This book was very easy to get into and very easy to read. It concerns a teacher and pupil who embark on a passionate affair. Nothing unusual in that you might say in the twenty-first century, except the teacher is a young woman in her twenties and the man, or boy, is a kid of sixteen. Nothing really unusual in that even, not in this day and age, except that this is Japan, and Runa is now in severe trouble.
Someone has seen them leaving a hotel, taken their photograph, threatens to expose them, so it is rumoured. The other teachers are aware that someone has been having an affair, but they don’t yet know who. The witch hunt is on.
Runa panics and steals her sister’s passport and flees the town, flees the country. She jumps on a ferry for Shanghai, and though she can’t stop thinking of Jun, the kid, she’s committed to running.
Meanwhile on the other side of town, Ralph, a middle aged English shopkeeper has been turned down flat by the comely young ladies at the Japanese Wives Bureau. He is too old, and too funny looking, big nose you see, for their liking. No thanks! No way. Not a chance.
He’s already tried a Thai wife before and his options are rapidly running out. His Thai beauty, Apple, (why are they always called Apple?) was charming and sweet in Thailand but once back in Carlisle in the far north of England, overnight she turned into a sourpuss, and worse still, stays out all night, engaged on affairs. No, Ralph does not want another Thai bride. Too much trouble for him.