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A review by nylz
All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is a sad girl book to its core and I: Ate. It. Up.
Do not read this book if you need a plot, because this book is mainly vibes and emotions, which is exactly the point. It reflects the main character and how she chooses to live her life perfectly.
The book starts out very distant from our main character Fuyuko and her life. You get a glimpse behind her mundane and dreary life every now and then but everything is happening very slowly. The distance grows smaller the further you get into the book and you start to learn about Fuyukos past and trauma and what made her the person we get to know.
A lot of summaries focus on the developing relationship with Mitsutsuka, but in my opinion this book is about so much more than this “love story”. It’s about the importance of friendships that value you for who you are and not for the version that they want you to be, about the difference between being alone and being lonely, how you have to stay true to yourself and not change for anyone but yourself, and how you past is a part of you but doesn’t define you.
This book felt like a warm hug and a kick in the guts, it was wholesome and emotional and frustrating and sad. Mieko Kawakami crafted a story so delicate and nuanced you won’t be able to forget about it. Her writing is incredibly accessible while being poetic and simply beautiful.
Easily one of the best books i’ve ever read.
Do not read this book if you need a plot, because this book is mainly vibes and emotions, which is exactly the point. It reflects the main character and how she chooses to live her life perfectly.
The book starts out very distant from our main character Fuyuko and her life. You get a glimpse behind her mundane and dreary life every now and then but everything is happening very slowly. The distance grows smaller the further you get into the book and you start to learn about Fuyukos past and trauma and what made her the person we get to know.
A lot of summaries focus on the developing relationship with Mitsutsuka, but in my opinion this book is about so much more than this “love story”. It’s about the importance of friendships that value you for who you are and not for the version that they want you to be, about the difference between being alone and being lonely, how you have to stay true to yourself and not change for anyone but yourself, and how you past is a part of you but doesn’t define you.
This book felt like a warm hug and a kick in the guts, it was wholesome and emotional and frustrating and sad. Mieko Kawakami crafted a story so delicate and nuanced you won’t be able to forget about it. Her writing is incredibly accessible while being poetic and simply beautiful.
Easily one of the best books i’ve ever read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Rape
Minor: Eating disorder