Reviews

The Briefcase by Hiromi Kawakami

seokmefree's review against another edition

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sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

georgiaesdalee1's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

miaumaa's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

touyuujx's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

Loved this book!!! I devoured it!

It was a nice change of pace for me, sure a little slow at times but the slow burn romance towards the way back was SO worth it! 

I just adored Tsukiko's and Sensei's chemistry!! They're so funny and cute together. I died whenever sensei talked to tsukiko after they got together. Their banter and chemistry was truly unmatched. A very solid relationship. Had me screaming into my pillow and kicking my feet. Satoru and Toru were hilarious too, you just have to stan

Toward the end i caught myself thinking
"oh man this is going so great, i sure hope sensei doesn't die" he does and i was so sad but Kawakami-san truly wrote it in such a beautiful way. It might feel like a whole lot of nothing but i meant everything to me


A very beautiful and calm read, i loved it more as it went on and when i got to the acknowledgement i just knew it's going to my top favourites of 2025
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anardes's review against another edition

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4.0

Note to self: Hire a Japanese writer to describe my dishes if I ever open a restaurant.

filipedbranco's review against another edition

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4.0

Não esperem um livro cheio de reviravoltas e acontecimentos mirabolantes. Não. É um livro sobre a vida mais ou menos banal de duas pessoas que, reencontrando-se após muitos anos, se apaixonam (de certa forma). Muito bonito e dá um quentinho no coração. Também fala muito da solidão, um problema que assola o Japão.

darraghmc's review against another edition

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2.0

Clumsy, awkward and a tad creepy.

It might be a cultural (or even a translation) issue, but I really did not like either of the main characters in this. Nor did I like the writing style.

earnestlysai's review against another edition

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4.0

well, i didn't know it was a romance novel until i read it a few pages in. uh, this book is hard to emphatize with, but i tried and it was good. at first, i was pleasantly surprised by this novel. when i finished reading it, i was left with a subtle feeling.

the ending seemed quite predictable. the relationship between the protagonists was pretty particular.

overall, i enjoyed every moment reading this book.

duppie420's review against another edition

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lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

khreah's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated

3.75