First published 2024
Mikage finds solace in kitchens after losing her grandmother, the last family member she had left. She moves in with Yuichi, a young man she barely knows, and his mother Eriko, who transitioned later in life. The kitchen in their apartment becomes Mikage's refuge as she navigates grief and discovers unexpected connections. In these two interconnected stories, Yoshimoto explores how people create new families from loss and longing. Characters struggle with death, identity, and the search for belonging while finding comfort in simple acts like cooking and sharing meals. The kitchen serves as both literal and emotional center, a place where healing happens through small daily rituals. Love emerges in various forms between characters who understand what it means to rebuild life after tragedy strikes.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, grief
146 pages · Kindle Edition · Faber & Faber