Flo sees herself ‘as a bridge between cultures. She becomes entranced by a book she reads and wants to find the author for permission to translate it into English. We are privy to this story within a story, and the characters feel just as real. The sparse poetry of the language shines through, in this clever thoughtful book. It reminds me of Kasuo Ishiguro in some respects. The ordinary mixes with the unlikely as fact and fiction are blurred lines, and the everyday can be seen on a much deeper level. It is relevant that this all takes place in the region of Hiroshima, with the devastating consequences of the atom bomb attack there in the 1940s, marking the clashing of a more traditional life with the new more western ways. The references to the seasons and the natural world have a distinctly Japanese feel, and I loved all the illustrations and explanations of meaning in the symbols and sayings, many very similar to the English.
This is definitely a book to read again. I will certainly be buying it as a gift. I loved it.

I very much enjoyed this book, it was the first I had read by Nick Bradley. I know very little about Japanese culture and thought it would be a different type of story for me. Flo, is an American living in Japan, translating Japanese to English. She was researching the lives of Kyo and Ayoka. They were well written. I particularly liked Kyo and felt sorry for him as he was sent to stay with his grandmother in a remote village. His mother remained in Tokyo. I found myself wanting to know more all the time and I liked the way the story tied in with the seasons . The ending almost finished to soon as I wanted to know which path Kyo took. I was in fact surprised by the epilogue as I was not expecting that outcome. I highly recommend this book to all.

Four Seasons in Japan is a gentle novel with a satisfying book-within-a-book vibe – a two for one of sorts.

Read it if: you like coming of age stories.

Don’t read it if: you hate cats.

This is the first Nick Bradley book I’ve read, although his debut, The Cat and the City was a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick so I may have to try that next. It tells the story of Flo, a literary translator of Japanese novels who’s at a crossroads in her career and personal relationship. When she finds a novel on the train, she decides to translate it to try and overcome some of her creative blocks. As she translates, she “shows” the reader lengthy sections, inviting them to experience a wonderful coming of age story where a nineteen year old boy spends a year with his grandmother. The story resonates with Flo so much, she becomes hellbent on finding the author.

Some have said that there’s not enough of Flo in this novel and that the book-within-the-book takes over, but I disagree, I found it quite lovely to be passed back and forth between stories. As someone who hasn’t read much translated fiction, I also loved the insight into that process and the delicate balance of remaining true to the original whilst wanting to make it your own.

Thanks for Transworld and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought the descriptions in this book were just lovely, and the writer showed a true appreciation for a nation and its people. The pacing was a little slow for me, but I think that's just based upon my own preference in books and not to do with the author especially.

Flo is struggling with a break up. She is a translator from America, living in Japan, translating from Japanese to English.
She finds a book ‘The sound of water’ and decides to translate it.
Four seasons in Japan is a book set in a book, we read about Flo’s challenges but also about Kyo who’s been sent from Tokyo to cram school because he didn’t get the grades to go to medical school, he’s staying with his grandmother, Ayako, in Onomichi.
The characters are well formed and I reached a point when I liked them all, both those in the story and those in the book in the book!
Very clever, I really enjoyed it. It brought Japan to life to me and has made me want to visit.

This is a bit different. A book within a fictional book. It develops slowly and it's peppered with characters who are frustrating in the extreme, Flo and Ayako, especially Ayako- she's an absolute monster. I've learnt a lot and I was invested in Kyo's welfare but I wouldn't say I was blown away by the whole thing.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for review!

Slight bias: I've spent a few years in Japan and miss it. I studied abroad in Tokyo and took a holiday to Onomichi and cycled over the famous cycle route there. It was a beautiful city and added to the story for me as I could picture it. This book feeds the part of me that enjoys the nostalgic feeling that Japanese fiction gives me.

At first, I expected to relate most to Flo, especially as the foreigner in the book. The opening scene of her feeling lost and dreamless in Tokyo is a familiar feeling. Despite this, I found myself more captured by Ayako and Kyo's story more. Ayako is a harsh Grandmother but honestly loves her grandson, and I enjoyed reading about her attempts to connect to him when his culture is different to her own. I loved her practical way of thinking and how she pulled him into her routine. Watching the different activities as the seasons passed worked wonderfully. I'm going to enjoy recommending this to my customers,

I was given an ARC to review via Netgalley. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #FourSeasonsInJapan #NickBradley #NetGalley #ARCReview #GeneralFiction #BookReview

I read The Cat and The City finally at the start of this year and while I had high hopes for it I found that I did not like it as much as I thought I might. I think it was that my expectations were different to what the book offered and while it was no means bad it just wasn’t what I envisioned with a few aspects that fell into the ‘stereotypical’ Japanese, well stereotypes. That said I didn’t HATE it by any means and when I heard that Bradley had a new book coming out I was interested to see what it had in store.

Four Seasons in Japan follows Flo, an American translator, in Japan who is suffering from a crisis of confidence. Everything seems to be going wrong for her until she finds a mysterious book left by a fellow passenger on the Tokyo Subway. As Flo begins to read she is transformed and feels compelled to translate this forgotten novel. It is a story about Ayako, a strict old woman who runs a coffee shop in a rural town where she has taken guardianship of her grandson Kyo. Haunted by an extreme loss and long buried family tragedy both are closed off and feel unable to open up to each other. Flo follows the characters across the year in the town, through ups and downs and suddenly she realises she must find the author to seek permission to translate the work. Slowly as the two protagonists seemingly reveal to have more in common with her life than she thought the line between text and translator begin to blur and her journey begins.

I have to say I did prefer this one to The Cat and The City once again I preferred reading about Ayako and Kyo to Flo. I don’t know what it is but something about Flo I just cannot gel with. I am unsure why because she is by no means a poorly written character or not fleshed out it’s just something I cannot put my finger on. That said I enjoyed the concept of this being a book within a book. That we are simultaneously learning about the translator and the translation. It is a unique style which Bradley pulls off well.

The style is easy to read and sometimes beautifully written. I am not sure it captures the full sense of Japanese fiction but it is a very close pastiche which is done very well. I think this was my first issue going into Bradley’s first book, I was expecting a more Japanese style novel and while elements were there it was clearly a westerners take on the Japanese style. Knowing this and expecting it this time I found myself enjoying this novel much more than its predecessor. If you enjoy tales of discovery and finding your place in the world this one is sure to be something you will enjoy, set against the backdrop of the seasonal changes in Japan there are some beautiful descriptions and moments within.

This novel follows the lives on three main characters across different timelines. Flo lives in the bustling modern city of Tokyo - she is surrounded by people and friends but feels increasingly disconnected. Kyo and Ayako live in a rural village and each has their own challenges and stories to tell.

The writing in this book is gentle and beautiful. The scenery and descriptions of life made me feel like I was right there in Japan.

The way Nick Bradley combines the two separate stories is so clever and seamless. The characters are well written and the writing really brings them to life.

A stunning book

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to review an ARC copy.

Four Seasons in Japan is a book-within-a-book, this is done by having our main character Flo find a book in Japanese, a translator by trade, she decides to take it on as a project. Flo is stuck in a rut, her relationship is ending and she's trying to get out of a funk. Ayako, is the main character of the book Flo is translating. Ayako is a "fierce and strict old woman who runs a coffee shop in the small town of Onomichi, where she has just taken guardianship of her grandson, Kyo". Flo spends Four Seasons in Japan trying to translate Ayako' book and searching for the author.

Bradley does a wonderful job of writing about Japanese culture and use of the Japanese language as someone who has never been to Japan this book made me feel apart of the culture and improved my understanding the culture.

Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Doubleday for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have read a few novels set in Japan this year and I love reading about the descriptions of life in Japan which is what drew me to Four Seasons in Japan.I loved reading about Kyo and his relationship with his grandmother Ayako. Flo, the American translator however, was not a character I was drawn to initially, I found her rather irritating!!!
That said, this was a wonderful read for the bank holiday weekend.

This was such a beautifully captivating read. Plot-wise, not a lot really happens in terms of events. But there was so much intrigue in the characters and their relationships with each other, that the story was really gripping throughout. The writing was so beautiful and felt like reading a piece of Japanese literature in terms of the style. I love books within books and this was so cleverly and interestingly done!

This book-within-a-book novel follows the lives of three characters: Flo - the translator, Kyo - the lost boy, and Ayako - the grandma.

Flo finds a book left behind on the Tokyo’s underground and immediately gets into its story, trying to translate it into English and publish it abroad. She does everything in her power to try and find the mysterious author of the novel, whilst falling in love with the book itself. The book talks about Kyo, a 19-yo boy who has just failed his exams and was sent to live with his grandma in the rural Japan. Although their relationships starts off coolly, as Kyo has to heavily readjust to his current living situation, both him and his grandma Ayako learn new things from each other.

Nick Bradley wrote an incredible love-letter-to-Japan novel. The mentions of places, train lines and even customs made me feel like I was back in Japan. He did an incredible job at explaining some of the traditions and sayings in Japanese, which can make the read easy even for someone who knows nothing about Japan.

The author’s ability to write two separate stories and combine them together in a seamless manner is incredible. The ‘mysterious book’ chapters are written in a way that could make on believe it was written by a Japanese person, while the ‘real life’ chapters have a slightly more western feel to them. Nick can also describe the surroundings in a way which feels like you’re right there.

This love letter to Japan is about love, loss, grief, loneliness, being lost and not knowing what to do next. The characters are well written, the writing is vivid, the story-line is complex but not over complicated.

I highly recommend.

ad: thank you NetGalley and Doubleday for my ARC. It was a pleasure to read this book.

A beautiful story that paints a descriptive picture of Japan. Interesting characters and I did like the relationships however I did find it quite hard going at points due to my expectations. Overall an enjoyable read.

I mostly enjoyed reading this story within a story.
I wasn’t impressed with Flo but I loved reading about Kyo and his grandmother Ayako.
It was lovely to read about their relationship and to learn a bit about Japan.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book ahead of its release!

This was my first Nick Bradley read, and to be honest it wasn’t for me. I struggled to get into it and found it a bit confusing. The writing is beautiful though, and I know a lot of people will love this book! It just wasn’t my cup of tea.

A beautiful story, confused me a little initially but I loved reading about Japan, its culture and the people! Found the relationship between grandson and grandmother a little strained initially, but the more the seasons went on, the more their relationship blossomed.

Not going to lie, I was close to DNF early on. It took me a while to get into it but once I got going, I realised why.

This is because I had zero interest in Flo's storyline and I was focused on her work translating a book narrating the story of Kyo and his grandmother Ayako. That story is what hold my interest to the very end, as it was quite wholesome. I didn't like Flo at all, I found that character quite annoying, to be honest. Kyo and Ayako's relationship was nice to see develop and heal old traumas.

I also really enjoyed the description of Japanese scenery, as I visited Japan years ago so it brought back memories.

I loved the setting for this story, as it really brings rural Japan sharply into focus. It is written from the point of view of Flo, a translator who works in Tokyo. She is disappointed with her work and relationships but she makes an unexpected discovery when a drunk salary man lurches off the last train leaving a book in his seat. Flo takes the book and is immediately immersed in the story, which she begins translating from Japanese to English. From this point on, Flo's life becomes intertwined with the main characters in the book, the strictly obedient student Kyo, who has failed his entrance exams for medical school and must retake them, and his grandmother, a rather fearsome old lady who lost finger and toes when she climbed a mountain in a blizzard.
Flo becomes so bound up in Kyo and Ayako's lives that her own life is put on hold and it is rather late in the day when she remembers she has to actually find the author of this book and ask permission to translate it, officially.
The book covers many themes, most notably loss and love, both of which take several guises, depending on the character involved. Gradually Flo begins to realise that there are lot of comparisons between her life and those of the characters in the story and she has to be brave and take the final step for herself.
What I loved most about Four Seasons in Japan are the descriptions of life in Japan. Having lived there, I know several coffee shops like the one by Ayako, that you wonder in the days of Starbucks and other chains, how they survive. The references to and descriptions of the seasons are beautiful which in Japanese life are coupled with various ceremonies and holidays. The food, the clothing, the trains and the saki are all so familiar and I love the wood block style illustrations of Ayako's garden seen through the shoji doors.
So why haven't I given this book five stars since I enjoyed reading it so much? That is the point - I did enjoy reading it so much that I found the ending rather a disappointment. I'm not sure quite what I was expecting, but sadly it didn't match up with my expectations.
But a beautiful read, covering some serious themes and a journey very much enjoyed.
With thanks to Netgalley and Transworld, Penguin Random House for an arc copy and a chance to review this book in return for honest comments.

'Four Seasons in Japan' by Nick Bradley is a truly remarkable and captivating novel that deserves nothing less than five stars. From the moment I started reading this book, I’ve got mesmerized by its story, I was immediately transported into a world of self-discovery, heart-wrenching emotions, and the power of human connections.

The story revolves around Flo, a protagonist who finds herself at a crossroads in life. The author masterfully portrays Flo's struggle with a crisis of confidence, stagnant work, and a fading relationship in Tokyo. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a mysterious book left behind on the Tokyo Subway. From that point forward, Flo's life becomes intertwined with the captivating tale of Ayako, an old woman in the small town of Onomichi, and her grandson, Kyo.

Bradley skillfully weaves together the narratives of Flo, Ayako, and Kyo across a year in rural Japan. Through his vivid descriptions and keen observations, the author immerses the reader in the ups and downs of the characters' lives, making their experiences feel incredibly real and relatable. The struggles, losses, and hidden tragedies they face evoke a profound sense of empathy and understanding.

What sets 'Four Seasons in Japan' apart is the seamless blending of the fictional world and Flo's own reality. As Flo delves deeper into the book and its translation, she begins to realize that her own life is intricately connected to the characters she is discovering.

Nick Bradley's writing is extraordinary. He has a remarkable talent for painting vivid pictures with words, capturing the nuances of emotions in a breathtaking manner. Whether it's the bustling streets of Tokyo or the serene landscapes of rural Japan, his descriptions bring each scene to life.

'Four Seasons in Japan' is a book that leaves a lasting impression. It is about universal themes of love, loss, self-discovery, and the profound impact of human connections. Additionally, I must mention that 'Four Seasons in Japan' was so captivating that I found myself unable to put the book down. The enthralling narrative and the compelling characters held me captive from the very first page, and I devoured the entire book in just two days. It is a testament to Nick Bradley's skill as a storyteller that he crafted a tale so irresistible that it consumed my thoughts and time. This book is a true page-turner, and I guarantee that once you start reading, you won't be able to resist the urge to go ahead to the very end.

I received an electronic ARC courtesy of NetGalley, the author and the publisher.