Reviews with content warning for Bullying - All the Lovers in the Night

. i was not expecting to like this one as much as i did because of how i felt about kawakami’s other novels. i definitely will be recommending this one!

Content Warnings

sakisreads's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

✨ Thrifted ✨

I wish I liked this book more 😫 ‘Breasts and Eggs’ and ‘Heaven’ were brilliant books so I had high hopes for ‘All the Lovers in the Night’. Unfortunately, those weren’t met 🥲

Mieko Kawakami’s writing is undoubtedly amazing. Her human-ness shines through and I am always a big fan of very realistic characters. However, some of the time I felt like both the characters and plot dragged and I had to pull myself through 😫

3 out of 5 stars for me on this one, thank you ✨

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cecereads__'s review against another edition

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4.0

When first getting into it, I worried that it would be overly descriptive and slow, and I did initially find it hard to reach for it/wanting to keep going.
However, I did have very high expectations but the latter half-ish really came together so well in my experience of it. I thought it was written so well and with such relatability and heart. You get to reflect on life through the life lived on the pages and the interactions (both real, imagined and the ones that were passed by).
I definitely recommend this - and there is such a thing as a right time, and both you and this book deserves that

Content Warnings

sho73's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed this less than breasts and eggs
The real strength of the book lies in the last 30 pages
Kawakami has an incredible skill for dissecting people in such a short amount of pages
The relationship between main character and Hijime is what really resounded with me
The transition through our main character healing happens fluidly, sometimes it feels like swimming through murky waters and sometimes a clear fresh spring

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seaoftranquility's review against another edition

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4.0

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edgaranjapoe's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

lk3ssaf's review against another edition

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Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I really like the way Kawakami explores women, their flawed characters, and their relationships with others. The depressive period that Irie went through, her awareness of her passiveness and inability to fix it, and even the moments where she threw all her clothes out to keep Hijiri's instead, are all so real and filled with the nuances that are present in real life.

At some point, near the end, Irie's obsession with Mutsutsuka probably truly was love. When Irie was at the lowest point however, unable to work, drinking all day to numb her emotions, her attachment to Mutsutsuka was a clear sign of depression. To cling onto the only thing that brings you any happiness, and to form an obsession with it is a coping mechanism.

I've noticed that both books by this author that I've read included women in their 30s and up, single mothers, strong interpersonal female relationships, and a fulfilling ending (or the potential for one) for the main character without ever ending up in a relationship.

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