Thank you to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for providing this eARC.

The plot had a few holes, some things could have been better explained or elaborated on. Still, its a short but "intense" one, it its way. I could barely put it down.

The atmosphere is oppressive and these characters, as ostracized by society as by their own selves, were really compelling. I kept hoping the relationship between them would develop somewhat but what I read on these pages might actually be better. It makes for a more interesting and unique story.

Overall a 3.5/5,

Someone to Watch Over You follows two main characters Tae and Shinobu. Both have been returned from Tokyo to their hometown and are navigating the beginnings of the COVID lockdown. Both carry a lot of feelings of guilt and paranoia over previous incidents that have happened in their lives. They meet when Tae calls upon Shinobu's handyman experience, and from there develop a very awkward friendship (though its more of a situation-ship where neither of them wants to interact with one another necessarily).

The overall tone and vibe of the book was really good - it set up a very unsettling, weirdly tense atmosphere that made you think anything could happen at any point. Both characters were haunted by a lot (including possibly an actual ghost), and it was a really good commentary from both the characters on how they felt, as well as the external factors involved in those feelings from the people of the town calling Tae a murderer and Shinobu's family wanting him to never return.

The ending was classicly ambiguous, which I think worked well here since the tone and prose set up a severe amount of uncertainty; though interestingly, multiple times Tae mentions she feels much safer in the home with Shinobu there, but also doesn't outwardly seem to feel this way. I think this goes to show how well done the perspectives here were.

Overall, I think I would give 3.75 stars. Definitely an interesting, quick read.

Thank you to Pushkin Press, NetGalley, and Kumi Kimura for an ARC copy of this book.

Giving it 1 star because it was just too confusing for my liking. I had to go back and re read pages. It didn’t make a lot of sense to me. It wasn’t really a memorable book i’ll probably forget everything I read by tomorrow. I’m sure some would really like it but it’s just not for me unfortunately.

There is a quiet unease that runs through Someone to Watch Over You.

The narrative unfolds during the COVID pandemic, in a town outside of Tokyo. A middle age woman and a houseless handyman are adrift in the aftermath of shame and loss, moving through a shared landscape with silent, unspoken grief. There are no easy resolutions or explanations to what is happening; we are only given fragments of a daily life that resist coherence.

What lingers, long after the final page, is the sense of being watched. Not by a person, but by the weight of expectation, absence, or perhaps time itself.

This is a novel that does not comfort. It unsettles. But perhaps that is more important.

*Review was based on an ARC from Pushkin Press and NetGalley.

Thank you to Pushkin Press & NetGalley for the ARC!!

3.25 stars!

I will admit, straight off the bat, at time I felt myself losing connection to reading this. But when I did get down to getting back to it, I felt myself pulled to know more. I expected to love this more but it was still one heck of a read.

It really holds so much within such a short story about alienation, loneliness, guilt, anxiety, iolation, paranoia etc. such strong things that are expressed so well.

But I wish I felt that Tae was more developed than Shinobu, that would have really maybe bumped it up.

This is a joining of two people that are guilt ridden that they may have caused someone to die. The writing is excellent and as true to Japanese fiction holds all the little details that make the novel feel so real as if you're watching someones life for real.

Unfortunately this one just didn't work for me. It didn't flow well at all, it all just felt very clunky/choppy which made it hard to follow and easy to get confused.

I did not enjoy this book. It was very different than what I expected and quite confusing. I went back and reread passages to hopefully understand it a bit better, but I was still very confused.

To be honest, I was not mentally prepared for this book.

This book starts off on a slow note - a meeting of two characters, both unassuming. Then things get weird REALLY quick. I haven’t read much ‘weird’ literary fiction, but I can only imagine this book is exactly that. It has the eeriness and disturbing qualities of The Secret History set in the typical slow-living setting often seen in fan-favorite Japanese literature.

There are parts that are unsettling and off-putting enough that I considered stepping away from this book. The fact that this story takes place in 2020 during the peak of the COVID pandemic makes this read all the more uncomfortable; it’s a setting far too familiar to us all, but you want these people to be anything but real.

That said, I basically finished it in a single day (perks of being a novella), and my first instinct is to read it again from the beginning in order to wrap my mind around what happened. The author’s goal was accomplished, and that makes it a successful novella, in my opinion.

You ever read a book that makes you feel like you're eavesdropping on something you shouldn’t? This book is exactly that—a quiet, unsettling story that sneaks up on you.

Set during the early COVID-19 days, it follows two strangers—both hiding from their past—sharing an apartment with one rule: no face-to-face contact. Through notes and messages, their guilt, paranoia, and isolation unravel in eerie, intimate ways.

It’s a short read, but the tension lingers long after. If you love quiet, unsettling stories that feel a little too real, this one’s for you.

#SomeonetoWatchOverYou #NetGalley

I honestly didn't enjoy this book very much, at first it felt like the story was building especially with the two main characters each learning more about each other. At some point the story felt like it was setting up for something bigger and more interesting but then the book just kind of ended with no resolution or climax. I've read a lot of Japanese translated literature (like Convenience Store Woman or Strange Weather in Tokyo) and was anticipating some moral or hidden lesson at the end. But the book actually ended with me wondering if I read it correctly. Either this went over my head or it wasn't an interesting ending, and honestly both options aren't for me. The premise of two traumatized tormented people meeting during covid was really appealing to me but they really didn't learn a lesson or grow into better (or worse) people and the story lines were left open ended. I think there will be some people who enjoyed this one and don't mind how open ended it was but it wasn't for me.

Sometimes, I think I'm ready for books set during COVID, and then a book like Someone to Watch Over You comes along to challenge that assumption. So, first off, I would say to make sure you're ready for recalling the possible isolation and anxiety of the initial outbreak.

Set in small-town Japan, two isolated and troubled characters are linked as the pandemic sets hold in their communities. Someone to Watch Over You is an incredibly uneasy and claustrophobic read, something which heightens as we travel through the book. Everything feels damp and bleak. There are neighbors' whispering, assumptions pushed, prolonged silences, and a mistrust of the self. Some readers may wish for a more final ending, but to me, the ending fits so well with the unknowingness and unease of the book as a whole.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kumi Kimura’s *Someone to Watch Over You* is a haunting and atmospheric novella that captures the isolation, guilt, and quiet desperation of two people struggling to exist in a world that has seemingly turned against them. Set in Japan during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the story follows Tae, a former teacher burdened by accusations of driving a student to suicide, and Shinobu, an ex-security guard haunted by his involvement in a protester's death. Both retreat to their hometowns, weighed down by their pasts and the fear of an invisible threat. When their paths cross, Tae hires Shinobu for a repair job, leading to an unusual arrangement where they cohabitate but communicate only through written notes, maintaining a physical and emotional distance that mirrors their inner turmoil.

What makes *Someone to Watch Over You* so compelling is its eerie quietness—Kimura’s prose, translated by Asa Yoneda, is sparse yet deeply evocative, drawing the reader into the characters’ growing unease. The novella unfolds as a slow-burn psychological study, with an ever-present sense of claustrophobia that heightens the tension. The pandemic serves not just as a backdrop but as an extension of the characters’ anxieties, amplifying their emotional isolation. This is a story about the weight of guilt, the human need for connection, and the delicate balance between fear and trust. Thought-provoking and unsettling, *Someone to Watch Over You* lingers in the mind long after the final page.

First I want to give my thanks to NetGalley, Pushkin Press and Kumi Kimura for allowing me to read this ARC!

Rating: Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5/5

A tender and introspective story about isolation and connection. Set during the early days of the pandemic, it follows two people trying to keep their distance from the world—both physically and emotionally—while carrying the weight of their pasts.

What struck me most is how it captures that universal struggle of wanting to be alone yet still craving human connection. The characters' quiet interactions show that even in solitude, having someone who simply understands can make all the difference.

It’s a short, delicate read—simple yet profound—perfect for anyone who enjoys slice-of-life stories that linger long after the last page.

I might need more research to back my sentence but I’m going with this: Japanese (writers) are so amazing at writing about *LONELINESS* even without having to use the word to describe the feeling of desolation one goes through, with or without company.

This book delves into the same 'lonely' theme with covid as the setting. A 40-year old lady decided to hire a former bodyguard as her handyman after a string of incidences occurred as she tried to make her dwelling more liveable after she inherited it from her parents who have passed. The community in her neighborhood, though small, was not so welcoming to her. The handyman, desperate for money as he struggled to be financially independent, also after as string of unlucky events, readily agreed to perform whatever the lady wanted as long as he had a shelter above his head.

The novella was sparing in its details when it comes to the background of the characters, but they somehow felt ‘whole’ and could easily be anyone you knew in real life. The distancing that the pandemic required didn’t help in making the lives of people less lonely but these two, despite their jarring differences in their personalities and the way they lived, somehow found reliance and comfort in each other as they tried to survive in whatever ways they could.

Though I could not warm up to any of the characters perhaps also due to the short length, it was certainly an interesting look at the lives of certain quarters during the pandemic in a different country. I could relate to the impacts of the imposition of certain rules, but also learned more about social fabric and the fragility of social niceties when pressured with something scary and unknown.

I have to point out that the translation was exceptional. The sentences and word choice were smooth, as if it was originally written in English. Only the translator’s choice of retaining certain words in Japanese made me realize it wasn’t so, but I’d have made the same choice with the words that were retained in Japanese too. Asa Yoneda, I’ve got my eyes on you.

this wasn't quite for me, i'm afraid! i loved the premise, but it just wasn't as exciting as i was expecting. the writing (or translation, i'm not sure) seemed a little clunky at times, and i wish they had been living together in the house for longer, or perhaps from the start of the book. it came to a sudden end, too, that i wasn't expecting -- i thought that it was building up to something bigger. i wish more had happened!

[i received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. thank you to netgalley and pushkin press.]

Someone to Watch Over You is a novella about two people who end up in an unusual arrangement during the pandemic. In a small town in Japan, a woman lives alone in what was her parents' house, avoiding people whilst haunted by the fact she might've caused the death of a student. When she hires a former security guard who knocked down a protester as a handyman, they find themselves needing each other amongst the claustrophobic atmosphere of the pandemic.

This is a tense book that confronts readers with many ways in which humans can be bad to one another, actively or passively, through a story of fear and paranoia. The narrative moves between the two characters' perspectives and you never quite know what is meant to have happened and what hasn't. As with similar books in this genre of Japanese literature, there aren't really any answers by the end, but instead it concludes with ongoing ambiguity, with readers knowing more about the connection between these characters than the characters seem to themselves. It is a short, gripping read, but not one for people who want to unravel what actually happened in the narrative's mysteries.

the author allows us to grasp the story through the two main characters. however, she refuses to hold our hand, just like how society during COVID-19 avoided touch.

we follow two characters and their journey to keep on surviving despite dealing with loss, guilt, and isolation. as i started reading the story, initially i felt like there was this distance between me and the characters - although they carry their past with them and try to actively move on from it, i felt like i could only work with the few and vague details given. the pacing of the story felt slow at first, but it went by so fast towards the end. i found myself wanting for more answers, clues, and context - even yearning for a sequel! however, i believe that i can only interpret the situation with the given artefacts and hope for the best.

a few more things that i love about this story:
* food and routines are thoroughly described. the writing style felt to me as if i were in close proximity to the characters. i often found myself craving for different meals while i was reading the story.
* COVID-19 prevention ‘rituals’ that were normalized back then in society were narrated realistically. i’ve noticed how the character (the FMC, specifically) would bring up the current thing in their hometown and compare it to how it was back then before the pandemic.
* emotions are subtly written, they are not imposed.

some of the things i didn’t like that much:
* the MMC (im sorry :p) - it’s a personal opinion that i felt the ick whenever his parts came up. while that felt to me like good and effective writing, i couldn’t bring myself to empathize with him.
* the motives of the side characters and characters in the past felt unclear. while they contributed a lot to the current emotions of the main characters, i just wish the author paid attention to them more.

im glad i had the chance to read this story. im looking forward to reading more of the author’s work - to my knowledge, this is her first story that has been translated into english.

Book Review: Someone to Watch Over You by Kumi Kimura
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

First off, thank you to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review!

So, Someone to Watch Over You had such an interesting premise, and I was really excited going into it. The idea of a mysterious guardian watching over someone, mixed with suspense and some emotional depth, totally caught my attention. The writing itself was really immersive, and I liked how the author built this eerie, almost dreamlike atmosphere.

That being said, I had a hard time fully connecting with the characters. There were moments where I felt like I was almost getting invested, but then the pacing would slow down or the dialogue would feel a little stiff. I also wish some of the plot points had been developed more, certain twists felt rushed, while other parts dragged a bit.

Overall, I think this book had a lot of potential, and there were definitely moments that kept me hooked. If you like slow burn mysteries with a surreal touch, you might enjoy this one! But for me, it was just okay, good, but not great.

Someone to Watch Over you is a story that follows two characters, neither of which are protagonists of zeal or that demand admiration but a man and a woman both flawed and repressed during the pandemic.

Tae echoes the fears and paranoia of society during COVID 19 in a way many people, especially older people, felt experiencing the unknown.

Shinobu, a down and out man is a failure and can't find his way in a world that is also finding its feet in a crisis.

The distance between us, and the importance of connection are challenged in this novel. If you're a fan of The Convience Store Woman or other Japanese fiction I think you will enjoy this.

Someone To Watch Over You offers a dip into the lives of two complex and deeply troubled characters. The story lives in a fog of paranoia, suffocating and isolating; a well-suited atmosphere for the circumstances these two find themselves in.
The start was a bit confusing to me and feels slightly disjointed, diving straight into their mental worries and anxiety-ridden thoughts with very little grounding, but ultimately pays off by unsettling the reader from the start.
The story felt real, though frustrating. I could personally not empathise with either of the two but I did feel a sort of pity/worry for both of them.
Worth the read, short, but no less gripping.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Pushkin Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.