This book is about a young Japanese woman who is struggling financially and decides to be a surrogate for a couple who are unable to have children The couple she was hired by grow apart when the wife, who was the source of the infertility, feels like she is left out, There are many twists and turns throughout, with major themes being women’s rights, asexuality, poverty in Japan, and the changing nature of relationships,
At the end of the book, I didn’t know whether I enjoyed reading it or not. I felt annoyed by all the characters. I didn’t like any of them. With that being said, I doubt I will forget this book and maybe that is the point.

This novel, translated from Japanese, is the story of a young woman who agrees to donate her eggs and be a surrogate mother for a wealthy couple. A host of ethical dilemmas ensue.

As an American reader, I found it fascinating to read about the different thoughts Japanese readers might have about surrogacy, egg donation, abortion, and motherhood in general. There were quite a few dramatic turns as the story unfolds. Solid read.

Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Swallows takes on surrogacy, women’s rights, and the question of what a woman’s body is worth. The concept is strong and the themes are important. Class, autonomy, and power run through every page, and the story kept me thinking after I finished.

The pacing sometimes slowed me down. Certain arguments and conflicts circled back more than once, and I struggled with Riki as a main character because she often felt too passive for her age. All the characters were messy. People are messy though. Ririko was the standout character for me. I would read a book just on her.

Even with the repetition, I am glad I read this. The questions it raises about choice and control matter, and Kirino is an author I want to read more of.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book, releasing on September 9th!

This was my first novel by Kirino Natsuo and I enjoyed it! Characters were not likable but felt realistic, and really interesting conversations about how we define womanhood, pregnancy and surrogacy, and ownership of our bodies. My first Kirino novel but likely not my last!

This was a really interesting and relevant book with important commentary on motherhood and capitalism. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of any of the characters, I appreciate how complex and realistic their decisions and emotions were. Some of the conversations felt a little stiff and unrealistic, as did some of the plot points. But still, this was an entertaining read that raised several important questions around the ethics behind surrogacy.

Thank you @netgalley for my copy!

While this was an interesting book in terms of commentary about motherhood, self-wroth, bodily autonomy, and class, it just didn't quite hit for me. Maybe I read it at the wrong time and I needed something lighter. Again, interesting premise and good execution. There was at least one character that really rubbed me the wrong way, and maybe that was the whole point as well. Overall, I'm glad I read it, and will still likely pick up another book by this author, maybe I'll just double check what I want in the book before I read it to make sure I'm in the perfect mood for the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley for this eARC! This is my first Natsuo Kirino read, and I was impressed with the writing and the story. It reminded me a lot of Mieko Kawakami's works (which I absolutely love). I liked the various POVs throughout the book; I felt that using that type of narrarive helped to enhance the storytelling. Now that I've read her latest release, I'm definitely going to read her other books!

I had never read a book by Natsuo Kirino, but she is now definitely on my radar. Her characters were well developed and even though some of them were not particularly likeable, I was vested in them. The main character Riki, was very real in the portrayal of a young women who just does not seem to get a break, but at the same time just does some really dumb things. The ending left me even more disappointed in her. Another poor decision in my view. Overall, I highly recommend this book. It is insightful and well written.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Natsuo Kirino's Swallows is a compelling and intricate narrative that deftly explores the complexities of family dynamics and societal expectations. The story is layered with emotional depth, drawing readers into a world where personal struggles intersect with cultural norms.

Kirino’s writing is both sharp and evocative, painting vivid portraits of her characters, whose lives are as relatable as they are thought-provoking. The way she delves into the intricacies of familial relationships, while simultaneously critiquing societal structures, makes for an engaging and enriching read.

Overall, this is a fascinating read that showcases Kirino’s talent for weaving complex stories. I highly recommend it to those interested in thought-provoking literature that challenges societal norms while delving into the heart of family ties.

'Swallows' by Natsuo Kirino was a four-star read for me. I am not familiar with Japanese culture and terminology so I had to look up many terms in the book. Also, many of the Japanese names look similar and I had a hard time keeping the characters straight (for example Riki and Ririko). The book explored the interesting concept of surrogacy and the impact it has not only on the surrogate mother and the parents, but also on other family and friends. The female characters in 'Swallows' had a variety of attitudes about motherhood and as expected as the story unfolded the characters transformed. I was curious to see who ended up fulfilling the role of parents and was totally surprised by the ultimate conclusion, even though I didn't think I could be. Thanks to Netgalley and Knopf for getting an electronic ARC of 'Swallows' in my hand. I'm glad I read it and I think you should read it too.

Swallows is one of those books that kept me toggling between admiration and frustration. On one hand, I was pulled in by the deeper themes: questions of bodily autonomy, power, and the way society commodifies women’s lives. Kirino has a way of layering social critique into every interaction, and that gave the book a sharp edge I really appreciated.

At the same time, I often found myself worn down by certain characters. Their flaws felt so persistent that I caught myself more annoyed than engaged during stretches of the story. That tension, being invested in the ideas while irritated with the people embodying them, made this a slower read for me at times.

But the ending? Absolutely worth it. Kirino closes the book in a way that is bold, satisfying, and true to the risks Riki takes throughout the story. For me, the last act elevated everything that came before it.

A thought provoking and very interesting novel about the decisions we make and their consequences. I loved this story because of the evolution you so clearly see in the characters. The author is certainly masterful in writing the human condition and making the plot and circumstances accessible and entertaining.

“Swallows” by Natsuo Kirino and brilliantly translated by Lisa Hofmann-Kuroda is a book all about sex, reproduction, and women’s bodies. The book isn’t pornographic or anything like that—actual sex scenes are few and brief. Former ballet star Motoi Kusaoke and his second wife Yuko have exhausted all options to have a baby. The only thing left to do now is to find a surrogate, especially since Motoi is so keen on passing on his dancing genes to a future generation. Riki Ooishi is a country girl from Hokkaido, barely making ends meet in Tokyo. When she hears of the opportunity to become an egg doner, she decides to give it a try. But then, she is offered the chance to be a surrogate and be paid more money than she can imagine saving up in years.

Everyone will be happy—a perfect solution.

But will they?

I found the first part of the novel fairly entertaining but the second half became quite philosophical and brought up many questions. This will stay in my mind for quite some time. Did I like the characters? Not really—although I did kind of like Yuko, the wife.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. My opinions are my own.

I am going to be honest. I hated the characters so much, Riki was a hot mess, Yuki and Motoi (I hope I spelled it right) are not a great couple, Yuki needs to grow a back bone, her best friend? I forgot her name, she was so annoying, and Motoi was the only one who was a constant in this book. He wanted a child, and he never had any doubt on wanting a child, he was a little obsessive about it. But this book was so different, and even though the characters were all over the place, I really liked the plot, I don't know if I am making sense. The ending though??????? Riki surprised me at the end, and now that its over I see what she did what she did lol.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

A temp worker in Tokyo decides to become a surrogate for a Japanese couple. This is a look into a person with dismal prospects in Tokyo, as well as a look at Japanese culture in general. There are some unexpected elements as the woman gains more agency over her life.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this early!

The description of Swallows immediately hooked me and I had to request it. The topic of IVF and surrogacy has had me interested quite a while. There are so many opinions out there about the both of them and I was so curious to see how this book would handle it.

Overall, I think the author did a good job. The characters were multidimensional, and they each had their own thoughts about the topics at hand. I was frustrated at times with certain characters, one being Motoi. Yuko was a complicated character for me and I liked it. Her emotional journey was interesting to witness. I also liked Riki and how she handled all the intricacies.

All that being said, the book hit a point where things started feeling very rushed. The book suffers because of it to me. Characters started to kind of lose who they were from page one and on. There is growth and then there is what happened here, which to me came off as the author trying to wrap things up even if the characters no longer seemed themselves.

Swallows was thought provoking and I think it is worth the read.

Thank you net gallery for the advanced copy of this book. It was a bit of an emotional roller coaster, and I did not know how it was going to end till the last page. Gives you a lot to think about. I would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me the opportunity to read this book.

It was a decent read. Not my favorite. It is not my go to genre so it took me a bit to get into it.

It is not a book I would pick up at first glance.

Not a bookbi would out at the top of my to be read list.

5 Stars! Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions in this review are my own.

Riki is down on her luck working a dead-end hospital job in Tokyo when her friend proposes the idea that they donate eggs to a fertility clinic. Riki applies and is asked by the clinic if she'd be interested in becoming a surrogate for a family. Motoi & Yuko have been trying to have a child for years, without any success. So, when Riki, who looks like Yuko, walks into the clinic, she's the perfect candidate to bear their child. This book discusses in detail bodily autonomy, the surrogate process, and transactional relationships. How much of ourselves are we willing to give up in service of others?

This was such a unique read and I really loved it! I had also read Out by Natsuo Kirino, and this book was very different from that novel! All of the characters in this story, especially Riki, were relatable, and you understood why everyone was coming from where they did. They were also pretty diverse, so you get a wide range of opinions on how Riki should proceed with Motoi & Yuko.

I ended up reading this in about three days - it kept me super engaged. I will say, I was able to predict the ending a bit, but that did not detract from the story for me. Riki is an incredibly complex character, and she does a lot of finding herself through the story. The pacing of the story was also perfect; I wouldn't change anything! Really, really, great book and I can't wait to read more books from Natsuo Kirino!

Swallows manages to be hilarious and heartbreaking all at once, tackling surrogacy, taboos, poverty, and asexuality through a characters who are as unlikable as they are fascinating.