"7 Days In Tokyo" by José Daniel Alvior weaves together the intricate threads of meetings, cultural contrasts, relationships, and the lingering shadows of colonial exploitation into a tapestry that feels both timeless and contemporary.

The dynamics between Louie and Landon capture that delicate intersection of cultures where attraction can spark, yet vulnerability often leads to misunderstandings. Their initial encounter in New York ignites a flicker of love—a complicated blend of hope and hesitation. When they find themselves in Tokyo, a city ostensibly detached from their cultural baggage, they are challenged to confront their feelings head-on. Louie's certainty contrasts starkly with Landon's reticence; it is as if Landon stands at the precipice of possibility yet hesitates to leap. He has a well of excuses - “spewing rubbish like ceilings and sexual ADD”—serve as barriers that both protect and imprison him.

Alvior brilliantly encapsulates this modern emotional landscape, where the weight of colonial legacies adds layers to their relationship. Louie longs to embrace their connection openly, while Landon clings to secrecy, haunted by the potential judgment from a society that remains oblivious to his truth - “no one you [Landon] know knows about me [Louie]”. The narrative gently nudged me to ponder how historical narratives shape personal ones, where affection flourishes in obscurity but struggles under the light of societal expectations.

The indecipherable nature of their love story draws heavily from this intrigue of the unsaid, reflecting a broader sense of existential ennui. There’s an acute awareness of a generation grappling with identity and belonging, caught in the web of anxiety about the future. Alvior’s sparse yet incisive prose evokes the urban landscape of Tokyo in the cherry blossom season, mirroring the unpredictability and ephemerality of their relationship and the twists they must navigate.

At times, the echoes of Baldwin’s "Giovanni’s Room" resonate in the pages, bringing forth a familiar, yet painful exploration of love and identity. It took me a couple of chapters to connect with their story, but when I did, it was well worth it.

Ultimately, "7 Days In Tokyo" stands as a powerful meditation on love's complexities, fraught with possibility. A quiet, tender, yet powerful debut.

Thanks to Netgalley and Unbound Firsts for the Arc

3.75/5

For those in the middle of falling in love, I think you’ll find solace in these emotionally volatile times with this book. This story captures the complex feelings of falling in love in incredible detail and with the serene cherry blossom season backdrop, what more could you ask for? Although not for everyone, our main character’s back-and-forth dilemma with his lover certainly resonated with me. That overthinking mindset, yet also the deep longing and relief when you see that special someone is an experience that I can relate to, and it was incredibly gratifying to read about someone going through the same thing.

Seven Days in Tokyo engaged me right at the start but unfortunately didn't hold my interest past the first chapter. I found the pacing slow and the jumping narrative confusing as the plot didn't seem to have moved much between the time periods so it felt like nothing had changed.

There were some beautiful descriptions of various parts of Tokyo and it did heighten my interest in visiting, but this was by far the most interesting part of the novel for me. The characters felt flat and devoid of emotion so I found it hard to connect with any one of them.

I struggled to finish this and probably would have given up had it not been such a short novel.

I was disappointed by this book. I found neither of the characters to be compelling, and I found the timeline of the plot to be confusing and uninteresting. Most of all, I hoped that the book would absorb me more in the setting of Tokyo.

Does "Seven Days in Tokyo" truly deserve 5 stars out of 5? Probably not. But every once in a while, I encounter a story that's so right up my alley that it gets an extra star from me just because.

It's one of those stories in which not much happens. A man goes to Tokyo to meet a one night stand he really liked, and gets to see a couple of other friends while he's there. He sightsees. He worries about his work visa for the US. He thinks about his job. He maybe falls in love. He has doubts over the lover who blows hot and cold. He thinks about the meaning of life and the beauty of fleeting things - cherry blossoms, cafes, relationships.

I really enjoyed the style - it's slow and poetic, and it really allows one to feel all the stages of a fleeting relationship, with its remnants of clinging hope and silent questions. Really well-written (but not a romance, despite the tags added to it; more litfic with a relationship theme).

The description of Japan was wonderful. Made me daydream of going there one day. I also loved the slow burn romance.

Seven Days in Tokyo by José Daniel Alvior is a beautifully evocative work that effortlessly captures the highs and lows of human emotion. Blending happiness and melancholy, the author transports readers to Japan with vivid descriptions and an eye for the smallest details that bring the setting to life. Alvior's writing is immersive and poignant, making it easy to feel as though you're wandering the streets of Tokyo alongside the characters. This novel is a testament to his talent, and it leaves you eagerly anticipating more from this gifted storyteller.

This was the perfect read at the perfect time. Cozy but reflective, looking at the messiness of situationships and long distance flings. The tangle of feelings when it's not likely to go anywhere. All mixed up in the beauty of Tokyo, the allure of glimpsing another life you could be living. Really loved this, it was the ideal book to end my year.

Louie and Landon's one night stand held promise - to see if their romance will bloom, Louie goes to Tokyo to spend a week with Landon. A slow-burner of a love story.

This book was full of delightful descriptions of life in Japan - I found myself looking at holidays there as a result - however, despite its promise, the book didn't quite do it for me. Despite its emotion-filled pages, the characters didn't leap into life so I didn't really care whether their romance worked out or not.

I still enjoyed it enough to finish though.

Louie and Landon meet in NYC the last night Landon is in town. After making a connection, Louie plans a trip to Tokyo on the way to review his work visa and visit Landon who is a British expat working there. Ultimately where will this time together with Landon take Louie?

I would describe this as slower paced dramatic queer fiction. Though there are romance elements, I wouldn't describe this as a romance based on the story arc for these characters. As someone who has studied in Japan, I appreciated the tourist's perspective and the layers of relationships. Louie's visa struggles also add a later of complexity.

Thank you to Unbound for an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book is due to be published 4/3/25.

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!