Tokyo Girls Club

THE AWARD-WINNING MILLION COPY #1 BESTSELLERWINNER OF WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024WINNER OF THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS DEBUT NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2025SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA CRIME FICTION IN TRANSLATION DAGGER AWARD 2025A BBC BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK'A full-fat, Michelin-starred treat'SUNDAY TIMES'A cult phenomenon'iNEWS'Took the literary world by storm'BBC'A killer Japanese novel'THE TIMES'I have been glued to Butter' NIGEL SLATERThe cult Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook and serial killer and the journalist intent on cracking her case, inspired by a true story, and translated by Polly Barton.There are two things that I can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine.Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Centre convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, who she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation's imagination but Kajii refuses to speak with the press. That is, until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew and Kajii can't resist writing back.Rika, the only woman in her news office, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen. As the visits unfold between her and the steely Kajii, they are closer to a masterclass in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii but it seems that she might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body. Might she and Kaji have more in common than she once thought?Inspired by the real case of the convicted con woman and serial killer, 'The Konkatsu Killer', Asako Yuzuki's Butteris a vivid, gripping exploration of misogyny, obsession and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.**Hooked, the latest novel from Asako Yuzuki is available now**'It isn't entirely clear whether to read the novel or devour it' OBSERVER'Readers around the world are finding themselves utterly captivated'DAILY MAIL'I really enjoyed it' MEERA SYAL, on BBC Between the Covers'Compelling, delightfully weird'PANDORA SYKES'Unputdownable, breathtakingly original'ERIN KELLY'You'll be craving rice, butter and soy sauce in no time'STYLIST'Nothing short of ingenious' iNEWS'Ambitious and unsettling'GUARDIAN'Luscious ... I devoured this' IMOGEN CRIMP'A salty morsel with one hell of a bite' ALICE SLATER

THE AWARD-WINNING MILLION COPY #1 BESTSELLERWINNER OF WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024WINNER OF THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS DEBUT NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2025SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA CRIME FICTION IN TRANSLATION DAGGER AWARD 2025A BBC BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK'A full-fat, Michelin-starred treat'SUNDAY TIMES'A cult phenomenon'iNEWS'Took the literary world by storm'BBC'A killer Japanese novel'THE TIMES'I have been glued to Butter' NIGEL SLATERThe cult Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook and serial killer and the journalist intent on cracking her case, inspired by a true story, and translated by Polly Barton.There are two things that I can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine.Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Centre convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, who she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation's imagination but Kajii refuses to speak with the press. That is, until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew and Kajii can't resist writing back.Rika, the only woman in her news office, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen. As the visits unfold between her and the steely Kajii, they are closer to a masterclass in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii but it seems that she might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body. Might she and Kaji have more in common than she once thought?Inspired by the real case of the convicted con woman and serial killer, 'The Konkatsu Killer', Asako Yuzuki's Butteris a vivid, gripping exploration of misogyny, obsession and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.**Hooked, the latest novel from Asako Yuzuki is available now**'It isn't entirely clear whether to read the novel or devour it' OBSERVER'Readers around the world are finding themselves utterly captivated'DAILY MAIL'I really enjoyed it' MEERA SYAL, on BBC Between the Covers'Compelling, delightfully weird'PANDORA SYKES'Unputdownable, breathtakingly original'ERIN KELLY'You'll be craving rice, butter and soy sauce in no time'STYLIST'Nothing short of ingenious' iNEWS'Ambitious and unsettling'GUARDIAN'Luscious ... I devoured this' IMOGEN CRIMP'A salty morsel with one hell of a bite' ALICE SLATER

A Paperback OriginalNamed a Most Anticipated Book by The New York Times, The Guardian, Forbes, Oprah Daily, Lit Hub, and Publishers WeeklyFrom the author of the international bestseller Butter comes a chilling and perceptive novel about obsession, female friendship, and the slow unraveling of two livesEriko’s life looks perfect—from her prestigious job at a Japanese trading firm to her spotless apartment and devoted parents. Her newest project, to reintroduce the controversial Nile Perch into the Japanese market, is as ambitious as she is. But beneath her flawless surface lies a consuming loneliness. Eriko has never been able to hold on to a real friend.Enter Shoko: a popular lifestyle blogger whose work Eriko follows obsessively. Shoko lives a life of controlled chaos—messy apartment, take-out dinners, a kind, easy-going husband. She writes about daily contentment, though her fractured relationship with her father gnaws at the edges of her happiness.When Eriko orchestrates a “chance” meeting with Shoko, the two women strike up an unlikely connection. For a fleeting moment, Eriko believes she’s finally found what she’s always longed for. But as her fascination turns to fixation and Shoko’s carefully balanced life begins to dissolve, both women are pushed to breaking points neither of them saw coming.Deftly translated by Polly Barton, Hooked is a taut, provocative novel about modern womanhood, the hunger for connection, and the quiet, ordinary ways our lives can spiral out of control. With razor-sharp insight and disarming empathy, Asako Yuzuki explores how far we’ll go to be seen and what happens when the ones who see us don’t like what they find.

Der Überraschungserfolg und British Book Award-Gewinner aus Japan: Ein universeller Roman über Genuss, Lebenskunst und die Geschichte einer weiblichen BefreiungFür alle LeserInnen von Han Kangs 'Vegetarierin', Sayaka Muratas 'Ladenhüterin' und Mieko Kawakamis 'Brüste und Eier'Rika, eine junge Journalistin in Tokio, recherchiert über die Serienmöderin Manako Kajii, die Männer mit ihren Kochkünsten verführt und anschließend umgebracht haben soll. Manako behauptet, sie verabscheut nichts mehr als "Margarine und Feministinnen" und hat eine ausgeprägte Leidenschaft für hemmungslosen Genuss und insbesondere Butter. Jetzt, wo sie im Gefängnis sitzt, empfängt sie Rika, unter der Bedingung, nur über ihre Kochkünste zu reden. Für Rika werden die Begegnungen mit Manako zu einer Meisterklasse der Lebenskunst. Ein Roman, der Genuss, Essen und Trinken feiert, vor allem aber die unmöglichen Erwartungen thematisiert, die an Frauen in patriarchalen Gesellschaften heute gestellt werden.'Eine geheimnisvoll schmeckende Mischung, die viel Gedankenfutter bietet.' Brigitte'So frisch und bildlich erzählt.' stern'Ein toller Roman über Genuss und weibliche Selbstbestimmung.' WDR

THE MILLION COPY #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF BUTTERIS BACK WITH A NEW NOVEL OF OBSESSION'Tender and thrilling it's Yuzuki at her best'ELLE'Deliciously satisfying'iPAPER'Enjoyable and addictive'INDEPENDENT'Fantastically dark'ERIN KELLYThe thrilling new novel of friendship and dangerous obsession from Asako Yuzuki, the award-winning author of the global sensation Butter.Eriko really wouldn't mind being savaged, if it was her best friend doing the savaging ...Eriko's life appears perfect - devoted parents, pristine apartment and a high-flying job in the seafood division of one of Japan's largest trading companies. Her latest project, to reintroduce the controversial Nile perch fish into the Japanese market, is characteristically ambitious. But beneath her flawless surface she is wracked by loneliness.Eriko becomes fascinated with a popular blog written by a housewife, Sh¿ko. Sh¿ko's posts about convenience-store food and her messy home are the opposite of the typical manicured housewife. When Eriko tracks Sh¿ko down at her favourite restaurant, Sh¿ko is at first charmed by her new companion. But soon Eriko's obsession with Sh¿ko begins to spiral out of control. How far will she go to hold on to the best friend she's ever had?Beautifully translated by Polly Barton, Hooked is a delicious exploration of food, loneliness and womanhood in contemporary Japan.A most anticipated book in Vogue, Guardian, New York Times, The Times, Sunday Times Style, Elle, Stylist, Graziaand more.'Expect to see this distinctive pink cover everywhere'GRAZIA'A psychological thriller with a social commentary bite'INDEPENDENT'Unsettling, compelling, richly written' JODIE HARSH, author of You Had to Be There'Translated with crackling verve'GUARDIAN'I couldn't stop reading'COSTANZA CASATI, author of Babylonia'Stayed with me for weeks'IRISH TIMES'Tremendous - an elegantly written ... dissection of female friendship'THE GLOSS'You can't fail to be reeled in'SERVICE95'Will leave you gasping'TOBI COVENTRY, author of He's the Devil'No one writes about the lurking monstrosities of womanhood quite like Asako Yuzuki'ALICE SLATER, author of Death of a Bookseller

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER The cult Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook and serial killer, and the journalist intent on cracking her case, inspired by a true storyThere are two things that I simply cannot tolerate: feminists and margarine.Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in the Tokyo Detention House convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, whom she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation’s imagination, but Kajii refuses to speak with the press, entertaining no visitors. That is until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew, and Kajii can’t resist writing back.Rika, the only woman in her news office, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen. As the visits unfold between her and the steely Kajii, they are closer to a master class in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii, but it seems that Rika might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body. Do she and Kajii have more in common than she once thought?Inspired by the real case of a convicted con woman and serial killer—the “Konkatsu Killer”—Asako Yuzuki’s Butter is a vivid, unsettling exploration of misogyny, obsession, romance, and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.