Five of the world's top billionaires are captured using new technology and brought to a concealed healing center in Canada. These five men have not only accumulated most of the world's wealth but have also significantly contributed to the decline of Earth's health.  At the healing center, a group of determined women hopes to help the men change their ways and collaborate to solve climate change.  However, first they must heal themselves and believe in the cause.  The women plan to use a series of healing drugs, meditation and therapy to guide them. 

They Could Be Saviors is a slow paced, quiet confrontation focused on a gradual change in perspective.  I really liked the premise of the story: bringing billionaires responsible for large portions of carbon emissions to try and solve the problem using their skill sets.  Most of the story focused on deprogramming  the men using drugs, meditation, time and therapy.  This focus drew attention to the characters, both the male billionaires and the women trying to help them, keeping the focus on the power of mindfulness, trauma processing, and therapeutic drug use rather than on climate change.  While the characters' transformations and reactions to the therapies were interesting, I wish there was more focus on climate change itself—specifically, helping the men understand the problem that they were contributing to and how they could actively help solve this complex problem.  Overall, a unique story of healing and change. 

This book was received for free in exchange for an honest review. .

Keiko Furukura has always struggled to meet societal norms, but has always been completely comfortable with who she is.  After finishing school, Keiko finds a job at the nearby Hiiromachi 24 hour convenience store, Smile Mart.  Keiko finds comfort in the routine and structure of the job. She excels at understanding store needs, restocking inventory, anticipating regular customers' wants at specific times of day, and finding effective ways to interact with her co-workers. However, after working at Smile Mart for 18 years, Keiko has surpassed the societal norm for remaining in an entry level position as an unmarried woman.  When Shiraha begins working at Smile Mart and is quickly fired for his poor work ethic, Keiko proposes a plan that will help both of them be more accepted by society and relieve the pressure from their families. 

Convenience Store Woman is a delightful and insightful look into everyday life.  I was immediately wrapped up in Keiko's character, though portrayed as different, she is charming, observant and simply unconcerned with societal norms.  Keiko says and does what most people wish they could say and do.  Many of her sentiments resonated with me such as keeping one's mouth shut to maintain peace, how people influence one another and absorb each other's traits and how the norm dismisses and eliminates anything or anyone deemed different.  Keiko's connection to the convenience store itself was another interesting element to the story and I enjoyed how she realized she needed the store's connection more than any other person's. 

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