Mongrel

  Literary fiction following the lives of 3 women as they navigate the trials and tribulations of their lives identities, and relationships: Mei who tries so hard to fit in England trying hard to erase the heritage of her deceased Japanese mother; Yuki a young violinist who comes to London and falls in love with her teacher; Haruka, a sex worker coming from the countryside to live in Tokyo after the death of her mother. 
This was a stunning book and an incredible debut from Hanako Footman.  Her writing is gorgeously lush and evocative, showing the emotions of her character with a profound honesty and tenderness, while tackling various important themes of belonging, racism, misogyny, sexuality, family.  The author's dual ethnicity shines through her depiction of both countries painting the atmosphere of England and Japan with dreamy and detailed imagery. The first part I liked, but I wasn't invested completely. I have to confess the second half of the book really pulled me in emotionally, as Haruka enters the story and the plot evolves into one of my favourite tropes (that I won't mention to avoid spoilers).  Being a white Belgian Italian queer woman who has lived in Belgium all my life, i have a distant relationship to my father's country, and since my mastery of the Italian language isn't good, I kind of related to several moments in the books. 
Overall an incredible debut novel and I'm looking forward to read more work from Hanako Footman.