Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - Fault Lines

I wanted more from this book. It had an interesting premise, and the prose was nice, but most of the characters seemed a bit flat and it felt like the author was doing more telling than showing, to use a writing cliché, which isn't my preferred writing style. The story did pick up in the last 50-ish pages or so, and I liked how the

earthquake

scene made Mizuki reevaluate her life and her decisions. I'm not sure if we're supposed to be happy or sad for her by the end, though, and there's something interesting about that ambiguity.

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adrienneleigh's review against another edition

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emotional reflective 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

4.5

I loved the descriptions of Tokyo–the buildings, the parks, and, oh my, the food! I liked the main character’s voice and understood her choices. It just so happens that I read Wedding Toasts I’ll Never Give last week, and Fault Lines had some similar observations about marriage and the realization that choosing one path means giving up on others. And while reading Above Ground, I couldn’t help noticing that both authors have similar perspectives on parenting young children–the tedium, the frustrations, the moments of perfect joy. Hooray for accidental flight picks!

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carlyjoann's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.0

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katja24's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

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emmajewish's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective fast-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

5.0

"What are we, apart from the story we tell ourselves and other people?"
I didn't know what to expect when I started listening to this book, but I was quickly dragged into Mizuki's life as soon as the story started. I felt Mizuki's struggle to be present for her children, her husband, and even herself. Sometimes we want to escape this life by living another. This book shows how living a double life can feel...and how life's fault lines often force us to move toward what matters.

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