CONVENIENCE STORE WOMAN (novella) by Sayaka Murata

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata is a heartwarming and surprising story set in Tokyo. Keiko has never fit in, but when she begins working at Smile Mart, she finds contentment by following the store manual and copying her colleagues' behaviors to be a "normal" person. Years later she is moved to desperation due to pressures to find a husband and a proper career. A brilliant depiction of an unusual psyche and a world hidden from view, this novel is an ironic and sharp-eyed look at contemporary work culture and the demands to conform, as well as a charming and completely fresh portrait of an unforgettable heroine.