Fault Lines by Emily Itami

I love everything about Japan: the food, the people, the fashion and even the supreme organization of the stationery stores fascinates me. So, tell me about a romantic tale set in Tokyo, and I'm there. "Fault Lines" by Emily Itami is the story about a housewife named Mizuki who seems to have a picture-perfect life. She has two beautiful children (one boy, one girl), a loyal, hardworking husband and a glamorous apartment. You would think she would be over the moon, but she is not. The tedium of marriage and laundry has left her beyond blue. Then one night, out on her own, she meets a restauranteur named Kiyoshi. They strike up a conversation and suddenly Mizuki feels seen and alive again. Their conversations begin innocently, and then turn into more. Suddenly Mizuki is living a double life, and instead of feeling bored, she finds each day interesting and exciting. But how long can she continue to live two separate lives? This is Itami's debut novel, and reviewers have compared her to Sally Rooney and Helen Fielding, and those references are quite accurate. She explores the themes of connection, romance, humor and wit, and begs to answer the questions "Why are we here?" and, "Who are we meant to be with? To buy this book on Amazon click here.