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This Time Will Be Different
Katsuyamas never quit—but seventeen-year-old CJ doesn’t even know where to start. She’s never lived up to her mom’s type A ambition, and she’s perfectly happy just helping her aunt, Hannah, at their family’s flower shop.
She doesn’t buy into Hannah’s romantic ideas about flowers and their hidden meanings, but when it comes to arranging the perfect bouquet, CJ discovers a knack she never knew she had. A skill she might even be proud of.
Then her mom decides to sell the shop—to the family who swindled CJ’s grandparents when thousands of Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps during WWII. Soon a rift threatens to splinter CJ’s family, friends, and their entire Northern California community; and for the first time, CJ has found something she wants to fight for.
She doesn’t buy into Hannah’s romantic ideas about flowers and their hidden meanings, but when it comes to arranging the perfect bouquet, CJ discovers a knack she never knew she had. A skill she might even be proud of.
Then her mom decides to sell the shop—to the family who swindled CJ’s grandparents when thousands of Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps during WWII. Soon a rift threatens to splinter CJ’s family, friends, and their entire Northern California community; and for the first time, CJ has found something she wants to fight for.
386 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2019
158 people are currently reading
13256 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 845 reviews
August 6, 2019
I had heard a lot of mixed things going into this one so I wasn't sure how I would feel, but I ended up really enjoying this! I love a YA book that explores teens being messy and making mistakes in a REALISTIC manner. I'm a fan.
December 26, 2019
this was one of the best contemporaries that showed how realistically messy and annoying and petty teenagers can be but also how much they can grow and be mature and learn from their mistakes.
the character development was fantastic. it was shown in a steady, believable, flawed way way. i loved the show of relationships, between the main character and her mom, aunt, and best friend.
the romance was freaking adorable, maybe friends to lovers do actually deserve rights 🤔🤔
see i don't HATE love triangles if they are done well and serve to further the plot rather than just prolong the /real/ relationship from coming together. and i honestly thought this was done in a really great way. it showed the main character's growth, her mental definition of relationships changed along the way and she got to experience romantic relationships on a shallow level and on a deeper, more personal level
and i especially liked how we got that comparison without having to ruin an entire character just to make a clean, easy choice on which boy the main character should be with.
this also explored the pain and suffering japanese people had to face during WWII and it was so eye-opening and informative and such an integral part of the plot, characters, and the conflict of the book
honestly this book was so refreshing to read and i deeply enjoyed it
the character development was fantastic. it was shown in a steady, believable, flawed way way. i loved the show of relationships, between the main character and her mom, aunt, and best friend.
the romance was freaking adorable, maybe friends to lovers do actually deserve rights 🤔🤔
see i don't HATE love triangles if they are done well and serve to further the plot rather than just prolong the /real/ relationship from coming together. and i honestly thought this was done in a really great way. it showed the main character's growth, her mental definition of relationships changed along the way and she got to experience romantic relationships on a shallow level and on a deeper, more personal level
and i especially liked how we got that comparison without having to ruin an entire character just to make a clean, easy choice on which boy the main character should be with.
this also explored the pain and suffering japanese people had to face during WWII and it was so eye-opening and informative and such an integral part of the plot, characters, and the conflict of the book
honestly this book was so refreshing to read and i deeply enjoyed it
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December 23, 2018This somehow did so much more than I expected it to, even though I guess the cover copy is clear what it's about, but there was just...so much that was so good. I definitely came away learning a lot more about Japanese internment and its aftereffects than I remember absorbing from high school, but I think the way CJ was coming from a family that historically hadn't really...prospered in the area of romantic love and the ways both that and her own past kind of shut down her heart was really lovely too. I love when characters are formed by their experiences, by nature and nurture, and I think Sugiura nailed all the different kinds of things that build who we are and how they come into our lives, from outside factors like bigotry's effect on economics to things we don't even realize we're observing.
I also just really love how everyone, and I mean everyone, is deeply flawed in real, human ways, and they each come to realize it about themselves in these sort of staggered moments, identifying their weaknesses and why they make their choices. There aren't easy answers and a lot of these conversations, including the ugly ones, are just so real. I don't think every reader will love where everything lands, but that's something I particularly love about the way this book is crafted.
Also, because I know people always wonder about queer rep when an author's last book was queer: the love interest is bi, the MC's best friend and the MC's adversary are both lesbians, and the word aromantic is on the page, although it doesn't actually apply to anyone in the story. Also, almost everyone in the book is of color.
I also just really love how everyone, and I mean everyone, is deeply flawed in real, human ways, and they each come to realize it about themselves in these sort of staggered moments, identifying their weaknesses and why they make their choices. There aren't easy answers and a lot of these conversations, including the ugly ones, are just so real. I don't think every reader will love where everything lands, but that's something I particularly love about the way this book is crafted.
Also, because I know people always wonder about queer rep when an author's last book was queer: the love interest is bi, the MC's best friend and the MC's adversary are both lesbians, and the word aromantic is on the page, although it doesn't actually apply to anyone in the story. Also, almost everyone in the book is of color.
March 22, 2020
i feel people are sleeping on this book?
it tackles so many cool themes, such as how to respect your cultural history in a world that wants to erase it.
it tackles so many cool themes, such as how to respect your cultural history in a world that wants to erase it.
July 31, 2020
2019 has been an incredible year of YA contemporaries - and This Time Will Be Different is one of the biggest reasons why.
- Follows CJ, a Japanese-American teen with a knack for arranging flowers. When CJ's mother decides to sell her family's flower shop to the family who swindled the flower shop during the Japanese Internment during WWII, CJ discovers that she finally has something she wants to fight for.
- To be honest, I really loved everything about this book: the wonderful, messy, and complex characters; the fantastic and socially relevant story; the fantastic explorations of race, identity, and justice; and also the very vulnerable and candid portrayals of friendship.
- CJ was an amazing character. She is far from perfect - she's insecure sometimes, she lets her mouth run off - but she's also someone who would go out of her way to protect her friend. Her growth across the book is phenomenal.
- Brilliantly explores social justice that is approachable and allows room for learning. Specifically, the story explores the model minority myth and how it is weaponised, the double jeopardy single mothers of colour have to face, white feminism & white saviours, protest, the implications of racist history, and the messy feelings of pregnancy and being a single mother.
- The romance was... actually so wholesome and lovely. There are some neat tropes here and there that made it so fun to read.
- Honestly? I love the storytelling and I loved CJ's voice. It's messy at times, but it is also full of light and hope. I loved this.
Trigger/content warning:
- Follows CJ, a Japanese-American teen with a knack for arranging flowers. When CJ's mother decides to sell her family's flower shop to the family who swindled the flower shop during the Japanese Internment during WWII, CJ discovers that she finally has something she wants to fight for.
- To be honest, I really loved everything about this book: the wonderful, messy, and complex characters; the fantastic and socially relevant story; the fantastic explorations of race, identity, and justice; and also the very vulnerable and candid portrayals of friendship.
- CJ was an amazing character. She is far from perfect - she's insecure sometimes, she lets her mouth run off - but she's also someone who would go out of her way to protect her friend. Her growth across the book is phenomenal.
- Brilliantly explores social justice that is approachable and allows room for learning. Specifically, the story explores the model minority myth and how it is weaponised, the double jeopardy single mothers of colour have to face, white feminism & white saviours, protest, the implications of racist history, and the messy feelings of pregnancy and being a single mother.
- The romance was... actually so wholesome and lovely. There are some neat tropes here and there that made it so fun to read.
- Honestly? I love the storytelling and I loved CJ's voice. It's messy at times, but it is also full of light and hope. I loved this.
Trigger/content warning:
Read
May 24, 2020
Read
November 29, 2019really enjoyed this! devoured it in one day via the audiobook. so many good conversations about race, privilege, reparations, and history.
March 24, 2021
thinking about two things rn
1) why is the "be" on the cover out of line with the other text
2) everyone in this book is honestly just vibing
What's this? Me, writing this review when I read the book over a year ago? Do I remember what even happened? No, I don't.
Anyways, this is a book that deals with privilege (white privilege, specifically), character development, and how historical systems have almost always helped white families-- even when reparations have occurred. The main character comes from a family that owned land during the Japanese internment of WWII, and they sell it to a white family-- only for that white family to majorly profit from the land. I think that this is a good example of how no amount of monetary repayment would ever be enough, in this case literally in terms of money, but also emotionally and socially.
What I liked about this book is that the characters weren't perfect; CJ doesn't really know what she wants, and attempts to pursue a slightly unhealthy relationship (yes, there's a "love triangle," but was it really a love triangle ??) when OWEN WITH HIS BIG SAIL-LOOKING EARS is standing right in front of her. CJ, THOSE BIG EARS ARE A SIGNAL. THEY ARE SIGNALING ROMANCE!!!
But romance definitely wasn't what this was all about, and it serves as a source of growth for CJ, alongside her own conflicts with other Japanese-American / poc friends (honestly I don't even remember if they were all Japanese too) and white privilege. This book questions how movements for people of color can sometimes still be spearheaded by white people, and whether or not that's something okay-- when white privilege is part of getting a movement into the limelight, how important is it to shift that limelight towards the voices of the people the movement is supporting? And is it okay if someone gets kicked out of the movement because of their inadvertent white privilege?
To conclude, I'll leave this quote, as well as my reaction:
Me: wtf
thank u to the publisher for providing a copy for review :') opinion not affected; also quote is from the review copy & might have changed a little
-
awh yeah i'm loving how i'm finally reading my old contemporary digital review copies simply because i REFUSE to touch anything fantasy/sci-fi
1) why is the "be" on the cover out of line with the other text
2) everyone in this book is honestly just vibing
"I can be lethal when I'm surprised."
He laughed and says, "Aw, you're too cute to be afraid of."
Suddenly, I realize that I've just said a flirty thing and Shane has just said a flirty thing back, so naturally the next thing I do is stand there as silent as a department store mannequin. And there's Shane, waiting for me to continue our flirty conversation.
"Be afraid," I say. Ooh, good one, Ceej.
What's this? Me, writing this review when I read the book over a year ago? Do I remember what even happened? No, I don't.
Anyways, this is a book that deals with privilege (white privilege, specifically), character development, and how historical systems have almost always helped white families-- even when reparations have occurred. The main character comes from a family that owned land during the Japanese internment of WWII, and they sell it to a white family-- only for that white family to majorly profit from the land. I think that this is a good example of how no amount of monetary repayment would ever be enough, in this case literally in terms of money, but also emotionally and socially.
What I liked about this book is that the characters weren't perfect; CJ doesn't really know what she wants, and attempts to pursue a slightly unhealthy relationship (yes, there's a "love triangle," but was it really a love triangle ??) when OWEN WITH HIS BIG SAIL-LOOKING EARS is standing right in front of her. CJ, THOSE BIG EARS ARE A SIGNAL. THEY ARE SIGNALING ROMANCE!!!
But romance definitely wasn't what this was all about, and it serves as a source of growth for CJ, alongside her own conflicts with other Japanese-American / poc friends (honestly I don't even remember if they were all Japanese too) and white privilege. This book questions how movements for people of color can sometimes still be spearheaded by white people, and whether or not that's something okay-- when white privilege is part of getting a movement into the limelight, how important is it to shift that limelight towards the voices of the people the movement is supporting? And is it okay if someone gets kicked out of the movement because of their inadvertent white privilege?
To conclude, I'll leave this quote, as well as my reaction:
"Whatever, punk." Owen shoves Will, who shoves him back, and when Owen shoves Will back again, Will stumbles into Sam, who shoves Will back into Owen, who shoves Sam, who shoves him, and then as if in response to some kind of secret signal that only they can hear, they all stop shoving each other and start straightening out their shirts. I swear. I really don't get guys sometimes."
Me: wtf
thank u to the publisher for providing a copy for review :') opinion not affected; also quote is from the review copy & might have changed a little
-
awh yeah i'm loving how i'm finally reading my old contemporary digital review copies simply because i REFUSE to touch anything fantasy/sci-fi
June 25, 2019
4.5* Oh I loved this for so many reasons
- The characters were wonderful, lovable and flawed. They felt real. They were messy teenagers who had good intentions at heart but made mistakes, were called out on them and were allowed to grow from those mistakes.
- The writing was so incredibly easy to read and flowed beautifully. I essentially devoured this in one sitting and despite the raging sunburn I got from refusing to move inside until I’d finished the book, I regret nothing.
- I thought the way this explored history (specifically that of Japanese-Americans and the period of Japanese internment camps) was superb. Not only did it dive into a piece of history I’ve not seen discussed in YA, it did it in a way that was accessible and proved how greatly the past still continues to negatively impact the lives of people today.
- The book touched on so many things from racism and sexuality to money and abortion and yet, it never felt like there was ‘too much’. Everything fit together to create a story that felt organic, without the ‘big’ issues belittling the ‘smaller’ ones.
- I adored the structure of the book, with CJ’s interludes and mini dives into the different faucets of her life and history. It made the reading experience so much fun and added such a fantastic a depth and sarcastic humour to CJ. I’m always a sucker for books that deviate from classic novel structure, so I thoroughly enjoyed these segments.
- The multiple relationships, romantic, platonic and familial, were all brilliantly fleshed out and explored. I loved the explorations of CJ’s relationship with each individual character and amazingly enough, couldn’t point a finger at a favourite as I thought they were all fantastic and important in their own way to the story.
All in all, I just really enjoyed this book. It was diverse (with nearly all the characters being people of colour, the love interest being bi and the MC’s best friend and her love interest being lesbians), funny, enlightening, adorable at times and told through a voice that captivated me from the first page.
TW: racism, homophobia
- The characters were wonderful, lovable and flawed. They felt real. They were messy teenagers who had good intentions at heart but made mistakes, were called out on them and were allowed to grow from those mistakes.
- The writing was so incredibly easy to read and flowed beautifully. I essentially devoured this in one sitting and despite the raging sunburn I got from refusing to move inside until I’d finished the book, I regret nothing.
- I thought the way this explored history (specifically that of Japanese-Americans and the period of Japanese internment camps) was superb. Not only did it dive into a piece of history I’ve not seen discussed in YA, it did it in a way that was accessible and proved how greatly the past still continues to negatively impact the lives of people today.
- The book touched on so many things from racism and sexuality to money and abortion and yet, it never felt like there was ‘too much’. Everything fit together to create a story that felt organic, without the ‘big’ issues belittling the ‘smaller’ ones.
- I adored the structure of the book, with CJ’s interludes and mini dives into the different faucets of her life and history. It made the reading experience so much fun and added such a fantastic a depth and sarcastic humour to CJ. I’m always a sucker for books that deviate from classic novel structure, so I thoroughly enjoyed these segments.
- The multiple relationships, romantic, platonic and familial, were all brilliantly fleshed out and explored. I loved the explorations of CJ’s relationship with each individual character and amazingly enough, couldn’t point a finger at a favourite as I thought they were all fantastic and important in their own way to the story.
All in all, I just really enjoyed this book. It was diverse (with nearly all the characters being people of colour, the love interest being bi and the MC’s best friend and her love interest being lesbians), funny, enlightening, adorable at times and told through a voice that captivated me from the first page.
TW: racism, homophobia
June 7, 2019
ahhh that cover was too good to be true.the story was not bad,the political message really damn important but i found everyone in this book super annoying and imo 400 pages was too long for a book where nothing really happens?THAT COVER THOUGH
August 22, 2019
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Review can be found here at Booked J.
" People talk about starting over after they've made a big mistake or a bad choice in life. But you can never really start over. You can't fully reset. And I don't think you should. There's no point in dwelling on the past, but you can acknowledge it and try to make things better. Or try a new way, and know that this time will be different. "
Trigger warnings for this one, off the top of my head: mention of miscarriages and abortion. As always, look into a more in depth nod to any potential trigger warnings just to be safe!
Misa Sugiuara has been on my radar for a very long while. I'd always assumed that my first book of hers would be, It's Not Like It's a Secret, but this one stumbled into my life first. Which is like fate itself is saying, "Nope. You're starting here, old lady." And really, who can say no to fate? It's like saying no to Veruca Salt. It's complicated, okay?
Regardless of the hows and the whys, I'm glad This Time Will Be Different was my first by her. While I struggled in the beginning of this one with its pacing (I didn't hate it but it did take me a quarter of the book to get into the groove of this particular story) once I really got into it, I was unable to put it down. Even in the obscenely hot Chicago summer, where my brain felt like it was literally melting, I was like: must continue reading.
The characters inThis Time Will Be Different feel like actual teenagers. This is the novel's big strength. There was this consistent messiness to them that was flawed and honest, and I really appreciated that. Sugiura has a clear picture at what makes these characters tick, connect and clash and it really showed. She writes them in a way that is lively and imperfectly so. In all honesty she had me saying, more than once, " I wish I had books like this as a teenager. "
She doesn't dumb things down for her audience when it comes down to it. There's this frankness to her prose that lets us know that these characters are still figuring things out, they're going to make mistakes, and I'm here for it. I loved the familial connections--which, true, were complex--and I adored the way This Time Will Be Different tackled an array of topics.
The characters in This Time Will Be Different are all gorgeously flawed and full of life. I love CJ, and the way she was developed, to the point where it felt like we were reading about someone we have known our whole lives. Seeing her development from the first page, diving into the past and her family's past, was a real treat. She's definitely making it onto my top fictional characters of 2019.
I went into This Time Will Be Different thinking its premise was pretty much upfront and had a generic idea of what would be covered, but I came out of the experience with so much more.
If you're looking for a novel that represents teens in a realistic light and tackles racism, homophobia, sexuality and more, then this should absolutely be at the top of your TBR. Sugiura writes a beautiful and flawed life in This Time Will Be Different, and that should be praised.
" People talk about starting over after they've made a big mistake or a bad choice in life. But you can never really start over. You can't fully reset. And I don't think you should. There's no point in dwelling on the past, but you can acknowledge it and try to make things better. Or try a new way, and know that this time will be different. "
Trigger warnings for this one, off the top of my head: mention of miscarriages and abortion. As always, look into a more in depth nod to any potential trigger warnings just to be safe!
Misa Sugiuara has been on my radar for a very long while. I'd always assumed that my first book of hers would be, It's Not Like It's a Secret, but this one stumbled into my life first. Which is like fate itself is saying, "Nope. You're starting here, old lady." And really, who can say no to fate? It's like saying no to Veruca Salt. It's complicated, okay?
Regardless of the hows and the whys, I'm glad This Time Will Be Different was my first by her. While I struggled in the beginning of this one with its pacing (I didn't hate it but it did take me a quarter of the book to get into the groove of this particular story) once I really got into it, I was unable to put it down. Even in the obscenely hot Chicago summer, where my brain felt like it was literally melting, I was like: must continue reading.
The characters inThis Time Will Be Different feel like actual teenagers. This is the novel's big strength. There was this consistent messiness to them that was flawed and honest, and I really appreciated that. Sugiura has a clear picture at what makes these characters tick, connect and clash and it really showed. She writes them in a way that is lively and imperfectly so. In all honesty she had me saying, more than once, " I wish I had books like this as a teenager. "
She doesn't dumb things down for her audience when it comes down to it. There's this frankness to her prose that lets us know that these characters are still figuring things out, they're going to make mistakes, and I'm here for it. I loved the familial connections--which, true, were complex--and I adored the way This Time Will Be Different tackled an array of topics.
The characters in This Time Will Be Different are all gorgeously flawed and full of life. I love CJ, and the way she was developed, to the point where it felt like we were reading about someone we have known our whole lives. Seeing her development from the first page, diving into the past and her family's past, was a real treat. She's definitely making it onto my top fictional characters of 2019.
I went into This Time Will Be Different thinking its premise was pretty much upfront and had a generic idea of what would be covered, but I came out of the experience with so much more.
If you're looking for a novel that represents teens in a realistic light and tackles racism, homophobia, sexuality and more, then this should absolutely be at the top of your TBR. Sugiura writes a beautiful and flawed life in This Time Will Be Different, and that should be praised.
May 23, 2020
Written by an ownvoices author, this was extremely perceptive about topics I hadn’t even considered thinking about. It’s a smart tale that reminds us the past really isn’t that important. What’s important is that you accept your mistakes, and find a better way.
CJ wouldn’t call herself ambitious, compared to her pursuing family. She simply enjoys working in the family’s flower shop, where her aunt aligns with her customers’ hearts with her ‘flower magic’. CJ is usually talentless, but she does seem to have a skill for arranging bouquets, and she’s proud of it. When her mother decides to sell the shop to the wealthy McAllisters, her world falls apart. The McAllisters are known for winning over property when Japanese Americans were thrown in internment camps by the government during World War II. It’s only a shop, and yet this sale can threaten her family and the whole community of Northern California with it. And this time, CJ refuses to remain passive: it’s time for action.
Sugiura neatly describes a wide array of important subjects, like the aftermath of poverty, complex family dynamics, the racism preceded by Pearl Harbor, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, abortion and cancer. Coming from a pink floral, delightful cover and the sweet synopsis, I never would have thought for those things to be mentioned. Better yet, there’s so much valid information in this novel that doesn’t get dumbed down. She fluently educates her readers on subjects that are usually deemed sensitive and unworthy to be put into contemporaries, and waves it into the plot with no effort. With a poignant, frank writing style, Sugiura also managed to make me laugh at various times.
CJ deeply cares about the feud harbored in her family, even though she doesn’t own the same persistence as her ancestors. She loves the personality of each flower in her hands, all taught to her by her eccentric aunt Hannah. CJ is used to disappointing people, so she yearns from the validation and pride she gets from her exceptional bouquet arrangements. Her family doesn’t score so great at romance either, so she has chosen not to believe in it. She can’t seem to find her vision in life, and it’s that what makes her incredibly authentic. She tends to judge easily, and to focus on her personal grudges and issues. That’s what teenagers do, and it merely showed vulnerability. She seems flawed and messy, but still honest.
Identity, race and sexuality were explored in detail in these characters. Unlike some novels, they didn’t get swooped to the back. Instead, they took over the plot. Owen might is a skinny history nerd who excels at trivia. He’s a little dramatic, but that’s what makes him charming. As someone who prefers sincerity, he refuses to be negative or demotivating most of the time. If anything, he brims with hope and optimism on several aspects, although there is some fear hidden there. He’s passionate, and based his life on principles, and was, in fact, a complete cinnamon roll. Emily is CJ’s best friend who has her own patisserie shop named after her. She isn’t afraid to speak the truth, and is open to forgiveness and acceptance. As a fiercely loyal out queer teen, her emotional depth was exceptionally layered. There were so many flavored characters that it was hard to pinpoint favorite ones, even though Hannah, Brynn and even Shane came close.
What I personally enjoyed most is that it didn’t shame the act of abortion. Most books tend to make the character stress too much about it, and subconsciously villainize the deed. Here, the character was very clear about it, and it’s shown that it’s okay not to be ready to raise a child. This novel well deserves the 4.5 stars. The only minor complaint I have about it is that it was hard to get into, and it didn’t really require 400 pages. Still, the book has some grand elements. The growth of each character became a gradual, believable improvement that fitted the authenticity of their roles perfectly. Especially CJ’s developing thought process was incredibly insightful. The inserted love triangle wasn’t annoying either, but necessary for CJ to come to terms with some things and herself. If anything, This Time Will Be Different had an important lesson that while clichéd remains one of my favorite quotes. Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind, always.
CJ wouldn’t call herself ambitious, compared to her pursuing family. She simply enjoys working in the family’s flower shop, where her aunt aligns with her customers’ hearts with her ‘flower magic’. CJ is usually talentless, but she does seem to have a skill for arranging bouquets, and she’s proud of it. When her mother decides to sell the shop to the wealthy McAllisters, her world falls apart. The McAllisters are known for winning over property when Japanese Americans were thrown in internment camps by the government during World War II. It’s only a shop, and yet this sale can threaten her family and the whole community of Northern California with it. And this time, CJ refuses to remain passive: it’s time for action.
Sugiura neatly describes a wide array of important subjects, like the aftermath of poverty, complex family dynamics, the racism preceded by Pearl Harbor, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, abortion and cancer. Coming from a pink floral, delightful cover and the sweet synopsis, I never would have thought for those things to be mentioned. Better yet, there’s so much valid information in this novel that doesn’t get dumbed down. She fluently educates her readers on subjects that are usually deemed sensitive and unworthy to be put into contemporaries, and waves it into the plot with no effort. With a poignant, frank writing style, Sugiura also managed to make me laugh at various times.
CJ deeply cares about the feud harbored in her family, even though she doesn’t own the same persistence as her ancestors. She loves the personality of each flower in her hands, all taught to her by her eccentric aunt Hannah. CJ is used to disappointing people, so she yearns from the validation and pride she gets from her exceptional bouquet arrangements. Her family doesn’t score so great at romance either, so she has chosen not to believe in it. She can’t seem to find her vision in life, and it’s that what makes her incredibly authentic. She tends to judge easily, and to focus on her personal grudges and issues. That’s what teenagers do, and it merely showed vulnerability. She seems flawed and messy, but still honest.
Identity, race and sexuality were explored in detail in these characters. Unlike some novels, they didn’t get swooped to the back. Instead, they took over the plot. Owen might is a skinny history nerd who excels at trivia. He’s a little dramatic, but that’s what makes him charming. As someone who prefers sincerity, he refuses to be negative or demotivating most of the time. If anything, he brims with hope and optimism on several aspects, although there is some fear hidden there. He’s passionate, and based his life on principles, and was, in fact, a complete cinnamon roll. Emily is CJ’s best friend who has her own patisserie shop named after her. She isn’t afraid to speak the truth, and is open to forgiveness and acceptance. As a fiercely loyal out queer teen, her emotional depth was exceptionally layered. There were so many flavored characters that it was hard to pinpoint favorite ones, even though Hannah, Brynn and even Shane came close.
What I personally enjoyed most is that it didn’t shame the act of abortion. Most books tend to make the character stress too much about it, and subconsciously villainize the deed. Here, the character was very clear about it, and it’s shown that it’s okay not to be ready to raise a child. This novel well deserves the 4.5 stars. The only minor complaint I have about it is that it was hard to get into, and it didn’t really require 400 pages. Still, the book has some grand elements. The growth of each character became a gradual, believable improvement that fitted the authenticity of their roles perfectly. Especially CJ’s developing thought process was incredibly insightful. The inserted love triangle wasn’t annoying either, but necessary for CJ to come to terms with some things and herself. If anything, This Time Will Be Different had an important lesson that while clichéd remains one of my favorite quotes. Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind, always.
Read
July 10, 2019Okay - here comes a book I feel very conflicted on.
First, I absolutely love the topics this book broaches. I grew up on the east coast, so my school history classes taught me almost nothing covered in this book. I had to learn it on my own, especially since our government doesn't really like kids learning about the U.S.'s shitty decisions. Thinking about how a kid could pick up this book and learn a lot about the years of Japanese internment - about how they lost their land and then got a twenty dollar bill after being imprisoned for literal years with a "hey yeah sorry about that" - it's important. There are so many people, especially with the situation we're in today, that don't know enough about what our government did to its own citizens after Pearl Harbor.
Another important aspect of this book is how it broaches animosity between minorities. CJ discusses among her friends and to the reader how different minorities are pitted against each other by those in power, and how these resentments do nothing but keep racist white assholes comfortable at the top while minorities fight among themselves. This book also directly addresses "whitesplaining" and how toxic an ally can be when they refuse to listen to the people they're trying to help.
C.J. is of Japanese descent and I really liked the idea that we'd be dealing with the aftermath of an abortion in this book. The idea that she had this mother who, in her words, reinforced Asian stereotypes, made me think we were going to have some hard-hitting scenes, especially when I was really hoping that there would be more there, that the discussion about what happened in that plot line would get more than just her mother explaining that she's happy she kept her. C.J.'s abortion affects more than the end of the book seems to want to address, relationships and outlooks alike, and I guess I just wanted more closure there.
I also can't say I liked the writing of this, aside from the "history lessons". C.J. was unlikable in such a strong way that being in her head as she made some of her pettier choices was almost painful. I spent a lot of time needing to close the book for a few minutes and come to terms with the idea that she was going to be That Girl, and while I won't hate a book just because a character is unlikable, it made my experience a little less fun.
Overall, the book is WELL worth the annoying parts just so that these messages are accessible. These stories need to be told, and I cried more than once thinking about the land stolen from hardworking people who had done nothing wrong. I want stories like this to be more common, and I hope this book is able to shine a light on things that don't get discussed enough with our younger generations.
Oh, and all the Owen shit was 200% my brand. I could read a book all about his nerdiness and not have enough. More characters like Owen, please.
4/5
First, I absolutely love the topics this book broaches. I grew up on the east coast, so my school history classes taught me almost nothing covered in this book. I had to learn it on my own, especially since our government doesn't really like kids learning about the U.S.'s shitty decisions. Thinking about how a kid could pick up this book and learn a lot about the years of Japanese internment - about how they lost their land and then got a twenty dollar bill after being imprisoned for literal years with a "hey yeah sorry about that" - it's important. There are so many people, especially with the situation we're in today, that don't know enough about what our government did to its own citizens after Pearl Harbor.
Another important aspect of this book is how it broaches animosity between minorities. CJ discusses among her friends and to the reader how different minorities are pitted against each other by those in power, and how these resentments do nothing but keep racist white assholes comfortable at the top while minorities fight among themselves. This book also directly addresses "whitesplaining" and how toxic an ally can be when they refuse to listen to the people they're trying to help.
C.J. is of Japanese descent and I really liked the idea that we'd be dealing with the aftermath of an abortion in this book. The idea that she had this mother who, in her words, reinforced Asian stereotypes, made me think we were going to have some hard-hitting scenes, especially when I was really hoping that there would be more there, that the discussion about what happened in that plot line would get more than just her mother explaining that she's happy she kept her. C.J.'s abortion affects more than the end of the book seems to want to address, relationships and outlooks alike, and I guess I just wanted more closure there.
I also can't say I liked the writing of this, aside from the "history lessons". C.J. was unlikable in such a strong way that being in her head as she made some of her pettier choices was almost painful. I spent a lot of time needing to close the book for a few minutes and come to terms with the idea that she was going to be That Girl, and while I won't hate a book just because a character is unlikable, it made my experience a little less fun.
Overall, the book is WELL worth the annoying parts just so that these messages are accessible. These stories need to be told, and I cried more than once thinking about the land stolen from hardworking people who had done nothing wrong. I want stories like this to be more common, and I hope this book is able to shine a light on things that don't get discussed enough with our younger generations.
Oh, and all the Owen shit was 200% my brand. I could read a book all about his nerdiness and not have enough. More characters like Owen, please.
4/5
January 17, 2021
3.5 stars
May 22, 2021
“They’re just wildflowers, doing their thing, and they’re beautiful. Be like them, sweet pea. Just be you and be happy.”
This was quite enjoyable.
Yes, I didn't really like the main character, but considering she was a teenager, everything she felt and thought was quite understandable.
The writing was realistic, in the sense that I know a real teenager would think that way. I also really loved the family dynamic in this, it was definitely one of my favorite things about the book.
I don't have much to say about this. It started as a light-hearted contemporary but got dark real quick. It did tackle important things, which is why I picked it up in the first place, and I liked it more than I thought I would.
This was quite enjoyable.
Yes, I didn't really like the main character, but considering she was a teenager, everything she felt and thought was quite understandable.
The writing was realistic, in the sense that I know a real teenager would think that way. I also really loved the family dynamic in this, it was definitely one of my favorite things about the book.
I don't have much to say about this. It started as a light-hearted contemporary but got dark real quick. It did tackle important things, which is why I picked it up in the first place, and I liked it more than I thought I would.
August 3, 2019
I picked up this book because it had a stunning cover, and gorgeous sprayed edges, so went in with very little expectations. To be perfectly honest, the only word I can really think to sum it up, is 'boring'. It wasn't terrible, or even especially bad, it just wasn't particularly interesting. I found the story lacked a little bit of guidance, it didn't really seem to be sure what it was actually about, as there were so many minor plot lines, and no major one to carry the book along.
I really liked the introduction to Japanese-American history, something I was completely oblivious too previously, although now I'm aware of it, I'm kind of mad at myself at never having considered the consequences to those citizens, after Pearl Harbour. I also liked the fun addition of different floral meanings, again something that never really crossed my mind before. It did inspire me to try and order a bouquet full of meaning, as well as to research more of the history of the Japanese internment camps.
I think part of the reason I found the book super lacklustre, is that i just really did not like CJ. She was so immature, kind of a jerky friend, and seemed to fixate on something that happened, not even to her, when she was 13. Everyone is an idiot at 13, and everyone is pretending to be someone they aren't at 13, it just didn't make sense that one of the main focus of the books was that one incident, that she just weirdly wouldn't let go of. On top of that, she fixated on something that was an insult to the LGBT community, and took ownership of that as if it happened to her, and then spends most of the novel berating the same LGBT white kid for taking ownership of racism towards minorities, what a total hypocrite. That's pretty much why the book felt really flat, because I agreed with everyone around her that she was being an idiot. If you don't generally agree with the protagonist, or sympathise with them at all, you just find yourself wishing that you could spend more time with the sensible characters, and wondering why you are reading the book...
I was definitely sad that we didn't get a solid conclusion to the school name change, and perhaps thats why it didn't feel like the book was really about anything. I also wanted to understand more about CJ's mother, and more about who her father was. Pretty much every plot line I was actually interested in, just didn't have a satisfying conclusion. There was one thing I really hated about the book,
The romance in the novel was predictable, a love triangle situation, that never really takes off as a love triangle, because its obvious to absolutely everyone, except the ever annoying CJ, that she is crazy about just one of those boys. With that in mind, I'm not really sure who I would recommend this book too. Someone who wants a little intro to a history that they might not be aware of? For me, that was the main pull of the book, but there are probably a ton of other books out there, that handle it better.
I really liked the introduction to Japanese-American history, something I was completely oblivious too previously, although now I'm aware of it, I'm kind of mad at myself at never having considered the consequences to those citizens, after Pearl Harbour. I also liked the fun addition of different floral meanings, again something that never really crossed my mind before. It did inspire me to try and order a bouquet full of meaning, as well as to research more of the history of the Japanese internment camps.
I think part of the reason I found the book super lacklustre, is that i just really did not like CJ. She was so immature, kind of a jerky friend, and seemed to fixate on something that happened, not even to her, when she was 13. Everyone is an idiot at 13, and everyone is pretending to be someone they aren't at 13, it just didn't make sense that one of the main focus of the books was that one incident, that she just weirdly wouldn't let go of. On top of that, she fixated on something that was an insult to the LGBT community, and took ownership of that as if it happened to her, and then spends most of the novel berating the same LGBT white kid for taking ownership of racism towards minorities, what a total hypocrite. That's pretty much why the book felt really flat, because I agreed with everyone around her that she was being an idiot. If you don't generally agree with the protagonist, or sympathise with them at all, you just find yourself wishing that you could spend more time with the sensible characters, and wondering why you are reading the book...
I was definitely sad that we didn't get a solid conclusion to the school name change, and perhaps thats why it didn't feel like the book was really about anything. I also wanted to understand more about CJ's mother, and more about who her father was. Pretty much every plot line I was actually interested in, just didn't have a satisfying conclusion. There was one thing I really hated about the book,
The romance in the novel was predictable, a love triangle situation, that never really takes off as a love triangle, because its obvious to absolutely everyone, except the ever annoying CJ, that she is crazy about just one of those boys. With that in mind, I'm not really sure who I would recommend this book too. Someone who wants a little intro to a history that they might not be aware of? For me, that was the main pull of the book, but there are probably a ton of other books out there, that handle it better.
July 7, 2019
This Time Will Be Different begins with CJ working at her family's flower shop. She doesn't really buy into her aunt's language of flowers but she still loves working there. Then her mother decides to sell the shop and if that wasn't bad enough, she is planning to sell to the family that cheated theirs out when thousands of Japanese-Americans were sent to internment camps during WWII. Soon a rift happens in their community and CJ has finally found something to fight for.
This book was cute and fun but still hard-hitting and all about fighting racism and standing up for yourself. It talks about racism, sexuality, and there is abortion talk as well but it's mixed fairly well The MC's light personality (and sometimes funny quips) make this not as sad and dramatic as it could have been with all these serious topics but this is not some meaningless fluff story at all. Between each chapter CJ goes on interludes about her family's past and the history of internment camps and it was so well put together (and also horrifying because we're pretty much doing the same damn thing now...).
I liked CJ even though she was such a petty teenager at times, especially with her best friend's maybe-girlfriend. Like girl you are being salty just to be salty at this point. The diversity in this book was also perfect and I think there were a lot of issues that were dealt with so well. Like the issue with white saviors and people wanting to let racist history slide by.
The romance was cute but also pretty frustrating. They were cute together working at the flower shop but then so much pointless angst and making each other jealous (ugh) got in the way. When they finally talk to each other and tell each other the deal, the book is almost over. Seriously, that was all so pointless. Also love triangle, sorta.
This book also has a strong sense of family and I just loved how her mother and aunt were a big part of the story. My favorite kind of contemporaries are really ones that focus on not just a romance but family and friendships too and this one really did.
This is just an important story that needs to be told. This book also went by super fast; I know it's like 400 pages but the ending was so abrupt to me I wish it were longer. I had some issues but overall I enjoyed my time reading this book.
This book was cute and fun but still hard-hitting and all about fighting racism and standing up for yourself. It talks about racism, sexuality, and there is abortion talk as well but it's mixed fairly well The MC's light personality (and sometimes funny quips) make this not as sad and dramatic as it could have been with all these serious topics but this is not some meaningless fluff story at all. Between each chapter CJ goes on interludes about her family's past and the history of internment camps and it was so well put together (and also horrifying because we're pretty much doing the same damn thing now...).
I liked CJ even though she was such a petty teenager at times, especially with her best friend's maybe-girlfriend. Like girl you are being salty just to be salty at this point. The diversity in this book was also perfect and I think there were a lot of issues that were dealt with so well. Like the issue with white saviors and people wanting to let racist history slide by.
The romance was cute but also pretty frustrating. They were cute together working at the flower shop but then so much pointless angst and making each other jealous (ugh) got in the way. When they finally talk to each other and tell each other the deal, the book is almost over. Seriously, that was all so pointless. Also love triangle, sorta.
This book also has a strong sense of family and I just loved how her mother and aunt were a big part of the story. My favorite kind of contemporaries are really ones that focus on not just a romance but family and friendships too and this one really did.
This is just an important story that needs to be told. This book also went by super fast; I know it's like 400 pages but the ending was so abrupt to me I wish it were longer. I had some issues but overall I enjoyed my time reading this book.
July 23, 2019
I feel terrible giving this so low a rating, but I just really didn't enjoy it. I was incredibly excited about learning more about a history I was previously completely unaware of, and the summary made it sound that was the main thing of the book. It wasn't. It's more of a regular run of the mill YA contemporary that is tooth achingly predictable from start to finish, with a side of some history.
This book deals with a lot of important things, and for that I praise it. It has queer rep on the form of lesbian girls and a bisexual boy. It obviously has diversity. It deals with teen pregnancy. It deals with racism, racism towards Asians, which we don't hear much about (anymore?). It shows the toxicity of the White Narrative and White Saviors, however well intentioned.
There was this one part of a dialogue that reminded 100% of The Hate U Give. I'm not saying it's copied or anything- parts of both books are alike, but this particular bit was astoundingly so.
It's a fast read, I'll give it that. But then, it's YA contemporary so it's to be expected. I just had a very difficult time liking any of the characters. CJ's Mom and CJ herself were the absolute worst. Given that this is from CJ's point of view, it was a struggle for me. It just all felt so superficial, no real depth to the actual characters.
I'm sure a whole lot of people will love this book, but it just wasn't for me. Perhaps this is the type of YA that I'm unfortunately too old for now. There is a mention of having a crush on Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon but that animated characters will never love you back. This means she's talking about the movie. That came out when she was a kid. I was 16 when it came out and the difference in age was really jarring at that point. Such a shame, I was so excited for this.
This book deals with a lot of important things, and for that I praise it. It has queer rep on the form of lesbian girls and a bisexual boy. It obviously has diversity. It deals with teen pregnancy. It deals with racism, racism towards Asians, which we don't hear much about (anymore?). It shows the toxicity of the White Narrative and White Saviors, however well intentioned.
There was this one part of a dialogue that reminded 100% of The Hate U Give. I'm not saying it's copied or anything- parts of both books are alike, but this particular bit was astoundingly so.
It's a fast read, I'll give it that. But then, it's YA contemporary so it's to be expected. I just had a very difficult time liking any of the characters. CJ's Mom and CJ herself were the absolute worst. Given that this is from CJ's point of view, it was a struggle for me. It just all felt so superficial, no real depth to the actual characters.
I'm sure a whole lot of people will love this book, but it just wasn't for me. Perhaps this is the type of YA that I'm unfortunately too old for now. There is a mention of having a crush on Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon but that animated characters will never love you back. This means she's talking about the movie. That came out when she was a kid. I was 16 when it came out and the difference in age was really jarring at that point. Such a shame, I was so excited for this.
June 6, 2019
4.5/5 stars
THIS BOOK!!! There's so much I took away from "This Time Will Be Different" and I'm so thankful I picked it up when I did. I originally received an ARC of this at a local book festival I went to this year and the synopsis instantly captured my attention and I knew I had to pick this up asap. I started reading it a while ago but I didn't have a lot of time to finish when things started to get busy but I'm so happy I finally finished it. Guys! I'm not kidding when I say I need everyone to read this!! It's such an eye-opening and flat out entertaining novel and once I got into it I never wanted to put it down.
My absolute favorite thing about "This Time Will Be Different" is how it handles sensitive topics such as racism and the internment of Japanese-Americans during WW2. I've constantly been on the lookout for books where I can educate myself more as I read, and this book was no exception. I think it handled these topics wonderfully and I'm so happy I now know more about them and got to read from that point of view. Also, this novel was simply funny and entertaining in so many ways. I found myself laughing at least once a chapter and all the characters were fantastic. Every character had their own unique development too and by the end, they had all learned something new about their behavior or social justice issues. I thought CJ was a great main character as well and I adored reading from her POV.
I'm just gonna put this here: Misa Sugiura is so freaking underrated. Her writing style is amazing and so fluid and also she just writes kickass stories. It's that simple. Everyone needs to go follow her and buy her books and read them now because she deserves the world. That's all.
I only have two minor problems with this book. First of all, CJ was sometimes seriously annoying. I'm 95% sure this was intentional and I totally understand the merit of that, but she was still annoying nonetheless. Secondly, there wasn't enough romance! I know romance wasn't the main plot of this novel by any means, but I was thinking we were gonna get some other romance besides just a kiss from what I read on the synopsis.
This book handles family, friends, and self-discovery in a unique and diverse way. Not to mention is hilarious. Please go read this right now!
This book does handle some pretty heavy topics at times! I've listed the trigger warnings that I can think of, but please search online to see if there are more detailed ones if you need to :)
TW: racism, sexism, teen pregnancy, abortion, strained family relationships, the internment of Japanese-Americans during WW2, homophobia
THIS BOOK!!! There's so much I took away from "This Time Will Be Different" and I'm so thankful I picked it up when I did. I originally received an ARC of this at a local book festival I went to this year and the synopsis instantly captured my attention and I knew I had to pick this up asap. I started reading it a while ago but I didn't have a lot of time to finish when things started to get busy but I'm so happy I finally finished it. Guys! I'm not kidding when I say I need everyone to read this!! It's such an eye-opening and flat out entertaining novel and once I got into it I never wanted to put it down.
My absolute favorite thing about "This Time Will Be Different" is how it handles sensitive topics such as racism and the internment of Japanese-Americans during WW2. I've constantly been on the lookout for books where I can educate myself more as I read, and this book was no exception. I think it handled these topics wonderfully and I'm so happy I now know more about them and got to read from that point of view. Also, this novel was simply funny and entertaining in so many ways. I found myself laughing at least once a chapter and all the characters were fantastic. Every character had their own unique development too and by the end, they had all learned something new about their behavior or social justice issues. I thought CJ was a great main character as well and I adored reading from her POV.
I'm just gonna put this here: Misa Sugiura is so freaking underrated. Her writing style is amazing and so fluid and also she just writes kickass stories. It's that simple. Everyone needs to go follow her and buy her books and read them now because she deserves the world. That's all.
I only have two minor problems with this book. First of all, CJ was sometimes seriously annoying. I'm 95% sure this was intentional and I totally understand the merit of that, but she was still annoying nonetheless. Secondly, there wasn't enough romance! I know romance wasn't the main plot of this novel by any means, but I was thinking we were gonna get some other romance besides just a kiss from what I read on the synopsis.
This book handles family, friends, and self-discovery in a unique and diverse way. Not to mention is hilarious. Please go read this right now!
This book does handle some pretty heavy topics at times! I've listed the trigger warnings that I can think of, but please search online to see if there are more detailed ones if you need to :)
TW: racism, sexism, teen pregnancy, abortion, strained family relationships, the internment of Japanese-Americans during WW2, homophobia
July 4, 2019
(free review copy) THIS TIME WILL BE DIFFERENT is an exceptional YA story set in the Bay Area, addressing the long-term impacts of Japanese internment camps during WWII, along with efforts to save a wonderful and magical flower shop from financial ruin, in-depth discussions of LGBTQIA+ and other social justice advocacy and allyship issues, AND friendship and teen love. WHEW. That sounds like a lot all in one story.....and it is. But Sugiura makes every plot point matter deeply to the overall story, and I couldn’t put this book down.
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Highly recommend for all teen collections - grades 9 and up due to some mature content.
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Highly recommend for all teen collections - grades 9 and up due to some mature content.
May 12, 2019
This book handles the racism buried in American history, especially directed toward Japanese-Americans after Pearl Harbor, by smacking it in the face with this 400-page tome of truth. Humorous, diverse, and unapologetic, This Time Will Be Different is a masterpiece that attacks the term 'model minority' with the same artful skill that The Hate U Give used to address police brutality.
November 12, 2019
Audiobook!
This book has everything:
-A true mother and daughter relationship
-A cute romance
-Amazing friendships
-Messy teenagers beings messy teenagers
-A flower shop and flower magic
-A side f / f romance
-A find your self plot
-A fight for what you want and believe the plot
And talks about wonderful subjects like:
-abortion
-being a single mom
-women in the job market
-racism
-homophobia
-Japanese American culture and history
It’s a very quick and heartwarming book.
I highly recommend it if you like contemporary stories that make you feel good after reading!
This book has everything:
-A true mother and daughter relationship
-A cute romance
-Amazing friendships
-Messy teenagers beings messy teenagers
-A flower shop and flower magic
-A side f / f romance
-A find your self plot
-A fight for what you want and believe the plot
And talks about wonderful subjects like:
-abortion
-being a single mom
-women in the job market
-racism
-homophobia
-Japanese American culture and history
It’s a very quick and heartwarming book.
I highly recommend it if you like contemporary stories that make you feel good after reading!
September 11, 2024
3 1/2 stars. i’m not biased at all, nor reading this book because of its pretty cover.
// buddy read with a human sunshine
June 7, 2019
This book better win all the damn awards this year. Full review to come!
March 26, 2021
Perfection.
August 20, 2019
✦ ROOTS ARE IMPORTANT ✦
The book This Time Will be Different is all about family and the importance of its roots. Hannah is the one who tells CJ that she should never forget who she is. She tells CJ about their family history and how they never forgave what McAllister did to them. However, CJ’s mom has something little different to say.
She tells CJ that it is important they forget about their past and just move on because owning the flower shop doesn’t bring them any money. Hannah goes mad everytimes CJ’s mom mentions this fact, but they avoid fighting in front of CJ. Also, the fact that CJ’s mom doesn’t tell CJ anything about her father shows that she simply doesn’t care about family roots.
✦ THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY IN STORIES ✦
I can’t stress how important it is to have some kind of diversity in books. You can hate the book, but reading about various topic will make it better. The same goes for this book. I personally didn’t enjoy this book because it was just too much. It takes a lot of time to get into the story and I found CJ boring but what I really liked is that there are various interesting topics such as lesbian and gay issues, racism, and Japanese culture in America. It was refreshing to read about it and especially I liked reading about Japanese culture. It is so interesting and I rarely find something like this.
✦CARING ABOUT YOUR FUTURE ✦
This is the topic I’m really excited to write about. While I was reading this book, I noticed that CJ’s mom is always looking for new jobs for her daughter. She tells CJ how important is to educate yourself and I really loved it. It is important to take every chance you get, in order to have a bright future ahead. Unfortunately, CJ simply doesn’t care about it, and she’s not interested in such things, which is bad because she is only 17.
✦ OVERALL ✦
I was so excited to read this book because its story sounded intriguing, but I ended up being slightly disappointed. It takes a lot of time to get into the plot, and some parts of it are just confusing. However, I enjoyed reading about various topics and putting some romance into it is just one big plus.
The book This Time Will be Different is all about family and the importance of its roots. Hannah is the one who tells CJ that she should never forget who she is. She tells CJ about their family history and how they never forgave what McAllister did to them. However, CJ’s mom has something little different to say.
She tells CJ that it is important they forget about their past and just move on because owning the flower shop doesn’t bring them any money. Hannah goes mad everytimes CJ’s mom mentions this fact, but they avoid fighting in front of CJ. Also, the fact that CJ’s mom doesn’t tell CJ anything about her father shows that she simply doesn’t care about family roots.
✦ THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY IN STORIES ✦
I can’t stress how important it is to have some kind of diversity in books. You can hate the book, but reading about various topic will make it better. The same goes for this book. I personally didn’t enjoy this book because it was just too much. It takes a lot of time to get into the story and I found CJ boring but what I really liked is that there are various interesting topics such as lesbian and gay issues, racism, and Japanese culture in America. It was refreshing to read about it and especially I liked reading about Japanese culture. It is so interesting and I rarely find something like this.
✦CARING ABOUT YOUR FUTURE ✦
This is the topic I’m really excited to write about. While I was reading this book, I noticed that CJ’s mom is always looking for new jobs for her daughter. She tells CJ how important is to educate yourself and I really loved it. It is important to take every chance you get, in order to have a bright future ahead. Unfortunately, CJ simply doesn’t care about it, and she’s not interested in such things, which is bad because she is only 17.
✦ OVERALL ✦
I was so excited to read this book because its story sounded intriguing, but I ended up being slightly disappointed. It takes a lot of time to get into the plot, and some parts of it are just confusing. However, I enjoyed reading about various topics and putting some romance into it is just one big plus.
February 18, 2021
ARC kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you.
this book was amazing
this cover is amazing
and i feel amazing
CJ was a character i related to on a spiritual level. I am so in love with her to be honest. This book is about a girl and feminism and racism. And all of that spoke to me. CJ is a teenage asian girl who is struggling to figure out when she is good at so she can be and I quote a #winner. CJ is sarcastic and loyal and protective and an overall lovely person. Her mother got pregnant from a one night stand which resulted in the birthing of CJ.
CJs ancestors were coned our of their by the Mcallister’s when they were sent to the Japanese internment vamps and even decades later the McAllisters are still profiting off the land the stole not only from the Kuriyamas but from other Japanese land as well.
Not to mention CJs mom works for the Mcallister’s which makes things a little between her and Cjs aunt Hanna- who is currently running a flower shop that was purchased back from the McAllisters who are trying to buy it again decades later.
Cj has found her place with her aunt and Owen, the cute bisexual nerd who works at the flower shop and among flower magic.
CJ feels she finally belongs somewhere but how long will it last?
this book was amazing
this cover is amazing
and i feel amazing
CJ was a character i related to on a spiritual level. I am so in love with her to be honest. This book is about a girl and feminism and racism. And all of that spoke to me. CJ is a teenage asian girl who is struggling to figure out when she is good at so she can be and I quote a #winner. CJ is sarcastic and loyal and protective and an overall lovely person. Her mother got pregnant from a one night stand which resulted in the birthing of CJ.
CJs ancestors were coned our of their by the Mcallister’s when they were sent to the Japanese internment vamps and even decades later the McAllisters are still profiting off the land the stole not only from the Kuriyamas but from other Japanese land as well.
Not to mention CJs mom works for the Mcallister’s which makes things a little between her and Cjs aunt Hanna- who is currently running a flower shop that was purchased back from the McAllisters who are trying to buy it again decades later.
Cj has found her place with her aunt and Owen, the cute bisexual nerd who works at the flower shop and among flower magic.
CJ feels she finally belongs somewhere but how long will it last?
July 10, 2020
To those who DNFed this, CJ makes up for everything, just to let y'all know because this book was GREAT.
CJ, the MC who doesn't exactly fit into the Asian model minority, is a Japanese-American who works at her Aunt's flower shop when her Mother announces she's getting ready to sell the shop to Trey McAllister, a white man who's racist Grandfather stole millions of dollars and property from Japanese-Americans when they were sent to interment camps during WWII.
I think the main reason why people disliked this so much was because of CJ . But... she didn't bother me at all because I could totally see where she was coming from and how she just wanted to protect those she loved even though it was wrong and she knew it. Her character was realistic and her life was messy and she was messy, but she still tried her best.
The brief histories we got in between some of the chapters were AMAZING. I learnt so much about interment camps, racism, model minority and I love how the whole story connected so well.
Overall, THIS IS A MUST READ.
CJ, the MC who doesn't exactly fit into the Asian model minority, is a Japanese-American who works at her Aunt's flower shop when her Mother announces she's getting ready to sell the shop to Trey McAllister, a white man who's racist Grandfather stole millions of dollars and property from Japanese-Americans when they were sent to interment camps during WWII.
I think the main reason why people disliked this so much was because of CJ . But... she didn't bother me at all because I could totally see where she was coming from and how she just wanted to protect those she loved even though it was wrong and she knew it. Her character was realistic and her life was messy and she was messy, but she still tried her best.
The brief histories we got in between some of the chapters were AMAZING. I learnt so much about interment camps, racism, model minority and I love how the whole story connected so well.
Overall, THIS IS A MUST READ.
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