Hollow Inside

by Asako Otani, Ginny Tapley Takemori (Translator)

A witty, deadpan novel about modern relationships, pets, and living as a single woman; for fans of Sayaka Murata, offbeat humor, and sharp social observation

In this skewed, mordantly funny Japanese novel, two women navigate aging and relationships in divergent ways.

Hirai, 38, has recently started living with her colleague Suganuma, 42. Both women are single and feel ambivalent at best about the prospect of marriage. Stuck in bland jobs that don’t pay enough for them to afford one-bedroom apartments in the city, they defy social expectation and create their own domestic routines, allowing space for Suganuma’s side-hustle—3D-printing figurines of beloved dead pets for their grieving owners.

Though initially united by their resistance to romantic love, the pair begin tentative forays toward partnership. Suganuma strikes up a secret affair, which shocks Hirai into action and back into the world of dating apps. As she drifts through painfully adequate dates and endures intrusive questions at office socials, Hirai frets over whether she really needs to freeze her eggs again. In a dating world sapped of genuine connection, where can she turn to feel less hollow?

The debut novel by a bright new voice in Japanese fiction, Hollow Inside won the prestigious Subaru Prize. With a dark, deadpan tone and sharply witty observation, Asako Otani satirizes the myths and pressures of contemporary romantic love, as Hirai and Suganuma try to chart their own paths in a precarious world.

Genres: Fiction, Japan, Japanese Literature, Literary Fiction, Asia, Translated Fiction, Novella

Kindle Edition

First published February 3, 2023

Reviews

[Laubythesea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lástima la corrección a la traducción y de estilo que le falta :(

[lecturas_niponas · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐️
Me encanta como esté libro testimonia la generación de mujeres que deciden mantenerse solteras.
Tanto con las incertidumbres y convicciones que llevan esa decisión pero no sin evidenciar la culpa de sentir que hay algo en nosotras que no es normal y necesita ser cuestionado.
Creo que es un libro que dialoga muy bien con Pechos y huevos de Mieko Kawakami. En lo personal, Nada dentro me resultó con una fluidez mucho más amigable, puede deberse a la comparación de páginas entre uno y otro.
Una pluma sutil, directa pero nada brusca, sin dudas volvería a leer a Asako Otani.

[Readergirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A curious commentary on life, where society meets the self.

I fell asleep and awoke to the wonderful life inside this book. We follow the life, the passions, desires or lack thereof of Hirai. A woman in her near-forties, she isn't lost. She has her life panned out, go to work and come home to her flatmate, Saganuma (which seems to be the only odd part of her life, living with another woman).

There are a lot of themes to get snagged up on here. The integration of the lives of celebrities to ourselves is one of the most prominent ones. The way how we let them into our life or how much we want their lives into our lives. We form a specific image of them, decorate it, adorn it with our expectations. We blatantly project on them, our feelings, our reflections. And then we are broken when they don't live up to it. We wish we hadn't even know what they had done to break the picture-perfect image of them we have in our heads.

Repulsion or confusion to sexuality
A running theme is Hirai's apparent repulsion to males. It's a realistic reflection a lot of people face everyday. The constant confusion about the glaring WHY they don't want to be in a relationship. The questions they ask themselves - am I even capable of a relationship? This particular theme really drew me in. Drew Hirai alive from just words on the sheet to a real person.

And lastly, the want of a child. Another running theme is how she wants a child. So badly it refuses to listen to her reason of reality and circumstances. The want even she can't put a finger on why she wants one except it being a projection of society's expectation and it being the logical next step planned for her by the community.

All these themes form an amalgamation of the crude and raw reality of today, being different, and feeling hollow inside.

"I'm the sort of person who can't fall in love."

"My baby. Hollow inside, misshapen, defective. It was perfect for me."

⋆⭒˚𖠋𖠋𖠋*.⋆⋆⭒˚𖠋𖠋𖠋*.⋆⋆⭒˚𖠋𖠋𖠋*.⋆⋆⭒˚𖠋𖠋𖠋*.⋆⋆⭒˚𖠋𖠋𖠋*.⋆

𐦂𖨆𐀪𖠋𝓹𝓻𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭
Looking forward to a short social satire, that leaves me questioning the real meaning of a society and people.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the eARC of the book.

[Michela · Rating 5 out of 5]

MASTERPIECE MASTERPIECE MASTERPIECE!

It’s always the random tiktok recs that end up being the most incredible reads for me.

This was like a combination of all the most perfect contemporary Japanese authors (Sayaka Murata, Rin Usami, Kikuko Tsumura, Junko Takase, etc) and their themes, but also it focused on different facets of the human experience (being in your 40s, not following societal conventions, female friendships in your 40s, asexuality, loneliness).

I’m shocked this is a debut, and so grateful I’ve read it for January in Japan.

Will be recommending it nonstop!

[Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Nothing in this world had anything to do with me.”

This short novel is for the women who feel like their time will never come and who may need to hear that maybe it won't.

We move through the world as Hirai, a 38-year old woman working a boring office job who has recently moved in with her 42-year old female colleague. Uncomfortable with living with another woman at this stage of her life, Hirai drifts through her days with quiet unease, navigating a mundane routine while slowly coming to terms with both her present and her future.

She worries about what others think of her living situation. She worries about marriage, about her ability to love a man. She worries about having children as she moves further and further from the "ideal age of motherhood". Throughout it all, she just feels hollow inside no matter what.

Is there an answer to her fears, or are marriage and motherhood simply names we give to hope?

I read this in one sitting and really enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure what to make of Hollow Inside. It feels less like a structured story than a snapshot of two characters.

Hirai and Suganuma are flat mates. Hirai has a boring office job, isn't interested in marriage but has frozen her eggs just in case she wants a child but time may be running out. When she learns that Suganuma is seeing someone she resolves to try dating again in case Suganuma leaves.

Suganuma is a strange character who makes replicas of pets using a 3D printer. When she offers Hirai a special birthday present, Hirai's request takes her by surprise.

The story doesn't particularly go anywhere and feels like we just dropped in and then dropped out of these women's lives to see how ordinary people live.

It was difficult to be enthusiastic about it. If you like short stories that don't particularly go anywhere then you'll enjoy this.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for the digital review copy.

[ubarna ✿ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Hollow Inside focuses on how societal expectations around marriage and children can affect someone’s thoughts even when they don’t actually want those things. I really loved the overall ambience of the book, especially being inside Hirai’s head and following her constant stream of what-ifs and maybes. I did wish the friendship between Hirai and Suganuma had been developed more, since it felt slightly under-explored. The ending also felt a bit abrupt and left me wanting slightly more. Overall, it was a solid and enjoyable read, even if it wasn’t particularly memorable for me.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Le iba a dar tres estrellas, pero la edición tiene demasiados errores ortotipográficos y algunas decisiones de la traducción son, cuanto menos, cuestionables, que le he quitado una.

[Bella Azam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short read but raised great questions on sexuality, expectations on marriage & relationship, also on motherhood.

Full RTC

Thank u to Edelweiss and Pushkin Press for the review copy

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short, just okay read, in my opinion… though I’m wondering if it’s because of the book itself or the marketing for said book. It was billed as something fans of Sayaka Murata would enjoy, but aside from the main character being someone who doesn’t necessarily conform to society’s expectations when it comes to dating and marriage, I don’t see the likeness. Murata very intentionally often makes the reader feel deeply uncomfortable while tackling societal norms and taboos, where this book skimmed the surface of the main character’s life. Aside from an odd fixation on the logo from her colleague’s polo shirt, I don’t feel like we really got enough character depth to really understand or relate to her.

There were so many threads we could have followed that probably would have made the book more enjoyable for me, especially because some of the themes brought up were really interesting. Some of these include societal pressure to raise a family, friends in problematic relationships, and the desire to find a new job while also understanding the safety that can be found in settling for the mundane).

I really wish we’d learned more about her strained relationship with her mum to the aversion she has to her stepfather, her pondering her identity as she comes to terms with the fact that she doesn’t want to date but also doesn’t want to be lonely, or even the dynamic with her odd flatmate. It feels like the main character didn’t really do much introspection, which means that we as the reader weren’t able to really know her.

Maybe that was the point?

All in all, I didn’t dislike the book, but I also didn’t feel like it told a really unique or thought-provoking story. That being said, if you’ve never tried Japanese literature before, you might have a totally different perspective and may learn something about the culture or experiences as laid out in the book!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the advanced ebook!

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

A tale of non conformity and the uncertainty of being different in a society that values sameness almost to the level of virtuousness.

This is a short story of the realities of being a late thirties woman, childfree and single, in the marriage and family focused Japan. And while I appreciate these kinds of stories and usually enjoy them. Hollow Inside felt like it added nothing new to the genre.

And partly I feel like the advertising this book received is part of the problem. Advertised on NetGalley as for fans of Sayaka Murata, I kept waiting for this book to get weird or have some kind of reality shifting twist and it never came.

I also felt frustrated with the way the author spent so much time analysing the shirt of our MC’s coworker. With how short this book is, it felt like we were wasting words focusing on some truly unimpressive details that have nothing to do with the story.

Ultimately I thought this book was fine, there was nothing wrong with it but it also gave me nothing new and ultimately it’ll be forgettable by the end of the year.

2.75

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two single women in Tokyo navigate work, friendship, and the pressure to date and settle down, while questioning whether they actually want the lives society expects of them.

For such a short and quiet story, this spoke very loudly. I thought it was fantastic, full of personality and humour while still tackling important themes.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Para mí es un 3.5
Me la he leído en un solo día, es una historia ligera y cotidiana. Me ha gustado porque se entiende (y se vive) la incomodidad de la protagonista tal y como lo describe la autora. Al principio me ha parecido curioso que en Japón sea algo inusual que dos mujeres alrededor de los 40 se planteen no casarse, compartir piso juntas y la (no)maternidad. Luego he caído en que en realidad aquí aún hay muchas personas que lo ven algo "demasiado" progresista. Trata también sobre la asexualidad, un tema del que se habla y trata poco en general. El final me ha gustado por lo inesperado, raro y original.

[Suki J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In this translated Japanese novella we follow Hirai, a woman in her late 30s who decides to move in with Suganuma, her female friend in her 40s.
Neither woman is interested in the idea of a romantic relationship with a man, although they feel continual pressure from their families and the people around them.
As the story progresses they question their own attitudes and what they really want.

I found this an interesting look into societal expectations, tackled in a gently funny and quirky way, and it reminded me a little of Convenience Store Woman.
I'm happy to have found another Japanese author to watch out for, this was great.

[LX · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much for the e-arc!

3.5

I liked how this questions the expectations of women. Women are supposed to get married and have babies to many people and society still pushes that idea. The stigma non-married, childless women get is beyond flabbergasted for someone who just wants to live their own life the way they want, not what is expected of them.

Also would say some representation of being asexual which again gets the discussion on expectations of people.

How this is written to express the above and put that forward was great but the ending just left me wanting just something a tad more, for my own taste of course!

[brokebookmountain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading Hollow Inside on my phone in the standing zone near the barricade, waiting for Magdalena Bay — a great artist, progressive and experimental but in the best way possible — to perform for their concert at my university. I know: it sounds pretentious and performative, but I was just too bored to be standing there doing nothing, and I went to the concert alone so I had nobody to talk to. And since I wasn't in the mood to make conversation with strangers, I thought I'd read a couple pages just to have something to get my mind off the dreadful tedium of waiting.

They arrived 30 minutes later, but it did not feel that long because I was so absorbed in this book. Honestly, the artist and concert have little to do with the book, I just wanted to make a point on how Otani successfully weaves a dull premise — two 40-somethings women started a life of platonic cohabitation for each other's companionship — into an engrossing tale on marriage, sexuality, and the dilemma of having or not having a child. I was truly into the story and finished it the same day I read it.

The writing reminds me of Nanae Aoyama and Mieko Kawakami — Hollow Inside is definitely reminiscent of All the Lovers in the Night — in that Otani writes in an unassuming manner, but sprinkled in the book are lines that just swept me off the floor, making me reflect and think about marriage, parenthood, and whether society's normal is something one wants to partake in or not.

Instead of the question of coerced conformity i.e. society pressures you to get married and have children à la Convenience Store Woman, Otani brings up the question of personal desires vs social pressures, and how the line between those two might be more of a gray area than one thinks. Are your personal desires truly personal, or were they influenced by social pressures and familial trauma? Is choosing to have children or to get married means that you are surrendering to societal standards? Hirai's dilemma on marriage felt personally relatable, especially her views on how she personally doesn't see marriage as the be-all and end-all in life.

The pressures of society and the judgements they have towards actions that they deem abnormal are still very much present in the narrative, but it is not as haunting as the what-ifs, the fear and anxiety one might have on making the decision itself to not conform. The fear of regretting your choices and the guilt of throwing it all away is the emphasis in this story, which has always been something that haunts me when I think about my own personal choice to opt out of marriage and parenthood (I'm not completely closed off to the option, but I don't hold it much value either). I ended up loving it, even though it isn't a life-changing book. Sometimes a good book is a book that just gets you.

I found the second half of the book to be more interesting than the first half, but overall it is still a thought-provoking, poignant read. The ending where we see Hirai becoming content with the 3D-printed dud baby instead of a real one is really a very smart callback to the whole story of the 3D-printed dead chihuahua being "hollow inside". Even if it's not what society wants, it is still a life Hirai cherishes, a life where she can choose to not be with a man and to not have children. Maybe a life of choosing yourself over society would be a choice of potential loneliness and isolation, but at least it's a choice you truly value and believe in, rather than a choice that will eat away at your soul, wondering if maybe, just maybe, you had chosen yourself.

4 ⭐️

Thank you to Edelweiss and Pushkin Press for the review copy!

[em · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting commentary on womanhood, motherhood, and what it means to belong in society. Although a short story, this still conveyed important themes and the questions around being a modern, working woman. A great read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #HollowInside #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Simone McCue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hollow Inside is a quietly brilliant, deeply human story that stayed with me long after I finished reading. Through Hirai’s everyday life — her work, friendships, dating missteps, and the subtle weight of societal expectations — Otani captures that strange, hollow feeling many of us carry as adults trying to figure out what “fulfillment” is supposed to look like.

The writing is understated yet sharp, blending deadpan humour with moments of surprising tenderness. The characters feel achingly real in their imperfections, and I loved how the story sits in the small, mundane moments that end up meaning the most.

What truly stood out was how gently this book explores loneliness, connection, and the freedom that comes with choosing your own version of happiness — without ever being loud or preachy. Short, poignant, and emotionally resonant, this was an easy 5/5 for me and a must-read for fans of quiet, introspective Japanese literature.

Thank you NetGalley and Steerforth & Pushkin for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was short enough to read in one sitting and I’m still deciding whether that helped or hurt my experience.

Intentionally quiet, observational fiction can be hit or miss for me. The kind of story that doesn't explode but reflects because it pays attention to routine, character interiors, and expectation. Hollow Inside has all of that on the surface with 38 year-old Hirai who's drifting through adulthood under the weight of what women are expected to want (marriage, children, a "normal" timeline). I understood the commentary and could see the themes.

But I never felt it. The emotional thread stayed just out of reach for me, even when I thought, near the end, I was almost there. Maybe it's timing, I have been sick and I'm coming off a 5-star Irish horror high, so the contrast between immersion and distance was sharp. Maybe it's that I've been struggling to find my footing with literary fiction this year. It's thoughtful enough, but I just didn't connect as deeply as I expected to.

[Ankur Goyal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story revolves around two central characters, Hirai, a 38 year old woman, and Suganuma, a 42 year old woman, whose lives quietly unfold in ways that feel deeply real and relatable. Through their experiences, the author beautifully shows the struggles of life: the uncertainties, the emotional pauses, and the small yet significant moments that make adulthood enriching yet challenging. Their innocent friendship becomes a gentle anchor, making it easier to deal with life’s unpredictability and unspoken pain. The narrative reminds us that life is not linear; it moves in fragments, setbacks, and unexpected connections. This is how fiction should be written, not to offer dramatic resolutions, but to reflect life as it truly is: messy, tender, and quietly meaningful.

[Earn Napas · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to NetGalley & Pushkin Press for the e-ARC*

This is a sharp, highly readable novella that I flew through in one sitting.

The central idea isn’t particularly original, yet Asako Otani presents it well. While the brevity means the characters don’t get the depth or development they might have in a longer work, they still come across as vivid, believable, and oddly memorable—impressive given the length. The pacing is also excellent, making every page feel purposeful and engaging.

I will admit that from the blurb, I was skeptical that a book this short will be able to discuss the issues suggested well enough. Boy, I’m happy I was wrong.

There are no loose threads here: every idea introduced is neatly tied up by the end, which gives the story a satisfying sense of completeness. I particularly love how it ended, it really summed up the whole personality/humor of this book.

Overall, this is a well-executed, very readable book that knows exactly what it wants to do—and does it well. I genuinely enjoyed it. My only complaint is that I wish it’s longer.

[aster ❦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

eARC from netgalley

i would recommend this book to fans of female experience oriented japanese literature. a la mieko kawakami’s breast and eggs + all the lovers in the night

it’s short, sweet, and gets its themes across nicely. because it’s so short i don’t have so much more to say about it other than that i enjoyed it lol. it’s a nice one sitting kind of read. i wish they explored her obvious lesbianism lol and some of the other plot threads would make an interesting long form novel; however, this book was only meant to be a glimpse into hiromi’s life, so i understand why they didn’t. i also liked how simple and plain the prose was, pointing out the every day things. really grounded the story and helped the themes, but it’s also something many might not like

i really liked the final paragraph, it’s nice to see one of these motherhood books ending differently

[Ina Groovie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sin ser una apasionada por la literatura japonesa, me he ido acercando cada vez más a esta. Per debo confesar que probablemente esta novela breve me resonó más porque se siente occidental en muchas formas. Una pareja de amigas en sus 40s deciden compartir departamento por varias razones (desde económicas a emocionales) y un evento parasocial con un idol de su juventud renueva las preguntas a medio dormir: ¿soy suficiente? ¿Soy vista? Maternidad, pareja, trabajo, valor personal y vacíos se atan fuerte hasta que la novela se abre en una corta y esperable revelación.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received via NetGalley & Pushkin Press

A quick, descriptive novel that centers around a working woman in Tokyo & her flatmate as she explores her relationship with herself and others. In this immersive narration, our protagonist encounters many situations where she is called to continually question her plans for her future. This novel provides insightful commentary on how female friendship, romantic relationships, and the potential of motherhood play a profound role in many women's lives in Japan. Would definitely recommend!

[Aida · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a darkly funny story about two single women, Hirai (38) and Suganuma (42), who decide to live together as roommates. The book follows them as they navigate work, getting older, and the constant pressure from society about love and marriage, especially how people find it strange for women their age to be living together.

It’s a very short book, and I ended up finishing it in one sitting because it was so good. There isn’t a huge dramatic plot; you’re simply following these two women as they try to figure out life.

I really loved it. I felt every emotion the characters went through. It definitely won’t be the last time reading for this author.

[Phu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cuốn sách này khiến mình nhớ về những tác phẩm cùng chủ đề của Sayaka Murata.
Khai thác nhân vật mắc kẹt dưới áp lực và kỳ vọng của xã hội, đồng thời khắc họa cuộc sống cô đơn và khó khăn của xã hội hiện đại. Dễ đọc và dễ hiểu, nhưng đôi lúc lại dễ đoán và có nhiều chi tiết đáng để được khai thác sâu hơn.

[Soph ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd little book about the pressure put on women by society to marry and have children. Whilst I enjoyed plodding along with this slow little story I can't say that it's necessarily one that will stick with me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this one.

[Gemalli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rápido, breve pero interesante en su planteamiento de la asexualidad. Poco se habla de aquello, especialmente en obras literarias.

No es mi típico tipo de lectura, pero no se me hizo tedioso en ningún momento.

[lee_readsbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short novel ended up being one of the most relatable reads I’ve had this year. The protagonist feels repulsed by men but still longs for companionship and the possibility of having a child. As an asexual reader, I found her inner world deeply recognisable. A quiet, introspective book about loneliness, connection, and the many forms family can take.

[Ignacia Devia Jara · Rating 2 out of 5]

creo que es un buen libro, pero conecté cero