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I hope this becomes a film - It is EXCELLENT!
As one of the nominations for 2023's Japan Booksellers' Grand Prize, 光のとこにいてね does not disappoint readers. First and foremost, it's prose is creative and easy to understand. For anyone wanting to learn Japanese adverbs through immersion, this book is perfect for that. I struggled to remember many adverbs like チラッと and ぐるっと, but the repetition throughout the story helped me understand through context what they mean. There are also not that many difficult to read kanji outside of various characters' names.
The story is told from two characters' perspectives - Yuzu and Konan's. They both start as elementary school girls ans grow up as their close friendship is put to the test as life throws various obstacles at them.
Lastly, the book's story always keeps me turning the pages. It was the first Japanese story I have read in a long time that was hard to put down. (This does not happen often for me!) The slice-of-life and emotional moments will likely leave many readers hoping that 光のとこにいてね will receive a film or a J-drama adaptation. It has moments that will pull your heartstrings, yet you'll be glad it did.
This is the first Japanese novel I will give 5 stars too. I highly recommend it!