Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata.

“People who are considered normal enjoy putting those who aren’t on trial, you know.”

“When something was strange, everyone thought they had the right to come stomping in all over your life to figure out why.”

I love this book. It’s a sharp, beautiful exploration of how society, friends, and family try to shape the way you live your life.

The message is clear: you’re accepted only when you follow expectations and what’s deemed “appropriate.” Step outside of that, and people drift away. The connection fades.

“This society hasn’t changed one bit. People who don’t fit into the village are expelled: men who don’t hunt, women who don’t give birth to children.”

That line struck me. The book shows, often painfully, how those who don’t conform are judged or excluded.

Reading it, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own choices. Some of mine have never been popular — like deciding not to have children. For some, it’s shocking or selfish. For me, it’s simply living the life I can be at peace with.

Another thread that resonated with me was conformity. In the book, when something is “strange,” others feel entitled to step in and demand explanations. Haven’t we all felt that? I remember the pressure as a teenager to drink or try drugs — and how saying no meant fewer invitations. But honestly? I never felt I missed out. You don’t need alcohol to dance until 4 a.m. and have the time of your life.

“People who are considered normal enjoy putting those who aren’t on trial, you know.”

This story is a reminder: every time you feel pressured to compromise, ask yourself if it’s worth it. If someone walks away because of your choices, maybe they were never really there for you to begin with. The people worth keeping are those who don’t need to agree with you, but who stay curious, open, and kind.

And that’s the beauty of this book: it doesn’t glorify rebellion, but it insists that staying true to yourself is the only way to feel alive.

No spoilers here, but let’s just say the ending felt exactly right. ❤️

P.S. I was especially moved by the tenderness hidden between the lines — which made me grateful for my own parents. Even when worried, they respected my decisions. Once, my mum even tried to find a friend her age who didn’t have children, just so I wouldn’t feel so alone. That’s love.