Is there any better feeling than falling immediately into the familiar cadence and rhythm of a book from an author you love? I have read and loved Mieko Kawakami’s work for many years now, and her ability to delve into the minds of her narrators and shift through human emotion, insecurity, quiet joy, and the small moments of life continues to captivate me. But she does not do all the work for the reader. Her gift is crafting dialogue, both internal and external, that allows the reader to dig deeper. Sisters in Yellow delivers on all of these fronts. Hana, our young narrator whose anxiety surrounding her financial instability and drive for security permeates the novel, is one of my favorites of Kawakami’s leads yet. Kawakami probes poverty, vulnerability, and the deep longing to belong to a family and community. The action really ramps up in the second half of the book where the stakes are raised, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Fans of Kawakami will not be disappointed, and this book will be a great entry point for new readers!
Sisters in Yellow by Mieko Kawakami, (List Price: $30, Knopf, 9780593537732, March 2026)
Reviewed by Kelsey, Tombolo Books in St. Petersburg, FL