TLDR: If you’re looking for a short, quirky read about finding purpose in the mundane, Convenience Store Womandelivers. But if you’re after something with more character depth or a bigger emotional payoff, this one might not be it.

I’m not really sure what I expected going into this, but it definitely wasn’t... this. At just under a two hour read for me, it was a quirky, quick read, but ultimately, a bit too uneventful for me to stay fully engaged.

Our FMC, Keiko, is an introverted woman who finds purpose and meaning in her work at the convenience store, and while her perspective is interesting, the story felt like it never really went anywhere. Her laser focus on the store as her identity and her almost robotic nature were fascinating at first, but after a while, I kept waiting for something—anything—to happen. Spoiler: it doesn’t.

That said, there’s a certain charm in how the book portrays Keiko’s devotion to the mundane, which reminded me of the film Perfect Days. Like the movie’s protagonist, Keiko finds joy and meaning in the ordinary, even if the world doesn’t understand her. I appreciated that message, but I think I needed a little more... depth? Momentum? Drama? Something to keep me invested.