First published 2026
Kyoko Tanihara arrives at Musashino Bookshop each morning ready to champion great literature. Her manager Takeru Yamamoto stands in her way. He fixates on self-help titles while making cringe-worthy remarks about respected writers. Kyoko dreams of advancing quality fiction and building her publishing career. Yamamoto's meddling blocks her at every step. His apparent cluelessness about books threatens to kill her literary passion entirely. A mysterious book appears that mirrors her workplace struggles with startling accuracy. The story forces Kyoko to reconsider everything she thought she knew about her situation. Yamamoto's irritating habits might mask hidden depths. His bumbling exterior could conceal unexpected wisdom. Kyoko stands at a crossroads. She can nurse her resentment or look beyond the surface. The choice will determine whether she discovers the truth about the man who frustrates her most.
Genres: fiction, romance, literary-fiction, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Musashino Bookshop
272 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons