I’m genuinely torn on this one. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either. If Goodreads allowed half ratings, this would be the first time I’d use one. I’m stuck somewhere between a 2.5 and 3.

The writing is minimal and distant, relying on short dialogue and subtle hints at the characters’ emotions rather than fully exploring them. The two main characters are never named, they’re only referred to only as “the mother” and “the son”. Maybe to keep the focus on their strained relationship? While their dynamic is somewhat compelling, the detached writing style made it hard to connect with them. At times, it felt more observational, as if watching their interactions from a distance rather than experiencing them firsthand.

The story shifts between past and present without warning, which does add a raw, memory like feel. But at times, the transitions feel abrupt and I personally thought they could have been smoother. The side characters felt more like background figures, existing only within their conversations. There is little backstory to them, and I found it made the story feel a bit hollow. I didn’t necessarily need more insight into the side characters themselves. But I would have liked more context about the main character’s relationship with them. Something to make their presence more meaningful.

That said, I really enjoyed the slice-of-life photos of Japan between chapters. They added a nice touch of grounding, and a visual reminder of the world the characters inhabit. In contrast to the fragmented narrative, they helped set the atmosphere and made the story feel more tangible. Plus, I really just like photos with a film feel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the ARC!

Thanks to Netgalley and FSG for the ebook. Chris has a life in Tokyo. He works as an English tutor, spends most nights in a gay bar, surrounded by friends and is having an affair with a married man. After not seeing his mother for ten years, she comes crashing into his life from Houston. Old animosities keep them wary of each other, so his mother decides to explore the city on her own as Chris questions some of the ruts his life may have fallen into. Told with great passion, humor and emotion as each of them find a war back to the other.