The Energy: Claustrophobic. Morose. All-consuming.
The Scene: 🇯🇵 Mainly set in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
The POV: We see the world through the eyes of a high school senior; their oshi’s (favourite celeb's) public fall from grace ignites their own downfall in the search for solace in celebrity.

🎬 Tale-Telling: Brisk, first-person narrative. It felt immersive and I liked diving in to the psyche of Akari as devoted fan becoming unhinged. I thought it was written in a visceral, but thought-provoking way showing us how and why Akari is the way she is and why she is so drawn to her oshi. It was a raw but realistic view of coping through adoration. 
 
👥 Characters: If you’ve never felt drawn to a celebrity or person you don’t know, this could feel confusing or strange to read about, but I think it captured the ways celebrities can be an anchor of sorts while trying to figure out your adult self. In the case of Akari, we see how that can go wrong when it becomes her primary coping mechanism. She seemed annoying and unlikeable (not in a way that ruins the story) but as we got to know her more I felt sympathy and related to some of her sentiments and struggles.  
I also like how her oshi was written with ambiguity...an overwhelmed sensitive soul or a covert narcissist cracking? 
 
🤓 Reader Role: Confidant to Akari’s innermost thoughts, rationalizations, and digital musings. 
 
🗺️ Ambiance: Kind of nostalgic if you grew up with the internet. The online world was realistic with all the highs and lows of internet culture, comments, and celebrity. I felt immersed in the online world then jarred back to Akari’s real world alongside her, where day-to-day struggles, chores, and obligations were priority. 
 
🔥 Fuel: Why is Akari drawn to this celebrity? What led to his downfall and what will the consequences be? If he’s cancelled or withdraws from the public, what will the impact be on Akari? Much of the fuel is wondering about or watching the consequences of vicarious living. 
 
🚙 Journey: Fast-paced, introspective ride through the trials of youth, the allure of escapism, and the weight of adulting. It ends with an open-to-reader-interpretation conclusion that was too soon for me, but suited the story.
 
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🐕 Howls: I wish we got a slightly bigger slice! But the story didn’t feel lacking or rushed, I just didn’t want it to end so soon.    
🐩 Tail Wags: The writing style and characters. The thought-provoking exploration of idolization as a source of comfort, motivation, and identity, and its inherent instability especially for those seeking direction and belonging. 
 
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Mood Reading Match-Up:

 
Content Heads-Up: Depression, malaise. Obsession, stalking (celebrity). Eating disorder (binge eating). Vomit. Suicidal thoughts (descriptive, on page). Domestic abuse (mention; off page). Financial insecurity (overspending).  
 
Rep: Japanese characters and culture. Cisgender. Neurodivergence (undefined; different learning style, memory, and creative abilities)
 
👀 Format: Library Hardcover
 
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