Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - The Premonition

Spice Rating: 🫑 / 5 🌶️

The Premonition is an odd little book. It definitely was not what I expected.

Yayoi is a 19-year-old girl living with her loving mother, father, and brother. From an early age, Yayoi has always felt like something is missing. Like she doesn't quite belong. She often goes on short solo trips to get away from home and figure things out. This time, she finds herself on her Aunt Yukino's doorstep, even though she and Yukino have never been close. Yayoi spends this time with her aunt trying to figure out who she is and where she belongs.

The Premonition explores complex, weird, and taboo relationships and shows the reader that love isn't always black and white.

I was very off-put by the incestuous relationship between Yayoi and her brother as well as the adult-minor relationship between Yukino and her student. Though these relationships were not included for shock value and didn't stop me from enjoying the book, I still have some reservations about them.

This book is meant to make you feel uncomfortable and uneasy, and the complexity of these relationships matches that tonality.

This book is about going after what you want instead of sleepwalking through life. It has some poignant thoughts and is an easy read. Overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to readers who appreciate nuance, unease, and taboo stories.

Content Warnings

yesdnil's review

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

“Banana Yoshimoto” is the neatest pen name ever. Her lush and ethereal writing style describes Japan and Yayoi’s love/admiration for Yukino with the most beautiful and vivid language.

But—

Yayoi’s emerging romantic relationship with her adoptive brother and Yukino’s relationship with her student (leading to an unwanted pregnancy) are disturbing.

Content Warnings