Starting Over by Sugaru Miaki
Starting Over by Sugaru Miaki is a thought-provoking Japanese novel that combines psychological drama, romance, supernatural elements, time travel, loneliness, regret, and second chances. Originally created as a story on 2ch under the author's earlier pen name Fafoo and later rewritten as a novel, the story follows a young man who mysteriously returns from age twenty to age ten and gets the opportunity to live his life again.
About This Book
What would you do if you could go back to childhood with all the memories of your life up to the age of twenty?
Most people would probably use such an opportunity to correct their mistakes, avoid painful experiences, make better decisions, or change the course of their future.
For the protagonist of Starting Over, however, the chance to relive his life takes an unexpected direction.
After reaching his twentieth birthday, he is mysteriously sent back to the age of ten. Given the opportunity to experience his childhood and adolescence again while retaining memories of his first life, he initially believes that he should be able to create a better future. Yet instead of simply rewriting his past, he finds himself struggling with the complicated emotions, relationships, regrets, and consequences that come with a second chance.
As his second life progresses, familiar people and relationships take on new meanings. His memories of the first life influence his decisions, while events begin unfolding differently from what he remembers.
The novel explores the uncomfortable question of whether changing the past can really create a better life—or whether some regrets and mistakes are inseparable from who we become.
Sugaru Miaki combines time travel and supernatural elements with psychological and romantic storytelling, creating a story about loneliness, first love, destiny, regret, and the desire to begin again. The novel was originally published in Japan in 2013 as a single completed volume.
Key Themes
- Time travel
- Second chances
- Japanese literature
- Psychological fiction
- Romance
- First love
- Loneliness
- Regret
- Destiny
- Personal choices
- Supernatural fiction
- Slice-of-life
- Emotional relationships
- Self-reflection
- Life and identity
Why Read This Book?
Starting Over is an intriguing choice for readers who enjoy Japanese light novels, psychological romance, time-travel stories, supernatural fiction, and emotionally complex characters.
Rather than treating a second chance at life as a simple opportunity to fix mistakes, the novel explores the emotional complications that arise when someone tries to recreate or change a life they have already experienced.
Who Should Read This?
Ideal for fans of Sugaru Miaki, Japanese literature, psychological romance, time-travel fiction, supernatural novels, emotional storytelling, and character-driven light novels.
Readers who enjoyed Sugaru Miaki's Three Days of Happiness may also find Starting Over appealing because of its focus on loneliness, relationships, and difficult questions about life.
Product Details
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Title: Starting Over
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Author: Sugaru Miaki (Fafoo)
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Original Japanese Title: スターティング・オーヴァー
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Language: English
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Genre: Psychological / Romance / Supernatural / Japanese Literature
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Original Publisher: Media Works
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Publication Year: 2013
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Volumes: 1, Complete
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Format: [Edition dependent]
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Publisher: [Edition dependent]
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ISBN: [Edition dependent]
