春宵苦短，少女前進吧！

by Tomihiko Morimi, 森見登美彥, 劉姿君 (Translator)

2009年日本最多人在讀他的書，
他，是最不正經的天才──森見登美彥！

「會讓人讀著讀著噗哧發笑的，
只有森見登美彥才辦得到啊！」

電波系少女盈盈含笑，
純情宅男哀嘆：「愛妳在心裡口難開……」，
月色迷人，酒香撲鼻，
且看他要如何展開一場夜夜夜迷的求愛大作戰？！

「我」對天真瀾漫的黑髮學妹一見鍾情，便自喻為「黑髮學妹的背影世界權威」，在京都「春天夜晚的熱鬧酒街」、「夏季午後的舊書市集」、「秋天熱鬧失控的學園祭」、「冬日感冒之神活躍的河原町」，癡心追隨她的身影。

然而求愛之路上，各路搞怪天兵紛紛來攪局，有號稱「天狗」的奇異男子、住在華麗三層電車上的怪老人「李白」，還有「閨房調查團」、「舊書市集之神」、「內褲大頭目」……純情學長能順利贏得伊人芳心嗎？

日本京都，這個古意盎然的神話之城，
除了廟宇、陰陽師，更有醇酒、書香、旖旎幻想和濃濃人情味。
讀者諸賢：春宵苦短，把酒當歌，讀小說就該哇哈哈大笑啊！
讓讀者打從肚皮裡幸福起來、色香味俱全的超有趣小說！
森見登美彥的狂想世界，新奇、好玩，等你來探險！

Genres: Fiction, Japanese Literature, Japan, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Contemporary, Romance

330 pages, Paperback

First published November 29, 2006

About the author

Born in Nara Prefecture, Tomihiko Morimi graduated from Kyoto University, and his works often has Kyoto as setting.

Associated Names:
* Tomihiko Morimi (English)
* 森見 登美彦 (Japanese)
* 모리미 토미히코 (Korean)
* โมริมิ โทมิฮิโกะ (Thai)
* 森見登美彥 (Chinese)

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last year I read a book by Tomihiko Morimi titled Penguin Highway. I did not like that book. It had elements that were clever, but aspects were just dreadful. It was a major disappointment as I was extremely excited about Morimi being translated into English finally. He's a very successful author in Japan and I have enjoyed many of his works that have been translated to film and anime. That said, I ordered his next book being released, the one one you are now reading a review for.

Why? Because I saw the anime adaptation of this book, and declared it my favorite movie of the year. Hell, it probably makes my top ten anime films of all time. It's bizarre, it's funny and it's shockingly charming.

What is it about? Well, it's about this:



And this:



And don't forget this:



To put the plot into words is a challenge. The story is mostly nonsensical, and though considered a novel, it is really four interconnected stories that revolve around the same characters, giving us a glimpse into their life in the spring, summer, fall and winter. This is not a slice of life comedy though, it very much falls into the magical realism school of thought, with many unexplainable things happening and people taking them in stride.

All four of the stories are quite humorous, though I personally liked the second and third the most. I should note that I probably would have enjoyed the fourth more if I had read it last year when the book came out in English, as the story involves a "super cold" spreading through the town and knocking everyone out and causing havoc. While it is still presented in a comedic fashion, given the big events of 2020, it was a touch less amusing.

Overall this book is a vast improvement over Penguin Highway. The jokes work better here, the plot while episodic flows better and all in all it's just a more entertaining story. While I found myself frequently wanting to give up on the other book, this one, once I got into it, sped by.

While I really enjoyed this book, I should note that if one does not like the sense of humor often presented in anime (I mean, it translated well into anime format for a good reason) then they probably should avoid it. It most likely won't win you over. The sense of humor is very whimsical and plays off a lot of Japanese culture, so I can completely see where many wouldn't enjoy it. Still, for me it gets a solid 4/5 stars.

[Zala · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Night is Short, Walk on Girl is tricky for me to rate because I did like the second and third chapters a lot, and the fourth one had a satisfying conclusion (though the build-up dragged a bit), but I believe this kind of story would be much more enjoyable as a movie. I definitely plan on watching the Yuasa movie based on this book.
Having said all that, I usually don't appreciate the manic pixie dream girl trope, but it could have been fine if not for two things: the main guy was repeatedly established as kind of a creep, and the girl was yet another example of men writing overly naive quirky girls who don't mind harassment. 2.5 stars

Edit: I watched the movie adaptation and can confirm it's better than the book (except for the missing romance between smelly pants guy and elephant art girl).

[Emily Coffee and Commentary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absurd and cinematic, these humorous, interconnected stories showcase the power of imagination and young love. Set in the gorgeous city of Kyoto, The Night is Short, Walk on Girl is outrageously told, yet entirely relatable. It is easy to imagine sitting beside both of our protagonists as they navigate the mundane and the magical; we want to walk alongside them and experience the ordinary transform to the otherworldly, the youthful view of perseverance and connection. Funny and charming, this also has a wonderfully crafted animated adaptation.

[Kate♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5stars

First read of 2021 and... An unfortunate 2.5 stars.

Was really looking forward to this one, but unlike the cover, this was not very fantastic at all. Rather than being magical or surreal or interesting, we basically see the same story 4 times and watch characters get intoxicated and get into weird situations because of it. That's about it... Which is not necessarily a story I wanted to read 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Tran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Around Feb 2019, I went to a cinema in Central Sydney to check out an animated film called Night is Short, Walk on Girl. That was also my first exposure with films directed by Masaaki Yuasa and I was immediately blown away by his free and wild style of animation. The film was said to be "inventively animated, boldly creative, and refreshingly ambitious" by the critics and it won the 41st Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year.

I love the film and have watched it several times. For the same reason, I picked up the original novel written by Tomihiko Morimi and devoured the book over the weekend. I enjoyed every single passage and it was truly amazing being able to understand the characters better (since the story was told from the perspective of both the senpai and the black-haired maiden). I also spotted some interesting differences between the book and its adaptation.

Since the book is quite unusual, I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed it that much without watching the film first. Anyhow, it's still a very fascinating read.

[Jovana Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

“ I love rum so much, I wish the Pacific Ocean were made of it.
Of course, it’s fine to drain a bottle with a hand on your hip as though you’re chugging milk in the morning, but modesty shuts those little dreams in the treasure chest of my heart. It doesn’t seem possible to have a beautiful, harmonious life without that sort of casual moderation.
Instead, I enjoy cocktails. Drinking cocktails is like picking out lovely jewels one at a time; it feels so luxurious. Acapulco, Cuba libre, piña colada. Of course, I like cocktails that aren’t made with rum, too, so I exchanged vows with all of them—to drink and get drunk on them. And I don’t want to stop at cocktails. My aim is always to take the initiative in making contact with all manner of alcohol.”

→ I usually have an aversion towards a book described as a “feel-good” read because it automatically makes me suspicious while I simultaneously reminiscence on all the previous times “feel-good” books haven’t made me feel good.

This is a lovely and straightforward story of a girl going on everyday adventures, meeting new people, and helping them while her reserved, circumstantial senpai is trying to get noticed by her. The plot is structured in four parts each containing a new scenario and message; from bar-hopping introduction part to the used book fair, school festival, and December cold epidemic. The POV switches from the black-haired maiden to her senpai as we follow their story and root for them, but above all this book made me feel grateful for random book finds on the internet and more importantly happy while reading it.

” I’m a man who spends his days worried equally about his country and about his own future, constantly polishing his soul through deep introspection.”

→ In conclusion: this story was so charming and fun that I want to reread it right now; 100% subjective review written in a semi-tipsy state.
P.S. Check out the animated film directed by Masaaki Yuasa, it's so good!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have a feeling that the author had so much fun writing this that he passed the fun along to the reader; review to come.

[ดินสอ สีไม้ · Rating 3 out of 5]

ยากจะนิยามความมึนงงตลอดสามร้อยกว่าหน้านี้ได้จริงๆ
ในราวบทแรก .. มันเริ่มจากความสงสัยว่า
นี่เรากำลังอ่านบ้าอะไรอยู่นี่!!

ในบทต่อมา เราเริ่มเข้าใจธีมและวิธีเล่าเรื่องราวของมัน
บทนี้ฉุดอารมณ์จากบทแรกขึ้นมาได้เยอะ เพราะฉากของเรื่องเลยทีเดียว
เราชอบฉากงานเทศกาลหนังสือเก่า
และชอบเทพเจ้าหนังสือเก่าด้วย .. แม้ว่าเขาจะรั่วเกินบรรยาย
อันที่จริง ทุกอย่างในเล่มนี้มันก็รั่วไปทั้งหมดน่ะแหละ

บทที่สาม เราเริ่มมองเห็นหนทางที่เรื่องจะจบ
และเริ่มเพลิดเพลินไปกับความกาวของมัน

บทสุดท้าย .. ตั้งแต่เมื่อไรไม่รู้ที่เรารู้สึกสนุกกับหนังสือเล่มนี้
มันเป็นเรื่องที่เริ่มต้นแบบงงๆ
แต่จบลงแบบโรแมนติคไปได้ยังไงก็ไม่รู้
นั่นล่ะค่ะ ทั้งหมดของมัน

[Fiza · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALL WE HAVE ARE THE CONNECTIONS THAT WE MAKE!!!!!!

[Makmild · Rating 2 out of 5]

นี่ถ้าได้อ่านตอนพิมพ์ไทยแรก หรืออย่างน้อยช่วงที่เมะออก หรือจะให้ไกลกว่านั้นก็คือช่วงมอปลาย เราคงชอบเล่มนี้มาก ถูกจริตสุดๆ ทั้งความอิหยังวะ แฟนซี มิตรภาพและความรักท่ามกลางบรรยากาศแบบเกียวโต เมืองเก่า โอโห โคตรจะเครซี่ แต่พอมาอ่านในวัยนี้แล้วได้แต่ อา วัยรุ่นนี่มันดีจริงๆ นะ แต่ไม่อินเสียเลย 🥲

[top. · Rating 4 out of 5]

เคยอ่านฉบับมังงะสมัยเรียน และยังจำได้จนถึงทุกวันนี้ คิดว่าตัวเรื่องมีอิทธิพลมากกับนิสัยส่วนตัวเราในปัจจุบัน ด้วยความแฟนซีจ๋าเนื้อหาไม่ค่อยมีอะไร เน้นเบี้ยใบ้รายทางเยอะๆ ที่ว่าเยอะๆ คือคุณนักเขียนเค้าพร่ำ���พ้อถึงบรรยากาศ รายละเอียดสถานที่ แอคชั่นแบบมังงะ และคาแรคเตอร์ชวนฝันเต็มไปหมด ทั้งยังคงคอนเซ็ปนครหลวงเก่าเกียวโตได้ดีมาก เวลาเค้าจะพรรณาอะไรออกมาทีมันทำให้คนอ่านนึกออกถึงแต่ความเป็นญี่ปุ่นไม่ทางใดก็ทางหนึ่ง อาทิ ปลาคาร์ฟที่ลอยขึ้นฟ้าจะหวนกลับมาเป็นมังกร, เด็กสาวผู้ถูกเทพแห่งไข้หวัดทอดทิ้ง, บ้านเอียงกระเท้เร่ หากถูกนักกีฬาซูโม่จู่โจมคงพังทลายหมดสิ้น เป็นต้น

และด้วยความที่โลเคชั่นมันอยู่แต่ในเกียวโต จึงน่าจะติดอันดับหนังสือที่อ่านแล้วอยากไปทอดน่องที่เกียวโตไม่แพ้เกียวโตซ่อนกลิ่นเลยฮะ / วางหนังสือแล้วนอนกลิ้งตัวริมแม่น้ำคาโมะสักสามรอบ

[Anya · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was pretty awful (the groping part), confusing and the writing was all over the show. I still don't know what the book wanted to portray exactly.

The only thing this could be good for is a drinking game. Every time you read the word "drink" or "drinking" you drink. You won't stand a chance.

I'm a big Haruki Murakami fan and like the Nakano Thrift shop, but this is nothing like the Japanese writing that I like.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I was very unsure if I really wanted to read this book or not. It seemed like for each positive review on Goodreads there was also a negative one. As most positive reviews were from people who watched the anime movie, let me tell you that I rate this book with the score you can see above without having seen the movie - all I did was watch the trailer to help me decide whether to read this book or not, and in hindsight, the trailer really doesn't do this amazing and magical book justice at all!

A lot of the negative comments and even one or two-star ratings stem from the fact that in the very beginning of this book, an old man gropes a young woman. From the way that people were blowing up this moment, I thought it would be the most disgusting, rapiest moment to ever encounter in a novel. As it turned out, things are actually sort of straight-forward: A young woman meets a charming old man in a bar, old man gropes young woman, old mas is literally chased out of said bar by the people around that girl. The "moral" that you can get of that episode, if there even is one, would be that even charming old people you encounter at night can turn out to be vile characters - so you better keep an eye on yourself. I see nothing wrong with this small episode and think that people figuratively ripping this book in halves because of that scene are not doing the amazing rest of the book justice. But I can of course see that people would have a problem this sort of scene and can totally understand why people wouldn't want to read something like that.

This book holds four stories that each follow the perspective of a young man who has a crush on a female member of his university club and said crush, as they navigate through different scenarios and are always in the proximity of each other but (almost) never quite close enough to have a proper conversation. The story of this book is pretty non-existent and the characters are there to propel the events of the story forward. If gripping characters and an exciting story are what you are looking for, I advise you to look somewhere else. What this book wants to offer is four tightly packed, well written, fun as hell novellas that make for some of, if not THE best writing I have ever encountered in a novel. If you want to have a blast with a book but do not need conventional story or characters, you will have the ride of your life with this book. Below, I will rate each of the four stories individually:

1) 4/5 Stars
This is the story that you will mostly see shots of if you watch the trailer for the anime movie adaptation of this novel. Frankly, I don't know if the movie just adapted the first story of the marketing team thought that the bar crawl story would make for the most exciting material to lure viewers into theatres. In my opinion, this story is great, yes, but it pales in comparison to the second and third story of this volume. This first story gives us a first glimpse of the two narrators, the (I think) unnamed male and female protagonists, introduces major characters that you will meet again over the course of the novel and above all gives you a first impression of the great and bizarre writing style of Morimi. If you aren't used to this, however, especially Higuchi and his shenanigans can be a bit much to bear. However, it is already in this first story that Morimi brings his way of storytelling, in which each aspect, no matter how little they seem at first, is important to get the protagonists to where they need to be in the end of the story, almost to perfection.

2) 5/5 Stars
Namu-Namu!
After the first story gave you time to get used to his writing, Morimi shifts into higher gears in this second story and writes a compelling story, almost a chase, of our male protagonist trying to find his crush on a used book fair. There are shifts and turns as to whether they will meet or not and if both of them will be able to reach their goal - which happens to be the exact same thing, but both go different routes on their way. There is even more crazy stuff to find here and more weird coincidences in which people meet or become relevant for the story. And this is exactly what makes this store so great: This is Morimi simply crafting a story not distracted by character development or story progression and that can instead purely focus on being a well-crafted, well-executed, tightly-packed 80 pages joyride from start to finish.

3) 6/5 Starts
I usually frown at people using this cheap trick of rating books with six stars to show their excitement but, please, hear me out. This story is by far the BEST story, the best and most well-written, most enjoyable piece of literature I have ever laid my eyes on. I have rated books with 5 stars before because I enjoyed them or thought that they were well-written but this story is by far above everything else I have rated so far - therefore I need to somehow rate it higher than all those other books I rated with 5 stars. This story is perfect from start to finish and packed with even more crazy mayhem that looks stupid at first glance, becomes important two pages later and plays a major role in bringing the story to a finish. The term "guerilla stage production" sounds stupid and crazy at first but after a couple of pages becomes the best thing to be ever written about. In the setting of a university school festival, strange coincidence like said guerilla stage play, a kotatsu appearing out of nowhere and seemingly disappearing without a trace, a girl exhibiting an artificial elephant butt amass and suddenly become important not only for the amazing story unfolding in this short story /novella but also for our two protagonists. This is a novella par excellence: Each and every information that is mentioned happening in this school festival will be important for how the story plays out in the end and I really have to stop writing about it now because - if truth be told - it would be best to go into this story completely blind.

4) 2/5 Starts
Ooof! How did this happen? While the first story managed to serve as an introduction to the world and characters of this book and at the same times just be a crazy and enjoyable story, this fourth story is obviously tacked on to bring the overarching main story to a close. This, it does pretty well and gifts the book with an ending that - in my opinion - is well written and fits the overarching story thematically, logically and style-wise. However, the route that the story takes - the entire uni being knocked out with a cold and our female protagonist being the last woman standing and only one able to find a remedy for the illness - is long-winded, at times uninteresting and feels like Morimi is taking a stroll down memory lane of the first three stories in this volume, sometimes forcing characters from these stories into this one without them really serving a purpose. If this story didn't happen, this book would have been a solid 5 starts, however, you cannot really let this weak finish to an otherwise amazing piece of literature slide that easily. In my opinion, this conclusion wasn't even necessary. Granted, it did bring the story to a close, but I think that ending the book with the open ending of the third story could have worked and would have fit the story thematically as well.

Even with this weak of a fourth story, "The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl" is a stunning novel that entertains from start to finish and is perfect if you want to read something like you probably never have before.

[Le Gongdong Blur · Rating 4 out of 5]

เรื่องเกี่ยวกับหนุ่มรุ่นพี่ ที่แอบคลั่งรัก
สาวรุ่นน้อง ในชมรมที่มหาลัย
เนื้อเรื่องจะมีเส้นบางๆ
ระหว่างความแฟนตาซี กับอิหยังวะ
อารมณ์คล้ายๆ เวลาดูโฆษณาญี่ปุ่น
แล้ว นี่มันอะไร๊ ไม่เห็นจะเข้าใจเลย !! นั่นแหละ 55
.
ส่วนตัวคิดว่า ไม่ค่อยกาวเท่าไหร่ อ่านได้เพลินๆ
บทแรกแอบคิดว่ามันล้นๆ เยอะไปด้วยซ้ำ
จนพอเข้าบทสอง ก็เริ่มลงตัวขึ้น
ชอบตอน ตลาดหนังสือเก่า
กับ งานเทศกาลมหาลัย มากก สนุกก
อ่านไปก็แอบกิ๊วก๊าว
แหมมม ยาวถึงดาวอังคารได้เบาๆ
ลุ้นว่าเมื่อไหร่คู่นี้จะสมหวังกันซะที 😂

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Japanese fantasy read like manga and anime. The writing is vivid and colourful, so you can easily imagine the scene in your head. Though you might need some knowledge about Japanese cultures to do that. Obviously the author is a bookworm as lots of references to famous literature.

[Trent Bowditch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the best books I have read all year.
I love how clear the story is. I think everyone should read this book; chapters 3 and 4 really sell this novel. Give it a chance and I am sure you'll fall in love with it. The characters are great, and the bizarre situations are entertaining.

Side note: ***Spoilers*** Expressing what I like about chapters 3 and 4 so much.

As much as I enjoyed chapters 1 and 2. It is in chapter 3 that I was enveloped in Morimi's world. I fell in love with the guerrilla production 'The Crackpot of Monte Cristo'; I wanted to read all 47+ acts of this play. I loved the philosophical pondering on the roughness of life as the main heroine rubbed a 1:1 replica of an elephants bottom.
Oh, and in chapter 4 I loved how everything came together. I also liked the fantastical elements of Morimi's world; like how Mr. Higuchi teaches the Maiden's club mate the secret to flying, and I like that that secret isn't really a secret, but rather just simply being happy and not worrying.

[Joanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Or maybe we think it's a coincidence, but it's just that we can't see the tangled threads of fate."

Whimsical Japanese magical realism is my favorite genre, and this book doesn't disappoint. Fate, time, emotions, introspective thought, and Japanese mythology, dance around this story, like colored carp streamers in the wind. The interwoven perspectives of the dreamer girl and the pessimistic but persistent boy braid together into a connective red thread. Was it a forced coincidence? Or was it fate? Either way, I loved it.

Now either I patiently for Tatami Galaxy to be translated or my Japanese improves so much I'm able to read it in its native language (which is unlikely).

This book isn't for you if you don't like:
- Fast and almost unclear transitions between speaker's perspectives
- First person storytelling
- Extreme strange occurrences that are outside the real of reason set in a realistic setting (Kyoto)
- Breaking the fourth wall

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

2022-10-14: 18% in

It's good someone is writing about the sexual aggression constantly faced by women in Japan.

Only it does not feel like it's the story of a woman, rather it sounds like a polite male imagining a woman. The woman is presented very detached. The author empathizes more with the man.

On one hand the novel (English translation) is pleasant. On the other hand I keep missing the point, and the main character, so I have to go back: who is talking? Yea, the characters have no clear voices. Rather the author is some sort of emotional newspaper reporter trying to jot down what happened, and missing the characters.

2025-05-21

actually the writer is a pig. he really things that the torrent of aggression is just ways of showing ”nice” to the walking vagina. and, like in all of manga, the writer comes from the perspective the woman is an accessory, and only the extreme morality of the character stops him from just f*cking the s*upid b*tch. disgusting.

[Wiebke (1book1review) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This did not live up to my (probably wrong and high) expectations, but ended rather well. I mainly just hoped for it to be more. Just more (not in length, though).
Overall I really like the mix and blur between what's real and what's not. I liked the two perspectives although it wasn't always clear who was narrating from the start of a passage, sometimes it took a few sentences to paragraphs. The second chapter put me off, but it might have been me as I kept having to find my way into the writing on work nights.

[Eri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cute. It was an easy and enjoyable read. I think I laughed the most at the ridiculousness of the hot pot scene. Overall though I couldn't get over the fact that I know that it would read better in Japanese. Words like 'funteresting' just doesn't read well in English but I imagine that it's quite cute and amusing in Japanese. Strange to say but I enjoyed the movie more than the book

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really really loved the first chapter/short story but the other three parts fell kind of flat for me.

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of The Night is Short, Walk on Girl.

I was thrilled when my request was approved; I love all things Japan, the culture, the food, the history, and I'm always interested in reading Japanese authors whose works have been translated for an American audience.

I wasn't sure what to expect from The Night is Short, Walk on Girl, since I've never read this author before but the premise sounded romance-y.

But, the story wasn't as straightforward as I expected.

A beautiful young woman draws the eyes of many men as she travels the streets of Kyoto, especially one young man in particular.

We meet her in many settings, the bar, a book fair; and encounter the quirky locals she crosses paths with in the process.

The story shifts from the young woman's POV to the young man's and there are many characters to keep track of, many of them superfluous to the story, though they add a certain local flavor.

The prose is well-written with a good sense of place; the cobblestoned streets of Kyoto, the narrow corridors, the blinking lights of the bars and shops, readers get a real feel and sense of this historical Japanese city, just one of many.

But the writing is passive when it comes to characterizing and describing the young woman. Early in the story, she allows an old, drunk man to fondle her breasts.

Why? Because he's an old, sad drunk?

That's no excuse, and this scene of an old perv really marred the rest of my reading experience and left an icky taste in my mouth.

I'm not surprised to discover the author is a man.

This wasn't for me, but some people may enjoy reading it especially if they want to learn a bit more about Japan.

[Prin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose to pick up this book because I first saw the animated film, though I wasn’t able to finish it because it had a lot of trippy and fantastical scenes that was a bit confusing for me. I thought that I would better understand the content if I read the novel.

Same as with the film, there is a lot of silliness contained in this novel. I think that a reader’s enjoyment of this book would really depend on his/her tolerance for all things silly. I, for one can’t recommend this to just anyone. It’s not something easily enjoyed, and the sense of humor is a bit hard to grasp.

I liked the quirky characters a lot, including the supporting characters. They are definitely personalities that I have never seen before. However, most of the magical realism elements were a miss for me. My eyes would just glaze over a lot of the pages.

Still, I can say that this had a very powerful opening. I loved the “friendly fist” lesson, the exploration of nocturnal Japan filled with lit up bars, unique cocktails and “Funteresting” drinks. There are only four chapters, and each are quite episodic, with a different story arc but same characters involved. In a nutshell, it’s a long-winding love story full of foolishness of youth. It’s also about endurance, finding courage and knowing to what distance one would go for love.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Yen Press for providing a copy of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.

[mikai · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Do all you can and then wait for providence."

The book has 4 chapters that shows the adventure of the main characters through their own perspective, with the girl towards many possibilities, and with the guy who's chasing for her (since he's nursing a crush on her), A lot of missed encounters and plot's convenience of fate / God's plot convenience were made for the two.

Although it took me months to finish this, it was an entertaining read. The story was a bit slow and confusing at first due to the introduction of the supporting characters, the colorful scenarios, etc. It was somewhat annoying at first for me coz of the fantasy elements in the story. It clashes on my mind - the realistic part and the fantasy part. BUT I love it. I fully love it later on. All the scenes, supporting cast, everything comes together. It all leads to one thing - fate.

This was my first time to read a Japanese-themed book and author, It was different from reading a manga. I can see myself looking for books like this.

A big thanks for the free e-copy provided by Yen Press and the author via NetGalley.

[Siwabhorn Anothaisintawee · Rating 5 out of 5]

ชายหนุ่มผู้ตกหลุมรักสาวผมดำร่างเล็ก ซึ่งเป็นรุ่นน้องในชมรมเดียวกันตั้งแต่แรกพบ จนแอบตามเธอไปหัวหกก้นขวิดร่ำสุรา ตระเวนราตรีที่แปลกประหลาดด้วยกัน

บรรยากาศงานหนังสือแบบญี่ปุ่นก็มา มีหลายประโยคที่น่าจะถูกใจนักอ่านจอมดองแบบเราๆ อย่าง 'เวลาที่ได้เจอกับหนังสือโดยบังเอิญ ฉับกลับรู้สึกราวกับมันเป็นชะตาลิขิต' หรือ 'ไม่จำเป็นต้องอ่านหนังสือเครียดๆ นักก็ได้ ลองเปิดใจรับความสนุกที่ผ่านเข้ามาในชีวิตซะสิ'

การดวลเหล้าแสนพิลึก งานประมูลหนังสืออันเร่าร้อน งานเทศกาลมหาลัยอลวน ไข้หวัดอลเวง นักศึกษาหนุ่มคลั่งรักจนยอมทำทุกอย่าง จะพิชิตใจสาวในฝันได้หรือไม่ ให้คุกกี้ทำนายกัน

ตลกกกก บอกเลยว่าสนุกและบ้าบอสุดๆ อ่านแล้วก็ต้องร้อง โถ.. โถ.. แอบรู้สึกเห็นใจชายหนุ่มผู้หาดีไม่ได้ จนเผลอกัดปากแต่ลุ้นขอให้ได้ ขอให้โดน จบแฮปปี้เอนดิ้งกับสาวน้อยของเรา ถึงบทนึงจะยาวแต่เผลอแป๊บๆ ก็จบบท อ่านจบบท เผลอแป๊บๆ ก็จบเล่มแล้ว คนแปลก็เลือกคำมาใช้ดีมาก ทำให้เราขำไปกับมุกตลกไปตลอดเรื่อง

Goodreads ให้ 4.5 สนุกขนาดนี้ เราก็จัดให้ 5 เต็ม 5 ไปเลยสิจ๊ะ จะรออะไร

[Akshaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I watched the movie immediately after reading and it was a little different from the book but I loved the movie more ! I think this story works well as an adapted anime rather than a book. This was very strange and bizarre but at the sametime a nice journey that eventually helps a young woman and a man to come together and fall in love. In the book, it's written in various periods like months apart but in the movie it's happening in an entire night. Sadly, I didn't get the whole purpose with the book but it did helped me from a reading slump !

[Nicholas Sandoval · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy magical realism than this novel might fit the bill for you. This is a really adorable and funny story set across four major events for the main characters. I enjoy getting each perspective as the author goes back and forth between the two main characters points of view. I found myself smiling a lot at the silliness that accompanies the female main character.

[Shuri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the setting and the characters in this book but more than anything, I loved the way the author wrote the story. In my opinion, the language was a bit formal(?) or humble for some characters but I think that made the story more interesting. Because I knew some parts of Kyoto that appears in this book, it was easier for me to picture the girl strolling down the cities of Kyoto.

[René Mortimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

She smiled and in a voice that wasn’t a voice said, “Funny seeing you here.”
I replied in a voice that wasn’t a voice, “I just happened to be passing by.”

At this point my cuteness-meter have started squealing alongside me 🥹
This is such a fantastic and whimsical story with one of the best slow burning romances I’ve ever read ☺️ And more realistic one compared to many “supposed” romance books I had encountered.

“There must be some reason we met”.

me:
*melted puddle of happiness* 🥹

[Sophie Isabelle Gaumond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un peu confusing, mais la fin est tellement CUTE, JE PARDONNE.

[Christine]

One chapter was quite enough for me.