When the Museum is Closed

Slim and strangely exuberant…[an] unexpected, absurd humor * New Yorker *
A fun and (metaphysical) sexy queer love story, Yagi’s latest tackles love, loneliness, and the role of women’s beauty in society * LitHub *
A dreamlike take on desire, loneliness, and the transformative power of being perceived by others * Electric Literature *
[Its] gentle surrealism nevertheless exposes truths about loneliness, beauty, and queer love … Fans of Kevin Wilson’s Nothing to See Here will appreciate Yagi’s blend of dark humor and empathy for her characters, while the unconventional love story may appeal to fans of Sky Daddy by Kate Folk or Blob by Maggie Su * Booklist *
I was captivated by Rika’s strange, frozen world, filled with movement and passion - a perfectly contained and luminous story that reveals a whole world of desire and possibility, right at the heart of loneliness – Rosie Price, author of THE ORANGE ROOM
Another surreal delight * Shelf Awareness
I quickly became addicted and found myself thinking about it long after I had finished – **** READER REVIEW
Filled with comedy, yet it constantly makes the reader question societal norms – ***** READER REVIEW
Unlike anything I’ve ever read! – **** READER REVIEW
Effortlessly blends the everyday with the fantastical. A celebration of non-conformity and freedom from society’s constraints… I found it completely gripping – **** READER REVIEW
Refreshing and unpredictable. I would recommend this book to those who want a short but thought-provoking read – **** READER REVIEW
Delightful if at times unsettling, this is a book that I’m sure will stick with me – **** READER REVIEW
Strange and surreal and sad and fun all at the same time – **** READER REVIEW
Beautifully translated, lyrical and enchanting – **** READER REVIEW
A refreshing addition to the Japanese magical realism genre…This was a fun, charming little read with a totally unique plot… If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, anxiety or just feeling like you don’t quite belong you’ll relate to and enjoy this read – **** READER REVIEW

Emi Yagi (Author)

Emi Yagi is an editor at a women’s magazine in Japan. She was born in 1988 and lives in Tokyo. Her first novel and international cult hit, Diary of a Void, won the Osamu Dazai Prize, awarded annually to the best debut work of fiction.

Yuki Tejima (Translator)

Yuki Tejima is the translator of Mizuki Tsujimura’s Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon and How to Hold Someone in Your Heart, Kumi Kimura’s Someone to Watch Over You, and the follow-up to Tetsuko Kuroyanagi’s bestselling memoir, Totto-chan- The Little Girl at the Window- The Sequel.

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