This was a nice book and generally you want things to be better than nice, but in this case I think it is entirely part of its charm. The whole genteel ‘nice’ feeling of the book is very Japanese and suits the mood and the characters well. I loved that Mizuki used British slang and “Like ponds of spunk” had me guffawing out loud nearly waking my sleeping husband. That said, as Mizuki has only ever lived in Japan and the USA it did stand out a bit that the author would know these terms but Mizuki wouldn’t.
It is rare as readers that we get to know what modern Japanese life is like. So often any Japanese novel is set during WWII or way back in the times of the Geishas, learning about high rise living, the nightlife of Tokyo and the ever present risk of earthquakes was really enjoyable and in some cases incredibly relatable. Children are the same the world over and Mizuki’s feelings about and day to day living with her children was completely relatable. I have a daughter a similar age to Eri so the backpack with a thousand dangling charms had me laughing.
This novel also takes the age old story of the extra marital affair and doesn’t take it to the same conclusion as so many other writers. I won’t elaborate for risk of leaving spoilers but I do feel that Itami handled it well. After all, the novel is about Mizuki and the affair was a symptom of the problem and not the problem itself.
I recommend this book if you are a reader who doesn’t need urgent, plot driven constant excitement. This is a gentle read that speaks of the lives of so many women the world over.

Fault Lines by Emily Itami is a fun and short read. Itami's dry humor brought to mind Naoise Dolan's Exciting Times, but, thankfully for me at least, Fault Lines proved to be a much more engaging story.
Our narrator is Mizuki a Japanese housewife who is becoming increasingly tired by the monotony of her daily life. Her husband is a workaholic who pays her little to notice, and her looking after her children is no easy feat. Similarly to Yūko Tsushima's Territory of Light, Fault Lines examines the pressure Japanese society puts on women to be perfect wives and mothers.
Mizuki often feels inadequate, especially when comparing herself to other housewives. Yet, she doesn't really want her life to be wholly devoted to her husband and children. She blames some of her attitude on her time in America, where she went first as a student and then to pursue a career as a singer. The more overlooked she feels by her husband the more Mizuki longs for the freedom she enjoyed prior to her marriage.
On a night out with her friends, quite by chance, she meets Kiyoshi. Mizuki feels once again seen and worthy of attention. Kiyoshi and her begin to spend more and more time together, and as they get to know each other their attraction grows.

Mizuki is a very witty narrator and the novel's biggest strength. Her voice is amusing and her deadpan humor and asides make her story all the more compelling. I did find her at times to be incongruously Britsh. She uses terms like 'knob', 'wanker', and 'fag' (as opposed to cigarette), and it seemed a bit of an odd choice (I understand that the novel is written in English but it still broke the story's spell).

I really liked the novel's sense of place and Mizuki's insights into Tokyo and Japanese society.
The 'will they/won't they' affair turned out to be a bit disappointing. There is quite a build-up to Kiyoshi and Mizuki's relationship with him, but when we do eventually meet him...I don't know. He never really grabbed me and I wish his character had been a bit more fleshed out. He functions as a bit of a plot device, someone that makes Mizuki re-assess her married life. The children were incredibly annoying so much so that they dampened my enjoyment of the story.

Overall, Fault Lines proved to be a surprisingly funny and refreshing read and I look forward to whatever Itami will write next.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to review this brilliant-sounding book.

I only review hardcopies and made the epic error of thinking NetGalley did both forms. Apologies for the inconvenience, and obviously if you're happy to send actually copies, I'd love to hear from you. Best regards,

Fault Lines by Emily Itami is about a Japanese wife and mother who is unhappy in her life and her relationship.