Sputnik Sweetheart is a 1999 book written by globally acclaimed Japanese author Haruki Murakami. Originally published in Japanese, it was translated into English by Philip Gabriel in 2001.
The plot of Sputnik Sweetheart revolves around Sumire, a young woman who is also an amateur writer. One day, she meets a much older Korean woman named Miu who sparks sexual fantasies in her that she has never experienced before. Miu and Sumire eventually elope and begin traveling around Europe, causing K, Sumire's only close friend, to wonder when she will return. K begins to receive letters from Sumire tracking their progress around Europe.
Sputnik Sweetheart was one of Murakami's earlier works. It was generally well-received by critics, who praised the book for exploring the themes of conformity, maturation, and one-sided love.
