Mongrel

An exquisite debut novel weaving together the voices of three young women in Japan and the UK as the threads of their lives twist and entangle in unexpected ways.

Mei loses her Japanese mother at age six. Growing up in suburban Surrey, she yearns to fit in, suppressing not only her heritage but her growing desire for her best friend Fran.

Yuki leaves the Japanese countryside to pursue her dream of becoming a concert violinist in London. Far from home and in an unfamiliar city, she finds herself caught up in the charms of her older teacher.

Haruka attempts to navigate Tokyo's nightlife and all of its many vices, working as a hostess in the city's sex district. She grieves a mother who hid so many secrets from her, until finally one of those secrets comes to light . . .

Shifting between three intertwining narratives, Mongrel reveals a tangled web of desire, isolation, belonging and ultimately, hope.

5 Star Reader Reviews: 'Utterly captivating' | 'Achingly real' | 'Moving and unforgettable' | 'Stunning yet heartbreaking' | 'Devastating, powerful' | 'Easily one of the best books I've ever read'

About the Author

Hanako Footman is a British-Japanese author and actor. She grew up in Wimbledon and trained at LAMDA. She now lives in East London. As a child she spent her school holidays in Japan, at her grandmother's house by the sea. She tries to go back whenever she can. Hanako's debut novel Mongrel was shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize in 2024.