I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did given the subject matter was marital infidelity and that subject matter doesn't normally appeal to me. However, the author did an amazing job building up to the affair and the reasons the main character entered into it when by all appearances she had everything she ever wanted - a husband that provided for her and their two children, a swanky apartment in a trendy section of Tokyo and a group of trendy friends from Paris that exposed her to the world of fashion in her home city. For a girl who grew up poor, in a rural part of Japan that was considered backwater and chuckled at by well-healed Japanese, her adult life in Tokyo seemed like a dream come true. So why was she so unhappy? As the story unfolds, we slowly learn that not everything is as perfect as it seems on the surface. And when a new, intriguing man takes an interest in our main character, sparks are lit between them setting them on the course of the illicit affair. I love the was Emily Itami told this story, her witty narrative and the way she seamlessly wove in the differences between Japanese and American cultures of work and stress, and self-worth and individualism. I learned so much about Japanese culture that now I want to visit all of the places she mentioned in the book. Great read!

Excellent story about being a mother, a wife, a woman and struggling with identity. There is always who society thinks you should be and who you want to be. A book that woman can relate to.

Thank you for this ARC! Oh boy did I LOVE this writing. Mizuki is a great narrator, and I truly felt for her throughout the entire book. Being a housewife, Mizuki's life has been shaped by her being a wife and a mother, but like so many woman, she is a whole person. While her husband works and barely pays her any attention, she is the main caregiver for their two kids who oftentimes don't appreciate her as well. It's a very realistic look into an emotional affair and why they come to be. I loved Japan as a setting, the writing, and I highlighted many quotes. This would be a great discussion book for a book club. Thank you again for the ARC!!

"And he never heard that what I was really saying was “I miss you, I need you, don’t go and leave me alone.” And since he never heard it, I stopped saying it, and now I just clean the kitchen and have a cigarette and turn the other way when I go to bed."

Mizuki is a Japanese housewife and mother of two children. Her husband is a business man that is frequently working and seems to ignore her. After a decade of marriage, Mizuki starts to feel lonely and judged by other mothers. She had bigger plans to do more than be a traditional housewife. Mizuki felt lonely and distant from her husband. In her pursuit of happiness, Mizuki meets Kiyoshi and is intrigued by this handsome stranger. Their friendship blossoms quickly and it makes Mizuki realize what she has and how it makes her feel. The ending was not what I anticipated and fell a little flat for me. Overall, I enjoyed the entire story, but I wish the ending wasn't so wrapped up in a bow.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow and Custom House Publishing for an advanced e-copy of the book for review.

I enjoyed this book more than I expected it. I thought it might be a hard read, but it was breezy and enjoyable and I really loved the voice of Mizuki. I admit I don't often think about what modern day lives are in non-English speaking countries but this story made me think that there are universal challenges to motherhood and marriage. Mizuki's voice was very amusing and I like spending time with her.

Mizuki has a wonderful like. She lives in a comfortable apartment. She has two young children and a nanny to help care for them. She calls her husband wonderful. But, Tatsu works constantly and seems to ignore her. Mizuki meets an attractive while out for the evening with female friends. He flirts with her and gives her a business card. After a disagreement with Tatsu, Mizuki sets off to find her mystery man. She finds him and establishes a relationship with him,
Parts of this book were interesting to me. But over all I found it difficult to get into the story. I’m not sorry I read the book but I don’t understand all the glowing reviews.

4.5⭐️
This was special.

It’s a love note to a vibrant city that can swallow its residents up if they’re not careful. I visited Tokyo 50 years ago, and until this book I was satisfied. Now I want to go back and explore all the wonderful nooks, crannies and neighborhoods that Mizuki and Kiyoshi experience.

But the book is about so much more. It’s a wonderful study of a woman who is at her core Japanese with a hefty dose of New York City dweller in her. She is conflicted in her role as a housewife and mother in Tokyo. Doesn’t feel “seen” by her husband anymore, and it bothers her. I loved the Japanese/Western juxtapositions and observations. The wry wit and sarcasm were highlights for me, especially her observations on parenthood.

I am curious if the book was written in Japanese and translated to English. There’s no credit to a translator. It doesn’t feel like it. It feels like it was written for a Western audience. I’d love to know more about the author. If she writes more books I will be right in the front of the line.

Thank you to #WilliamMorris and #BookClubGirls for this wonderful Early Reads offer. Thanks too to #NetGalley. #FaultLines

I adored this book, and if it wasn’t such a busy time for me right now, I would have read it in a day or two. It’s absorbing with realistic characters. Anyone that has been in a long term relationship, whether it was good or bad or in between can find something to relate to in this book. Additionally, any mom who has felt like she has lost a little of herself will relate to this main character as well.

The setting is Tokyo and several neighborhoods are mentioned. There is also quite a bit of Japanese food descriptions, which was fun. I’m glad I read it as an e-book, so I could easily click on a word to get it’s translation, although the context is always there.

I like a book where I can’t tell how it’s going to end. I had an idea but I was wrong, which I love to see! Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced release copy. 5 stars.

I enjoyed the insights this book provided into life of the modern women in Japan. It also does a good job of highlighting the challenges faced by all women trying to balance family while still maintaining a sense of self. There are quite a few references using Japanese terms which the author does not always explain. It would be helpful to have a footnote or glossary to explain these terms. Overall I found this to be a quick enjoyable read.

Could not finish this one. I tried to read it but I was just finding it boring. I think I need dialogue rather than just narrative. Thank you for the opportunity to read it though.

Emily Itami’s Fault Lines is a remarkable debut. The story of a woman who feels like she’s lost her identity – and her joie de vivre – in the wake of marriage and motherhood resonates with many who wonder, what happened? And how did I get here?

And the wit. Oh, the wit. Like with this passage on page 2, that made me laugh out loud –

"Wasn’t Romeo madly in love with Rosaline four days before he killed himself for Juliet? What’s in a name? The boy was a raging bag of hormones set to obsess over whichever nubile young creature came into his line of sight. Does anyone need to get hung up on which one it was? (But it’s the ultimate love story! It’s destiny, and fate, and love greater than life!)"

Can’t really argue with that. And the realism. Mizuki’s husband is the complete opposite of attentive – blame it on stress, his work hours, whatever. Her children are demanding. And society is so very judgmental, especially of mothers.

I’ve often wondered what happens to the women who get an education, start a career, then step aside for familial duties. It’s not an anomaly that’s purely Japanese – according to a 2014 Pew Research study, 29% of American parents are out of the workforce, and 10% of highly educated women (Masters & Doctorates) quit the workforce to stay home with their children. It just seems to be more of an expectation in Japan that women can have a career or be a housewife, not both.

"But I am a Japanese housewife, a proper, old-school job for life, and you get to choose your colleague only once."

Itami’s writing ebbs and flows like a tide, bringing together Mizuki’s past and present, hopes and realities, in a lyrical self-deprecatingly matter-of-fact tone. Fault Lines is romantic, when Mizuki describes meeting her husband, and the connection they used to have – and the feelings evoked by spending time exploring Tokyo’s neighborhoods with Kiyoshi.

"The way he was the first person in years who thought about the answers to the questions I asked him and looked right at me when he replied. And the way I knew exactly where in my chest my heart was, every time he said my name."

It is subdued, when she wonders if it’s better to jump off her balcony than endure another evening ignored by her husband. Highly charismatic, as she describes her adventures with her non-Japanese friends and her failed attempts to become a singer. And heartbreaking, as she finally makes the choice she needs to.

"I love you so much, and it isn’t any use to anybody."

drey’s rating: Excellent!

Mizuki is married to a successful Tokyo businessman, has two young children, and feels she has lost her own sense of self. She meets a man and begins an affair. The story is told in first person point of view, so the reader is privy to all of Mizuki's thoughts. Mizuki is very honest with herself, and while some of her decisions may be questionable, she makes no excuses. Her thoughts about marriage and motherhood will resound with most women. I enjoyed the descriptions of scenery and life in Tokyo and learned a great deal. Japanese words were sprinkled throughout the book, and I was really happy that my Kindle dictionary contained the majority of the ones I looked up. I enjoyed this debut novel, and I look forward to reading more from Emily Itami in the future.

Emily Itami's debut novel is set in modern-day Tokyo and centers around Mizuki who feels guilty that she is incapable of being the perfect Japanese housewife and mother. She accidentally falls into a relationship with a man with whom she can be herself. It was fascinating to learn more about the Japanese culture. I could also relate to Mizuki's loss of "self" as I recalled my own child-rearing days. Thanks to NetGalley along with William Morrow and Custom House for the advance copy to read and review.

This book was all encompassing. I listened to the audiobook, and was drawn in and held captive from beginning to end, sympathizing with the main character, Mizuki. The writing is perfectly suited to the subject matter, and the narration is beautifully performed.

Mizuki lives in Tokyo and is a stay-at-home wife and mother. She only sees her husband briefly in the mornings and nights because he’s a “salary man”, and that requires that he puts in long hours at work. It seems that all he cares about anymore is work, and a bit about the children. She feels left out. Before she married, she’d traveled to New York as an exchange student, and then returned to be a singer. Now, all she does is cook, take care of the children and the house, and do laundry. She’s bored. She does, however, occasionally go out with her girlfriends. On one of those excursions, she meets someone, and they hit it off. She’s thrilled with the attention, but worried that word might get back to her husband. She does love her husband, after all, and she doesn’t want to lose her children. Following Mizuki as she works this all out is intriguing and wonderful.

A delightful character study of a woman caught in a culture she no longer fits, maybe never fit completely. This book is well worth your time. I raced through this audiobook, eager to learn what happens to Mizuki and her family, and I wasn’t disappointed. My favorite section was when Mizuki is with her children on a subway train when there's an earthquake. She came across as a superhero. If you enjoy Japanese fiction, I highly recommend this book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley and the publishers. All opinions are my own. I saw this as an early read opportunity in The Book Club Girls group on Facebook and thought it sounded really interesting and relatable. It isn't the type of book I normally go for, but the synopsis sounded a bit like my life and where I"m at so I thought I would give it a try.

Much like the blurb promises, this is completely relatable to mom's out there who are getting through it day in and day out and lose a bit of the carefree spirits we all had in our teens and twenties. I can totally relate to some of Mizuki's midlife crisis struggles as a mom and wife and not necessarily getting to live out the career she thought she had. I still don't think I know what I want to be when I grow up. While there are alot of cultural differences between us, being a working mom is thankless most days and your kids always need something and when they are little they are always having a tantrum and people are always judging you about how you did this or that with your kids. Or atleast you feel like they are.

I enjoyed learning about the Japanese culture and roaming around Tokyo with Mizuki. The writing was straightforward and honest with bits of humor throughout. I struggle with the choices she made and the ending. Overall, I did enjoy the book.

In this book the author portrays in a flirty, fun way that life is what you make of it. The grass is not always greener on the other side and we should appreciate the people in our lives for what and who they are. There are some good life lessons in this cleverly written book and I am glad I read it.
Thanks to #williammorrowandcustomhouse, #netgalley, @bookclubearlyreads and @emilyitami for an ARC of this delightful book

Thank you NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book.

For being a debut novel, this was honestly so beautiful and well written. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down and I finished it within a matter of hours. I think that all readers can find something relatable- whether its unhappiness in their relationship, feelings of inadequacy, or struggling with a career they don't enjoy for example, that makes this story connect on a deeper level.

Fault Lines is about Mizuki, a Japanese housewife with two children who finds herself questioning the decisions that have led her to where she is at in life. She is unhappy with her marriage and a husband who barely acknowledges that she exists and how hard she works and how much she is really struggling. Her children are not as well behaved as others and she finds herself embarrassed that she is not the idealistic perfect mother. Her relationship with her parents fractured after a year abroad in high school that was never repaired fully before her father's passing. She regrets that she never got the chance to pursue music and to find herself a fulfilling career. All until one fateful encounter with a stranger that changes the course of her life forever.

I like to think that I don't like face paced romances, or every story I read to end in an unrealistic happily ever after, but the ending of this book was almost TOO real and left me a bit sad and focusing on the "what ifs" and has left me questioning what I actually enjoy reading about. I definitely think that this story is one that will stay with me for quite a while.

This book made me happy, some lines made me actually feel sad, it felt relatable in the best and worst ways. I would definitely recommend it and I can't wait to see what else Emily Itami comes out with.

I love books that are quiet, but know how to pack an emotional book. This book The title fits this book perfectly and the author takes an closer look at the faults in relationships spanning from romantic relationships to familial ones. Itami's writing is very to the point and created a beautiful story that will relate to people at many different stages of life.

This debut novel takes the difficult task of being an adult and wondering “what if”. We follow the protagonist, Mizuki, a Japanese housewife, mother to two, feeling ignored and unappreciated by her family, while she makes some not great decisions involving a new friend, Kiyoshi.

Emily Itami has a gift for writing that is evident from the first line. This is one of the most beautifully written books I have encountered, which is an interesting juxtaposition considering some of the taboo topics — suicide, adultery. Itami does an amazing job of having you feel this roller coaster along with Mizuki. You’ll relate to her at times, disagree at others. You’ll find yourself reflecting on your own life, especially during the parts that discuss happiness and who deserves it.

I loved that Itami took the time to compare and contrast Japanese culture with American culture. In the book, Mizuki spent time in New York as a student in an exchange program and later as an adult when she was a singer. Mizuki is an interesting, flawed, complex character that just leaps off the page.

I have a lot of parts of this one underlined but especially liked the line: “What are we, apart from the stories we tell ourselves and other people?”

“After all the years I've spent with him not seeing me, I don't see him anymore either. We exist like two blind fish, sliding past each other cordially in our parallel universes.”

Happy Pub Day!! Mizuki has been married to her husband Tatsuya for 16 years and together they have two beautiful children 10 year old Eri and 4 year old Aki and live in a very nice apartment in Tokyo. Despite everything she has in life, Mizuki feels frustrated as her husband works very long hours and feels their relationship dwindling, losing that spark and connect they had initially found with each other years ago. Mizuki is also dealing with the stress of motherhood and simply feeling lost and at times wanting to get away from it all. Everything changes when she meets Kiyoshi, a successful restaurateur sparking the life in her once more, reminding her of who she is and falling in love with the vibrant city of Tokyo all over again. On a journey of rediscovering herself, Mizuki is faced with the decision of what she really wants in life and what she is willing to sacrifice in the process.

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Starting off, I absolutely loved the setting in this story. I loved reading about Japanese culture and all of the detail of the scenery. There were a lot of references that I recognized instantly and also things that were new to me and was super interesting to learn. Japanese culture is so unique and beautiful and I was fascinated to see the author incorporate it into this story that dives into the love a woman has for her children and the man who makes her feel alive again. The language was beautiful and very detailed, this story was a little wordy more so explain what Mizuki is feeling rather any action which I personally was fine with. This story is more about Mizuki’s personal journey and her thought process and struggle with what she is feeling. I thought this was a well done debut from the author, it definitely got me thinking and put me in Mizuki’s shoes.

Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.