The Bookish Mindset

Overview:

Title: Mongrel
Author: Hanako Footman
Published: February 2025
Genre: Literary
Themes: Loss, Greif, Identity

One sentence summary: Three women, three tales of identity and belonging. 

One sentence review: A stunning novel that has me hoping Footman will be writing for years to come.

Review:

Mongrel is a tenderly written sorry of the women and how their lives are shaped by how they see themselves in the world. 

Mei struggles with the loss of her mother and who she is, hiding many parts of herself to even those closest to her. 

Yuki had so much to give the world but when she starts tuition and falls under the gaze of a young professor, all is not as perfect as it seems.

Haruka’s fights with her family have her looking for family elsewhere. 

It’s written brilliantly from each of the women, but not always in sequence. Breadcrumbs are left throughout the book and secrets come to light and I love that journey you’re taken on as a reader. 

It’s a book of grief and loss, sprinkled with some painful family moments and a few hopeful ones too. There’s some really beautiful parts in here and this is one that stood out. 

“love is not something to be won. It cannot be begged or bargained off others. It cannot be found on your knees. Love is found in the looking. In the still waters that reflect your very being, held among the stars above. Bright and wise and wild.”

Let me know if it’s one you’re picking up!

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And don’t forget to check out my other blogs and reviews – you can find books with similar themes in the same folder link below, or click back onto blogs to see the whole offering.

Last updated 22/09/2025