Tokyo Fiancee — Amelie Nothomb

Amélie Nothomb brings humor, intelligence, and a refreshing honesty to this highly autobiographical work. Her storytelling appeals to those who feel that their own immediate and personal sense of love is seldom adequately represented in popular fiction. 

Amélie is a young language teacher living in Tokyo. When she succumbs to the attentions of her one and only student -- the shy, wealthy, and sincere Rinri -- the two find themselves in an vibrant affair that is as unusual as it is tender. As their relationship unfolds, revelations emerge on foreigness, communication, age, and the fluctuating nature of love. 

Tokyo Fiancée foregoes conventions to create a compelling image of love for the contemporary woman, an anti-Prince-Charming story that is an antidote to traditional romantic fables.