All the Lovers in the Night

by Mieko Kawakami
All the Lovers in the Night cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Literary Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 1100
  • Added: 2025-09-25
  • Updated: 2025-09-26
  • ISBN: 9781509898275
  • Publisher: Pan Macmillan
  • Published: 2022-05-12
  • Formats: 31
  • Reviews: 3
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Paperback • £9.99
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Format • £9.49

Fuyuko Irie, a freelance proofreader in her thirties, navigates the overwhelming city of Tokyo, struggling to form meaningful connections. Her solitary life takes a turn when she meets Mitsutsuka, whose weekly encounters begin to awaken something new within her. As Fuyuko starts to see the world differently, painful memories resurface, pushing her to confront her own boundaries and the walls she has built around herself. This novel, translated from Japanese by Sam Bett and David Boyd, is a poetic and shocking exploration of human connection and personal growth. Mieko Kawakami, a literary sensation and International Booker Prize-shortlisted author, delivers a deeply moving story that resonates with themes of alienation and the search for belonging. The novel's modern setting and introspective narrative make it a compelling read, showcasing Kawakami's unique voice and insight into the human condition.

Reviews
Ashley HajimirSadeghi's Blog · Ashley HajimirSadeghi · 2025-06-21
good 3.50

The book is good and offers valuable insights into the protagonist's perspective. However, it may not be a favorite due to its pacing and depth.

Ashley HajimirSadeghi acknowledges that 'All the Lovers in the Night' is a good book, offering valuable insights into the protagonist's perspective. They note that while the novel has its merits, it may not be a favorite due to its pacing and depth. The reviewer appreciates the unique viewpoint of Fuyuko but feels that the book could have delved deeper into certain aspects. Overall, it is seen as a worthwhile read that provides a meaningful exploration of its themes.

Quick quotes

    I will say it is a good book. But does that mean I love it? Not really.

    I think it offers a lot of value in the perspective of Fuyuko.

    The novel starts out at an unhurried pace, deliberately so, as the early sections replicate the mundane nature of Fuyuko's daily existence.

The Skinny · 2025-04-10
poignant 4.00

The protagonist is achingly lonely, navigating a world that often lacks tolerance for her. The novel is a poignant exploration of isolation and self-discovery.

The Skinny's reviewer presents the protagonist as achingly lonely, highlighting how the world around her often lacks tolerance for her existence. This novel is seen as a poignant exploration of isolation and the journey towards self-discovery. The reviewer appreciates the raw and relatable aspects of the protagonist's struggle, making it a compelling read. The novel is praised for its emotional depth and the way it captures the complexities of human loneliness.

Quick quotes

    In All the Lovers in the Night, Mieko Kawakami presents an achingly lonely character at the centre of a world that has little tolerance for her.

    The parts that tackled about loneliness really struck my heart as it takes one to know one to be acquainted with being lonely when we're adults.

    All the Lovers in the Night unfurls as a delightfully raw and relatable journey of self-discovery – until the loner is no longer lonely, just simply on their own.

JacquiWine's Blog · JacquiWine · 2023-10-03
devastating 4.50

The novel is luminous and devastating, beautifully capturing the sensory experience of the protagonist's life. The writing is deft and evocative, making it a powerful read.

JacquiWine found the novel to be a deeply moving and beautifully written exploration of a young woman's life. They highlight the luminous and devastating aspects of the story, praising the way it conveys the sensory experiences of the protagonist's world. The writing is described as deft and evocative, making the novel a powerful and immersive read. JacquiWine appreciates the emotional depth and the way the novel captures the nuances of human experience.

Quick quotes

    This is a luminous, devastating, beautifully written novel, deftly conveying the piercing sensory experience of life in this young woman's world.

    The writing is subtle and wonderful, the connection between memory and light is so lovely.

    The novel is a powerful, moving story of a woman hitting rock-bottom and wondering whether it's worth trying to make her way to the surface.

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