I love reading Miaki's books and his way of writing leading me to read all his works and this one is one of my favorites, Three Days Of Happiness being the fav
This romantic tale, blending psychology and the supernatural, explores love, destiny, and the human mind. This novel is the first part of a series of two books and the story is continued in the second part, “The Place I Called From”. The author’s writing style has been prominent in his past novels such as “Starting Over,” “Three Days of Happiness,” and “Pain, Pain, Go Away,” and it consistently bears a melancholic touch.
The story revolves around Yosuke Fukamachi, a high school student buurdened by a chilling dark blue birthmark on his face, which he sees as the root of all his problems and insecurities. A mysterious caller challenges him to a bet: if he can win the heart of a girl he once admired, Yui Hajikano, within fifty days, his birthmark will disappear forever. With this proposition, an extraordinary summer begins for Yosuke. As Yosuke embarks on this seemingly impossible quest, he confronts his deepest fears and desires, figuring out love and accepting himself along the way. Miaki's storytelling takes us on Yosuke's journey, blending moments of deep thinking with heart-wrenching scenes. We get to understand Yosuke better through flashbacks and his thoughts, especially his strong emotions for Hajikano. The author really dives into big ideas like accepting yourself, how society sees us, and the search for happiness, making us think about who we are and how we judge others.
The characters in this novel are richly developed, all of them contributing to the story’s emotional depth and complexity. Yosuke’s new friends in high school, Chigusa Ogiue and Nagahora, provide contrasting perspectives and serves as catalysts for his personal growth. Chigusa's reserved personality and Nagahora's friendly demeanor bring depth to the story, showing us the ups and downs of friendship and how people connect with each other.
Miaki’s melancholic writing style and skillful story telling makes this book thought provoking, and with its compelling characters it leaves a long lasting impression on the readers. The language used in the book is reader-friendly, making it easy to get into and keeping you hooked with its plot twists. Even if it's your first time reading it, you'll find it engaging and interesting, compelling you to finish the book. That's why I recommend it as a must-read for everyone.
I have tried to make sure that I'm not biased towards this book because of how much I love of this author. I hope you like the book!
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