in a dead end job, she seeks escape in romance and sex, desperate to lose her virginity. When she meets Tyler, a Japanese American expat, and another man, she does proceed to lose her virginity, but that isn't enough. Obsessed, or experiencing limerence if you prefer, she spirals when Tyler doesn't reciprocate her feelings. Together with her best friend Mika, she tries to navigate her 20's in modern Tokyo, even through a pandemic and a really shitty boss, which she murders in elaborate fantasies. Can Mika find true love, or will she be in limerence for the rest of her life?
The best part of the book was main character, Mika. She is an incredibly relatable 20 something, self-obsessed and chronically online, trying to find herself in our world. This novel is written in first person POV, so readers are in her head the entire time, and are privy to her wild and vivid revenge fantasies, and every sordid detail of her lust driven insanity. As a former 25 something, she's painfully realistic, including the chronically online obsession with social media and her need to find her true self. I also appreciate her perspective as a Japanese woman and her critiques of Western imperialism and her own culture. She's a mess, but a mess with potential past the solipsism. (I also resonated hard with her jobless status later in the novel.) I love the messy queer representation as well; but to go into that would be spoilers, so I will not.
I also like the tone. Mika's perspective is a roller coaster ride, one minute she'll be calling herself a 'loyal ho,' and the next minute she'll be mourning the death of a family member. Her sardonic tone can be a bit much sometimes, but I enjoyed it. I especially loved the fantasies, which were patently hilarious and insane.
The setting is a bit less vivid; I never forgot that we were in Tokyo but a large chunk of the later parts of the book takes place in her apartment because of a (satirical) COVID-like pandemic. I wish that the setting was fleshed out more, but I understand why it wasn't.
Hello, Limerence is a graphic and raunchy read, which isn't for everyone. Be prepared to read about close examinations of the body, and also to read gory fantasies against misogynists. However, if you can move past these roadblocks you will get a raw character portrait of a complex and morally grey character.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Final rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars (rounded up to 4)
Check out my blog for drink parings and other reviews: https://theredreaderreviews.blogspot....
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you have ever felt the kind of love that feels more like a fever: a crushing, all-consuming obsession that blurs the lines of reality, then Momo Yamaguchi’s Hello, Limerence is the mirror you’ve been both seeking and fearing.
The Anatomy of an Obsession
Yamaguchi doesn't just write about love; she dissects it with the precision of a surgeon and the soul of a poet. The story follows a protagonist spiraling into the state of "limerence," that involuntary, obsessive desire for another person. What makes this book so devastatingly effective is how Yamaguchi captures the biopsychosocial nature of this state. We feel the chemical rush of the dopamine hits (the "highs") and the gut-wrenching physical withdrawal of the "lows."
Prose that Bleeds
The writing is atmospheric and "flowy," yet sharp enough to cut. Yamaguchi’s ability to describe the internal monologue of someone who is "addicted" to another person is unparalleled. It echoes the very themes of addiction and recovery we often discuss in clinical settings, but framed through the lens of a tragic, beautiful romance. She captures the "psychological expectations and beliefs" that drive the character to see signs where there are none and to find profound meaning in the mundane.
Why It Resonates
The genius of Hello, Limerence lies in its relatability. It taps into the universal human craving for connection while warning us of the "pharmacological" power our own brain chemistry holds over us. It is a story about bereavement of the self, role disputes between who we are and who we want to be for another, and the interpersonal deficits that lead us into these obsessive traps.
Final Verdict: 5/5 Stars
This isn't just a book; it's an experience. It's a haunting, lyrical exploration of the human heart’s capacity for madness. If you enjoyed the deep dives into the psychology of the mind and the nature of human connection, Hello, Limerence is an absolute must-read.
Prepare to be breathless. Prepare to be obsessed. Hello, Limerence is the best thing I have read this year.
The Anatomy of an Obsession
Yamaguchi doesn't just write about love; she dissects it with the precision of a surgeon and the soul of a poet. The story follows a protagonist spiraling into the state of "limerence," that involuntary, obsessive desire for another person. What makes this book so devastatingly effective is how Yamaguchi captures the biopsychosocial nature of this state. We feel the chemical rush of the dopamine hits (the "highs") and the gut-wrenching physical withdrawal of the "lows."
Prose that Bleeds
The writing is atmospheric and "flowy," yet sharp enough to cut. Yamaguchi’s ability to describe the internal monologue of someone who is "addicted" to another person is unparalleled. It echoes the very themes of addiction and recovery we often discuss in clinical settings, but framed through the lens of a tragic, beautiful romance. She captures the "psychological expectations and beliefs" that drive the character to see signs where there are none and to find profound meaning in the mundane.
Why It Resonates
The genius of Hello, Limerence lies in its relatability. It taps into the universal human craving for connection while warning us of the "pharmacological" power our own brain chemistry holds over us. It is a story about bereavement of the self, role disputes between who we are and who we want to be for another, and the interpersonal deficits that lead us into these obsessive traps.
Final Verdict: 5/5 Stars
This isn't just a book; it's an experience. It's a haunting, lyrical exploration of the human heart’s capacity for madness. If you enjoyed the deep dives into the psychology of the mind and the nature of human connection, Hello, Limerence is an absolute must-read.
Prepare to be breathless. Prepare to be obsessed. Hello, Limerence is the best thing I have read this year.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨, 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 by 𝐌𝐢𝐦𝐨 𝐘𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐢
𝗹𝗶𝗺·𝗲𝗿·𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
/ˈlimər(ə)n(t)s/
(𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯) 1. 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘯𝘦’𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘹𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱.
Mika is a mid-twenties half-virgin, who is thirsty for love & has been on the exhausting search for a tall glass of refreshing to satiate the overly parched landscape that she calls her love life. She obsesses over how to entrap her current crush, while attempting to maintain the carefree vibe of a cool girl (e.g., setting a timer to give an appreciatively appropriate time before responding w an overly-thought out but hopefully nonchalant-sounding response that will bring him to his knees begging for more).
I love-hated that this book…
- Made me feel the toxicity of Mika’s delusional, narcissistic, & self-deprecating thoughts.
- Described in gory detail the random, minute observations of everyday living, which made the book feel palpable & like I was inside Mika’s head.
- (Unimportant but) Contrary to my initial belief, this is not a translated book.
- Is technically highly sexualized, but I didn’t find it vulgar. It felt like an introspection/social commentary of the current generation’s sexual lives.
- Is not a plot driven book but was character focused.
- Ended the way it did. But, upon reflection, I couldn’t think of a different ending bc Mika strikes me as someone who’ll be stuck in a cyclical pattern where she’ll feel worthless/unlovable when single but be an unsatisfied complainer when she gets what she thinks she wants (as they say… the grass is greener on the side side).
- Kept me turning the pages bc I really enjoyed Yamaguchi’s writing style, dry wit, dark humor, & short chapters.
Overall, I liked the book for Yamaguchi’s writing style, voice & humor! TY @netgalley & @marinerbooks for this eARC. It comes out on 8/18/26!
𝗹𝗶𝗺·𝗲𝗿·𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
/ˈlimər(ə)n(t)s/
(𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯) 1. 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘯𝘦’𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘹𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱.
Mika is a mid-twenties half-virgin, who is thirsty for love & has been on the exhausting search for a tall glass of refreshing to satiate the overly parched landscape that she calls her love life. She obsesses over how to entrap her current crush, while attempting to maintain the carefree vibe of a cool girl (e.g., setting a timer to give an appreciatively appropriate time before responding w an overly-thought out but hopefully nonchalant-sounding response that will bring him to his knees begging for more).
I love-hated that this book…
- Made me feel the toxicity of Mika’s delusional, narcissistic, & self-deprecating thoughts.
- Described in gory detail the random, minute observations of everyday living, which made the book feel palpable & like I was inside Mika’s head.
- (Unimportant but) Contrary to my initial belief, this is not a translated book.
- Is technically highly sexualized, but I didn’t find it vulgar. It felt like an introspection/social commentary of the current generation’s sexual lives.
- Is not a plot driven book but was character focused.
- Ended the way it did. But, upon reflection, I couldn’t think of a different ending bc Mika strikes me as someone who’ll be stuck in a cyclical pattern where she’ll feel worthless/unlovable when single but be an unsatisfied complainer when she gets what she thinks she wants (as they say… the grass is greener on the side side).
- Kept me turning the pages bc I really enjoyed Yamaguchi’s writing style, dry wit, dark humor, & short chapters.
Overall, I liked the book for Yamaguchi’s writing style, voice & humor! TY @netgalley & @marinerbooks for this eARC. It comes out on 8/18/26!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had pretty mixed feelings on this book, I kept volleying between 3 and 4 stars. Ultimately landed at 4 stars because of the ending which felt like a cheap cop out. If Mika is bisexual, I would have liked to see this explored more outside of mild sexual arousal around hot girls at parties.
That being said, I did enjoy this book more than I expected. Reading it made me feel a little weird and unsettled somehow. This is an indicator of a good book for me. Mika's fantasies with strangers and coworkers are vulgar and overly sexual but dare I say realistic? I found her relatable in this sense. Her entire story and arc felt a little too close to home. The social imposter syndrome, deep limerence with someone who never cares about actually committing to you, the slightly older hookup partner that you put up with because at least someone is touching you. Fallout with a best friend because she gets in too deep with a boyfriend that sucks and you can't care for it. Like SORRRYYY those are quite a few parallels to my life in the last year. This is definitely a book I would pick up, and I'm glad I requested it from the publisher.
Recommend to those who enjoyed Dolly Alderton's fictional novels (especially Ghosts - I'd consider this a more immature and creative version of that book (with love)).
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
That being said, I did enjoy this book more than I expected. Reading it made me feel a little weird and unsettled somehow. This is an indicator of a good book for me. Mika's fantasies with strangers and coworkers are vulgar and overly sexual but dare I say realistic? I found her relatable in this sense. Her entire story and arc felt a little too close to home. The social imposter syndrome, deep limerence with someone who never cares about actually committing to you, the slightly older hookup partner that you put up with because at least someone is touching you. Fallout with a best friend because she gets in too deep with a boyfriend that sucks and you can't care for it. Like SORRRYYY those are quite a few parallels to my life in the last year. This is definitely a book I would pick up, and I'm glad I requested it from the publisher.
Recommend to those who enjoyed Dolly Alderton's fictional novels (especially Ghosts - I'd consider this a more immature and creative version of that book (with love)).
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is for a very specific type of person, and that person is not me. With the most male-centred narrator I’ve ever experienced, this book reads like your least favourite coworker holding you hostage at work to explain the details of her miserable love life.
Mika was unhinged and at times funny, but she exhibits one of my least favourite personality types: the TikTok-obsessed Gen Z mid-20s female. Although there was no direct mention of TikTok in the book, Mika uses several buzzwords that have been popular on TikTok in the last year: limerence (as seen in the title), cortisol levels, medium-ugly, old money, female gaze, and many more.
She occasionally has intrusive thoughts, and I skimmed through all of them. They were kind of insufferable to read.
This book isn’t the worst thing I’ve ever read. It does depict modern dating, and I do like the themes of friendship breakups, learning the hard way about situationships, doing meaningless and unfulfilling work, and family dynamics.
The ending is ridiculous and just sounds like a joke to be honest. Spoiler alert:
Mika was unhinged and at times funny, but she exhibits one of my least favourite personality types: the TikTok-obsessed Gen Z mid-20s female. Although there was no direct mention of TikTok in the book, Mika uses several buzzwords that have been popular on TikTok in the last year: limerence (as seen in the title), cortisol levels, medium-ugly, old money, female gaze, and many more.
She occasionally has intrusive thoughts, and I skimmed through all of them. They were kind of insufferable to read.
This book isn’t the worst thing I’ve ever read. It does depict modern dating, and I do like the themes of friendship breakups, learning the hard way about situationships, doing meaningless and unfulfilling work, and family dynamics.
The ending is ridiculous and just sounds like a joke to be honest. Spoiler alert:
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Hello limerence is a first person narrative following Mika, a 24 year old girl living in Tokyo and navigating your typical coming of age dilemmas- friendship, dating, family, and the work place. In terms of plot, there’s not a lot, but once you know this and accept it, then the enjoyment begins. It’s raunchy, funny and often painfully relatable. Sometimes the prose veers into the realm of stream of consciousness and series of one liners, but as I said, once we accept that we’re here for the vibes I found it hard to put down. Mika is not always perfect but she perfectly encapsulates the insecurities of our mid twenties and how that manifests in our relationships be it romantic, familial or with work colleagues. She does grow and mature by the end, maybe not profoundly, but in a way that feels tangible and realistic. This book is perfect for people who are here for the vibes, want something that is light and funny with a touch of heart, and who want to feel those very specific feels of being a woman in your twenties figuring everything out. It may not be for everyone but this ended up being a solid four star read for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Mariner books for the ARC!
February 9, 2026
HELLO, LIMERENCE
RATING: 3.5
GENRE: Fiction
Oh, Mika. To be 25 and young again. Our protagonist is a young woman living in Tokyo and navigating through a tumultuous love life. Let me begin by saying this book is not for everyone - it’s crude at times but refreshingly honest. I find sometimes that females are portrayed as delicate and innocent beings that have no sexual desires. Momo Yamaguchi breaks that stereotype and makes Mika a real girl who has desires, pain, and goes through the ups and downs of the dating world.
I found myself laughing at some of Mika’s antics and admit that I’ve have similar intrusive thoughts as well regarding men I’ve dated. Mika is blunt and does not seem to care about the public’s opinion of her. This strays from the meek image of a Japanese woman - however, do not forget, Mika has spent time into America and has Western influences. She’s Japanese but has experienced America. I think that is why she seems to gravitate towards ex-pats or foreigners.
Overall, a fun and light read. It was refreshing and enjoyable. Thank you to Mariner Books and Netgalley for the ARC. I look forward to more of Momo’s work.
RATING: 3.5
GENRE: Fiction
Oh, Mika. To be 25 and young again. Our protagonist is a young woman living in Tokyo and navigating through a tumultuous love life. Let me begin by saying this book is not for everyone - it’s crude at times but refreshingly honest. I find sometimes that females are portrayed as delicate and innocent beings that have no sexual desires. Momo Yamaguchi breaks that stereotype and makes Mika a real girl who has desires, pain, and goes through the ups and downs of the dating world.
I found myself laughing at some of Mika’s antics and admit that I’ve have similar intrusive thoughts as well regarding men I’ve dated. Mika is blunt and does not seem to care about the public’s opinion of her. This strays from the meek image of a Japanese woman - however, do not forget, Mika has spent time into America and has Western influences. She’s Japanese but has experienced America. I think that is why she seems to gravitate towards ex-pats or foreigners.
Overall, a fun and light read. It was refreshing and enjoyable. Thank you to Mariner Books and Netgalley for the ARC. I look forward to more of Momo’s work.
February 3, 2026
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
Thank you to NetGallery and Mariner publishers for the advanced copy of this book for an honest review!
As someone who enjoys a combination of limerence and women who are unhinged, naturally the summary of the book peaked my interest. But, I soon found out that it would be the only thing that would interest me.
The main character, Mika is perceived to be very distasteful at times where I just had a big fat question mark on my face of confusion of why she would do the thing that she does. All the characters in the book are just overly sexual and have a lack of character that their intense sexuality just makes up for. The plot of this book just felt directionless after 50% of the book. This genuinely isn’t good.
The actions of Mika feels like a person throwing a dart on the board, blindfolded and just agreeing with whatever it lands on. Her character doesn’t feel well thought out or written other than her recklessness and intrusive thoughts.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
Thank you to NetGallery and Mariner publishers for the advanced copy of this book for an honest review!
As someone who enjoys a combination of limerence and women who are unhinged, naturally the summary of the book peaked my interest. But, I soon found out that it would be the only thing that would interest me.
The main character, Mika is perceived to be very distasteful at times where I just had a big fat question mark on my face of confusion of why she would do the thing that she does. All the characters in the book are just overly sexual and have a lack of character that their intense sexuality just makes up for. The plot of this book just felt directionless after 50% of the book. This genuinely isn’t good.
The actions of Mika feels like a person throwing a dart on the board, blindfolded and just agreeing with whatever it lands on. Her character doesn’t feel well thought out or written other than her recklessness and intrusive thoughts.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
February 7, 2026
“I am so very hungry for love.. starving, to be honest.”
*thank you NetGalley for this ARC
We follow Mika on a journey and whew her limerence was reallyyyyy limerencing!
We meet her when she is desperate to lose her virginity and in order to avoid the mundanity of her life creates fantasies and develops super intense crushes. It’s only when she’s invited to a beach party by her popular best friend, she meets someone who she falls into a deeeep state of limerence with.
Total infatuation/obsession/fantasising that takes Mika on an emotional rollercoaster that we see play out through all her experiences.
It kinda felt a jigsaw where I wasn’t given all the pieces 🤣the tone didn’t feel consistent throughout, it would dip then pick up. It also took me a whileeee to get through.
It did feel like an accurate portrayal of limerence with her repetitive constant thoughts. & a real insight into her chaotic life in Tokyo navigating life, friendships, family, work & the overarching feeling of wanting to be loved and wanted.
*thank you NetGalley for this ARC
We follow Mika on a journey and whew her limerence was reallyyyyy limerencing!
We meet her when she is desperate to lose her virginity and in order to avoid the mundanity of her life creates fantasies and develops super intense crushes. It’s only when she’s invited to a beach party by her popular best friend, she meets someone who she falls into a deeeep state of limerence with.
Total infatuation/obsession/fantasising that takes Mika on an emotional rollercoaster that we see play out through all her experiences.
It kinda felt a jigsaw where I wasn’t given all the pieces 🤣the tone didn’t feel consistent throughout, it would dip then pick up. It also took me a whileeee to get through.
It did feel like an accurate portrayal of limerence with her repetitive constant thoughts. & a real insight into her chaotic life in Tokyo navigating life, friendships, family, work & the overarching feeling of wanting to be loved and wanted.
February 18, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Mariner Books for the digital ARC.
Well this was definitely a read. I feel like this book had no boundaries it was the ultimate tmi which at times were comforting because parts of this made me go "woah I'm glad it's a shared experience" and other things, many others things I wish I could unread. Hello, Limerence follows the mind of Mika, a Japanese girl in her mid twenties working a corporate job and navigating love and friendly and just daily life. Parts of this story was very much an accurate depiction of what being a twenty something year old from 2020 to present feels like but the word vomit just goes a little too far where I felt a bit uncomfortable. Maybe I just could not match Mika's freak.
If you're looking for a book with a rambling narrator, someone unlikable yet relatable and very unhinged. This might be a good read to pick up. It's generally an aimless stream of consciousness at times but has a general plot that drives Mika's thoughts and actions.
Well this was definitely a read. I feel like this book had no boundaries it was the ultimate tmi which at times were comforting because parts of this made me go "woah I'm glad it's a shared experience" and other things, many others things I wish I could unread. Hello, Limerence follows the mind of Mika, a Japanese girl in her mid twenties working a corporate job and navigating love and friendly and just daily life. Parts of this story was very much an accurate depiction of what being a twenty something year old from 2020 to present feels like but the word vomit just goes a little too far where I felt a bit uncomfortable. Maybe I just could not match Mika's freak.
If you're looking for a book with a rambling narrator, someone unlikable yet relatable and very unhinged. This might be a good read to pick up. It's generally an aimless stream of consciousness at times but has a general plot that drives Mika's thoughts and actions.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Yeah girl, I remember being 24 too. A perfect portrait of an inexperienced but love-obsessed young woman trying to make sense of the signals she's given. Interspersed with very humorous (and often violent) fantasies, the novel's heroine Mika is one that I think a lot of young women can relate to at some point or another. She puts a lot of stock into the loser men she finds herself in situationships with, only to be disappointed again and again. The narrative voice plays well into this, with a tone that is very conversational and slang-heavy.
I love reading works like this one, because it reminds me that these are universal experiences, no matter where in the world you are. Kudos to Momo Yamaguchi for writing such an enthralling, enchanting book with a lot of heart and even more weird.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love reading works like this one, because it reminds me that these are universal experiences, no matter where in the world you are. Kudos to Momo Yamaguchi for writing such an enthralling, enchanting book with a lot of heart and even more weird.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.*
Hello Limerence follows Mika who is a twenty-five year old virgin. She works in an office and is unsatisfied with her life. It is summer in Tokyo and Mika gets invited to a beach party. At the party she thinks all the men are looking at her hot best friend but a man catches her eye which could be the start of something new.
This had an intriguing beginning and the writing was good but the I did start to lose interest about 30% in. This book is mainly about Mika and the men she has sex with. Some parts felt like they were meant to shock the reader but overall I just think this fell flat. This definitely had potential but it just felt like it did nothing by the end and the ending felt very random. To be truly great, this should have been more unhinged.
Hello Limerence follows Mika who is a twenty-five year old virgin. She works in an office and is unsatisfied with her life. It is summer in Tokyo and Mika gets invited to a beach party. At the party she thinks all the men are looking at her hot best friend but a man catches her eye which could be the start of something new.
This had an intriguing beginning and the writing was good but the I did start to lose interest about 30% in. This book is mainly about Mika and the men she has sex with. Some parts felt like they were meant to shock the reader but overall I just think this fell flat. This definitely had potential but it just felt like it did nothing by the end and the ending felt very random. To be truly great, this should have been more unhinged.
January 30, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I went into this book not knowing what to expect. The book was good and I found the main character amusing. This book is a prime example of an unreliable narrator. Mika is dululu in many ways and I personally found it to be very entertaining to read how she rationalizes and comes to her conclusions about her relationships - both romantic and platonic. Further more, I love how her obsession and fixation on people skirts and toys with her being a stalker, but doesn’t actually cross the line in my opinion. The ending felt a little rushed and maybe a tad bland, but I did find it to be satisfactory.
I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy when it comes out and telling my friends to read it. Overall a fun read and I’m glad to have read it.
I went into this book not knowing what to expect. The book was good and I found the main character amusing. This book is a prime example of an unreliable narrator. Mika is dululu in many ways and I personally found it to be very entertaining to read how she rationalizes and comes to her conclusions about her relationships - both romantic and platonic. Further more, I love how her obsession and fixation on people skirts and toys with her being a stalker, but doesn’t actually cross the line in my opinion. The ending felt a little rushed and maybe a tad bland, but I did find it to be satisfactory.
I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy when it comes out and telling my friends to read it. Overall a fun read and I’m glad to have read it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Oh, how I wanted to like this more than I did 😭
Our main character was so delusional, I couldn't quite believe it? But she also didn't spiral either. So it felt like the same delusions again and again, which quickly became repetitive.
The setting is Japan, but it feels so disconnected from the setting that I almost thought it was the US briefly, or anywhere really.
Sometimes she would do or say things that felt incredibly relatable and real. I'd be sympathising. And then she would return to being an unlikeable character I couldn't click with.
The ending was an interesting choice and probably the best thing about the novel, but by the end of this I don't think I got anything from the reading experience.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy.
Our main character was so delusional, I couldn't quite believe it? But she also didn't spiral either. So it felt like the same delusions again and again, which quickly became repetitive.
The setting is Japan, but it feels so disconnected from the setting that I almost thought it was the US briefly, or anywhere really.
Sometimes she would do or say things that felt incredibly relatable and real. I'd be sympathising. And then she would return to being an unlikeable character I couldn't click with.
The ending was an interesting choice and probably the best thing about the novel, but by the end of this I don't think I got anything from the reading experience.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I will rate this 4 Stars due to imaginative and comical writing of Momo Yamaguchi. The reference to fleabag is what had me dying to read this. And I can imagine this book will really do well if turned into a show about Mika and her intrusive thoughts, obsession (limerence) with her crush (at times crushes) under the guise of loyalty. There are still inflections of serious historical/cultural events hidden under funny banter unmasking racial or sexist bias that I found enjoyable. As purely a book, the readers are introduced to a plot but it doesn’t pick up much steam but we are certainly left with a thought in the back of our mind at the end, is Mika really going to keep this up? or is she still in limerence?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Mika is a woman in her mid-twenties living in Tokyo, struggling to balance a corporate career, a social life, and a deep well of emotional repression. She is a fascinating dichotomy of arrogance and inferiority; I spent most of the book thinking, “Oh no, Mika,” as if watching a friend who refuses to learn from her mistakes.
The prose can be quite crude: I’ll admit to "clutching my pearls" and looking around to ensure no one saw what I was reading! While Mika can be unlikable at times, I never stopped rooting for her. The story sits in that strange, compelling space between crass and sweet.
I don’t know how I feel about the ending, but overall, it’s a solid 3.5 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Momo Yamaguchi, and Mariner Books for the ARC.
The prose can be quite crude: I’ll admit to "clutching my pearls" and looking around to ensure no one saw what I was reading! While Mika can be unlikable at times, I never stopped rooting for her. The story sits in that strange, compelling space between crass and sweet.
I don’t know how I feel about the ending, but overall, it’s a solid 3.5 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Momo Yamaguchi, and Mariner Books for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was unlike anything I'd read before. I'd read sartire before. But, this was a little different. I found the MC Mika to be hilarious. Not sure if that's how I was supposed to take her. But, her caustic outlook and the way she navigates her life (draining job, men, and her "terminal" dreaded virginity) made for an entertaining read.
I also just learned what limerence was over the past year or two. It was nice to finally put a name to those feelings.
I liked Momo's writing style, the vivid descriptions and Mika's musing and thoughts. This book was honest. While the ending was slightly abrupt, I'd read Momo Yamaguchi's work again any time.
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.
I also just learned what limerence was over the past year or two. It was nice to finally put a name to those feelings.
I liked Momo's writing style, the vivid descriptions and Mika's musing and thoughts. This book was honest. While the ending was slightly abrupt, I'd read Momo Yamaguchi's work again any time.
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had such high hopes. The premise seemed like it would be just the kind of story I'd like.
I usually like these weirdo girl protagonists but Mikako's chronically online dialect irks me. I was drawn to the story thinking she would be a loser, underdog but she's a functioning working woman who just gets no play. Till the story starts and she suddenly does...?
At least the ending was sweet.
This book will resonate with someone else.
Thank you to Harper Collins and Mariner Books for the Advanced Review Copy.
I usually like these weirdo girl protagonists but Mikako's chronically online dialect irks me. I was drawn to the story thinking she would be a loser, underdog but she's a functioning working woman who just gets no play. Till the story starts and she suddenly does...?
At least the ending was sweet.
This book will resonate with someone else.
Thank you to Harper Collins and Mariner Books for the Advanced Review Copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a romp through the mind of a young Japanese professional as she endures misogyny at her humdrum workplace and the highs and lows (mostly lows) of dating terrible men. At no point would I have guessed the direction this would take. There isn’t really a solid plot, it’s more character-driven which I usually don’t mind but this is about a 25 year old looking for love and I just didn’t really care for it.
For people who like terrible, self-aware narrators and novels about love, sex, and friendship.
For people who like terrible, self-aware narrators and novels about love, sex, and friendship.
February 16, 2026
(Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the ARC) Mika is one of those delusional baddies yelling “EXAAAAACCCTTTLLLYYY” to herself after saying something absolutely wild and illogical. Does this book have a plot? Not really. Did I have a good time? Well yes!
Mika is a corporate, socially awkward 25 year old in Tokyo simply trying her best. Between the soul sucking job, commitment-phobe men and friends lost to relationships the author paints a modern portrait of early/mid twenties I could definitely relate to. I think it’s what ‘Banal Nightmare’ was trying to be.
Mika is a corporate, socially awkward 25 year old in Tokyo simply trying her best. Between the soul sucking job, commitment-phobe men and friends lost to relationships the author paints a modern portrait of early/mid twenties I could definitely relate to. I think it’s what ‘Banal Nightmare’ was trying to be.
February 18, 2026
2.75-3 stars, I had difficulty with this one to be honest. I really loved the premise, I love a delusional main character who just continuously feeds into their own delusions and just keeps going crazy from there, however I didn’t love the execution. It felt like I was reading a short story collection with a very similar theme rather than one continuous story. It all just felt a bit disjointed and confusing for me.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
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