In the spring of my first year at university — when I lived by the rule of never getting too close to anyone — I met Hisano Akiyoshi. She stood apart from everyone around her, yet was more straightforward than anyone I had ever known. Moved by her ideals and her passion, the two of us founded a secret society we called "Moai." Three years later, the Akiyoshi who once shared her dreams for the future with me is gone — and lodged in my heart like a thorn is the lie she told me. A defining work by ...
Great start and end, but...
I really enjoyed the beginning (Sumino Yoru is really great at writing these slow-building friendships) and the end (as the character successfully and not so successfully confronted their problems and each other) of this book, but boy was the middle a slog to get through. I enjoy a slow burn, but to me most of what you see throughout the middle of the book barely seems to be relevant to the resolution of the story, which makes it pretty frustrating.
I'd highly recommend the audiobook here - just like the others for また、同じ夢を見ていた and 君の膵臓をたべたい it is really well produced with a fun cast that brings the characters to life.