The classic Japanese bestseller published in English for the very first time - a darkly funny and relatable book portraying the lives of five women

''Witty, wise and thought-provoking'' Cecelia Ahern
''Crackles and pops with humour, empathy and intelligence'' Lisa Owens, author of Not Working
''So brilliantly written that I kept trying to memorise sentences in order to repeat them to people later'' Roxy Dunn, author of As Young as This

Izumi needs to get a job.
Haruka needs to stop talking about how she once had cancer.
Katō needs to get through a shift at the convenience store without being harassed.
Mito needs to break up with her boyfriend - or marry him.
Sumie just needs somewhere to live.

In this classic Japanese bestseller, published in English twenty-five years after it took Japan by storm, the lives of five ordinary women are depicted with irresistible humour and searing emotional insight.