The Museum of Modern Love

by Mariko Turk

Tonight, inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art—somewhere between the hours of 8 PM and 5 AM—Auden Peck will fall in love with Miki Kawamura.

That’s Miki’s plan, anyway. And the plan is destiny.

See, Miki’s grandparents fell in love after accidentally being locked in the Met overnight in 1965. And now, after too many almost-confessions, hopeless romantic Miki will finally tell her best friend Auden that she loves him by retracing the path through the museum that her grandparents took that fateful night.

But destiny has other plans. For it’s not Auden who joins Miki on her midnight tour, but Lou McSweeney—the world’s most jaded cynic, and Miki’s ex. How can she possibly confess her feelings for Auden when she’s stuck sparring with this arrogant jerk? And is it possible that her original plan was not destiny’s true course after all?

For fans of Lynn Painter and Jenny Han, The Museum of Modern Love is an irresistible instant classic about the thrilling, often infuriating, rush of first love, guaranteed to sweep you off your feet.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult Romance, Ebooks

304 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication October 13, 2026

About the author

Mariko Turk grew up in Pennsylvania and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in creative writing. She received her PhD from the University of Florida with a concentration in children's literature. She currently lives with her husband and daughter in Colorado, where she enjoys tea, walks, and stories of all kinds. She is the author of The Other Side of Perfect (a 2022 YALSA best YA fiction pick) and I'll Be Waiting for You (coming April 30, 2024).

For updates, follow her on Instagram @marikoturk or sign up for her monthly newsletter here! https://www.marikoturk.com/

Reviews

[CynnieRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great love letter to that classic book, art, museums, and family. I was looking up paintings and museum artworks like it was my job!
I was truly touched by her grandparents' story, start to finish.

[Ali Nurmikko · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 rounded down. Unfortunately, this book was too YA for me. Book the writing and the subject/context was just too juvenile for me. The overarching plot was super cute- a night in the Met between Miki and her long-distance-best-friend-secret-love recreating the love story of her grandparents.. It was hard for me to get past the very high school talk, but I think the author did a good job at creating the dialogue for the intended audience.

I don’t love a miscommunication trope and I really didn’t love the actual plot of Kiki falling in love with her ex-boyfriend, Lou, from last summer and then pretty much leaving the whole main idea of Auden to dry up.

The book was fun, just not for me personally! I think this would be well liked by the middle school/young high school audience!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for this arc!

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite simply put, The Museum of Modern Love is a YA masterpiece (art pun fully intended). It is a beautiful novel, rich with imagery, characterization, emotional intelligence, and contemplative dialogue and discussions.

Though the premise is simple, Mariko Turk weaved the plot in such a way that every point— the introduction, the climax, the resolution— was riddled with such depth that I honestly cannot fathom how she did so in just over 300 pages. The amount of intricate detail (at least to a casual art observer) that was included in the novel with respect to each work’s contextual history was quite impressive too— so much so that I am itching to go to the Met right now to view it all and fashion my own tour based on their inclusion. Miki did such a wonderful job conveying her innermost thoughts about each piece that I truly felt I was right there next to her taking it all in too. While there was only one major twist (was I just too involved to presume it?), every other element worked so seamlessly that I never felt bored (far from it, in fact).

Perhaps I, a woman of 35, am reacting with such admiration because I feel as though Miki possesses the same idealistic dreamer tendencies that I had as a teenager. However, given the change that each generation of youth has undergone in the past 50 years or so, perhaps it’s more due to Miki’s zeal and timeless personality— she truly could fit into any period. I felt every moment of joy, confusion, obstinance, and heartache in the same way she did. Lou was a bit of a puzzle at first and while his development was rather impressive too, I don’t believe it was conveyed as well as Miki’s. Alas, that simply could be a result of Turk’s choice to stick to a 1st person narrative structure— dual POVs might have tempered everything more.

I do wish we would have been given some interaction between Miki and her mother and father apart from the texts at the end of the novel, especially since she didn’t seem to have as much resolution about their relationship as she did with Grandma Hana and her story. So too would I have loved to have a more fully fleshed out and active epilogue scene, instead of a seemingly narrative-based one. That said, Madison’s characterization and role were quite robust, given the fact that she was only accessible to Miki via text and FaceTime.

Overall, Turk’s work was an incredibly delightful and engaging read— one which I could have binged in one sitting had I not been interrupted. I definitely think it merits a re-read at some point, perhaps even a tandem read with The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the tremendous privilege to read this ARC!

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Advanced copy through NetGalley! General spoilers but nothing specific.

What a sweet book! I enjoyed reading it, and think Mariko did a really lovely job creating an adorable YA romcom.

It seemed pretty straight forward: best friends have unrequited feelings and one decides it’s time to tell the other they love them. I don’t mind the trope, and it’s the basis for a lot of great romcoms. But what I really enjoyed about this was that a wrench is thrown in the plan, and it’s soon an enemies to lovers story that I find more fun, anyway.

Miki and her (not great) fling from the previous summer end up spending the night wandering the Met while she waits for the guy she loves to finish working. I think Mariko did a great job building the relationship - lots of good banter, fun, and sweet moments sprinkled into the tension that stemmed from a less than ideal ending to their previous summer together. I was rooting for them from the beginning.

I also enjoyed the trip through the Met. I’ve never been, but I’ve always wanted to go. Now I realllllly want to go. At times, I think the conversations about the art pieces were a little heavy handed, though. I think Miki would have been more rounded if she had some more interests beyond art. I get a young adult being pretty fixated on a passion, but her personality felt a little one dimensional. What other things does she like to do? What else does she enjoy about NYC? How does she spend her time with her best friend at home? What about school life? I feel like I got to know more about Lou’s interests and overall life than hers.

Finally, I really appreciated the story of her grandmother, Hana. The way Mariko included her experiences as a little girl incarcerated in the WWII Japanese - American camps added a layer that I wasn’t expecting. I especially liked how she related it to Hana’s relationship with her work as a photographer - how the camera was power and freedom.

Overall, I think if you enjoy YA romcoms, this is a solid, entertaining choice to add to your TBR.

[genny · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75/5 ⭐

“He finally looks up from the display case and locks eyes with me, and there it is. The massive heart flutter I was trying so hard to feel a few seconds ago. The bubbling buzz in my veins.”

If i didn’t already believe in love…woah this book would’ve been the catalyst. I found myself squealing giddy, butterflies in my stomach, melting in a lovesick puddle reading. And I haven’t felt this way about a book in a bit. It had me wondering if I got love all wrong.

The story and setup is so intriguing and cute, and then the execution is beyond anything my expectations ever could’ve actually conjured. I felt this book deep in my soul and I think I’ll carry it with me forever. All that Miki believes about love, through her grandparents’ inspiring story going through the museum, there’s something so cinematic about the way it was written. The way she idealizes love, sees it in Auden because of the preconceived notions that that’s how love is supposed to be and then Lou comes in and teaches her that there’s more to it. And she in turn teaches him that it’s ok to love even if he’s scared of losing himself in it. This sweet but cynical boy is so scared of love that he can’t let himself love too much, pretends not to care about anything as a way to protect himself from getting hurt by it.

This was genuinely one of the sweetest, most fun book I've ever read. It’s a masterpiece of art. It’s brilliant, perfect, beautiful romantic in every sense of the word, and whirlwind of all I dream of in a fun and incredible romance. It's an honor to be able to read it and recommend with heart hands, add it to your TBR and thank me later ;D

*Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Publishing for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for my very honest review!!

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is definitely a “teen” YA Romance but gotdamn was it so cute and fun!

The story follows an awkward art history nerd high school girl obsessed with the idea of orchestrating the perfect moment for a romantic confession in the Met. (And honestly girl same.) However not everything goes according to plan when her years long crush gets roped into doing some late night internship work at the Met she ends up going on her grand love tour with another teen her age who happens to be there with his Uncle-her ex from last summer! Now her grand romantic art tour becomes an annoying and confusing muddle of feelings as she waits for her crush to come meet them but slowly talks out the problems from last summers relationship. Will she succumb to forced proximity or will she hold out for her best friends to lovers arc?

The story intertwines art and historical facts with plot in such a fun but still educational way that made me want to get up and visit The Met or any museum tomorrow. Growing up living close to NYC I’ve been to the Met numerous times and I feel like she really captured the wonder of the enormous museum. Now I too wish I could wander around it in the middle of the night with a partner. I loved the art references, I loved the art historical and Japanese Internment camp inclusion, I loved the idea of a Times article about Love in the Met following a midnight grand tour where two people fell in love. It was such a heartwarming and pulling on your heart strings kind of story and even though it’s definitely a “teen/young readers” YA I liked it more than expected and would definitely recommend to my friends. It felt like a classic romcom in the best way and I absolutely need it to be made into a movie.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an honest review.

[RUTH GUCKIEAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

This was insanely cute and such a fun read.

The premise immediately stood out to me: two teens retracing a romantic path through the Met after hours, inspired by a legendary love story from the past. A museum setting for a love story already feels magical, and the overnight adventure aspect gives the whole book this whimsical, slightly cinematic energy that’s hard not to get swept up in.

The story is full of charming moments, banter, and that very specific emotional intensity that comes with first love. It captures the excitement, awkwardness, and sometimes chaotic decision-making of teenage feelings really well. The pacing also worked nicely—it's the kind of book you can easily fly through in a sitting because the premise is so unique and the setting is so fun to explore.

That said, I’ll fully admit that my one hesitation here is entirely my own reading oversight. I somehow missed that this is firmly a YA romance aimed at teen readers. Because of that, I occasionally had moments where it felt a little strange to find myself swooning over characters who are underage.

If I had picked this up when I was a teenager, though, I genuinely think I would have been obsessed with it. It perfectly captures that heightened, all-consuming feeling of first love and the way everything feels monumental at that age.

Overall, this is a really charming, creative YA romance with a standout premise and a lot of heart. If you're the target audience—or someone who loves nostalgic, first-love stories—it’s absolutely worth picking up.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book! The Museum of Modern love follows our lead, Miki, who has desperately in love with her best friend, Auden, since middle school. Due to life circumstances, she had to move away from, and during that time they established a long-distance friendship, all based around their mutual love of art. When we meet Miki and Auden in this book, they are rising seniors in high school, but both have summer internships at the Met. On the last night of their internship, Miki has planned a special evening for them to recreate her grandparent's love story, which was the focus of a famous Life magazine story. Unfortunately, Auden gets roped in to helping set up an exhibition and Miki ends up spending time with her ex-boyfriend, who's uncle is also helping set up the exhibition. What follows then is a re-exploration of their relationship as they visit a variety of art pieces and work through their miscommunications and concerns with one another.

Overall, this was a delightful read. I think initially Miki out me off a bit because she was SO obsessed with Auden. But also this is YA romance, so I'll let her have it. I think Lou was a fabulously written male lead and it was so fun to see him and Miki bicker and make up throughout this story. Honestly, the resolution was very mature across our 3 main teen leads. I also loved Grandma Hana's character. I think some of other reviews have said this, but this would make a wonderful movie or mini series for a show. It gave me Dash & Lily feelings as I read it.

4 star read!

[Katie Rufo Barksdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow! I could not put this book down! I loved how the Mariko Turk weaved the story and characters together. Everything part of this work had a meaning and I loved its depth! My only compliant is that there were no pictures in this work to complement the story. I wish I was able to see the work of art the author was describing to bring it to life. There are so many memorable quotes in this book. One of my favorite excerpts is, "People aren't made of marble. When something breaks in us, conservators can't just put us under a microscope to figure out where the cracks are, and what fragments are missing, and what we need to become whole again. But that doesn't mean we can't become a new version of ourselves. It just takes a lot of trial and error, and time. And you're doing that, for Gray. You're a human conservator. You're figuring out how to help him be whole again."(Chapter 15). Art beautifully connects all aspects of life, reminding us of the shared human experience and our essential need for each other. "Grandma Hana says that art is like time travel, that it makes the past a living, breathing thing. And a lot of times, I like that feeling. I like coming to museums and being connected to the people who lived before and feeling small in the grand scheme of human history. But I didn't like it then. It felt terrifying and awful and...I didn't want that kind of time travel." (Chapter 16). This is one of my favorite books. It is hard to categorize this story since it spans across so many different genres. I can't wait to read more by Mariko Turk!

[Celine 📚💘 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a special book! The story follows Miki, a high school senior trying to confess her feelings for her longtime best friend via recreating her grandparents’ love confession at the Met back in the 60s. Her plan takes quite the turn when her crush gets tied up working on an exhibit, and her ex!!! ends up going on the love tour with her instead. She now must pivot her plan and what ensues is a series of funny interactions, heartfelt conversations and having to confront feelings she thought she had sorted out in the past . Will she give this failed summer relationship another go, or will she wait for her friends-to-lovers arc to come to fruition?

I loved the vivid descriptions the author used whenever they were describing the art through the museum, and truly felt so immersed in the story as if I was walking right next to Lou and Miki on their Met tour. I especially adored all the art history tidbits I learned, and it was so fun to draw these works of art in my brain and then compare them to what they actually looked like on the Metropolitan Museum of Art website (give me this a shot; I swear it was such a fun part of the reading experience!!)

I really hope this gets adapted on the big screen, because I fully saw this book play out in my head! Thank you to Mariko Turk, the publisher and NetGalley for the wonderful opportunity to read this ARC and provide an honest review.

[Angelica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Charming, chaotic, and utterly fascinating. The Museum of Modern Love delivers such a unique premise. Miki has been in love with her best friend, Auden, for years. Their shared passion for art binds them together. Then there’s Lou, the boy she turns to for casual kisses whenever Auden isn’t around. Determined to finally change her story, Miki plans a carefully orchestrated “Falling in Love” tour at the Met, where she’ll confess her feelings. But everything unravels when she’s forced to bring along the one person she least wants by her side: her situationship.

The story leaves you wondering—who will she choose? Her first love, or the boy she can barely stand?

I went into this book not knowing what to expect, and it completely hooked me. It’s unputdownable in the best way—messy, electric, and deeply engaging. The characters feel fresh and complicated, and their dynamics kept me invested the entire time. I had been in a reading slump before picking this up, and I was genuinely surprised by how much I loved it.

The novel is rich with art references, which add so much texture to the story! (I’d definitely recommend looking up the pieces mentioned to fully appreciate the layers). Beyond the romance, it explores heavier themes like WWII Japanese American incarceration, divorce, loneliness, and depression, giving it a depth that goes far beyond a typical YA love story. Easy five stars!🌟

[Julie Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book truly made my soul sing!

The nerdy art lover FMC reminded me of the time when I spent my first summer in NY as a young eighteen-year-old, hiding away from the heat in the MET several days a week. I loved the majestic presence of timeless art, but also the cafe had a sculpture of a nude man and the world’s best cheesecake.

This is not just a story about young love. Reading this book was like catching up with my passion for art history. I can’t even remember the last time I read something romantic that’s so filled with culture and inspiration, especially for a YA genre.

The Museum of Modern Love speaks about timeless values and the importance of following your heart. It’s also very heartwarming and family oriented. I think I had a smile on my face the entire time reading it. And for the first time ever, after reading a Netgalley ARC I am looking forward to buying a hardcover copy for my kids to read one day.

Huge thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the opportunity to read it in exchange for my honest review.

PS For ultimate fun, pair this with a Saturday night viewing of The Thomas Crown Affair, currently available on Netflix.

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[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who is also a hopeless romantic, I loved following the “unhinged” plot our main character, Miki, has to confess her love to her long time best friend Auden. Twist, when unexpected circumstances arise, she has to do her unhinged plan with her ex boyfriend Lou instead. Tension, revelations and confessions ensue. 🖼️💛

Not only did I love the story and chemistry between our main characters, but I absolutely adored the setting. Who wouldn’t want to spend a night exploring The Met after hours?! The author, Mariko does such a great job describing each room and the details of the artworks. As an art history teacher, I was enveloped in the connections between the artwork, history, and the plot. The characters do an art activity (called exquisite corpse) together that I do in my real classroom. Even if you aren’t familiar with the Met or specific art pieces, I think you’ll still enjoy the plot and might learn a thing or two about art history along the way.

I actually planned to read this during my spring break when I will be visiting NYC, but was too excited to start it asap. I will definitely be doing a reread and looking for each stop on the love tour when I visit the Met in March.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Dee Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first impression upon starting this book definitely did not predict the entire picture (or painting is maybe more accurate in this case).

I loved the summary and the setting, and thought it would be a nice cozy read. It was, but it was also SO much more.

To the author-

To quote your own writing:
“I love how art can be inspired by old art, and then it can totally change the way we see the old stuff.”

YOU DID THAT, with this! I would encourage anyone and everyone to take your time reading this book. I found myself pausing and looking up the works of art discussed in the novel- seeing them with new appreciation, while also lending more meaning to this story I was currently engrossed in reading.

The plot may seem predictable at first glance, and in places it is somewhat, though in a comforting way. However there’s certainly at least one twist I did NOT see coming, and by the time it did - I had grown to love the story, the setting, the characters so much, that it had maximum impact.

This book also inspired discussion between my spouse & I - me telling him all the facts I had learned and showing him the beautiful art pieces I’d found through the book. You’ve inspired a trip to the local art museum for us - and we’re dying to make it to The Met asap!!

[Andrea Bearman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two art nerds walk into a museum and three different art nerds walk out? This book is a romance, but the attention to detail with the art and the story is its own work of art.

I wasn't sure if a YA romance would hit me the way other romance stories do, but that was completely unfounded because I was hanging on every detail and marinating in the exceptional cuteness. I will, without question, have a book hangover from this story and it will be the standard by which I judge future YA Romances (and maybe romance more broadly).

I dont want to give too much away, because the story is perfect, I cannot compete. You need to experience it for yourself. What I will say that Miki's Fall in Love Tour is going to have you falling in love in ways you won't expect. I loved the careful details, the banter, the way the story is just totally relatable.

You will like this story if you: like art, love love, enjoy carefully woven details, appreciate solid banter, and if you just need a relief from the weight of life. Any of that sound like you? Okay, then read this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. I so very much enjoyed it.

[⁕*⁎ katherine ⁎*⁕ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ⓐ ⓢⓟⓞⓘⓛⓔⓡ ⓕⓡⓔⓔ ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ

𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝐻𝑒𝓃𝓇𝓎 𝐻𝑜𝓁𝓉 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒞𝑜𝓂𝓅𝒶𝓃𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒶𝓇𝒸

Where do I even start?

I don't normally read romance; most of the time, it is too cheesy and cringeworthy for me. Oftentimes, I find the love stories in YA romance books kinda unrealistic.

I prefer my own perfectly imperfect romance.

I wish I could insert quotes into this review. Still, unfortunately, I can't until the book is out (keep your eyes open for this book, everyone, it is a masterpiece). I was crying by chapter 2, laughing by chapter 3, and all out arguing with the plot the further we got into this book. The plot was, in fact, slightly 'unhinged' and wild. all because a girl wants a boy to fall in love with her.

We do crazy things for the ones we love.

Like staying in a museum overnight or at least for a long while lol, the FMC made a master plan that follows her grandma's love story in the Met. It is adorable, cute, and funny. This book shows that even the unexpected creates the most beautiful outcomes.

filled with more art information than I have ever read about before (so this book is, in fact, educational lol), jokes, and fun, this book is everything you would want in a romance book. There are deep thoughts and beautiful quotes.

I couldn't recommend this book more. You need to read it.

I do want to leave one last comment. If you are in a romantic relationship, the quotes from this book hit so hard. The quotes, even out of context, hit so, so incredibly hard.

Read good books and consume caffeine
Katherine <3

[Abigail Singrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miki's determined to write her perfect love story, and she's found the perfect boy, her long-distance best friend Auden, and the perfect place. Years ago, her grandparents fell in love at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and she's got the magazine article giving her the script, which she plans to deploy while setting up for a museum exhibit as an intern. But things quickly get off script when her boyfriend is trapped working, and she's sent off to record social media videos with her emotionally unavailable ex, Lou.

Miki's relatable as a teenage girl obsessed with a boy but afraid to do anything about it. This book takes on first love head-on, with its intensity, idealization, and all-consuming feeling. Miki's at her best when she begins to realize that there's more to Lou than gave him credit for.

The romance itself is sweet and sincere, but the setting is just as memorable. It’s so vivid and carefully drawn that it feels like a character in its own right, setting the stage for each moment between Miki and Lou.

The author treats the collision between idealized expectations and the reality of teenage love with the tenderness these characters deserve.

[blissful.brii · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Publishing for this book.

Rating: 3.5 stars (rounded up)

The Museum of Modern Love by Mariko Turk is a cute YA novel that that really encapsulates the beauty and human feelings revolving artistic expression. I really like how the author integrates her local background of growing up in PA to moving to FL as a major influence of the setting in the novel. Especially the for main setting of Miki Kawamura’s internship at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

“The Met” is this central place in these three weeks during Miki’s internship where the Falling In Love Tour plan is supposed to unfold inspired by her Grandmother Hana and Grandfather Kenshin. Miki’s friend/ex Lou takes this interesting ride with her along the way as she tries to win someone’s heart. But who will it be….?

This is a bit of a slow burn at first and this is a YA novel for content, but the convergence and descriptions of art and love and the young infatuation will take hold of your mind and make you think deep!

[LORIANN (my opinion doesn't mean much, but ...) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swoon ... I'm such a Nerd! No, not really ... normally my genre is murder/mystery, but this book had me captivated right from the cover!

The story is YA, but you should not let this keep you from reading it. It is captivating! Its rich in art history, a story telling lesson for all to learn about stopping and listening to what "something" may be trying to tell you.

In this case it was Art in the History of the Met Museum. It is a slow burn read that will share art history and Miki's quest to tell the love of her life how she feels about him. Along the way she will discover more about her Grama Hana that she so loves. Locked away in the museum decades later like her grandparents she will try and recreate their "prefect" love. But was it so perfect? Will she create something even better? As Elvis Presley says "Can't Help Fall In Love With You"

52 BOOK CLUB - 2026 PROMT # TEN - SPANS A DECADE or MORE


Thank You NetGally, MacMillian Children's Publishing, and Mariko Turk for and advance copy of this book. All opinions remain my own.

[Yasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loooove a good Asian representation, and this book delivered exactly what I was looking for.

We start with Miki and Auden’s relationship unfolding through her eyes, watching as she develops feelings for him over time. Then, as they’re heading into their early college years, Miki is finally ready to confess. But then her ex Lou shows up, and things get complicated in all the predictable ways.

What makes this story work is the museum adventure that unfolds from there. It’s sweet, it’s earnest, and it never tries to be anything more than what it is. Mariko Turk crafts a wholesome YA story that feels genuine and authentic, especially with the care she takes in representing her characters and their culture.

This is the kind of book that teen girls will absolutely love. It’s got that slow-burn romance, the tension of unrequited feelings, and ultimately, a story about connection and finding your person. No heavy drama, just genuine emotion and heart.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the ARC!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[elereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 ⭐ Rounded up

So glad I finally got around to reading this! It was an incredibly fun read, and I really loved the character dynamics between our main character, Miki Kawamura, and the people around her. I don't enjoy YA as much as I used to, but there was something really charming about this book. Had I read this in middle school, or even the beginning of high school, I think I would have become obsessed with wanting to recreate everything that happened here, very similar to Miki in that regard.

I found the art talk the most fun to read about, I kept trying to look up what they were referencing and I felt like I learned so much. Even now I still find myself wanting to look up information about the art and other displays at the met. For a while after I finished the book, I found myself wanting it to have explored more on the dark history of America, but I can understand why maybe that didn't happen.

Overall, really enjoyed this one!

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the copy of this arc an exchange of an honest review!

[Mimi Chang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wouldn't be exaggerating if I didn't say this is one of the most memorable reads I've had in a long time. I knew just from looking at the synopsis that I was already in love with this story, but reading the entire book felt so perfect, almost like the book was everything I could have wanted!
Firstly, the flow of time throughout this book, though only spanning over one night, still felt in no way dragged out or rushed. Every scene felt like it was perfectly timed, and I was just completely engaged. Miki's character arc and her perception of love was really heartwarming, and seeing her begin to understand herself and her feelings was really amazing. And LOU. Oh my goodness, the subtleness of his devotion and watching him open up and recognize his own passions and aspirations made my heart ache. Their banter together was hilarious, and their connection just felt so perfectly written. Mariko Turk wrote an absolutely splendid book, and I'll be recommending this a lot in the future!

[Keisha Frantom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miki and Auden have been best friends since middle school, continuing their friendship when she left Philadelphia to move to Florida. The summer before their senior year, they are both interns at The Met in NYC. Miki is in love with Auden and believes he feels the same way. Her grandparents got stuck in the Met overnight where they fell in love so Miki wants to plan the same. On their last night, she has a plan for them to stay in the museum after hours and she will finally tell Auden how she really feels. Only Auden is stuck helping with an installation and Miki has to watch an employee's son, who happens to be her ex-boyfriend, Lou. What will happen in The Met after hours as Miki and Lou wander the museum? I love exploring art museums and the book mentions so many paintings and exhibitions that I often took a break from the book to look them up online. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Juliana Ames · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this free ARC from the publisher.

This book was impossible to put down. Miki was very interesting to read about, especially in regards to her line of thinking about Auden. Then the quick switch of her getting stuck in the museum with Lou instead. She is highly annoyed with him as a result of their fling last summer, and she is constantly looking for ways to ditch him. Despite this, Lou tries to help her by offering to do a test run of Miki’s plan to get Auden to fall in love. Throughout their time, Lou helps Miki relax and break out of her shell. The two main characters help each other become better people and confront their insecurities. The focus on art was a unique aspect to this book that provided a certain level of depth and reflection. Their flashbacks to the summer before provided so much context and insight to their understanding of each other.

An absolutely heartwarming romance story for the ages. I literally want to frame this book in my house because I love it so much.

Overall:

5 stars! I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.

[maxine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspired by her grandparents’ love story and emboldened by the romantic paintings on display, Miki sets off for a night in The Met that could change everything. The Museum of Modern Love is such a heartwarming story dedicated to the beauty of art and love!!

My experience with art can be summed up as one poorly managed online class I took years ago for an elective credit. While the class itself was unremarkable, I do remember the feeling of staring at a portrait painted centuries ago only to to be met with the same emotion of love that continues to plague people today. Art's ability to transcend time is evident throughout the pages of this book, as Miki encounters the same artworks her grandmother did—experiencing the same journey of love, only decades apart.

It was such a delight to explore The Met alongside Miki and Lou! I loved the use of art as a tool to push the story forward. With each painting, statue, or photograph on Miki's Falling in Love Tour, the reader not only learns a bit about the art itself but also about the characters and their perspectives. Leaning trees become two lovers growing alongside each other, and an unattached swing reveals the idealization of romance. While mostly a lighthearted book, Turk also explores the experience of Japanese Americans during WWII through Grandma, and how art can blur the fine line between difficult conversations and expressing them.

At times, this book read a bit too YA for me, with its juvenile prose and pop culture references, but that did not take away from what a wonderful reading experience this was! This book also gets brownie points for its great cover.

[Sunhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful -- in its discussion of art, romance, life, hopes, and reality separated from all of those things. Lou and Miki make for pleasant companions on this journey through a museum in the dead of night when it becomes a different place.

Miki's original plan to find love with Auden is handled incredibly well, without making a villain of either when it becomes apparent that Miki's plan will not work. Lou is a similarly interesting character who is more than Miki knew when she first dated him.

Miki's discussions of art and its meaning to her help bring the story together so well that I ended up reading at four in the morning. I could not leave off. I needed to know more about her grandmother and the love story that she had!

Will be giving this to my romance loving daughter to read and will most likely buy a physical copy for myself because I enjoyed it so much.

The journey is the important part of this book.

[Celeste Case · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!
Love the idea… not so much the execution.
It is hard to understand that the text messages are texts. There are no quotation marks, no text bubble outline like other books do, or any real way to know without thinking about it a few times. It’s literally just sentences thrown in with the characters reaction before and after. It feels very out of place.
The characters are interesting. They do feel very realistic and relatable. This book is marketed as “perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Lynn Painter” and I would say that it is 75% accurate.
In the first chapter, not only is Sabrina Carpenter mentioned but the words “womp womp” are included. This completely lost me but I forced myself to continue on. I liked the book, but I do not think I will reread.

The plot was good and I loved the idea. I love that the entire book takes place in one night. I love Miki + Lou! It was a very sweet book.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorable love story! Miki wants to make a grand gesture and tell her long time best friend Auden that she's in love with him. She wants to follow the path that her grandparents took when they got locked in the MET accidentally in 1965. Well, when Auden gets pulled into helping the creators of an exhibit, Miki finds herself taking her ex boyfriend, Lou, on a tour of the MET. The conversation between the two of them is comical at times, as their relationship didn't end very well the summer before. They travel through the MET, visiting the same artwork that her grandparents seen. The way the author describes the artwork is fantastic. I found myself Googling many pieces of art while reading the book so I could see what they were describing in the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew as soon as I learned about The Museum of Modern Love by Mariko Turk that I would love it and I was right. A sweet romance. A hidden history. And an abundance of art. It’s everything I love in a book!

Like the main character Miki, I have been a fan of The Met since I first read From the Mixed-up Files by Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. Combining the nostalgia from that book with sites related to her grandmother’s story made for the ideal “fall in love” tour through the museum.

But the best part about this book is that - at its heart - it’s a story about following your passion. It’s about curating the life you want, even when others question your plans, and taking a chance on yourself, one magnificent masterpiece at a time.

It’s a must-read for everyone who loves to paint outside the lines.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

𐔌 . ⋮ 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒖𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
𝓶𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴 #4

˚ ༘ 🌹💥🍓🍑⋆｡˚

—𝒑𝒓𝒆-𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 ౨ৎ

thank you so much to netgalley and the author for the arc!

—𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕-𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 ❦

➸ soo this wasnt terrible, but it also wasnt too memorable? i didnt really get to see the characters in-depth so i didnt connect with any particular one too well. i understand that that isn't an easy task, for a novel that takes place over the course of a night, but the fact remains: i wasn't too invested at any particular moment. the pacing was tough, and the dialogue didnt always flow smoothly. at times, it was pretty unrealistic, too.

➸ i thought the plot was cute, though, and i enjoyed the interactions between fmc and mmc. i liked modt of the characters, and it wasn't bad, overall!