I really loved this book. It starts as some kind of coming-of-age story, where two people meet and get to know (and love) each other. But this is all happening in flashbacks. In the present, Miwako Sumida has hanged herself. Why, her friends don't know. So they try to find out. THE PERFECT WORLD OF MIWAKO SUMIDA alternates between the present and flashbacks from Miwako's and the other character's past. We follow the stories from the view of Yanagi, who is deeply in love with her and crushed when he finds out she killed herself. He starts to gather information about her and her possible motif, but he doesn't acquire much. The second part of the book is told from Chie's view, Miwakos sort-of best friend. She knows a lot more than Yanagi, but she can't share--at least not yet. Chie and Yanagi set off to the distant village where Miwako spent her last days, to find closure of some sort. The last part tells a whole different story. At first I was afraid that this might let the main story drift away, but that didn't happen. Instead, we follow past Yanagi's sister. We relive her childhood, her growing up and her adolescence. A fascinating story which seems disconnected from the whole book, but also very close. A strange feeling. This book was a quiet, melancholic and extremely enjoyable experience. I'm looking forward to anything that comes out of Clarissa Goenawan's mind next.