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Quick answer: If you liked Butter, read Asako Yuzuki's other books, then Convenience Store Woman, Breasts and Eggs, Out and Gone Girl. All are sharp, dark Japanese or psychological novels about women, food and society's expectations.
Asako Yuzuki's 2017 novel, translated into English in 2024, follows Rika, a reporter who becomes fascinated with Kajii, a gourmet cook convicted of murdering men, and learns about food, desire and the pressures on women's bodies. It is dark, sensual and sharp. The books below offer similar studies of women, appetite and society.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out | Natsuo Kirino | Adult | women and crime |
| Convenience Store Woman | Sayaka Murata | Adult | readers who want a quirky voice |
| Earthlings | Sayaka Murata | Adult | extreme alienation |
| Breasts and Eggs | Mieko Kawakami | Adult | women and choices |
| The Vegetarian | Han Kang | Adult | readers who want a challenging read |
| Kitchen | Banana Yoshimoto | Adult | short Japanese fiction |
| The Housekeeper and the Professor | Yoko Ogawa | Adult | maths and memory |
| The Memory Police | Yoko Ogawa | Adult | quiet dystopia |
| Strange Weather in Tokyo | Hiromi Kawakami | Adult | gentle strangeness |
| The Nakano Thrift Shop | Hiromi Kawakami | Adult | quirky shop |
| Before the Coffee Gets Cold | Toshikazu Kawaguchi | Adult | gentle time travel |
| My Year of Rest and Relaxation | Ottessa Moshfegh | Adult | numbed existence |
| Gone Girl | Gillian Flynn | Adult | readers who like unreliable narrators |
| Sharp Objects | Gillian Flynn | Adult | dark small-town crime |
| Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 | Cho Nam-joo | Adult | everyday sexism |
1. Out by Natsuo Kirino
Four women working night shifts in a factory cover up a murder. Dark and gripping.
Best for: women and crime.
2. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
Keiko, who has worked at a convenience store for 18 years, resists pressure to change. Short, strange and funny.
Best for: readers who want a quirky voice.
3. Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
A woman who believes she is an alien rejects human norms. Dark, strange and disturbing.
Best for: extreme alienation.
4. Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami
A Japanese novel about bodies, motherhood and what women are expected to be. Frank and compelling.
Best for: women and choices.
5. The Vegetarian by Han Kang
A woman stops eating meat and her family reacts with violence. Short, strange and unforgettable.
Best for: readers who want a challenging read.
6. Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
A young woman finds comfort in kitchens after loss. Short, tender and modern Japanese fiction.
Best for: short Japanese fiction.
7. The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa
A housekeeper and her son befriend a mathematician whose memory lasts eighty minutes. Tender and beautiful.
Best for: maths and memory.
8. The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa
On an island, objects vanish from memory. Quiet, haunting and elegant.
Best for: quiet dystopia.
9. Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami
A woman and her former teacher drift into love over drinks. Gentle and offbeat.
Best for: gentle strangeness.
10. The Nakano Thrift Shop by Hiromi Kawakami
A young woman works in a shop full of odd items and odd people. Light and charming.
Best for: quirky shop.
11. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
A cafe lets customers visit the past, but only while the coffee is hot. Quiet and moving.
Best for: gentle time travel.
12. My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
A young woman tries to sleep through a year in New York. Dark and funny.
Best for: numbed existence.
13. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
A wife disappears, and her husband is accused. A twisty, cynical marriage thriller.
Best for: readers who like unreliable narrators.
14. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
A reporter returns to her hometown to cover murders. Disturbing and brilliant.
Best for: dark small-town crime.
15. Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo
A woman's life is told through the pressures she faces in South Korea. Direct and powerful.
Best for: everyday sexism.
How to Choose
For dark women-centred fiction choose Out, Earthlings or The Vegetarian. For quiet Japanese stories pick Convenience Store Woman, Kitchen or Strange Weather in Tokyo. For psychological thrillers read Gone Girl or Sharp Objects. For social critique try Breasts and Eggs or Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982. Butter is rich and dark, so these picks suit readers who like fiction with appetite. Butter is loosely inspired by a real Japanese case of a woman convicted of murdering men she met through online dating, and it became an international bestseller after its English release. It is full of food scenes, so it is best not read hungry.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Butter about?
A journalist becomes obsessed with a convicted murderer who loves food.
Who wrote it?
Asako Yuzuki.
When was it published?
2017 in Japanese, 2024 in English.
Is it based on a true story?
It is inspired by a real case.
Is it a thriller?
It is part thriller, part social commentary and food novel.
Does it have a lot of food?
Yes, including rich descriptions of cooking and eating.
Is it dark?
Yes, with disturbing themes.
What should I read next?
Try Convenience Store Woman or Out.
Which book here is best for women and choices?
Try Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami, which suits readers looking for women and choices.
Which book here is best for maths and memory?
Try The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa, which suits readers looking for maths and memory.