Four Seasons in Japan

Nick Bradley's ingenious choreography of a constantly moving city, is touching, surprising and sometimes heartbreaking

Guardian, on THE CAT AND THE CITY

The key pleasure of reading this book is its sprightly vigour - cool but not hipsterish, ambitious but not pretentious - that evokes a similar liveliness in the reader. It makes you feel young again

John Self, The Times, on THE CAT AND THE CITY

I wolfed down these interlocking stories of cats, Tokyo, loneliness and redemption. Congratulations to Nick Bradley on this vibrant and accomplished debut

David Mitchell, on THE CAT AND THE CITY

An ideal tonic for anyone craving far-flung adventure

Mail on Sunday, on THE CAT AND THE CITY

Inventive, beguiling

Sunday Times, on THE CAT AND THE CITY

This novel is like the waves of the Seto Inland Sea. Waves that calmly roll in and out, permeating the reader's heart and mind profoundly, and before you know it there's a rich high tide.

Kyoko Nakajima, author of Things Remembered and Things Forgotten

This book is a finely-wrought wonder. Four Seasons in Japan carries its wisdom lightly, but tells a profound tale about the redemptive power of narrative and the consolations of art.

Joe Mungo Reed, author of Hammer

A beautifully constructed story within a story that builds to an emotional and satisfying conclusion; I loved being immersed in the characters' experiences of heartbreak, warmth, finding purpose and, of course, cats, in the shifting seasons of urban and rural Japan. Ayako is a character I will carry with me for a long time.

Eleanor Wasserberg, author of The Light at the End of the Day

A beguiling book within a book that delicately traces the interconnectedness of lives across generations, within families, between strangers, and between books and their readers. I loved it.

Andrew Cowan, author of Worthless Men

I savoured every line of this beautifully observed portrait of Japan. Bradley creates a world and characters that are completely engrossing.

Bea Setton, author of Berlin

Gentle, restrained and utterly captivating. I love this book.

Robbie Arnott, author of The Rain Heron

An affecting tale of lost souls making connections, told with wit, compassion and gentle inventiveness.

Tom Watson, author of Metronome

Gorgeous. Four Seasons in Japan is the best kind of book: layered, interlinked and clever, but also delicately drawn, immersive and big-hearted. I strung out the last chapters, reluctant to let the beguiling characters go.

Rebecca Stott, author of In The Days of Rain

This is a finely drawn evocation of Japan, of youth, age, dreams, disillusionment, struggles and strength. Nick Bradley has created a set of many-layered characters whose actions and attitudes pull us deeply into their story. A poignant and beautiful book.

Hazel Prior, author of Away with the Penguins

What a thrill to be transported to Japan once again by the magic of Nick Bradley's storytelling. Warm, wise, and exquisitely written, these twin narratives explore the redemptive power of art and the courage needed to devote a life to it. This is the kind of book that lingers in the heart.

Violet Kupersmith, author of Build Your House Around My Body

A soulful story about Japanese culture, tradition and resilience

Woman's Weekly

Transportive, mesmerising and beautiful, there is such a poignancy and tenderness to the story . . . written with lyrical prose that is emotive and warm. Every book worm would love this.

Glamour

Four Seasons in Japan doubles as a love letter to Japanese culture, its landscape, and literature, exploring the comfort found in books and the (mis)understanding between generations.

Country & Town House

Heartwarming

Cosmopolitan

This is a gentle, tender and thoughtful book, exploring literature, love, human connection, Japanese culture and the disillusion of youth. It features beautiful imagery and is crafted in such a way that you want to savour every chapter.

Culturefly

Bradley builds a poignant, quiet and affecting novel full of love as well as loss.

Observer

Surprisingly moving ... This is a novel that occupies multiple worlds in multiple ways ... a postmodern riddle while also making for an emotionally engaging story ... there's something here for everyone.

The Times

A beautiful, meditative, and oh so tender tale about family, art, and finding your place in the world. Despite its sometimes heavy topics, it's written with a light enough touch to make for a consoling and hopeful read, filled with warmth and compassion. I breezed through it.

Jenny Mustard, author of Okay Days

Bradley has created an authentic sense of place, capturing the parochial intimacies and day-to-day rhythms of small-town life in Japan

Literary Review

My favourite novel, a delight for lovers of Japan… Ingenious

David Abulafia, TLS

A love letter to [Japan's] culture, landscape and literature

Yours Magazine