Hunchback

The first chapter will have pearl-clutchers screaming bloody murder. It does give the impression that the book is not what you first expected...but stick with it.

After that, the narrator details her life as a wealthy, Japanese woman in her 40s with a congenital muscle and spine disorder which makes breathing and speaking extremely difficult and every day tasks a painstaking maneouver.

She pushes the boundaries of what's deemed "acceptable" by the mainstream -- thoughts most people would blush at, particularly coming from a disabled person.

The author challenges ableism and calls out examples of what's considered normal accomodations in the U.S. compared to Japan. As a fellow book lover, I was particularly struck by the critiques around physical books. For some, physical books are too heavy and burdensome to handle, so having some hierarchy of what's deemed "real" reading is a form of ableism. Digital books, of course, offer far more variations making them more accessible (large font, lighter, audio).

But the main focus is on her identity as a woman (one with her own sexual desires) and how she can assert that identity and live her life as she wishes given her disability and how people view her because of it.

MINOR SPOILER AHEAD

At first she forays into her sexuality via her online alter ego and under a pen name. But then she's given the chance to play out her fantasy in real life... I doubt it goes in the direction you expect. It didn't for me.

The book tackled some pretty significant taboos, critical to challenging problematic norms that belittle and dismiss people with disabilities. And expect the language to match - there's no holding back. So if sexually explicit descriptions are not for you, be forewarned.