After a senseless attack in college, Cho Norie moves to Tokyo to start a new life. But even as she befriends her colleagues, she is forced to hide herself—her past, sexuality, and mental health. As her ghosts catch up to her, Norie must find the courage to go on and escape from her solo dance.

Alternating between Norie's time in Taiwan and Japan, SOLO DANCE is a coming-of-age story depicting the pain and trauma of a closeted queer woman attending Taiwanese schools and working in Japanese corporates.

Li frequently references NOTES OF A CROCODILE (Qiu Miaojin) throughout the text, and Norie's character development is closely related to Lazi's decisions in NOTES. As such, readers will benefit greatly from having read NOTES first to better understand Li's writing.

What separates SOLO DANCE from NOTES is its depiction of modern queer life and communities. I also love that SOLO DANCE includes Taiwanese/Japanese pop culture, even referring to a popular Taiwanese band, F.I.R., and their song The Thorn Birds ✨ While Taiwanese/Japanese classics often reference Eurocentric music and films, I adore the modern literature that doesn't rely on its proximity to whiteness to make its way to the US.

At its core, SOLO DANCE is an ode to life, living, and staying alive. It reminds me of the song 生きていたんだよな (Ikite Ita Nda Yo Na) by あいみょん (Aimyon)