readingunderadesk 's review for:

The Convenience Store by the Sea by Sonoko Machida

4.0

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One thing about me is that I keep picking up these little slice of life and/or magical realism Japanese translated books! The Convenience Store by the Sea falls into the former category (so don't go into it looking for a touch of magic if you're more familiar with the Before the Coffee Gets Cold or The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Cafe series) - it's a set of interconnected sort of short stories separated by chapter of the people around the town of Mojiko in Kitakyushu, and the convenience store on the ground level of an elder community apartment building. In this convenience store, and the open dining space attached, we meet a variety of characters - a weirdly super attractive (but also super kind) store manager with an elder lady (and others) fan club, a mom living her second life as both a convenience store clerk by day and an online manga artist by night, a cram school teacher who finally gives up his dream of becoming a manga artist... or does he..?, a "whatever guy" who really does just happen to do whatever is necessary, a pair of school girls both dealing with different issues... and the list goes on. But in this small city, and in this small neighborhood, everyone's stories are interconnected in a way that really only happens when the people around care for each others' well-being.

Apparently the author lives in Mojiko and honestly... now I want to visit when I finally make it over to Kyushu! I also like the alternate covers better- they're reminiscent of a specific convenience store chain which every day makes me miss just... conbini.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam , G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for review!