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Finding Naomi
"A delightful novel by a skilled storyteller, Japan and the American Midwest blend seamlessly in this fast-paced modern-day fairy tale." -Karen Hill Anton, author of A Thousand Graces
Stuck in a dead-end bar job in central Tokyo and barely making ends meet, Naomi Kihara's life turns upside down when her American father, whom she hasn't seen since she was a toddler, dies. Having been brought up to believe he abandoned her, it's a shock to learn she is his heir. But there's a catch: Naomi must go live in his hometown for one year. Felix, Nebraska couldn't be any more different from Tokyo, Japan. And besides, not everyone in town is happy the Johnson property now belongs to the Japanese daughter everyone forgot Mike ever had in the first place. But with the help of her new friends and neighbors, Naomi discovers a strength in herself she never knew existed.
Finding Naomi is the tale of one woman's search for family, acceptance, and love.
Stuck in a dead-end bar job in central Tokyo and barely making ends meet, Naomi Kihara's life turns upside down when her American father, whom she hasn't seen since she was a toddler, dies. Having been brought up to believe he abandoned her, it's a shock to learn she is his heir. But there's a catch: Naomi must go live in his hometown for one year. Felix, Nebraska couldn't be any more different from Tokyo, Japan. And besides, not everyone in town is happy the Johnson property now belongs to the Japanese daughter everyone forgot Mike ever had in the first place. But with the help of her new friends and neighbors, Naomi discovers a strength in herself she never knew existed.
Finding Naomi is the tale of one woman's search for family, acceptance, and love.
265 pages, Paperback
Published November 13, 2024
791 people are currently reading
670 people want to read
About the author
Diane Hawley Nagatomo
8 books63 followersDiane Hawley Nagatomo was born in the UK and lived in Nebraska, Spain, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and California before coming to Japan in 1979. She is a semi-retired professor from Ochanomizu University and has written extensively on issues concerning gender, culture, and education. When not teaching or writing, she and her Japanese husband of more than 40 years spend time with their six grandchildren. The Butterfly Café, published in July 2023, was her first work of fiction. Her second work of fiction was "Finding Naomi," and her third, "The Making of Us" will be published in September 2025.
Diane is also on Goodreads under the name of Diane Nagatomo. Check over there to see her bookshelves, reviews, and reading challenges.
Diane is also on Goodreads under the name of Diane Nagatomo. Check over there to see her bookshelves, reviews, and reading challenges.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
March 14, 2025
This book was provided to me for free by NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book was a solid read for me. I am quite pleased to say that it exceeded my expectations.
We follow the story of Naomi; she is Japanese, but her father is American and not in the picture. We soon discover the hard life she is living and the traumatic childhood she’s had due to some unfortunate events that I wish were given more voice here, and we had more of a backstory. It is no surprise that the author was able to depict such a truthful characterisation as she is married to a Japanese man and has lived in Japan for many years now.
I absolutely adored Ashley, Marvilla, Jason and Naomi’s grandmother. Those people were portrayed amazingly. Naomi, I have been waiting for her to grow a backbone since the beginning of this book, I really was praying she would just explode at some point and stand up for herself. Again, I did like her character as well, but she felt a bit bland and quite generic.
There were some topics that were touched and left abruptly, and I hoped they would be explored more. The “mystery” bits kind of came out of nowhere I think it was just to spice things up, and that otherwise would have been quite the boring book. It was quite predictable in fact, I guessed pretty much everything, with a few exceptions. But again, I hoped there was more to it because the ending felt rushed and chopped. It definitely felt like a lot of drama was going on just like in Dallas which is even mentioned in the book at some point haha I can see where the author got some inspiration from.
Regardless, this was a book of self-discovery, newfound family, love, tradition, betrayal and forgiveness.
The writing style was approachable, easy to follow and engaging. I very much enjoyed the integration and representation of the Japanese culture, the food, and customs.
Overall this book received 4 stars, had it explored some topics more in-depth I think it would have been a 5-star read for me.
I definitely recommend it.
This book was a solid read for me. I am quite pleased to say that it exceeded my expectations.
We follow the story of Naomi; she is Japanese, but her father is American and not in the picture. We soon discover the hard life she is living and the traumatic childhood she’s had due to some unfortunate events that I wish were given more voice here, and we had more of a backstory. It is no surprise that the author was able to depict such a truthful characterisation as she is married to a Japanese man and has lived in Japan for many years now.
I absolutely adored Ashley, Marvilla, Jason and Naomi’s grandmother. Those people were portrayed amazingly. Naomi, I have been waiting for her to grow a backbone since the beginning of this book, I really was praying she would just explode at some point and stand up for herself. Again, I did like her character as well, but she felt a bit bland and quite generic.
There were some topics that were touched and left abruptly, and I hoped they would be explored more. The “mystery” bits kind of came out of nowhere I think it was just to spice things up, and that otherwise would have been quite the boring book. It was quite predictable in fact, I guessed pretty much everything, with a few exceptions. But again, I hoped there was more to it because the ending felt rushed and chopped. It definitely felt like a lot of drama was going on just like in Dallas which is even mentioned in the book at some point haha I can see where the author got some inspiration from.
Regardless, this was a book of self-discovery, newfound family, love, tradition, betrayal and forgiveness.
The writing style was approachable, easy to follow and engaging. I very much enjoyed the integration and representation of the Japanese culture, the food, and customs.
Overall this book received 4 stars, had it explored some topics more in-depth I think it would have been a 5-star read for me.
I definitely recommend it.
April 17, 2025
From the inviting cover art to the final page, Finding Naomi is a cozy, romantic story that truly pulls you in. The cover itself sets the tone — a warm, countryside scene that immediately evokes a sense of comfort and charm.
From the very beginning, I was drawn into Naomi’s world. Her journey captivated me, and I quickly found myself fully invested in her story. The pacing is brisk, with plenty of twists and emotional turns that keep the reader engaged throughout.
While I personally would have appreciated a few more details around the legal elements for added realism, the narrative’s heart and emotional pull more than made up for it. Sometimes, a touch of suspension of disbelief makes for an even more enjoyable reading experience.
The characters were richly drawn — some I found suspicious, others downright distasteful, and a few who were absolutely endearing. But to me, that’s the mark of strong storytelling: when a book can make you feel a full range of emotions, both positive and negative, you know the characters have depth and the writing has impact.
Overall, Finding Naomi is a heartfelt and compelling read — perfect for fans of romantic fiction with a hint of intrigue.
Thank you to the author for the ARC — this is my honest review.
From the very beginning, I was drawn into Naomi’s world. Her journey captivated me, and I quickly found myself fully invested in her story. The pacing is brisk, with plenty of twists and emotional turns that keep the reader engaged throughout.
While I personally would have appreciated a few more details around the legal elements for added realism, the narrative’s heart and emotional pull more than made up for it. Sometimes, a touch of suspension of disbelief makes for an even more enjoyable reading experience.
The characters were richly drawn — some I found suspicious, others downright distasteful, and a few who were absolutely endearing. But to me, that’s the mark of strong storytelling: when a book can make you feel a full range of emotions, both positive and negative, you know the characters have depth and the writing has impact.
Overall, Finding Naomi is a heartfelt and compelling read — perfect for fans of romantic fiction with a hint of intrigue.
Thank you to the author for the ARC — this is my honest review.
February 13, 2025
Naomi Kihara has always believed that her American father abandoned her as a baby. It is therefore quite the shock when she discovers after his death that she has been named as his heir, and now owns a property in Felix, Nebraska. With this inheritance comes financial freedom that she never expected to have as a bar worker in central Tokyo, but with one catch: She must spend a year in Felix, getting to know the property, business, and community that her father was a part of. Is this move a fresh start, or will Naomi feel just as alone in the US as she did in Japan?
I loved the huge variety of character personalities in this book, and I appreciated that the author wasn’t afraid to write unlikable characters in an otherwise mostly laid-back novel. After reading the author’s previous book about an American in Japan, it was interesting to see her take on what the opposite might look like. I think Naomi worked well as a main character as she had a good mix of traditional and modern personality traits that made her easy to relate to, and I thought the romance in the book was cute. Though it was mostly a lighthearted story, there were a few darker topics included this time around, so keep that in mind before reading.
The writing was concise and suited the tone of the book well, making this an easy and quick read with a lot of heart. The tone was a little inconsistent near the end, with rather serious conflicts being introduced despite the story being mostly cozy for its duration. I think introducing and giving more attention to certain contentions earlier on would have made their ultimate culmination feel less rushed and less abrupt. That said, I very much enjoyed the depiction of both small-town American life and the hustle of city life in Japan. I would highly recommend this to readers who want to see a story of coming into one’s own and healing from one’s past.
4/5 An international small-town romance with a crime twist.
I loved the huge variety of character personalities in this book, and I appreciated that the author wasn’t afraid to write unlikable characters in an otherwise mostly laid-back novel. After reading the author’s previous book about an American in Japan, it was interesting to see her take on what the opposite might look like. I think Naomi worked well as a main character as she had a good mix of traditional and modern personality traits that made her easy to relate to, and I thought the romance in the book was cute. Though it was mostly a lighthearted story, there were a few darker topics included this time around, so keep that in mind before reading.
The writing was concise and suited the tone of the book well, making this an easy and quick read with a lot of heart. The tone was a little inconsistent near the end, with rather serious conflicts being introduced despite the story being mostly cozy for its duration. I think introducing and giving more attention to certain contentions earlier on would have made their ultimate culmination feel less rushed and less abrupt. That said, I very much enjoyed the depiction of both small-town American life and the hustle of city life in Japan. I would highly recommend this to readers who want to see a story of coming into one’s own and healing from one’s past.
4/5 An international small-town romance with a crime twist.
August 16, 2024
Such an engaging and well-written novel! It’s been a while since I’ve liked a main character so much that I found myself feeling truly anxious for their well-being and success. In Finding Naomi, I truly liked getting to know Naomi, though I held my breath with each plot twist—worried for this young Japanese woman who moves to the small town of Felix, Nebraska for a year.
Nagatomo works magic in her portrayal of Naomi. She proves herself to be brave, smart, and open-minded, as she quickly adopts to life in this American small town. Jason, Naomi’s attorney, is equally relatable, as he is both compassionate, and basically a good and decent person. These empathetic characters are counter-balanced with a couple villains: an obvious one, and another surprising one. The tension surmounts. Will Naomi remain in America or return to Japan? Will the townsfolk in Felix accept her? Will her romance with Jason be a lasting one?
It is obvious that Diane Nagatomo has an ear for language, as her dialogue is not only credible, but full of nuanced speech patterns. She has a way of bringing even minor characters off the page, as seen in her all-too believable character, Marvilla, a neighbor and friend of Naomi’s late grandmother. It isn’t only the dialogue that transports her readers to Nebraska and Japan, but the author’s succinct yet vivid portrayals of those places. The contrast between the two cultures, but their common humanity, is beautifully depicted in this great story.
5-Stars for this one!! I continue to be a huge fan of Diane Nagatomo’s superb fiction!
Nagatomo works magic in her portrayal of Naomi. She proves herself to be brave, smart, and open-minded, as she quickly adopts to life in this American small town. Jason, Naomi’s attorney, is equally relatable, as he is both compassionate, and basically a good and decent person. These empathetic characters are counter-balanced with a couple villains: an obvious one, and another surprising one. The tension surmounts. Will Naomi remain in America or return to Japan? Will the townsfolk in Felix accept her? Will her romance with Jason be a lasting one?
It is obvious that Diane Nagatomo has an ear for language, as her dialogue is not only credible, but full of nuanced speech patterns. She has a way of bringing even minor characters off the page, as seen in her all-too believable character, Marvilla, a neighbor and friend of Naomi’s late grandmother. It isn’t only the dialogue that transports her readers to Nebraska and Japan, but the author’s succinct yet vivid portrayals of those places. The contrast between the two cultures, but their common humanity, is beautifully depicted in this great story.
5-Stars for this one!! I continue to be a huge fan of Diane Nagatomo’s superb fiction!
March 31, 2025
This book was amazing! I was excited to read it because it’s not something I’d typically read, but I’m glad I did. I loved the characters, the storyline, the bits of suspense here and there, the love story, learning about Japanese culture and the ending was nice too. Definitely recommend!
September 14, 2025
Great plot, characters, descriptions. Enjoyed it.
September 29, 2024
This story asks the reader what she would do if she suddenly learned the truth about her heritage. When Naomi discovers the truth about her father and the legacy he left her, which states she must live in the US for a year, to say a whole new door opens is an understatement. Not only is Naomi a well-developed character, but the transformation she takes, sidestepping one culture for another, but a woman to cheer for.
A nice story.
A nice story.
November 17, 2024
Interesting story of a young Japanese woman who suddenly inherits a large amount of money from her American father, but has to move to her father's hometown in Nebraska for a year as a condition to receive it. Enjoyable to read, though somewhat contrived and predictable. Will probably appeal more to younger female readers with a general interest in Japan rather than an old curmudgeon like me.
January 14, 2025
I actually enjoyed this more than I expected because it’s not my typical genre. I enjoyed the story, found myself connected to each character and found the dynamic in lifestyles interesting. I think the ending fell a bit short for me personally, I would’ve preferred the book to be longer to explore more plot points that seemed to abruptly end. Other than that, it was a solid read.
November 24, 2025
This book was great for the first 220 pages. All the plot lines were tied up nicely and it was a satisfying, if perhaps predictable love story. But I guess it was too short, so a bizarre crisis began at that point. Books should have a climax, but they should make sense. There were three improbable villains in the last fifty pages, disrupting Naomi’s life, and all seemed contrived. One, the ex-wife, was so silly and poorly conceived, it was impossible to take seriously. Combined, they were confused and they destroyed the flow of the story and the chemistry I felt for the characters. The villains were dispatched with laughable ease, leaving me wondering, Why? Making Andrea suddenly into a psychopath seemed so random and contrived, and accomplished nothing, the fake will has already been defeated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2025
I enjoyed the book
Naomi’s growth cycle was a little challenging for my take charge personality but I finally understood Naomi’s curse of being put down by her family. I’m not sure how everyone missed Andrea’s strange behavior. Naomi has a heart of forgiveness.
Naomi’s growth cycle was a little challenging for my take charge personality but I finally understood Naomi’s curse of being put down by her family. I’m not sure how everyone missed Andrea’s strange behavior. Naomi has a heart of forgiveness.
August 17, 2024
“Finding Naomi” by Diane Nagatomo is the touching story of a young, strong-willed Japanese woman, Naomi, searching for herself and her identity as she discovers that her long-lost American father has willed her his estate. Abandoned by her parents and raised in an environment short on love and long on critique, Naomi finds herself in Tokyo working a dead-end job and stuck in a discordant, unproductive relationship. But when the police come knocking, informing her that the father she never knew has died, he reemerges in unexpected ways, taking her to rural Nebraska and transforming how she sees herself, her history, her relationships, and the person she is destined to become.
Part literary fiction, love story, and a suspenseful mystery, Diane Nagatomo in “Finding Naomi” brings forth an eclectic cast of well-framed characters, a story that grips and does not let go, and a grand finale sure to impress. But more importantly, she weaves together a beautiful coming-of-age story that transcends Japan and the United States, shedding light on what it means to be a multicultural child and the power of love and friendship to heal and overcome.
Part literary fiction, love story, and a suspenseful mystery, Diane Nagatomo in “Finding Naomi” brings forth an eclectic cast of well-framed characters, a story that grips and does not let go, and a grand finale sure to impress. But more importantly, she weaves together a beautiful coming-of-age story that transcends Japan and the United States, shedding light on what it means to be a multicultural child and the power of love and friendship to heal and overcome.
September 2, 2025
Finding Naomi is a beautifully written story about self-discovery, friendship, love, and most importantly, family. As an avid romance reader, I can say I easily fell in love with the evolution of Naomi and Jason's relationship. Not only were these two characters written in a way that is believable, but they have shown us as readers that it's okay to go through trial and error when it comes to building a partnership.
As a Nebraskan myself, I can authentically say that Diane Hawley Nagatomo did a fantastic job with painting a picture of small-town Nebraska. I found myself picturing my own hometown, where I had grown up multiple times as the story progressed. Usually, when I see authors write about Nebraska, they refer to corn. Nagatomo managed to not only mention how important Cornhusker football is to us, but also captured the warm and friendly attitudes of the people here in the heartland.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading Finding Naomi, and to anyone who is thinking about giving it a read, do it! You will not be disappointed.
This story is truly captivating, and I am so thankful to have received a copy through Library Thing.
My thoughts in this review are my own.
As a Nebraskan myself, I can authentically say that Diane Hawley Nagatomo did a fantastic job with painting a picture of small-town Nebraska. I found myself picturing my own hometown, where I had grown up multiple times as the story progressed. Usually, when I see authors write about Nebraska, they refer to corn. Nagatomo managed to not only mention how important Cornhusker football is to us, but also captured the warm and friendly attitudes of the people here in the heartland.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading Finding Naomi, and to anyone who is thinking about giving it a read, do it! You will not be disappointed.
This story is truly captivating, and I am so thankful to have received a copy through Library Thing.
My thoughts in this review are my own.
February 18, 2025
What a sweet and charming story! It’s so nice to read a book from cover to cover and just zip through it without hunting for deeper meaning. It’s the kind of book to curl up with when you need a break from your daily grind and a diversion from reality.
Essentially, Finding Naomi is a romance but since it takes place in Japan as well as Nebraska, USA it is also of multicultural interest. And just when you think you know where it’s heading, the author inserts a bit of murder and mayhem. There are many twists and turns. Most of it isn’t realistic but that’s part of the charm. The reader can suspend belief, go with the flow and even find a few chuckles between the pages.
Naomi Kihara is being raised in Japan by her mother’s parents, following her mother’s death. Her American dad has disappeared and because of common name of Mike Johnson, he is very difficult to find. Naomi is going nowhere in a dead end job when she is notified that her father has died and she is the heiress to his estate . There isone big BUT. She must live one year in Felix, Nebraska, a very tiny town filled with people who love to gossip and get into each others’ business.
The characters are rather black and white and most of the story is predictable with the usual heroes and villains. Yet I found them quite endearing and at time interesting. The plot drew me in and I wasn’t disappointed at the end. Three and a half rounded to four lovely stars for a fast paced engaging frolic in small town America. It was published in November 2024 and is available now. My thanks to NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for an ARC in exchange for my review.
August 22, 2024
Who hasn’t dreamed that one day an unknown relative would die and leave you their entire estate? When Naomi Kihara inherited her gaijin father’s estate, she was shocked because she had not seen him since she was two. She didn’t even know he was a university professor in Tokyo. But inheriting his estate meant she could quit her bar job and live a better life.
Unfortunately, part of her inheritance included a house and farms in a small town in America where her father was born and grew up. In order to inherit this, she would have to leave Japan, her grandparents, and her friends, and live in Felix, Nebraska, for one year. She decided to give it a try.
The author’s description of life in a small town – complete with local gossip, nosiness, and back-stabbing is right on. Being a stranger living in a small town is difficult at best. Being a foreign stranger living in Felix, Nebraska, was even worse. I wasn’t surprised that the disinherited relatives weren’t happy, but alarmed that they would do anything in their power to get rid of her. Finding Naomi is an edge-of-your-seat, eye-opening page-turner.
Unfortunately, part of her inheritance included a house and farms in a small town in America where her father was born and grew up. In order to inherit this, she would have to leave Japan, her grandparents, and her friends, and live in Felix, Nebraska, for one year. She decided to give it a try.
The author’s description of life in a small town – complete with local gossip, nosiness, and back-stabbing is right on. Being a stranger living in a small town is difficult at best. Being a foreign stranger living in Felix, Nebraska, was even worse. I wasn’t surprised that the disinherited relatives weren’t happy, but alarmed that they would do anything in their power to get rid of her. Finding Naomi is an edge-of-your-seat, eye-opening page-turner.
December 29, 2024
Part romance, part crime fiction, and part fairytale that quickly turns into a potential nightmare for the heroine. Compared to Naomi Cinderella had an easy upbringing. Nagatomo reveals a darker side to growing up in rural Japan, but she also shows rural America can be no picnic with smalltown hate and jealousy, but there's also a lot of smalltown warmth and love as Naomi tries to bridge the two cultures that are her hidden heritage. Finding herself and romance along the way.
May 30, 2025
Tokyo to Nebraska
It was interesting hearing the thoughts of Naomi as she first arrived in America. So many differences in culture. Adapting quickly, because you have to when you go to a different culture, she finds many things she enjoys in the new culture she’s immersed in. Of course not being poor anymore helps that transition a lot. I enjoyed the book and the characters. They were very relatable. Well written and the story flowed nicely.
It was interesting hearing the thoughts of Naomi as she first arrived in America. So many differences in culture. Adapting quickly, because you have to when you go to a different culture, she finds many things she enjoys in the new culture she’s immersed in. Of course not being poor anymore helps that transition a lot. I enjoyed the book and the characters. They were very relatable. Well written and the story flowed nicely.
April 29, 2025
Great story
I loved this book about Naomi, a young half American, half Japanese young woman, searching for a stable life.
This intriguing story that spans two continents and four generations is well written, full of twists and turns, murder, love, and lives in mystery. Loved it.
I loved this book about Naomi, a young half American, half Japanese young woman, searching for a stable life.
This intriguing story that spans two continents and four generations is well written, full of twists and turns, murder, love, and lives in mystery. Loved it.
February 7, 2025
i really enjoyed this one!! the short chapters and writing style made it so easy to read. I enjoyed seeing Naomi navigate between finding family she didn’t know existed, an inheritance as well as her love life.
March 9, 2025
Grounded in authentic details for the dual settings of Japan and Nebraska, this lively fictional narrative unfolds with dramatic twists and surprises to hold the reader's interest throughout. I don't usually read romantic fiction, but I found this one entertaining and satisfying.
April 25, 2025
Finding Naomi
Great storyline…author kept you always questioning what would happen next. The person of interest and guilty party was not who I had summarized to be the mastermind.
Definitely good read. I will be picking up this authors other book.
Great storyline…author kept you always questioning what would happen next. The person of interest and guilty party was not who I had summarized to be the mastermind.
Definitely good read. I will be picking up this authors other book.
July 27, 2025
Great reading
Finding Naomi kept me interested from the first page until the last. Just when it looked like all was going well another twist of the story came to light. This is the first book I read of this author and I will be looking forward to reading more of her books.
Finding Naomi kept me interested from the first page until the last. Just when it looked like all was going well another twist of the story came to light. This is the first book I read of this author and I will be looking forward to reading more of her books.
December 12, 2024
Loved this book, story, history and especially the wonderful writing
December 16, 2024
A great feel-good kind of read. Looking forward to reading more books by the author!
January 3, 2025
Loved it!
I loved the entire story line. Kinda of a Cinderella story but with so much more. I couldn't put it down. I hope to find more from this author.
I loved the entire story line. Kinda of a Cinderella story but with so much more. I couldn't put it down. I hope to find more from this author.
January 23, 2025
Not my usual genre, but well written. The main character,Naomi is so engaging. Pretty good read!
March 17, 2025
Great
This was a nice surprise! Didn’t know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. The cover drew me in enough to read the synopsis 😊
This was a nice surprise! Didn’t know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. The cover drew me in enough to read the synopsis 😊
April 1, 2025
enjoyable
This was very well written and kept your attention throughout the book. Highly recommended. I love how the two cultures were highlighted.
This was very well written and kept your attention throughout the book. Highly recommended. I love how the two cultures were highlighted.
April 19, 2025
Loved it ! A romance. A mystery. Twists and turns. A well layed out story. I loved all the characters.
May 30, 2025
Suspenseful
The cultural differences between Japan and America are explained well. Twists and turns keep you guessing and rooting for Naomi.
The cultural differences between Japan and America are explained well. Twists and turns keep you guessing and rooting for Naomi.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews