A review by notlee
All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami

emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A study on interiority, Kawakami’s All the Lovers in the Night is at times a slow (but never boring) reflection on the ways that societal expectations affect people. If you are expecting a romance, you may be disappointed — there is virtually no romance until halfway through the story, and even when it is there it is understated — but if you keep your mind open you are in for a delightful story about womanhood, friendship, and anxiety.

Though this story didn’t always hit the mark with me, I found myself engaged with the characters throughout. The last fifty pages or so were a real standout. A beautiful read.
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