This was an interesting read - two men who met once in New York get the chance to meet again in Tokyo to see if there is a future for them sounded an interesting premise.
Sadly while I liked the descriptions of the locations and places visited neither of the main characters appealed to me - I think that I am just not the target audience for the book in many ways.

Seven Days in Tokyo is José Daniel Alvior's debut novel. A slow-paced contemporary fiction love-ish story, it spans the narrator's week-long trip to Tokyo. Louie, born in Manila and struggling to renew his work visa so he can continue the life he's created in New York City, journeys to Tokyo to seek out a man he met as a one night stand whom he hopes may be something more. His stay in Japan is full of surprises, however, including run-ins with old friends and lots of introspection as he explores Tokyo's cafe scene.

I wanted to like this book more, especially with such a gorgeous cover, but I don't think I'm the target audience for it--literary fiction about relationships falling apart the way they do here is not my cup of tea (sorry, Celeste Ng). Landon, Louie's potential love interest, reads as the negatively stereotyped white expat in Asia, though this is obliquely described rather than directly discussed. Meanwhile, Louie's quest for coffee shops seemed like a symbolic metaphor best explored in literary analysis study guides. Their relationship reads like a more realistic, adult version of Call Me By Your Name, sans peaches but plus lots and lots of cherry blossoms, and leaned a bit too hard on the lack-of-communication trope. The descriptions of Tokyo were very detailed, providing a great sense of place, but also felt a bit like a Japanophile's dream visit of touristy areas. Honestly, the relationship that stood out and felt the most fleshed out was Louie's friendship with Sayumi--I loved their interactions! Alvior's craft as a writer shows promise, so perhaps I will enjoy future works better.

Readers who like this book may also enjoy: Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman, Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin, Countries of Origin by Javier Fuentes, Dogs of Summer by Andrea Abreu, The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai, and Hanami by Julia Cejas.

This is a beautifully written touching novel you don't want to end. The characters meet fleetingly in NY and Tokyo and you can feel the emotions dripping off the pages. It was at times happy, sad, poignant, moving, thrilling and so much more. You really feel like you are in the places with the characters, exploring, learning, growing and wanting.

Seven Days in Tokyo" offers a solid, thought-provoking read, but it could have benefitted from more polish in terms of character depth and pacing. It's an enjoyable exploration of both the external world of Tokyo and the internal world of the protagonist :)

Seven Days in Tokyo is a beautifully crafted and heartfelt debut from Jose Daniel Alvior that tells the story of Landon, a British expat living in Tokyo, and Louie, a hopeful visitor awaiting his U.S. visa approval. After a fleeting, magical night together in Manhattan, the two reconnect in Tokyo, spending seven days exploring whether that moment was a spark or something more enduring.

Set amidst Tokyo’s enchanting streets, the novel creates a lyrical and almost cinematic portrayal of the city. As someone who has been to Japan, I was instantly drawn to the title and its setting, which beautifully rekindled my own memories of that place. The author’s creative and descriptive writing immerses readers in every detail.

The story is a slow burn, richly layered with emotions and feelings, which may not appeal to every reader but feels deliberate and meaningful here. Louie and Landon’s journey explores the intricacies of desire, the weight of expectations, and the fragile boundaries between hope and reality. The novel also offers thought-provoking perspectives on relationships, belonging, and the ephemeral nature of connection.

Louie, in particular, stood out for me, as did his circle of friends, who brought warmth and depth to the story. While I appreciated the backstories of the characters, I felt the author could have gone further in fleshing them out. Certain aspects of character development felt underexplored, leaving me wishing to know more about their motivations and inner lives.

While this is not a book I would typically choose, I am glad I read it. The tender and intricate way the author puts emotions into words is commendable, making the novel a deeply personal and moving experience.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Unbound for providing me a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Really enjoyed this title. As someone who has lived in Japan, the writing totally took me back. I loved reading Louie and Landon's story. It was quiet and internal but Alvior made me care about Louie's thoughts and feelings. Not action packed...but packed an emotional punch. The details that the author highlights stuck with me...who knew I'd be obsessed with images of a bath towel! Also loved that this book was LGBTQ+ but that that wasn't highlighted. Often, I overlooked the fact that Louie and Landon were a gay couple! Their experience just felt true to me. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a beautifully written title that focuses on feelings.

I really wanted to like Seven Days in Tokyo. The writing is wonderful, but the plot left a bit to be desired. It can't really be described any more than "guy goes on a week-long trip to see someone he hooked up with and accidentally caught feelings for, only to realize he's a bit of a knob." The main conflict that happens seems to be nearer the end of the book, which was a little puzzling to me. I think it could have been interesting to see it slightly earlier to see how the characters deal with that resentment and if the extra time could have changed how they felt. Despite characters' backstories being in the book, it felt as though apart from Landon I could not be able to picture what any of the characters would look like. Whether intentional or not, I think the other characters could have been expanded on just a little more.

The story fell a little flat for me but I cannot put my finger on exactly why. I enjoyed the writing style. I think it lacked in character development

Thank you to NetGalley and Unbound for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was drawn to this story because of my two trips to Japan, and the fact that it featured a gay male MC. The author provides a vivid story, evoking memories of trips down alleyways in Shinjuku that hit home. He was able to portray visiting Tokyo in a way that made me miss it. The additional layer of love (?) lost didn’t hurt. I would say this was a 3.75 (Fable) or a 4 (Goodreads) and am glad I read it. Again, don’t go into this anticipating a happy ending, but rather, embracing the difficulty of chasing something that you know might be doomed.

The story follows Louie as he visits a former one-night stand, Landon, a British ex-pat in Tokyo, on his way back to Manila. The story evokes a strong feeling that resonated to me as a gay man, of a longing for a man that maybe we think could provide us something we don't have. I felt for Louie frequently throughout the story, often hoping and placing meaning on Landon’s actions that favored him rather than the ones that showed him how much Landon did (or did not) care. Maybe it says more about me, but I felt for Louie, I understood his pining for Landon. I have understood feeling the rose-colored glasses fad and the formerly white flags turn to red, and I commended him for taking the jump in the final chapter despite knowing how it would end, to give himself, closure.
I definitely don’t think of this as a love story between two people but it felt like a cathartic exercise in putting to words the way gay longing can help/hurt us. Louie was able to step outside of his relationship with Landon while in Tokyo and found meaning in his relationships with his friends, those he planned to see and the unexpected. I appreciated the different perspectives on relationships that the story brought out.
It evoked feelings I felt when watching a movie called Weekend though, the tryst in that movie was more like the initial interaction between Louie and Landon, a brief time together, and this story sort of turned the idea of an eventual happy ending on its head. I appreciated the chance to revisit Tokyo, and past loves lost, and seeing a piece of myself reflected back to me, even if I wasn't always proud of it. What is the point of reading if sometimes we don't confront outselves.

This story follows Louis, a Filipino man who had met Landon, a Brit, in New York. Then Louis is taking a trip to Tokyo for the week while he awaits the renewal of his work visa. He's hoping to find out if his romance with Landon is real, or short lived.

My favorite bits of this story were the friends Louis met up with during is trip. They were all more interesting and had more personality to me than Landon.

I didn't really see the chemistry between the two. It was just hard to believe that their time in New York was as magical as Louis believed. Louis can be a bit of an unreliable narrator, he seems rather anxious through the whole story. That part I could understand and liked.

This was an interesting read for me. Definitely different than what I typically read. I think maybe the parts I didn't like were just parts I didn't get. This is a well written novel that I do think many people will enjoy, my issues aside.

Thank you to Net Galley for sending me an early edition!

I received an ARC of Seven Days in Tokyo through NetGalley. This was my first time reading this author, and while the book had some engaging moments, it didn't fully meet my expectations. Seven Days in Tokyo follows the journey of Emma, a travel writer who embarks on a week-long assignment in Tokyo. Tasked with capturing the essence of the city, Emma navigates through its bustling streets, historical landmarks, and hidden gems. Along the way, she encounters a diverse cast of characters, each with their own stories and connections to the city. As Emma immerses herself in Tokyo's vibrant culture, she also confronts her own past and the reasons she chose to become a travel writer. The narrative is structured around Emma's daily explorations, with each chapter dedicated to a different day of her week in Tokyo. Highlights include visits to iconic locations like the Meiji Shrine, Shibuya Crossing, and the Tsukiji Fish Market. Emma's interactions with locals, including a retired sumo wrestler, a tea ceremony master, and a young manga artist, add depth to her journey. Throughout the week, Emma reflects on her personal struggles and the transformative power of travel. While the book offers a vivid portrayal of Tokyo and its many facets, some plot points felt predictable, and the pacing could have been tighter. However, the characters are well-developed and relatable, making the story engaging. The author's descriptive writing brings Tokyo to life, capturing both its modern energy and traditional charm. Overall, Seven Days in Tokyo is a decent read for those interested in travel narratives and cultural exploration. Despite its flaws, the book's strong character development and immersive setting make it worth a read.

A really beautifully written book that felt quite magical. Found the themes and characters to be really impactful.

Thanks to Netgalley and | Unbound Firsts for the advanced copy of this book.

Two expat’, Louie, Filipino, and Landon, British, meet for one night in New York. Fast forward a few months later, Louis comes to Tokyo for seven days to find Landon again.
This small summary reminded me of the Before trilogy by Richard Linklater, a serie of movies exploring the relationship of two people meeting and having a conversation for a definite amount of time. Could this be a gay version of this? While it might feel similar, Seven days in Tokyo is a journey of its own.
Following Louie’s point of view exclusively, the possibility of a relationship is explored along with some locations in Tokyo. The initial encounter was a fleeting moment: a date with no follow-up possible. A visa renewal pending, Louie decides to make an additional trip to revisit that moment and see if there is more to it. Moving back and forth between New York and Tokyo, Louie explores that relationship and others as friends are met along the way. From there what would have been a romance novel becomes something and uncover how we can be connected, even if we are miles away from each other.
People meet, fall in love, become friends. We crave that connection but there is a kind of mysterious beauty on how this happens and how we can make it work … or not. The novel does not shy away from the imperfection of its protagonists but puts in evidence how they will find their home, relationship and love.
. Alongside the relationship of the people, we explore the relationship with a place. Leaving behind the familiar New York, Tokyo is an unfamiliar ground: strange and a bit overwhelming. Little by little, a familiarity takes place: he knows where to shop for groceries, have a coffee, a drink. He does not get lost but is ready to explore. This is where you can as well belong to a place as you belong to people.
This is where this short novel finds its strength leaving you with a sweet feeling, no matter what the hardships are, you can find beauty and belonging where you are at this moment.

What a beautiful, beautiful read. This has undoubtedly been one of my fave reads of the year.
Alvior's writing is oddly poetic, without being so - hard to explain, but it has to do with the emotions it kindles in me. whenever I put down this novel, I found myself thinking about it and of Nan Kang Bai's writings (Six Records of a Floating Life and I Will Wait for You until 35) because of that same poetic way in which everyday life is told through brief instants that carry within the very core of the characters' hearts. There was such melancholy in this novel, and it's told in such a heartfelt voice that I found it impossible to stay indifferent to. The main character, Louie (absolutely loved the fact that we only get to know his name right at the end of the book and all the meaning that rests behind and within why his name is only mentioned at that point) is so vivid and real and human I found myself wishing he were my friend. His emotions, the way he handles - tries to - them, the manner in which he both avoids and sinks into his feelings, the very innocence with which he actually follows his heart, when in everything else he comes out as a really guarded, responsible, focused man, is a delight, and so realistic. The prose is beautiful and the way it carries us from the present seven days in Tokyo to the past and the encounters in Louie's life that led to him being where he now is were just perfect to set the stage, even acting as omens of what was to come. Whenever we delved into his past, I'd come out of it into the present of his life with a sense of foreboding, like the snippet of his past Louie was sharing would in time reflect his present and act as some sort of explanation or prediction to what was coming. That ending was like a vindication, actually - beautiful ending, by the way, just PERFECT - and had my mind spinning back to every single account the character gave of what in his past led him to that moment, only to have me suffer the proverbial slap in the face of 'it was all there, every clue, every evidence, it was all there!'
It was indeed one of my favourite reads of this year, evocative, melancholy, a slice of life moment that is realistic and vivid and actually, very relatable. Easy five stars for me.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. My opinions are my own.

On paper, this book should have been everything I love. The story is about two men who meet in New York, hook-up and then plan to meet in Tokyo, where they have 7 days together. While the premise is great, the book felt underwhelming.

From beginning to the end, I was thinking about what drew the characters together and only came up with sexual attraction. I saw no other connection even though the end revealed other type of feelings. I just didn't believe that at all.

The book is very descriptive, it felt so boring to read about every single detail in every single scene. I did enjoy the images of Tokyo as it's my dream city. The dialogues were rather empty, boring. I feel like the author tried to write like A. Aciman or P. Besson (the style), but the language felt very basic, not melancholic like other authors.

All in all, I don't think it's a bad book, I think there are people who will enjoy it very much, but I had higher expectations.

Endless thanks for Unbound Press and NetGalley for a copy of this eARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Seven Days in Tokyo by José Daniel Alvior follows Louie, who is in Japan visiting a friend with benefits to chase a potential spark.
This novel has moments of warmth and fuzziness that immerses readers into the vibrant and busy streets of Tokyo. It has a lyrical, dreamlike prose and focuses on the art of noticing, but the pacing is quite slow which can make the story drag.
The timeline alters between past and present in a way which is easy for readers to keep up with, and I love the descriptions of all of the places and foods. There is also a large focus on the harsh realities of immigrants desperately trying to obtain visas, and I found those parts of the novel educational and urgent.
Louie and Landon have a lot of communication issues, and it was sad to read as Louie desperately held onto scraps of hope over the most bare minimum of actions from Landon, only for the cycle to repeat again and again.
I loved the chapters where Louie was with other fiends, such as Sayumi and Sebastian, and would have loved to have read more of those relationships rather than the monotony of Louie’s days with Landon. Though I believe this difference in pace was necessary to show the difference in the characters, this caused a bit of an imbalance in pacing, and Louie’s internal monologue while figuring out if Landon was a toxic person or not was very long and slow.
One more thing that is worth noting is that the unusualness of face masks was brought up three seperate times, which isn’t a lot but it is enough to be noticeable. I’d love to know if this novel was written pre normalisation of face masks, or if this novel is simply set in a world without illnesses like covid.

This book left me feeling a little conflicted. There were parts I really enjoyed, much of it read like an autobiography which I really connected with as I read about the immigration struggles of this character and the people they had met. However, this felt quite disconnected from the main plot and when I was thrown back into the present moment, I couldn’t get as invested in the story. Still some lovely moments and overall I felt it was worth the read.

I really enjoy books set in different places across the globe, and Japan usually lends itself to place-as-character nicely, but this story of a love affair left me completely indifferent.
The writing itself is perfectly fine, but there isn't much by way of plot, and what is there, including the presumably passionate affair, comes across terribly muted. I didn't care about any of the characters, and the descriptions leaned too heavily toward the gastronomical instead of scenic for my liking.
The book read very quickly but offered nothing for the afternoon spent with it. User milage may vary? Thanks Netgalley.

On paper I should have loved this - gay expats taking a chance on a spark.

But, it was rough.

Landon - first of all, no white British guy is called Landon, come on now... - is an incorrigible douchebag, yet the main character swoons after him for no apparent reason other than a lack of self-respect.

The main character is a drip.

The writing veers inexplicably between past and present tense.

There's no authorial voice here either. It's too shallow to be in the leagues of Greenwell, but not fluffy enough to be viewed as being a romance, really. It falls flat on both sides.

1.5* rounded up to two, as some of the descriptions of Japan were lovely and evocative.

A quietly beautiful introspective

José Daniel Alvior's book Seven Days in Tokyo is a beautifully told story about a traveller and this relationships with the people who come into his life and leave again due to circumstance. Louie is a Philippino living in New York City but the people he considers his friends are from all over the globe. Fellow travellers who crossed paths with him in the city. When he travels to Tokyo for a week on his way to Manila to renew his visa, he reconnects not only with Landon, an English teacher he is developing feelings for, but others who happen to be or live in town that week.

The book is not hurriedly moving you along. As a first-person narrator, Louie is very observant and the insights and impressions of Tokyo shared make reading the novel akin to a travelogue. It is very visual, especially as it is set in present tense during the Sakura. The voice is very tender and Louie's thoughts about the people and places around him are immensely insightful and considerate. One big question the novel discusses is permanence, especially since Louie is, on all accounts, in a transient state (visiting, his visa up for renewal, reconsidering his relationships). He explores a lot of Tokyo, so readers familiar and unfamiliar with the city will enjoy this book immensely. He is also a coffee afficionado, so much revolves around cafés and taste.

I have a few issues with the book. Landon is not very likeable, which Louie occasionally reflects on. But Louie himself never says what he thinks and never shares the deep thoughts and feelings the reader is witness to with Landon or the other people around him. That frustrated me a lot. There were several British references that did not quite make sense in light of Louie's having lived in NYC for ten years and having moved there from the Philippines - but I may have misunderstood that.

There are one or two graphic mentions of male bodies and sex, lots of food and coffee descriptions and a lot of wanderlust!