A review by jillsp
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line by Hiro Arikawa

lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This was a charming little story with a great premise.  I was all in for meeting different characters whose lives sometimes intersect as they travel various train lines in Japan.  There were some nice little life lessons and even some deeper connections which made this very thought-provoking.  But sometimes the mundane parts of life...and a lot of talk about the sexual activities of various characters (not in a graphic way) dragged the story down a little.  Yes, we do have some mundane parts, but I personally felt some of that took away from the charm.  Those things aside, I am glad I picked this up as a different quirky read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for this ARC.  All opinions are mine.