Happy Tuesday, bookworms! How's the beginning of the week going for everyone? My week has been off to a great start: I finished my last assignment of the school semester (yay!) and went to Barnes & Noble for the first time in over a year. It was so nice to actually browse through a bookstore again, and I got three books that I can't wait to dive into: Kate in Waiting, A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, and Heartstopper Volume 3. Today, I have for you my ARC review of From Little Tokyo, With Love by Sarah Kuhn! This book actually releases today, so make sure to grab yourself a copy. Special thanks to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review! Synopsis/Book Information
My ReviewFrom Little Tokyo, With Love is one of those books that has so much good stuff packed into it. Humor, important messages, adorable romance, diverse characters, some unexplainable force that makes you feel all warm and tingly inside. People, this book has it all, and I am here to tell you all about it in rambling text for the next several hundred words. One thing that stood out to me the most about this book was the main character, Rika. She's a really complex character who struggles with anger issues and often feels inadequate. She's often discriminated against because she's biracial and doesn't feel like she truly belongs anywhere, causing her to feel resentful and fueling her temper. It was really interesting to read about a character with anger issues because that's not something you see frequently in YA literature. I liked how Rika eventually came to see her temper in a more positive light, realizing that her anger often lashed out at people who were trying to harm the family and friends she cared deeply about, showing her strong love and devotion to those close to her. I also appreciated how there was an emphasis on Rika needing to believe that she deserved her own happy ending instead of continuing to think she wasn't good enough for one. She had a beautiful character arc as she came to see her own good qualities and realize that she was worthy of love. Prime character development! Honestly, all of the characters in this book were so well written. All of the characters, even side characters, were complex and unique and seemed like genuinely real people. Rika's cousins, Belle and Rory, were especially interesting characters who had their own personalities, flaws, insecurities, and opinions. I enjoyed watching Rika's relationship with the evolve throughout the book. I was also really interested in Rika's friend, Eliza, and would have liked to read more about her (may I suggest a book starring Eliza in the future??). I also would have liked to see more of Rika's aunts, Aunt Suzy and Auntie Och. They weren't in a whole lot of the book and I would've enjoyed seeing a bit more character development from them. I absolutely adored Henry, who at first glance seemed to be a stereotypical cute actor guy but actually had some unique, heartwarming qualities. He was swoon-worthy and charming, and I totally fell in love with his character. After initially being introduced to his perfect actor persona, it was interesting getting to know the hidden personal side of him. I felt like the depictions of his anxiety were very realistic, and I appreciated the anxiety representation in this book. One thing I loved about this book was how, despite it being somewhat of a love story, it had such a strong emphasis on self-growth and learning to love oneself. The messages about belonging and self-acceptance were touching and beautiful. One thing I wasn't a huge fan of was Grace Kimura. Like, I know she was the catalyst for everything that happened in this book, but I just didn't like her character very much. Her character seemed a bit underdeveloped and bland, and I just couldn't get very passionate about wanting Rika to find her. I also felt like Grace she wasn't trying hard enough to be a part of Rika's life. Things seemed to get resolved too easily between her and Rika in the end, and I just wasn't very invested in her. While the romance was pretty insta-love, it didn't really bother me for some reason, maybe because it wasn't the main focus. Rika and Henry were adorable together, and I loved how they saw the good in each other. They were so honest and supportive of one another, which was heartwarming to read about. Overall, very cute and swoon-worthy! That's all for my review of From Little Tokyo, With Love! I gave this book Four Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Have you read Form Little Tokyo, With Love? And if so, what did you think of it? Let me know in the comments!
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Hey there, bookworms!My name is Rose (she/her) and I'm the creator of Books of Magic and Mystery. I love reading YA books, especially fantasy and mystery. When I'm not reading, you can find me baking, studying, or cuddling with my super-furry pets. Visit me on Instagram @booksofmagicandmystery! Archives
November 2021
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