Book Review: What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama (translated by Alison Watts)

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Librarian Sayuri Komachi greets all visitors at the library at Hatori Community House with this simple question, the answer to which doesn't always come easily to the person to whom the question is directed.

“What are you looking for?”

Along with her recommendations, she adds a title that is seemingly unrelated to the patron’s query. She also adds a handmade ”bonus gift” to her patrons, that strangely resonates with the person on a deeply personal level.

“Life is one revelation after another. Things don’t always go to plan, no matter what your circumstances. But the flip side is all the unexpected, wonderful things that you could never have imagined happening. Ultimately it’s all for the best that many things don’t turn out the way we hoped. Try not to think of upset plans or schedules as personal failure or bad luck. If you can do that, then you can change, in your own self and in your life overall.”

What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama (translated by Alison Watts) follows the stories of five such people, each of whom is searching for a purpose or a new direction in life. A twenty-one-year-old sales assistant feels stagnated in her career and is unable to find value in her work-life, a thirty-five-year-old accountant feels trapped in his regular job but hesitates to sacrifice stable employment in the interest of pursuing his passion for antiques as a career; an unemployed thirty-year-old aspiring illustrator is consumed by thoughts of his unfulfilled dreams to be an artist; a forty-year-old former magazine editor transferred to an unfulfilling but less demanding position after returning from maternity leave struggles with her need to branch out and maintain a wok-home balance and finally a recent retiree who questions his worth in society. After a life devoted to his career. Each of these characters, though at different junctures in life, is plagued by feelings of self-doubt and insecurity, but Ms. Komachi’s helpful suggestions prove to be profoundly impactful.

Through these five interconnected stories, the author explores the need for human connection, friendship, community and above all, the fact that change and personal growth are possible at every stage in life. This short novel is an ode to the role of libraries, librarians and the transformative power of books. How books enable readers to gain perspective and inspire clarity of thought and personal change is an underlying theme in this novel. I do wish we had gotten to know a bit more about the kind and perceptive librarian Ms. Komachi, which is my only complaint.

“Readers make their own personal connections to words, irrespective of the writer’s intentions, and each reader gains something unique.”

Beautifully written in simple yet elegant prose, with realistic and well-thought-out characters and situations, insightful and inspiring, this is a sweet and heartwarming read. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would not hesitate to recommend it to those who enjoy stories that revolve around libraries and the profound impact of books and reading on our lives.

Many thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.