A LOVE LETTER FOR BIBLIOPHILES AND BOOKSHOPS 📖🌸
Nanako Hanada’s life is at a crossroads. Separated from her husband and living out of 4-hour capsule hotels and cramped internet cafes, her reality is a far cry from the "bookish dream." Even her job as a manager at the zany Village Vanguard bookstore in Tokyo feels stagnant—the management has shifted focus to non-book merchandise to boost sales, leaving Nanako yearning for the simple joy of reading and soul-searching through literature.
The Turning Point:In a bid to reclaim her life, Nanako joins "Perfect Strangers," a meet-up site where people book 30-minute slots to find romance, network, or share hobbies. She meets an eclectic mix of personalities, and at the end of every meeting, she leaves them with a personalized book recommendation.
Why This Book Resonates With Us:Nanako’s journey is down-to-earth, heartfelt, and incredibly relatable for anyone who has ever felt like books are their compass. Bookalicious was established because we share that same passion; for us, it feels like a calling. Life would feel incomplete if we weren’t surrounded by stories.
Serving bibliophiles and providing personalized recommendations is the heartbeat of our daily work. There is a line in the book that is "spot on" for us:
"There would be no point in recommending the new Haruki Murakami book to someone who was already an avid reader of Murakami... there had to be some basic rules for picking a book... maybe some kind of chart..."
We carry those "rules" in the back of our heads every day! Whether it’s finding that hidden gem or our Mystery Book Challenge—where we surprise you with a title tailored to your taste—we live for that "perfect match" moment.
The Verdict:The Bookshop Woman was a surprise Japanese bestseller and has since been adapted into a popular TV drama. It’s a story of transformation; the real-life royalties even allowed Nanako to open Kani Books, her very own bookshop in Tokyo!
If you’ve ever felt that a book found you at exactly the right time, you will find a friend in Nanako.
📍 Get your copy at BookaliciousMY
