All The Lovers In The Night by Mieko Kawakami

Mieko Kawakami is a mastermind as acclaimed author Naoise Dolan raves about in her novel Exciting Times. All the Lovers in the Night, written by Kawakami herself, is an incredibly insightful and moving contemporary tale set in Tokyo. The protagonist, Fuyuko Irie, is a solitary freelance proofreader struggling to connect with others and her own life. Her only solace: the beauty of light. But a chance encounter with a man named Mitsutsuka brings about a transformation. As Fuyuko reexamines the world, she must also confront painful memories from her past. Will she break free from her self-imposed barriers and find the love and acceptance she craves? In this poignant and thought-provoking novel, Kawakami once again proves her talent as one of Japan's most renowned writers.