My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Rock star romances are my jam, so there was no way I was going to let this book pass me by.
MC Teru is one of those quiet, introspective types. Having the story of his band told through his eyes gave this contemporary take on The Phantom of the Opera a refreshing overhaul. The reader and Teru both learn a lot about Teru through each chapter.
The setting, Tokyo at the turn of the millennium, is unique and was the perfect place for such a unique story. I enjoyed reading about the city–even the public transport–and life there at that time.
Rei is hauntingly mysterious and talented. It took a few chapters after his introduction for me to warm up to him, but I get that that is only his personality. He’s a prickly man, and rightfully so.
I enjoyed getting to know Teru’s bandmates and friends, and appreciated how they each complimented the story in some way. There were no useless, out-of-place side characters here.
This is a well-crafted story that’s not only about finding romance where (and with whom) least expected, but also about discovery.
I am looking forward to whatever else Mirai has up her storytelling sleeve.