I am nearing the end of the Read Harder challenge, with this being the fourth last book to read (a translated book written or translated by a woman).

I mainly picked it up as it was recommended on the Goodreads’ forum and it sounded interesting.

In general, it was a relatively light read, very quick to whip through. I basically read it in two sittings, on my commute to and from work today (with about 15 minutes to finish it when I got home.) It’s pleasant enough, but I’m not sure what the fuss was all about.

The plot revolves Keiko, who lives in Tokyo and works at a convenient store. I don’t want to label her as not neurotypical (as she doesn’t herself) but she clearly doesn’t fit the traditional role of a woman in that society. She loves working at the convenience store, but everyone around her thinks she should be more normal: get a husband, get a different job.

She tries to put off the growing pressure by letting a former employee live in her flat, and pretend to be her boyfriend. He is a right twat, very Men’s Rights Activist, who was completely disagreeable. But as soon as she implied they were a couple, she was suddenly seen as appropriate, even when they thought her choice of partner was less than to be desired.

He was awful, like wanting to sponge off her while insulting her. Ugh. Horrible.

Anyway, it is uplifting at the end because she just throws off the pretence of wanting to fit in, realising that she wants/needs to work at a convenient store. She tells the MRA twat off and he leaves in disgust.

It was perfectly pleasant, but I just don’t get why it’s so popular.

The end.