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New memoir · September 15, 2026Nanako Hanada Memoir: The Bookshop Woman, What the Book Covers
The Bookshop Woman is Nanako Hanada’s memoir of the year after her marriage ended, when the Tokyo bookshop manager joined a site for brief meetings with strangers and offered each person a book that might change their life. Translated by Cat Anderson, this is the first US edition of a Japanese bestseller.
- Book: The Bookshop Woman: My Year Transforming Lives, One Book at a Time
- Author: Nanako Hanada
- Published: September 15, 2026, Tiny Reparations Books (Penguin Random House)
- Themes: books, connection, starting over
What is Nanako Hanada’s new book?
The Bookshop Woman is Nanako Hanada’s memoir of the year after her marriage ended, when the Tokyo bookshop manager joined a site for brief meetings with strangers and offered each person a book that might change their life. Translated by Cat Anderson, this is the first US edition of a Japanese bestseller.
About Nanako Hanada
Nanako Hanada is a Tokyo bookseller whose memoir became a bestseller in Japan and was adapted as a TV drama. She used the royalties to open her own shop.
What the book covers
- Managing the eccentric Village Vanguard bookstore in Tokyo
- Life after her separation
- Meeting strangers through a website for short encounters
- Choosing a book for each person she meets
- How books connect people
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Find my memoir writerWho it’s for
Book lovers, fans of Japanese fiction and memoir, and anyone rebuilding after a breakup.
What it shows about writing a memoir
Hanada’s book covers a single year, a tight frame that keeps a memoir focused. Our guide to what makes a good memoir explains why a narrow time span often works better than a whole life.
Where to buy The Bookshop Woman
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What is Nanako Hanada’s new book?
Nanako Hanada’s new book is The Bookshop Woman, a memoir published by Tiny Reparations Books (Penguin Random House), out September 15, 2026.
What is The Bookshop Woman about?
The Bookshop Woman is Nanako Hanada’s memoir of the year after her marriage ended, when the Tokyo bookshop manager joined a site for brief meetings with strangers and offered each person a book that might change their life. Translated by Cat Anderson, this is the first US edition of a Japanese bestseller.
When was The Bookshop Woman released?
The Bookshop Woman by Nanako Hanada was published by Tiny Reparations Books (Penguin Random House) on September 15, 2026.
Who is Nanako Hanada?
Nanako Hanada is a Tokyo bookseller whose memoir became a bestseller in Japan and was adapted as a TV drama. She used the royalties to open her own shop.
Where can I buy The Bookshop Woman?
The Bookshop Woman is available from major retailers including Amazon, Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble and Audible, and from local bookstores.
Can I write a memoir even if I’m not famous?
Yes. Most memoirs are written by people who are not public figures, often for family or a small readership. Many people work with a memoir ghostwriter who interviews them and writes the book in their voice. Our Writer Match Quiz can help you find the right kind of writer.
This page describes the book using information from the publisher and press coverage. It is not a review, and My Book Written is not affiliated with the author or publisher.
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