Fault Lines

Actual rating: 3.5★

Rounded up because Mizuki, the main character, is super relatable. This one didn't grab me as much as I expected, even though it's still quite a nice read. I was hoping there would be more portrayal of the stale marriage and motherhood, but the book actually spends a lot of time explaining other aspects such as Mizuki's background and life before she got married. Which is also necessary, to be fair, but the portion of it is so huge it kind of overshadows the moments when she talks about her life now and why she's so unhappy with it. It's like watching a series of flashbacks back to back.

While I'm sure a lot of people would be upset about Mizuki's decision at the end, I can understand why she did. Life in Asia is just so different, with so many aspects that you have to consider before you make major decisions like leaving your husband simply because you're unhappy about your marriage. It might work just fine in Western countries, but in Asia it's not that easy to have the freedom to make that kind of choice. You can even see it in the book, from the way people judge Mizuki for doing something that isn't considered normal or proper.

...and there's no guarantee Kiyoshi wouldn't just turn into Tatsuya 2.0 if Mizuki chooses him and they get married. That's just how men are, sadly. If you disagree, consider yourself very lucky since it's not a pleasant experience to watch the gradual change.

The writing style took some time for me to get used to, but it's surprisingly snarky and funny. I enjoyed it even if it's quite different from my expectations.