A Perfect Day to be Alone brings us through the seasons, and through the lenses an adolescence trying to make way into the world. Its a perfect coming-of-age story that is reminiscent of going through adulthood through the seasons.

We follow through the journey of Chizu in her new life in Tokyo, sharing a house with 70 year old Ginko. The story delves into the eccentric dynamics between the two of them, the exploration of complexity of human relationships and especially of a youngster trying to grasp adulthood on her own, and of humans and their need for companion.

There is nothing and everything in this book. But underneath of the light and monotonous tone of this story, there is almost a dark reflection and expectations of society to women and how at the end its of their struggles to be deemed successful or useful to society .

The writing is quite straightforward and reading it on surface level, there is nothing that likable to our main character, Chizu. She exudes a sense of an-almost arrogance and know-it-all, but beneath all of the bravado, its a girl that just didn't know how to express her feelings well. Reading about Chizu navigating through her life, and her woes and helplessness makes you feel sorry for her and also, its almost like a reminder of how some women struggle to be independent especially with Chizu who lives through a single-mother household all of her life.

I liked the dynamics between her and her house mate Ginko. Both of them are eccentric in their own way, but their friendship works well. And I feel that, Ginko was the best person for Chizu to have in her life on her own for the first time as she learns that even as a 70 year old, Ginko is living her life as she pleases.

I liked the setting of this novel that it goes through the seasons and we can see Chizu's growth through the seasons that has passed as well. From Spring - where the flower blooming is significant to the start of a new venture - to Summer - where she found love that is alive like the blazing heat - to Autumn - where the withering of leaves reflects a change in her relationships - to Winter - where the cold reflects the loneliness within and to Early Spring - where everything is starting again. The way the author has subtly integrated all of these elements made us feel like, as readers, we are growing with Chizu as well. And I felt that was one of the reasons why it won the Akutagawa Prize back in 2006/2007.

I wished we have a POV of Ginko because it will complete this novel entirely, but overall, its a read that will let you reminscene the earlier days of adulthood, the struggles and loneliness of being entirely own your own and of exploring relationships and love.

4 stars for this gem.

Thank you to Pansing for this copy! I truly appreciate it.