What do you think?
Win a free print copy of this book!
9 days and 17:16:19
25 copies available
U.S. only
Weeb: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 1 Apr 27Win a free print copy of this book!
9 days and 17:16:19
25 copies available
U.S. only
A recent college grad moves to Tokyo in pursuit of her all-consuming anime obsession, in a darkly humorous debut for fans of Colored Television and Big Swiss.
Having recently graduated from a prestigious university, a young woman who goes by Rina moves to Tokyo to complete academic research and tutor English on the side. But this is mostly a front for her true Kagami, the cerebral master alchemist from her favorite anime.
But Rina isn’t like other weebs. With fluent language skills, a racially ambiguous face, and an invented name, she can almost pass as part Japanese. She has meticulously studied Japanese culture, its colonial history, the particularities of its customs and linguistics; she is ambitious, calculating, clever. The only thing that feels real to Rina about herself is her devotion to Kagami. She will do whatever she can to have what she the purest possible experience of him—and, specifically, of his voice, which belongs to a middle-aged voice actor named Fujimoto Fumitaka. With help from her secretly Taiwanese idol-in-training neighbor, the eerily perfect child influencer she tutors, her favorite fan art creator, and an astute hairdresser, Rina infiltrates the Japanese entertainment industry, though the results are not what she expects.
Whip-smart, irreverent, and audaciously satirical, Weeb captures the glittering magical energy of a cult anime, alongside a piercing commentary on race, appropriation, and belonging. As proficient in online fandom as it is in cultural theory, this is a tantalizing, provocative quest that unravels how our desires define and derange us.
Having recently graduated from a prestigious university, a young woman who goes by Rina moves to Tokyo to complete academic research and tutor English on the side. But this is mostly a front for her true Kagami, the cerebral master alchemist from her favorite anime.
But Rina isn’t like other weebs. With fluent language skills, a racially ambiguous face, and an invented name, she can almost pass as part Japanese. She has meticulously studied Japanese culture, its colonial history, the particularities of its customs and linguistics; she is ambitious, calculating, clever. The only thing that feels real to Rina about herself is her devotion to Kagami. She will do whatever she can to have what she the purest possible experience of him—and, specifically, of his voice, which belongs to a middle-aged voice actor named Fujimoto Fumitaka. With help from her secretly Taiwanese idol-in-training neighbor, the eerily perfect child influencer she tutors, her favorite fan art creator, and an astute hairdresser, Rina infiltrates the Japanese entertainment industry, though the results are not what she expects.
Whip-smart, irreverent, and audaciously satirical, Weeb captures the glittering magical energy of a cult anime, alongside a piercing commentary on race, appropriation, and belonging. As proficient in online fandom as it is in cultural theory, this is a tantalizing, provocative quest that unravels how our desires define and derange us.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 1, 2027
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 27, 2026
Weeb is fascinating, uncomfortable, and surprisingly funny! Largely about fandom, language, identity, and the strange ways people try to build their lives and image.
The book is deeply interested in linguistic nuance, Japanese culture, parasocial relationships, and the complexity and confusion of sexuality and Rina’s desperate desire to belong. She has spent years mastering the language and immersing herself in the culture, yet she remains painfully aware that she does not blend in. She sees herself as an academic, NOT a fangirl. She sees herself as someone serious and discerning, above the cheap commonness of other fans. That tension makes the novel feel less like a story about fandom and more like a story about assimilation and the often nefarious desire to erase the parts of yourself that mark you as an outsider.
The novel also engages with a very modern fandom dilemma: can art be separated from the artist?
I’ll admit the book was a little slow to start, but once it found its rhythm I was completely on board. The dark, bone-dry humor with Rina’s increasingly odd behavior and opaque motivations worked for me. I never quite knew what her next move would be, and following her through the story was half the fun.
The writing is intelligent without feeling showy, and the character work is sharp. I saw a blurb comparing this to Big Swiss, and having recently read that novel, I can confirm. More than once, I found myself thinking of Greta while reading WEEB.
A strange, smart, and subtlety funny novel. Thanks to NetGalley and to Henry Holt & Company for the advance readers copy!
The book is deeply interested in linguistic nuance, Japanese culture, parasocial relationships, and the complexity and confusion of sexuality and Rina’s desperate desire to belong. She has spent years mastering the language and immersing herself in the culture, yet she remains painfully aware that she does not blend in. She sees herself as an academic, NOT a fangirl. She sees herself as someone serious and discerning, above the cheap commonness of other fans. That tension makes the novel feel less like a story about fandom and more like a story about assimilation and the often nefarious desire to erase the parts of yourself that mark you as an outsider.
The novel also engages with a very modern fandom dilemma: can art be separated from the artist?
I’ll admit the book was a little slow to start, but once it found its rhythm I was completely on board. The dark, bone-dry humor with Rina’s increasingly odd behavior and opaque motivations worked for me. I never quite knew what her next move would be, and following her through the story was half the fun.
The writing is intelligent without feeling showy, and the character work is sharp. I saw a blurb comparing this to Big Swiss, and having recently read that novel, I can confirm. More than once, I found myself thinking of Greta while reading WEEB.
A strange, smart, and subtlety funny novel. Thanks to NetGalley and to Henry Holt & Company for the advance readers copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what Weeb is about. It can be placed in different categories, but not one thing exclusively. A woman of ambiguous heritage, the main character, who uses the pseudonym Rina, has always felt like an outsider and wants to belong. Having mastered the Japanese language in college, Rina travels to Japan as an “academic.” A mere weeaboo she is not. Rina is obsessed with an anime, and in particular the character of Kagami, and by proxy the character’s voice actor. When Rina crosses the line from fan to fanatic, she is met with a rude awakening. This weighs heavy on her psyche and she struggles with her new reality.
The story diverges from a typical storytelling format. We are introduced to the characters, but there isn’t really one main conflict, and I didn’t really feel a sense of conclusion. I also wondered why certain characters were featured, but not fully fleshed out. The dialogue that took place exclusively in Rina’s head also took me a while to figure out.
The parts of the book I really enjoyed was reading about Japan. There was so much of the culture that those of us who live in the western world might not understand, and I loved that the book dove head first into explaining some of those parts of the culture. It truly seems homogeneous in the sense that you could be born and raised there, but unless both of your parents are born and raised and full blooded Japanese, you may be “othered,” or considered an outsider. Although Rina spoke as fluently as a native, there were tell tale signs that she wasn’t fooling anyone of her being Japanese. One observation was so painfully and crudely pointed out I cringed for her.
In conclusion, I really did enjoy this book and would recommend to anyone interested in Japanese culture or “weird girl literature.” Thank you to Henry Holt and Co, and to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed Lin King’s *Weeb* overall, even though I struggled with the pacing at times. I found many parts fascinating, especially how it explores identity and belonging.
The main question of who gets to be considered "Japanese" runs throughout the novel, but it's approached from different perspectives. Our protagonist is a BIPOC American of non-Asian descent who has immersed herself in Japanese language and culture, believing that knowledge and dedication might be enough to bridge the gap. Meanwhile, her love interest is Taiwanese but was raised in Japan, offering a completely different view on identity and acceptance.
The book also explores Japanese entertainment culture, fandom, parasocial relationships, social media, and how obsession can shape a person's sense of self. In some ways, it reminded me of *Yellowface* by R.F. Kuang—not because the plots are alike, but because both novels ask tough questions about identity, authenticity, appropriation, and who gets to claim a culture. What truly defines identity? Desire? Knowledge? Heritage? Lived experience? There are no simple answers, and I appreciated that the novel leaves those tensions unresolved.
The pacing sometimes slowed down, and some sections felt longer than necessary. But even then, I was so engaged with the ideas the novel was exploring that I never lost interest. The protagonist isn't always likable, but she's compelling, and contrasting her struggles with her lover’s adds important depth and context. Overall, I found this to be a fascinating, thought-provoking debut that has a lot to say about fandom, culture, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.
Thanks to Henry Holt and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The main question of who gets to be considered "Japanese" runs throughout the novel, but it's approached from different perspectives. Our protagonist is a BIPOC American of non-Asian descent who has immersed herself in Japanese language and culture, believing that knowledge and dedication might be enough to bridge the gap. Meanwhile, her love interest is Taiwanese but was raised in Japan, offering a completely different view on identity and acceptance.
The book also explores Japanese entertainment culture, fandom, parasocial relationships, social media, and how obsession can shape a person's sense of self. In some ways, it reminded me of *Yellowface* by R.F. Kuang—not because the plots are alike, but because both novels ask tough questions about identity, authenticity, appropriation, and who gets to claim a culture. What truly defines identity? Desire? Knowledge? Heritage? Lived experience? There are no simple answers, and I appreciated that the novel leaves those tensions unresolved.
The pacing sometimes slowed down, and some sections felt longer than necessary. But even then, I was so engaged with the ideas the novel was exploring that I never lost interest. The protagonist isn't always likable, but she's compelling, and contrasting her struggles with her lover’s adds important depth and context. Overall, I found this to be a fascinating, thought-provoking debut that has a lot to say about fandom, culture, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.
Thanks to Henry Holt and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5
I was so excited to read this based on the description, and this was such a fun read! (Not to brag but I read it on the shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka 💅)
TL;DR
-This book is probably best enjoyed by people with some prior knowledge of Japan.
-It's fast paced. I finished it in 2 sittings, and the plot doesn't really lag anywhere
-Woman gets a little unhinged, but she's not totally disconnected from reality
-Not perfect but perfect for me
In many ways Weeb is such a niche book but also has themes that can resonate even with readers who aren't that familiar with Japan.
Having studied Japanese for a long time and lived in Japan, Rina's experiences as a foreigner in Japan really resonated with me. This book is a lot about fandom, which I'm far less familiar with, but I think King faithfully captured Japanese fan culture. Rina's character is highly analytical and through her POV the reader can learn a lot about Japanese language, translation, and of course pop culture, particularly about fandoms surrounding manga, anime, and voice actors.
I am a huge fan of books about women unraveling and Weeb definitely scratched that itch. Although I wouldn't quite classify it as an Unhinged Woman Book™️, it's definitely weird lit.
Thanks to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was so excited to read this based on the description, and this was such a fun read! (Not to brag but I read it on the shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka 💅)
TL;DR
-This book is probably best enjoyed by people with some prior knowledge of Japan.
-It's fast paced. I finished it in 2 sittings, and the plot doesn't really lag anywhere
-Woman gets a little unhinged, but she's not totally disconnected from reality
-Not perfect but perfect for me
In many ways Weeb is such a niche book but also has themes that can resonate even with readers who aren't that familiar with Japan.
Having studied Japanese for a long time and lived in Japan, Rina's experiences as a foreigner in Japan really resonated with me. This book is a lot about fandom, which I'm far less familiar with, but I think King faithfully captured Japanese fan culture. Rina's character is highly analytical and through her POV the reader can learn a lot about Japanese language, translation, and of course pop culture, particularly about fandoms surrounding manga, anime, and voice actors.
I am a huge fan of books about women unraveling and Weeb definitely scratched that itch. Although I wouldn't quite classify it as an Unhinged Woman Book™️, it's definitely weird lit.
Thanks to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, NetGalley, for the e-ARC!
I'm always a sucker for weird fiction, and what I call "girl-fail" literature, so when I read the description for this book, I HAD to read it.
Weeb by Lin Kang follows Rina, a woman of ambiguous heritage, as she lives in Japan after moving there to complete her academic research and do some tutoring on the side. However, once she arrives, it becomes clearer that her passions lie more with an anime character, Kagami, and, in turn, the voice actor for that character. Fans of books such as "Y/N" and "Yellowface" will appreciate its exploration of idol worship and obsession from questionable/delusional female protagonists.
As I've mentioned, the book covers a lot of topics, from fandoms and parasocial relationships to Japanese imperialism/colonialism and the dark side of the entertainment industry. And the writing is, chef's kiss, when it comes to really setting the mood for this book. Whether it's Rina being painfully cringe in her fixation on becoming more Japanese and, in turn, flexing her "knowledge," or setting up the devastation when digital relationships leak into the real world, Weeb is a strangely fun satire to read.
⅘ stars.
I'm always a sucker for weird fiction, and what I call "girl-fail" literature, so when I read the description for this book, I HAD to read it.
Weeb by Lin Kang follows Rina, a woman of ambiguous heritage, as she lives in Japan after moving there to complete her academic research and do some tutoring on the side. However, once she arrives, it becomes clearer that her passions lie more with an anime character, Kagami, and, in turn, the voice actor for that character. Fans of books such as "Y/N" and "Yellowface" will appreciate its exploration of idol worship and obsession from questionable/delusional female protagonists.
As I've mentioned, the book covers a lot of topics, from fandoms and parasocial relationships to Japanese imperialism/colonialism and the dark side of the entertainment industry. And the writing is, chef's kiss, when it comes to really setting the mood for this book. Whether it's Rina being painfully cringe in her fixation on becoming more Japanese and, in turn, flexing her "knowledge," or setting up the devastation when digital relationships leak into the real world, Weeb is a strangely fun satire to read.
⅘ stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i love fictional stories that teach me new things, and having traveled to japan certainly helped me contextualize Weeb in ways i may not have fully understood or appreciated otherwise. this is probably what drove my rating up to 4 stars -- to me, the beginning of this book started out strong and engaging before diverting into manga-mania territory where it read a little too much like Superfan, and i didn't love it. the ending wrapped up nicely, but i'm not even sure the story itself is what drew me in. i think i liked this book because of it's anthropological look at japanese media culture and how Rina experiences it as a slightly unhinged American-born "wannabe" (Weeb). thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is both an extraordinary and startling book. The writer is obviously extremely talented.
Now then, I am definitely not the target reader. I'm 70 years old. Thus, yes, startling to read a book like this. However, in one way I AM a target reader and that is because I lived in Japan for 13 years and speak and read Japanese pretty fluently. So what I can say is that I very much admired the linguistic aspects of the book. The author got it exactly right.
I know something of anime and manga and that whole world. Now I know more. The story seems quite plausible to me and there are so many aspects to the characters that give them great depth and potential. It is also the kind of book that you might want to re-read for anything missed the first go around because it has that much depth. I think this book is going to go places!
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. How could I give it anything less than five stars?
Now then, I am definitely not the target reader. I'm 70 years old. Thus, yes, startling to read a book like this. However, in one way I AM a target reader and that is because I lived in Japan for 13 years and speak and read Japanese pretty fluently. So what I can say is that I very much admired the linguistic aspects of the book. The author got it exactly right.
I know something of anime and manga and that whole world. Now I know more. The story seems quite plausible to me and there are so many aspects to the characters that give them great depth and potential. It is also the kind of book that you might want to re-read for anything missed the first go around because it has that much depth. I think this book is going to go places!
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. How could I give it anything less than five stars?
September 21, 2026
I loved and devoured this book. The perspective of Weeb's narrator, Rina, was so interesting. I loved getting to read about her interactions while living in Tokyo, and especially her inner monologue (I loved all the cultural and linguistic insights). I could relate to her obsessive fangirling, and found her experiences with identity and passing/not passing as Japanese (along with those of other characters) so thoughtfully executed. So thankful to the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to be an early reader of the e-arc. I can't wait to purchase a copy once it's available in print. (Side note, I already had Taiwan Travelogue on my radar, but now that I realize Lin King was its translator, it's shot to the top of my reading list.)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Weeb feels like a (slightly uncomfortable at times) love letter to fandom layered in with intentionally problematic fetishization of Japan and the need to belong. Our main character is wildly intelligent and it's clear based on the amount of info dumping on language and social positioning as she chases her goals.
I'm left wondering if I could have ever imagined how this could end. I'm neither satisfied or dissatisfied. And I suppose that makes it a good litfic read... It feels like something stuck in my teeth that I'll be poking at and trying to get unstuck for quite some time.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'm left wondering if I could have ever imagined how this could end. I'm neither satisfied or dissatisfied. And I suppose that makes it a good litfic read... It feels like something stuck in my teeth that I'll be poking at and trying to get unstuck for quite some time.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really had a good time with this one. I loved the way the story is told, almost in an analytic minded way, but it is a story about a lot of mushy, psychological things. The characters were interesting and I learned a lot of about the Asian-American experience and what it is like to live in Japan. The way this book is written, I felt like I was in Japan with the characters and having their experiences. I could see the main character’s vibe not being for every reader, but it worked for me. A joy to read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.
This book fell at a weird intersection for me. On one hand it really highlights the westernization and frankly sexualization of Japanese culture in American and how that looks when westerners try to assimilate into Japanese society. On the other it felt like it was trying to be an opEd through a fiction story and just felt strange to me. Plus the open ending didn't help with that, a buttoned up ending would have helped.
This book fell at a weird intersection for me. On one hand it really highlights the westernization and frankly sexualization of Japanese culture in American and how that looks when westerners try to assimilate into Japanese society. On the other it felt like it was trying to be an opEd through a fiction story and just felt strange to me. Plus the open ending didn't help with that, a buttoned up ending would have helped.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was a fascinating window into the life of an American who is obsessed with Japan/Japanese culture. The main character is uncomfortable, funny, and a bit difficult to predict. It had a slow start, but once it picked up it felt like I was flying towards the end. I didn’t love how open-ended the ending was, but I understand that this story isn’t one that could be cleanly wrapped up. Overall a fun and interesting read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review 2 come :-)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An American going by the name Rina has moved to Japan under the guise of background research for a Graduate thesis, but she is really just obsessed with a specific character in an anime series. She pretends to be part Japanese in attempts to assimilate and finds herself going deeper into the lie and the path is takes her down. There is a lot of discussion of linguistics and culture. Ended on a kind of open note and didn't wrap things up as much as I would have liked. Overall an enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews