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funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a very interesting consideration of society. The idea that neurotypicals want people to interact with society, have goals and have lives which tea can be spilled about even if people like the protagonist was interesting. I was so pleased that she went back to where she felt comfortable at the end. I related strongly to the protagonist in some ways and not others.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Toxic relationship, Acephobia/Arophobia
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Sexism, Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Classism
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An absolutely life-changing book that you read and then think about for the rest of your life. While maybe not intentional, the protagonist's life and experiences throughout the book are some of the most visceral writing of an autistic woman I've ever had the pleasure of reading. You will never forget this book and how you read as a woman was slowly crushed by the expectations of society and stripping herself of what it meant to be her to fit in to what people expect of her, and make it out the other side truer to herself than she ever was before. The convenience store is a living being that loves you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Toxic relationship
There are moments where the protagonist either carries out graphic violence or considers it, the first of which happens with an animal. The second instance is a deeply disturbing thought of wanting to kill an infant to quiet it, though this is never carried out and registers as violent.
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Convenience Store Woman is an engaging story of difference and neurodivergence in contemporary Japanese society (though non-Japanese readers will likely see their own societies reflected here as well). It explores the mismatch between how the first-person narrator, Keiko, feels comfortable and at home in the world and the discomfort of the "normal" people (her word) around her. While Keiko's particular way of being is never named or identified, she reads very strongly as autistic to me (and, judging from reviews online, to other autistic women as well). She is also asexual and aromantic. Keiko's interior world is richly presented, and it is ultimately a funny and sweet portrayal of a person who has managed to find the place in society where they feel comfortable and valued, in spite of external pressures to be otherwise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny
Moderate: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Acephobia/Arophobia
Minor: Stalking
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Sexism, Toxic relationship
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book tries to critique societal norms but doesn’t quite succeed. The main character is clearly neurodivergent and spends the story being told she needs to be “fixed,” as a which, as a neurodivergent, feels ableist and undermines the message. The critique of conformity might have been stronger if the protagonist were neurotypical but still rejected societal expectations. The lack of chapters makes the structure feel odd, and while the main character’s knowledge of convenience stores is interesting, it’s not enough to redeem the book. Overall it’s a was a bit of a let down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Stalking, Acephobia/Arophobia, Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal death, Rape, Violence
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't understand this book. I was waiting for an action which never happened. I felt sad for the main character, I'd have love her to be better surrounded. The book was for me a very weird depiction of autism, with a lot of clichés. It was quick and easy to read. But nothing interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexism, Toxic relationship
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Stalking, Toxic friendship
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thanks, I hate it.
This is not a light, funny, ‘oh, isn’t she quirky’ comfort read.
Keiko is a neurodivergent women who works in a shop. She loves her job and is happy with her life – except for the fact that everyone around her wants her to leave her job and start being ‘normal’.
I adore Keiko – but I despised literally everyone else in this book. They’re horrible awful people obsessed with forcing everyone to live identically to them. Except for one other person, who’s awful but differently awful. Keiko’s sister and best friend are the worst.
As soon as it became clear that the MC was neurodivergent, I googled the author. This book is riddled with internalised ableism, right from the start. From what I read about the author, the premise of this book (though perhaps not the plot) seems to be autobiographical.
The main character is obsessed with what I can’t help but thinking of as self-inflicted ABA. I hope the author is more generous with herself.
The idea of neurotypical people reading this book makes me uncomfortable. But then maybe they need to read it in order to see the hell they put on neurodivergent people. But then, they won’t see it; they’ll just see a ‘charming’ story about a ‘quirky’ woman.
Ugh.
This is not a light, funny, ‘oh, isn’t she quirky’ comfort read.
Keiko is a neurodivergent women who works in a shop. She loves her job and is happy with her life – except for the fact that everyone around her wants her to leave her job and start being ‘normal’.
I adore Keiko – but I despised literally everyone else in this book. They’re horrible awful people obsessed with forcing everyone to live identically to them. Except for one other person, who’s awful but differently awful. Keiko’s sister and best friend are the worst.
As soon as it became clear that the MC was neurodivergent, I googled the author. This book is riddled with internalised ableism, right from the start. From what I read about the author, the premise of this book (though perhaps not the plot) seems to be autobiographical.
The main character is obsessed with what I can’t help but thinking of as self-inflicted ABA. I hope the author is more generous with herself.
The idea of neurotypical people reading this book makes me uncomfortable. But then maybe they need to read it in order to see the hell they put on neurodivergent people. But then, they won’t see it; they’ll just see a ‘charming’ story about a ‘quirky’ woman.
Ugh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Toxic relationship
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Ableism, Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying, Stalking