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!

ARC REVIEW
Seven Days in Tokyo by José Daniel Alvador releases July 01, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
The story follows Louie while he spends 7 days in tokyo (hence the title) and we get backstory about him migrating to New York from the Philippines, friends he’s made along the way, places he’s seen, challenges he’s faced and ultimately meeting Landon who is a British man in New York for a short time but works in Tokyo as an English teacher. After the 1 night they spend together Louie goes to Tokyo to see Landon for 7 days. Anyone that has been in a situationship will definitely sympathize with Louie and his emotions of confusion and loneliness. I really enjoyed the attention to describing so many details and really painting a picture for us. The ending was a bit abrupt but to me it made sense. This was a beautiful book, am so thankful to have been able to read it :)

Seven Days in Tokyo by José Daniel Alvior is a beautifully written exploration of identity, connection, and transformation, set against the vibrant and evocative backdrop of Tokyo. The novel effortlessly blends rich cultural details with an intimate, character-driven story, making it both a sensory and emotional experience.

The protagonist’s journey through the city mirrors their internal struggles, and Alvior’s prose captures this duality perfectly. The sights, sounds, and tastes of Tokyo are vividly described, immersing the reader in the setting without overshadowing the plot. The book’s pacing is deliberate, reflecting the protagonist’s reflective mood, and while some moments feel drawn out, they ultimately add to the story’s depth.

Alvior’s strength lies in his ability to create complex characters. The relationships formed during the titular seven days feel genuine, offering insights into both the protagonist’s growth and the lives of those they encounter. Themes of self-discovery, fleeting connections, and the impact of place on identity are woven throughout, resonating long after the final page.

This is a book that will appeal to readers who enjoy atmospheric, introspective novels. While the plot may feel subdued for some, its emotional impact and evocative writing make Seven Days in Tokyo a memorable and moving read.

This is a very clever book with regard to the narrator who may or may not be reliable. I read this and was sure something in the way I was reading/understanding the book was not right. Having read the reviews I realised what this was and began to enjoy the book more.

The descriptions of places in Tokyo that one should visit are slightly unusual and inspiring. This is also true of the places to eat that are described.

This was a beautiful book but it won't be for everyone. It was litfic more than a romance and the story was more about loneliness than a love story. If you've ever been obsessed with a situationship and wanted to take a risk on something more meaningful, Louie's often inexplicable motivations will make more sense.

Unhappy with his long-term relationship and chasing after the fleeting moments of emotional intimacy that he found with a one-night-stand with a British expat teacher in New York, cafe hunter Louie then hunts Landon to Japan for a seven-day vacation while he waits for the status of his work visa.

Thus follows a wrenching tale of heartbreak and loss as Louie begs for the few scraps of emotional vulnerability that Landon's willing to give, before finally accepting that to Landon he was just a booty call but to Louie those fleeting moments of emotional intimacy made him remember that he was alive.

There wasn't much happening in this story, it was a lot of taking a leap for love only to fall in love with a foreign country and realize just how alone you really are. It was a lot of gay yearning and Louie sightseeing. The descriptions of Japan and the culture were lush and beautiful, and I felt like I was there. I also related to the inexplicable pull of loneliness as a former expat who did a gap year teaching English in Japan after college.

As a side note, this book must have been written before covid because I found it odd that Louie was so perplexed by people wearing face masks that he'd remark upon it not only once but again just before he was leaving as one of the more memorable moments of the trip. It would have made more sense if he was unaware of the cultural differences around sanitation but face masks aren't so out of place anymore.

This was a sad story with a sad ending and absolutely beautiful writing, about the considerations of relationships other than happiness and romantic love. There were several beautiful reflections on the contrasts between settledness, loneliness and romantic happiness that I found moving.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Seven Days in Tokyo by José Daniel Alvior is a poignant and evocative debut that explores fleeting connections, unrequited love, and the quiet beauty of self-discovery. Through Louie’s week-long journey in Tokyo, the novel paints an intricate portrait of longing and belonging, set against the backdrop of one of the world’s most vibrant cities.

Louie, a Filipino man awaiting his U.S. visa, ventures to Tokyo in hopes of rekindling a spark with Landon, a British expat English teacher he met during a magical night in New York. What follows is not a love story but an intimate reflection on the ephemeral nature of relationships and the yearning to find meaning in fleeting moments.

Alvior’s prose is lyrical and immersive, capturing the bustling streets of Tokyo with vivid precision. From ramen shops to serene cherry blossoms, the city itself becomes a living, breathing character in the story, embodying the theme of impermanence that echoes throughout Louie’s emotional journey. This rich imagery, however, occasionally veers into territory that feels more like a travelogue than a narrative, slowing the pacing at times.

While the setting and introspection shine, the central relationship between Louie and Landon falls short. Landon’s cold demeanor and dismissive treatment of Louie make it challenging to understand the protagonist’s devotion. Yet, this dynamic may resonate with readers who have experienced the complexities of unreciprocated affection. Louie’s growth and eventual closure provide a satisfying arc, even if the romance itself lacks chemistry.

The nonlinear storytelling—punctuated by flashbacks and side anecdotes—adds depth but occasionally disrupts the flow of the narrative. Some readers may find these interludes enriching, while others might feel they detract from the central plot.

Ultimately, Seven Days in Tokyo is a reflective and beautifully written exploration of love, identity, and the spaces in between. Despite its imperfections, Alvior’s debut showcases a remarkable talent for capturing human emotions and the transient beauty of life. It’s a book that lingers, leaving readers with both questions and quiet revelations.

Thank you to NetGalley and Unbound for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to seeing what Alvior crafts next

Beautiful descriptions of Tokyo, but I felt there could have been more chemistry and connections between the two MCs.

I expected a little more from this one to be completely honest. The blurb read as something quite exploratory, both in character and concept, but it often felt like it was rattling over points in the story and focusing on a surface level romance plot instead.

Glad to have read it but just not my personal favourite kind of read!

Somewhat mixed feelings on this one.

On one hand, the prose is lovely and quite readable. I enjoyed the descriptions of places and people, and Alvior seems to have a way to draw emotion out of the reader through most mundane of observations. On the other hand, the romance fell flat for me. It held a lot of promise and yet, though all the flashbacks and locations, I failed to feel the chemistry between the two characters.

The atmosphere throughout the book is painted beautifully, tying back to my previous comments on the strong prose and descriptions, and I think Alvior does a good job of creating a sense of temporality.

Ultimately, it felt like everything in the book was filled with emotion aside from the relationship which might work for some but left me a tad disappointed. This perhaps also comes down to my expectations of the book. Maybe if I came in with a different set of expectations, I would have had a different reading experience. Either way, I will be on the lookout for whatever Alvior writes next!

I was truly blown away by this book. The complicated characters were extremely intriguing and I loved the complexity of their relationship. The vivid descriptions of Tokyo were an added bonus. Excellent read!

i honestly struggled a bit with this one. alvior’s view of japan is sweet but also somewhat orientalistic, and i don’t think it was anything other than a mere backdrop for the main characters’ somewhat dull relationship. i don’t know, it just failed to grab my attention altogether.