Starting Over

My Rating: [ 7.2 — Great ]

• Japanese Title: スターティング・オーヴァー
• Hepburn: Sutātingu Ōvā
• Original Web Title: 十年巻き戻って、十歳からやり直した感想
• Web Hepburn: Jūnen Makimodotte, Jussai kara Yarinaoshita Kansō
• Author: Sugaru Miaki (三秋 縋)
• Pseudonym: Fafoo
• Original Web Publication: August 2011 on the textboard 2channel
• Novel Publication Date: September 25, 2013
• Publisher: KADOKAWA under the Media Works Bunko imprint
• Official Product Page: KADOKAWA Official Site
• English Fan Translation: vgperson Translation

Review

Starting Over is a short but emotionally effective novel with a stronger impact than I initially expected. The premise is simple but compelling: a man in his twenties is suddenly given the chance to relive the last ten years of his life from age ten onward. At first, he sees the opportunity as almost pointless, since his first life had been a good one by most measures. He had a loving girlfriend, attended a good college, got along well with others, and did not feel like he had any major regrets.

That sense of confidence does not last. Once he begins living again, everything starts to unravel in ways that make the second life feel far harsher than the first. He is rejected by the girl who was once his girlfriend, he falls into depression, his best friend bullies him in this life, his sister becomes someone he can barely recognize, his parents are constantly fighting, he fails to get into the college he wanted. Much of the novel is filtered through the perspective of someone who can no longer see the good in the world and is trapped by the contrast between what he remembers and what is now happening around him.

The story has two major twists, with the first one significantly recontextualizing everything that comes before it. While I usually dislike heavy reliance on plot twists, since they can sometimes feel like artificial attempts to shock the reader, the execution here was strong enough that it worked for me.

What makes the novel more effective than its gloomy tone might suggest is the way its dialogue and quieter moments reward careful reading. If you pay attention to what the characters are really saying, the story becomes much warmer and more sincere than it first appears. Beneath the sadness and frustration, there is a genuine heart underneath it all.

The afterword also improved my overall impression of the work. It added a layer of sincerity that made the novel feel more personal and complete once I finished it. And although the novel carries a consistently melancholy tone, the ending is surprisingly satisfying in a way that fits the story well without needing to overstate itself.

I read it in around two hours, though most readers will probably take longer. Firefox Reader estimated roughly 209–266 minutes. Despite its relatively short length, it manages to leave a noticeable impression without overstaying its welcome.

Overall, I’d consider it a light and worthwhile read with a few memorable ideas, emotional moments, and a quietly uplifting core, even if some of its narrative devices are not usually to my taste.