Set in contemporary Tokyo, this uplifting debut novel follows five characters at challenging crossroads in their lives. Each one finds a way forward at the neighborhood library, where an enigmatic librarian has an almost supernatural talent for connecting readers and books... A comforting read filled with serendipity and simple wisdom, this is a celebration of community, conection, and the transformative power of libraries,

A series of interlocking vignettes follow Tokyo residents who find themselves at the local library. The Hatori Community House is located adjacent to an elementary school. It houses meeting rooms, a kitchen, and a library. Small but well stocked and boasting a full-time reference librarian, it is this room—and the librarian, Sayuri Komachi—around which each of the stories rotates. All of the library’s patrons are floundering, and a few words and a book recommendation from Ms. Komachi, as well as a little “bonus gift,” set them on the path to seeing more clearly what it is that they hold valuable.... Each character is wrought with care, as are their blossoming realizations about how their futures can develop despite their worries. A delightful, gentle unfolding of stories that offer hope and joy to those who find themselves in a pivotal moment in life.