SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD
""What is the cost of a mother’s desire?...Emily Itami explores this question with wit and poignancy."" -- New York Times Book Review
""The perfect marriage of Sally Rooney and early Murakami."" -- Kathy Wang, author of Impostor Syndrome
Mizuki is a Japanese housewife. She has a hardworking husband, two adorable children, and a beautiful Tokyo apartment. It’s everything a woman could want, yet sometimes she wonders whether she would rather throw herself off the high-rise balcony than spend another evening not talking to her husband and hanging up laundry.
Then, one rainy night, she meets Kiyoshi, a successful restaurateur. In him, she rediscovers freedom, friendship, and the neon, electric pulse of the city she has always loved. But the further she falls into their relationship, the clearer it becomes that she is living two lives—and in the end, we can choose only one.
Funny, provocative, and startlingly honest, Fault Lines is for anyone who has ever looked in the mirror and asked, who am I and how did I get here? A bittersweet love story and a piercing portrait of female identity, it introduces Emily Itami as a debut novelist with astounding resonance and wit.
© 2021 HarperAudio (Audiobook): 9780063099838
Release date
Audiobook: 7 September 2021
SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD
""What is the cost of a mother’s desire?...Emily Itami explores this question with wit and poignancy."" -- New York Times Book Review
""The perfect marriage of Sally Rooney and early Murakami."" -- Kathy Wang, author of Impostor Syndrome
Mizuki is a Japanese housewife. She has a hardworking husband, two adorable children, and a beautiful Tokyo apartment. It’s everything a woman could want, yet sometimes she wonders whether she would rather throw herself off the high-rise balcony than spend another evening not talking to her husband and hanging up laundry.
Then, one rainy night, she meets Kiyoshi, a successful restaurateur. In him, she rediscovers freedom, friendship, and the neon, electric pulse of the city she has always loved. But the further she falls into their relationship, the clearer it becomes that she is living two lives—and in the end, we can choose only one.
Funny, provocative, and startlingly honest, Fault Lines is for anyone who has ever looked in the mirror and asked, who am I and how did I get here? A bittersweet love story and a piercing portrait of female identity, it introduces Emily Itami as a debut novelist with astounding resonance and wit.
© 2021 HarperAudio (Audiobook): 9780063099838
Release date
Audiobook: 7 September 2021
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Overall rating based on 60 ratings
Page-turner
Heartwarming
Thought-provoking
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Kaaren
30 Sept 2021
Fault Lines is very well and realistically written. An eye opener. Fault Lines is a modern love story, about longing and love. It felt relatable in the best and worst ways. Also, interesting facts about life and Japanese culture. Emily Itami’s debut novel. Looking forward to her next novel.
Kat
30 Sept 2021
A whirlwind
Terri
28 Oct 2021
There are some books that are an easy read, and there are some that make you stop and think.
J
17 Mar 2022
This was funny and relatable and thought provoking and the author paints a beautiful picture of Tokyo. I loved the imperfections of the main character.The narration is perfect too.
Nona
13 Feb 2022
Wow, this took me by surprise.I was engaged from the get go, don't know why, I kept listening with interest, don't know why, I was sad when it ended, still don't know why.I didn't expect to like it this much considering the story line, but I did.
English
Singapore