by 小川洋子
First published 2010
In a remote Japanese seaside town, a 17-year-old girl named Mari works at her family's inn. When an older, enigmatic guest named Shinji takes an interest in her, Mari becomes consumed by a disturbing infatuation. As the power dynamics shift, Mari is drawn deeper into Shinji's twisted world, risking everything to win his affection. A gripping psychological drama about desire, control, and the consequences of crossing forbidden lines.
Genres: fiction, drama, contemporary, psychological-thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: disturbing-infatuation, power-imbalance, twisted-romance
Setting: Japan, Remote Japanese Seaside Town
Period: Contemporary
164 pages · Paperback · Harvill Secker
Content warnings: abuse, sexual-content