The Night Library on the outskirts of Tokyo isn’t your ordinary library. It’s only open from seven o’clock to midnight. It exclusively stores books by deceased authors, and none of them can be checked out — instead, they’re put on public display to be revered and celebrated by the library’s visitors, akin to a book museum.
Otoha Higuchi, the newest employee, has been recruited to work at the library by the mysterious anonymous owner. There, Otoha meets the other staff, comprised of former librarians and booksellers who, like her, have been damaged in some way by the rocky publishing industry – yet none of them have ever given up on their dedication to books.
Night after night, Otoha bonds with her colleagues over meals in the library café, each of which are inspired by the literature on the shelves. When strange occurrences start happening around the library that may bring the threat of closure, it forces Otoha and the library staff to rethink their entire relationship with work and what they really want in life.
Review
If you’re a fan of cosy, bibliophile-friendly fiction, then Dinner at the Night Library by Hika Harada (translated by Philip Gabriel) may appeal… though it’s not without its flaws.
For readers who love quiet, reflective stories about literature, legacy, and finding meaning through books, it offers a comforting escape. Harada builds a world that feels safe and soothing. It’s a gentle, low-stakes read – ideal if you’re after something warm and introspective rather than dramatic.
However, that same gentleness is also its limitation. I found the plot to lack momentum, with small revelations that never quite built into a satisfying arc. The central mystery surrounding the library’s owner and its purpose is conceptually interesting, but it develops too slowly to maintain tension.
The characterisation similarly fell short for me. Each chapter includes first-person perspectives from side characters, a structural choice that seems designed to deepen our understanding of the ensemble. Yet these voices blurred together, and I didn’t find myself emotionally invested in their stories. Even Otoha, the protagonist, remains somewhat opaque. I suspect the translation contributes here; the prose occasionally feels stilted, limiting its emotional resonance.
The most compelling section, in my view, arrives late in the novel, when Sasai’s backstory is explored. His history adds welcome depth and melancholy, and presents themes of grief and complicated family relationships. I wish his backstory had been introduced earlier in the novel, or at least woven in.
If you approach this novel as a gentle character study, you may find it quietly rewarding. For me, though, the novel’s cosiness couldn’t quite compensate for its lack of momentum. Still, I can imagine Dinner at the Night Library being a soothing companion for many readers.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia who provided a copy of the novel in exchange for a review.
Review by Elise
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