A mother faces a terrible choice in this explosive literary sensation about a dystopian Ireland

The irresistible hardback Times bestseller and bookshop favourite about the healing power of books and community; Time magazine Top 100 books of 2023; 'An undeniable page-turner' New York Times THE TWO-MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING INTERNATIONAL NOVEL The Top Ten Times bestseller A Time Magazine Book of the Year 'An undeniable page-turner' New York Times 'I ADORED this uplifting, hopeful novel ' Daily Mail 'It made me laugh and cry and feel comforted' 5***** Reader review 'A tribute to the transformative power of books and libraries' Irish Times An inspirational tale of the love, comfort and growth you can find in the pages of a good book. _________________ What are you looking for? So asks Tokyo's most enigmatic librarian, Sayuri Komachi. But she is no ordinary librarian. Sensing exactly what someone is searching for in life, she provides just the book recommendation to help them find it. We meet five visitors to the library, each at a different crossroads- - The restless retail assistant eager to pick up new skills - The mother faced with a demotion at work after maternity leave - The conscientious accountant who yearns to open an antique store - The gifted young manga artist in search of motivation - The recently retired salaryman on a quest for newfound purpose Can she help them find what they are looking for? Which book will you recommend? _________________ 'An undeniable page-turner' New York Times For fans of The Midnight Library and Before the Coffee Gets Cold, this feel-good Japanese book shows how the perfect book recommendation can change a life. SHORTLISTED FOR THE JAPAN BOOKSELLERS' AWARD 'I definitely want to visit this library. I feel kinder after this book' 5***** Reader review 'A quirky slice of feel-good fiction that you could recommend to anyone' Mail on Sunday 'Wonderful. It made me look for connection in my life' 5***** Reader review Times bestseller, August 2023

Details

ISBN13: 9781804994139
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 272
Edition:
Publication Date: 23 Jul 2024
Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd
Publication City, Country: United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 198(H)x128(L)x18(W)188
Weight (gm): 188

Author Biography

Michiko Aoyama (Author) Michiko Aoyama was born in 1970 in Aichi Prefecture, Honshu, Japan. . What You are Looking for is in the Library was shortlisted for the Japan Booksellers' Award, was a Time Book of the Year, a Times bestseller and a New York Times Book of the Month. It has sold over two and a half million copies and is being published in over thirty territories. Her latest novel to be translated into English is The Healing Hippo at Hinode Park and is also due to be published internationally. Aoyama lives in Yokohama, Japan.

Reviews

I ADORED this uplifting, hopeful novel ... A joy from start to finish, this book makes you feel anything is possible -- Wendy Holden * Daily Mail *
There's a wistful, warm-hearted appeal to Aoyama's paean to the power of books ... [it's] a quirky slice of feel-good fiction that you could recommend to anyone * Mail on Sunday *
An endearing novel and a tribute to the transformative power of books and libraries * Irish Times *
Captivating! * Sunday Post *
The novel is an undeniable page-turner, its mechanism energized by a simple question, posed again and again by the uncanny librarian, Mrs. Komachi. The question brings Michiko Aoyama’s characters often to the brink of tears; and not only her characters, but this reader, too. It is the great question of the library, and of the bookstore, and maybe of life: What are you looking for? * New York Times *
If what you are searching for is a believable take on contemporary life in Tokyo, seasoned with a dash of whimsy, you’ll find your perfect match in this heartwarming novel * Japan Times *
It's been a rotten year, so spark joy with this! * DAILY MAIL *
There’s a special kind of magic in recommending books to other people and Michiko Aoyama captures that perfectly here. Full of charm; a genuine comfort read * CULTURE FLY *