Storygraph | Bookshop.org

Keiko is 36 years old. She’s never had a boyfriend, and she’s been working in the same supermarket for eighteen years.
Keiko’s family wishes she’d get a proper job. Her friends wonder why she won’t get married.
But Keiko knows what makes her happy, and she’s not going to let anyone come between her and her convenience store…

I’ve had this book for a while and just wasn’t sure why I hadn’t picked it up. It’s quite a short book and interested me at the time of picking it up, so I decided to finally read it.

This isn’t the kind of book that I would really say I enjoyed reading, but I found it very intriguing to read. It is quite strange and a little odd, but is a very interesting societal study. It is kind of visceral and honest in a way, and holds nothing back in terms of looking at internal thoughts and feelings our main character, Keiko.

I found the concept of this really interesting, and definitely found it relatable in some aspects. Although I am not necessarily feeling ‘stuck’ in a job or another aspect of my life, I think this book does a good job of discussing how all of our lives vary and we are all combatting societal ‘norms’. Having worked several retail jobs in my life, I did also find some of the more day-to-day aspects relatable.

I did find some of this story, including the characters, quite infuriating. However, I can appreciate how well-written even these aspects of the book were. Overall, some mixed thoughts and feelings here, and I do struggle with not being able to say I necessarily ‘enjoyed’ a book.

★★★
3 out of 5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽

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