Even though is a short book, it felt too long. Lots of negativity too. Ginko's character was very nice, in comparison with Chizu who I couldn't stand throughout this story. Also, the story in itself didn't sa anything to me, to be honest. Translation is really good, though!

Chizu's mum is off to China for a teaching gig, so she leaves her daughter with Ginko who's an elderly lady (lives with her cats) and is a family friend/distant relative. At first things seem awkward and Chizu tries to find her feet, at 20 she's decided to drop studying And get a job (or two) to become independent. After a fresh breakup she meets Fujima who works at the same station she does, as their relationship progresses, she feels resentment and bitter towards life in general. She hasn't been able to secure a stable relationship with anyone, she feels everyone around just leaves her. She starts to question her self worth and her life. Spanning across an entire year, we follow Chizu as she navigates her way through what we call life, and questions certain aspects, from love to what's the point of living.

Honestly I was so disappointed with this read. I found Chizo to be morbid, rude, and it's like she's always moaning about something, She's very negative. Her perspective of life is such. She can't seem to see anyone be happy around her If she's not feeling happy and content with her own life and she's always making digs at Ginko, for no apparent reason. It's just toxic behavior. Ginko is such a lovely character though, All throughout the time Chizu is with her, she just wants to help her, and Chizu does nothing to better herself or find out more about Ginko's life. Personally, I felt like there wasn't anything extraordinary about this story, and I couldn't really connect with Chizu, it also seemed to go on a bit, I'm sure it could have been an even shorter read. Won't lie, I feel as if I have to read something a bit more 'happy' after reading this and it just didn't sit well with me, which is so unfortunate. On a positive note: the end 15% was the best part of the book.

As Chizu's mother is moving to China for work, she opts to move to Tokyo, where she moves in with Ginko, a distant relative in her 70s that she has never met before.

This was such a quick, interesting read. I really enjoyed the writing, the translation flowed pretty easily and it was a fun way to pass a morning. It felt claustrophobic in the best way possible, giving such a relatable portray of what being in your 20s and trying to navigate through life can feel like. I really loved the most genuine interactions between Chizu and Ginko, and I felt like they added such an interesting, somewhat heartwarming layer to the story. To its core, it's a glimpse into a year of someone's life as they try to make sense of it all, and I absolutely loved that.

Many many thanks to Quercus Books & Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Chizu’s mother is moving to China to work. At 21 Chizu is old enough to choose not to go with her, she wants to move to Tokyo. She moves in with Ginko, a distant relative in her 70s that she hasn’t met.

This is a story about a year in Chizu’s life, where she lives with the elderly Ginko and nothing much really happens. It’s a reflection of life, Chizu works part time jobs, has relationships and is flawed. It’s got a claustrophobic feeling to it, it’s well written (and translated from the original Japanese) and reflects the minutiae of life. That feeling of not knowing what you want to do, the feeling of not fitting in. But did I enjoy it? Sort of, it’s a different kind of book than I’d normally read.

Short and sweet, this book chronicles a year through the 4 seasons, of Chizu’s first year in Tokyo. She moves in with Ginko, a woman in her 70s who is indifferent to her at first. Although nothing actually happens in the book, it’s written in a way that feels perfectly stifling and claustrophobic, which I think captures being in your early 20s in the most authentic way. I saw a lot of myself in Chizu and her struggles with the world and I particularly enjoyed hers and Ginko’s more sincere interactions.

A Perfect Day to be Alone by Nanae Aoyama blew me away utterly and completely. I really enjoy translated fiction as it opens up the opportunity to hear global voices and provides a deeper insight into different cultures. I have travelled extensively so enjoy these voices greatly

The publisher would like the full review closer to the release date of 9 May 2024 so for now, let me just say, bravo, absolutely outstanding

Thank you to Netgalley, Quercus Books, MacLehose Press and the author Nanae Aoyama for this outstanding ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

A Perfect Day to be Alone is a read that is interesting as a psychological study of the main character and her experiences moving to the big city, looking for something from life without really knowing what she seeks. However, it also follows one of the trends of contemporary Japanese literature in that not a lot happens. If you are looking for a book with a deep and winding plot, this is not for you, but I would recommend it to readers who enjoy more introspective works as it offers a thoughtful portrayal of the transition into adulthood. I am giving it 4 stars.

(My review will go live on my blog and on Goodreads (at the links below) and social media on 29 April 2024, as per your preference to hold reviews until 3 weeks prior to release date.)

Beautiful book. Gorgeous cover that matches the lovely heartwarming uplifting plot. Will make you smile on a dull day. Anything cat is a must for me so this book with its cast of cats and lovely sentiment was joy to read