The 38 Impossible Loves of Naoko Nishizawa

by Monna McDiarmid

When impulsive Skye and rebel-in-waiting Akari find a stranger’s journal, the quest to return it to its owner is born along with the girls' new friendship. Both students at an international school in Tokyo but as different as two sixteen-year-olds can be, together they scour the journal entries for clues to the mysterious and bold Naoko Nishizawa. Their individual struggles with identity, however, threaten not only their search but also their friendship and mental well-being. In their mission to find Naoko Nishizawa, will Skye and Akari be able to find the courage to recognize and tell the whole truth about who they really are, no matter the consequences?

Genres: Queer

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 22, 2023

About the author

Monna McDiarmid is a writer, life coach and educator. She and her partner live in a tiny apartment in Yokohama, Japan and an old, wooden house in Nova Scotia, Canada.

https://www.instagram.com/monnamcdiar...

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely, lovely book. Monna McDiarmid has written something so special and different that I hesitate to compare, but: imagine an international Harriet the Spy, just as adventurous and astute, but kinder, softer-edged. Or a modern, cross-cultural Anne of Green Gables, with the same depth of friendship, feeling, and wonder. I love that there are queer characters, plural. I love that there is so much romance, yet it's not central to the story. I love how fully-realized all the characters and relationships feel. I love the ending, which wasn't what I expected, yet now I can't imagine it unfolding it any other way. A beautiful reading experience.

[Tyler Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun and fulfilling read, with two adorable protagonists who are filled with such curiosity and spunk, it’s impossible not to get wrapped up in their friendship and their adventure of tracking down the mysterious Naoko Nishizawa. This is a book lover’s comfort food, filled with beautiful, poetic language and wonderful insights on life.

[Alohadudenyc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to begin by saying how much I love (love love love) this book.

There were so many moments when I sat down to read it and I felt excited to dive into the text. And that rarely happens for me these days. I usually find myself frustrated when reading novels, for all sorts of reasons. But this book? Every time I sat down to read, it felt like a gift. "I get to read THIS book."

This book sings! Here are some things I loved:

I loved how the author made Skye the walking embodiment of mixed cultures. Her parents (including both of her mothers) who joined together and created/raised her. I loved her western ways. (God, I totally related!) Her red hair. Her "western sized body" which made her stand out even more. It helped me, as a non-Japanese reader (and a reader who isn't necessarily familiar with Japanese culture) feel comfortable. I learned things as Skye learned things. And what a gift that is to a YA reader!

I loved the richness of the syntax. The character's distinct voices. The familiar song of Skye contrasted with the more-formal voice of Akari. I love how you gave her the "gift" of not using contractions when she speaks. It really helped to define her voice on the page. Naoko's voice was unique and beautiful, too! That voyeuristic thrill of peeking into someone's diary!

These two characters felt fully fleshed-out and alive. Not made from cardboard, but real, living people. As I read, I found myself thinking, "The author has spent so much time with these characters—especially Skye and Akari—that it doesn't feel like she's inventing things—more like she's transcribing things as they happen." They all felt SO alive. Skye's parents, Akari's parents, Reika and Kimi, Ms. Barrett, Naoko. They all felt like real people.

I loved how timeless the story is—two young women on an exciting adventure, solving a mystery right there in their own environment and not setting off on some over-inflated, globe-spanning trek. AND! I love that Naoko's story feels like it's from an earlier time. When we dipped into the "diary" I felt like I was watching one of those spectacularly styled French black-and-white films. I know she's more contemporary than that, but the author managed to "paint" the story with that filtered edge, that throwback to another time.

AND! I love how contemporary the story feels, with the element of sexual identity/exploration and how it was not an explosive, in-your-face issue, but more of one of the issues that teens face today. I'm in love. With him. With her. I'm in love. Love is confusing. YES!

I love how the author addressed the blending of two(+) cultures—I mean, isn't that the new norm? Who lives in a homogenous world anymore? I loved how Skye was mystified by the formal/restrained ways of Akari. And Akari's amazement at Skye's boldness. And I loved that the author didn't make them hate each other for being different. I think it's an easy thing for a writer to set two opposites together and have them war and then come to see how similar they really are. But that feels cardboard in today's world. This book feels real and true. Yes, people are different and we can be confused by them, but we don't war with them—and young people, I think, are much quicker to see the similarities in each other, to tolerate each other's differences and celebrate them. The reader learns (and maybe reflects) on differences. It never felt disrespectful. Never smacked of cultural appropriation. It felt real. And I'm there for it. All of it.

I love how the author introduced the reader to the Heroine's Journey.

The pacing of the novel is excellent. There is suspense and humor. Readers get to bite their fingernails and clap. I never found myself bored. Plenty of tempo changes to keep the reader going.

I love the use of multiple POVs. And I LOVE how we get to read Naoko's diary along with Skye and Akari. I felt like I was on the ride right there beside them.

I loved the characters' independence (especially all of the female characters.) There was no waiting for a man/hero/knight-on-his-trusty-steed to come and rescue them. These women were strong, standing on their own feet. Making things happen. Driving the story. THANK YOU! We need more stories like this!

I'm a fan of that moment at the end of a mystery when all is revealed. The final scene has that delicious "Wizard of Oz" moment.

This book is a gift. Oh, the lucky readers who choose it from the shelves, who open its covers, who turn its pages. I feel so lucky to read it. And to be able to go back and revisit these characters I've grown to love.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before you start The 38 Impossible Loves of Naoko Nishizawa, I suggest finding your comfiest chair and planning to sink right in—to this novel, that is. Three stories, each with its own narrator, are braided together to create a hard-to-put-down narrative of friendship, forgiveness, and love. When Skye moves with her father and stepmother from Paris to Tokyo, she remembers the challenges she faced moving from Ottawa to Paris four years earlier. The challenges are different in Tokyo, though, as she learns to navigate Japanese culture and manners. Luckily, she becomes fast friends with Akari, the second narrator. Akari longs to attend art school, to have her parents understand her dreams. When she gets swept away by Skye’s red hair, big personality, and willingness to make mistakes, she finds herself struggling to maintain her friendships and her parents’ trust. Skye’s discovery of a journal titled The 38 Impossible Loves of Naoko Nishizawa puts Akari’s values under pressure. She doesn’t feel it is ethical to read the journal, yet Skye persuades her they have to in order to find the journal’s owner and return it. Every time they read one of Naoko’s (the third narrator) entries together, the girls can’t help but to be affected. Their search for Naoko causes strife, between them, between them and their parents at times. I won’t spoil the adventure of reading the novel with any more detail, but I will say this: the author’s work as an international school counselor imbues the novel with pitch-perfect interactions among the teen girls and the girls and their families. It is almost painful to watch the girls struggle with difficulties of being a teen because these renditions ring so true. As an adult reader, I felt the novel gave me a beautiful insight into the girls’ lives, which will translate into my understanding the real-life teens in my world a little better. I can imagine young adult readers feeling connected to both Skye and Akari, perhaps even learning how to be better friends through the novel. Throughout, I was moved by the sensitive communication among the characters, even when they are angry with each other. This is a novel to savor for its realistic, lovely characters, rich and beautiful language, gorgeous descriptions of settings, and adventuresome plot. I know I’ll return to it myself, and I can’t wait to share it with the young people in my life.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 38 Impossible Loves of Naoko Nishizawa by Monna McDiarmid is a beautifully written novel that explores the complexities of adolescence and the challenges and excitement of living in a foreign country. McDiarmid, a high school counselor, brings her expertise to the fore as she weaves together a poignant and uplifting story. Monna makes me laugh, cry, feel, and see myself as another does, and most of all, her words fill me with hope and joy for the people of the world.

The novel is a coming-of-age story that deals with various issues relevant to young adults. These issues include love, friendships, culture, sexuality, body image, and relationships. McDiarmid tackles each of these topics with sensitivity and insight, creating complex and nuanced characters.

One of the standout features of the novel is how Monna integrates Japanese culture into the story. The reader is treated to an array of cultural references, from traditional festivals to modern pop culture, which help to create a vivid and immersive world.

The writing style of the novel is both beautiful and accessible. Monna’s prose is poetic and evocative, smooth, and easy to follow. The novel is also cleverly structured, with the two friends discovering a mysterious diary that provides an intriguing throughline.

The 38 Impossible Loves of Naoko Nishizawa is a heartwarming novel that offers valuable life lessons for young adults. The novel is a celebration of friendship and cultural exchange, and it is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever felt like an outsider. The novel is a true page-turner, with an ending that will leave readers feeling both satisfied and inspired. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a meaningful read.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 38 Impossible Loves of Naoko Nishizawa is both a glimpse into the joys and challenges of intercultural living and a gentle, multifaceted mystery. With years of insight into learning and living in Japan, McDiarmid captures the essence of being a teen at an international school in Tokyo. With such kindness and hope, McDiarmid reminds us of the creative and heartfelt ways that young adults grow and live in the world.

Put this book atop my favorites list! It's both a gentle portrait of growing up (especially in a different country!) and a gentle mystery that offers many twists and turns. Throw in cultural differences, art and life, the vibrancy of life in Tokyo, and characters you can't help but fall in love with, and you've got a must-read that will keep you up late. I felt enveloped by kindness, understanding, intercultural living, the hopefulness and messiness of being a teen, the joy and challenge of friendship, and the way that adults can show up (or not), which makes me want to do better for the teens I know.

I LOVE this book. Highly recommended!

[Dana Berglund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told in the alternating voices of two high school students at an international school in Tokyo, the book explores friendship, self-confidence, following your dreams, getting in trouble, and seeing people for who they really are among other things. Skye and Akari are both interesting people whose friendhsip changes them both. They embark on a quest to find the owner of a journal they discover in a thrift store purchase, and get into some minor hijinks along the way. But mostly, they consider how to communicate with a new friend, in a new situation (new school/country for one of them), without letting old patterns get in their way. A sweet, sweet read that had me reaching for tissues.

[Cheri Rauser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be an advanced reader and had no idea what to expect. I love this novel, cover to cover, letter to letter. I love all the stories. So good for so many reasons: it uses the epistolary style, like one unfolds an origami work of art, and anyone who can do that well is also a great writer. It is a coming-of-age story that is more than that. I knew right away that this novel would end too soon. So, I savoured each moment. Alas, despite my resistance, the chapters flowed quickly to reach the finish line, and now I am bereft but also satisfied.

[Barbara Boughton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book and while it’s meant for the young adult audience, as a 65-year-old woman who enjoys mysteries and character- driven books I loved it and stayed up late to get to the end. As well as exploring the inner lives of the young heroines, the book is an intriguing mystery,a look at Japanese culture and the difficulties of settling in another country while young. It’s a fun fascinating read!

[CJH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this story unfolds and the characters reveal themselves. I read quickly, then slower - both wanting to know what happens and also not wanting it to end.
This is a book I would have been so happy to find on the shelf of the teen/YA section at my small-town library - returning frequently, hoping to find more by the same author.

[Jun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cozy yet really packed a punch. The book has these bite-sized chapters that create a gorgeous mosaic picture of a friendship. Passed the Bechdel Test with flying colors and didn't look back, a real comfort-quilt of a novel, if you're looking for a patch of quiet in a busy life!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much—the friendships, the different characters, good intentions but not always good decisions, culture clashes…it was all a joy to read! Especially loved the ending! ❤️

[Frances Ardika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I inhaled this book in one sitting. I could relate to so many aspects of the book. Monna created a beautiful world where you can feel the angst, joy, pain, and love of each of the girls. I'm a mom to a teen at an International school in Asia. I could relate to both sets of parents in the book as I am both Canadian and Chinese. I recommend this for my daughter as well as my best girlfriends!

[Damien Pitter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teenagers hide behind a lot of armour. Layers of cool, fashion, make-up, sarcasm, profanity, indifference, social righteousness, curated social media and AI filters on their tiktoks. The 38 Impossible Loves is about who we are (or maybe who we could be), without all the armour. McDiarmid writes people who are vulnerable and sincere and courageous enough to make mistakes and talk about their feelings. Cynics (from behind their armour) might be suspicious of the novel’s earnestness. They shouldn’t be. It’s diasarming, and beautiful. And wise. It’s about teenagers, but not exclusively for teenagers. Adults will get just as much out of this book, and in all likelihood, more. It’s a coming-of-age story, a platonic love story, and a cozy mystery that makes space for cultural difference and unrequited love and loss and queerness and depression, without blazing an agenda for any of them. The characters and the story always come first. Skye and Akari’s quest to find Naoko is intriguing, their journey is engaging and The 38 Impossible Loves has one of the most joyous and well-earned endings I’ve had the pleasure to read.

[Tricia Mowat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. First of all, it is set in an international school. I’ve taught in international schools for years, and it is so rare to see this particular slice of life represented in literature. Monna did a great job capturing the complexity of this experience. You can tell that she has an insider’s view, and that she is a very empathetic human. The privilege and amazing opportunities, but also the grief of moving from place to place and the challenge of finding your identity as an expat kid. But also, the story is delightful. The characters are rich and lovely. It’s easy to fall in love with Skye and Akari. And there is a mystery to be solved, which kept me turning pages.

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book radiates kindness; reading it is like hanging out with dear friends who really care. In The 38 Impossible Loves of Naoko Nishizawa, we follow two teenage girls in Tokyo as they embark on a self-chosen mission to return a journal to its owner. The girls encounter their fair share of teenage challenges, but they do so with such emotional intelligence and grace that I wish I could go back to high school and learn from them. I love reading a book in which the author's hopeful view of the world comes through, and this is one of those books. Monna McDiarmid's writing is delightful; nuggets of beauty and wisdom surprised me in every chapter.