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From Little Tokyo, with Love
Celebrated author Sarah Kuhn reinvents the modern fairy tale in this intensely personal yet hilarious novel of a girl whose search for a storybook ending takes her to unexpected places in both her beloved LA neighborhood and her own guarded heart.
If Rika’s life seems like the beginning of a familiar fairy tale–being an orphan with two bossy cousins and working away in her aunts’ business–she would be the first to reject that foolish notion. After all, she loves her family (even if her cousins were named after Disney characters), and with her biracial background, amazing judo skills and red-hot temper, she doesn’t quite fit the princess mold.
All that changes the instant she locks eyes with Grace Kimura, America’s reigning rom-com sweetheart, during the Nikkei Week Festival. From there, Rika embarks on a madcap adventure of hope and happiness–searching for clues about her long-lost mother, exploring Little Tokyo’s hidden treasures with a cute actor, and maybe…finally finding a sense of belonging.
But fairy tales are fiction and the real world isn’t so kind. Rika knows she’s setting herself up for disappointment, because happy endings don’t happen to girls like her. Should she walk away before she gets in even deeper, or let herself be swept away?
If Rika’s life seems like the beginning of a familiar fairy tale–being an orphan with two bossy cousins and working away in her aunts’ business–she would be the first to reject that foolish notion. After all, she loves her family (even if her cousins were named after Disney characters), and with her biracial background, amazing judo skills and red-hot temper, she doesn’t quite fit the princess mold.
All that changes the instant she locks eyes with Grace Kimura, America’s reigning rom-com sweetheart, during the Nikkei Week Festival. From there, Rika embarks on a madcap adventure of hope and happiness–searching for clues about her long-lost mother, exploring Little Tokyo’s hidden treasures with a cute actor, and maybe…finally finding a sense of belonging.
But fairy tales are fiction and the real world isn’t so kind. Rika knows she’s setting herself up for disappointment, because happy endings don’t happen to girls like her. Should she walk away before she gets in even deeper, or let herself be swept away?
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 11, 2021
96 people are currently reading
10313 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Kuhn
68 books668 followersSarah Kuhn is the author of Heroine Complex—the first in a series starring Asian American superheroines—for DAW Books. She also wrote The Ruby Equation for the comics anthology Fresh Romance and the romantic comedy novella One Con Glory, which earned praise from io9 and USA Today and is in development as a feature film. Her articles and essays on such topics as geek girl culture, comic book continuity, and Sailor Moon cosplay have appeared in Uncanny Magazine, Apex Magazine, AngryAsianMan.com, IGN.com, Back Stage, The Hollywood Reporter, StarTrek.com, Creative Screenwriting, and the Hugo-nominated anthology Chicks Dig Comics. In 2011, she was selected as a finalist for the CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) New Writers Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 364 reviews
May 25, 2021
CW:
3.5 Stars
Well that was an enjoyable story about family secrets and falling in love.
It was also a good exploration of Rika's experience being biracial. I thought the anger management plot line was done pretty well. It was interesting to read a YA story that also looks at what is considered shameful behaviour in some communities. An engaging read with some great dialogue.
3.5 Stars
Well that was an enjoyable story about family secrets and falling in love.
It was also a good exploration of Rika's experience being biracial. I thought the anger management plot line was done pretty well. It was interesting to read a YA story that also looks at what is considered shameful behaviour in some communities. An engaging read with some great dialogue.
March 29, 2023
Unfortunately From Little Tokyo With Love did not resonate with me liked I had hoped. While I enjoyed some of it, a lot of it felt like so many other YA books out there lately. Same story different scenery.
Rika is a half Japanese half American teen growing up in Little Tokyo, a Japanese division in LA. Her mom passed away in child birth and her 2 Aunties, one by blood one by marriage are raising her with her 2 cousins. Rika’s always felt like she’s an outsider not enough Japanese but can’t pass for Caucasian either. She definitely never feels like she’s enough for her aunties or her community. Because of this Rika has an anger (kaiju-temper) inside of her that she can’t keep down and to protect herself from all the people that look down on her she channels the nure-onna inside of herself. A fierce mythological monster who can defeat all of her enemies.
Rika is assigned at the last minute to drive her cousin Belle, this years Nikkei Week Queen, in the big parade to celebrate. Grace Nakamura, a famous Japanese RomCom star is the main attraction. And when Rika and Grace literally run into each other, she notices something familiar about her and knows there is something weird about her. Especially noticing the fear on Grace’s face when coming in to contact with Rika. It seemed to be the cause of her to taking off and running away from the parade. And then vanishing, completely off the grid.
Rika has to find out what the heck is going on and why she looks so much like the girl in the pictures with Auntie Suzy from long ago.
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬:
-I loved learning more about Japanese culture, including the food, the language, and the community within LA itself
-It was nice to see a diverse teen dealing with anger issues
-The LGBTQ representation with Rika’s Aunties was a especially interesting within a “traditional” Japanese family.
-The Last 1/4 or so picked up for me
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬:
-It was lacking in romance. I really didn’t see a whole lot of chemistry between Rika and Henry
-So darn slow. This should have had like 1/3 or more chopped off.
-It was anticlimactic. I can’t really go into detail without spoilers.
-The book was supposed to be about Rika finding out if Grace was her mom but somewhere along the way detoured to the difficulties of the acting world for Bi-Racial Asian actors.
-I just didn’t feel much of a connection to any of the characters.
For me this was a bit too wholesome of a YA read. I think that was a lot of my problem while reading From Little Tokyo With Love. So I encourage those of you who like a syrupy sweet story to give this a try. Don’t let my jaded thoughts stop you!
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.
Rika is a half Japanese half American teen growing up in Little Tokyo, a Japanese division in LA. Her mom passed away in child birth and her 2 Aunties, one by blood one by marriage are raising her with her 2 cousins. Rika’s always felt like she’s an outsider not enough Japanese but can’t pass for Caucasian either. She definitely never feels like she’s enough for her aunties or her community. Because of this Rika has an anger (kaiju-temper) inside of her that she can’t keep down and to protect herself from all the people that look down on her she channels the nure-onna inside of herself. A fierce mythological monster who can defeat all of her enemies.
Rika is assigned at the last minute to drive her cousin Belle, this years Nikkei Week Queen, in the big parade to celebrate. Grace Nakamura, a famous Japanese RomCom star is the main attraction. And when Rika and Grace literally run into each other, she notices something familiar about her and knows there is something weird about her. Especially noticing the fear on Grace’s face when coming in to contact with Rika. It seemed to be the cause of her to taking off and running away from the parade. And then vanishing, completely off the grid.
Rika has to find out what the heck is going on and why she looks so much like the girl in the pictures with Auntie Suzy from long ago.
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬:
-I loved learning more about Japanese culture, including the food, the language, and the community within LA itself
-It was nice to see a diverse teen dealing with anger issues
-The LGBTQ representation with Rika’s Aunties was a especially interesting within a “traditional” Japanese family.
-The Last 1/4 or so picked up for me
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬:
-It was lacking in romance. I really didn’t see a whole lot of chemistry between Rika and Henry
-So darn slow. This should have had like 1/3 or more chopped off.
-It was anticlimactic. I can’t really go into detail without spoilers.
-The book was supposed to be about Rika finding out if Grace was her mom but somewhere along the way detoured to the difficulties of the acting world for Bi-Racial Asian actors.
-I just didn’t feel much of a connection to any of the characters.
For me this was a bit too wholesome of a YA read. I think that was a lot of my problem while reading From Little Tokyo With Love. So I encourage those of you who like a syrupy sweet story to give this a try. Don’t let my jaded thoughts stop you!
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.
June 20, 2021
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher for promotional purposes.
This was such a cute and heartwarming story!
I loved the representation in this. Both the main characters are biracial. Rika is Japanese and white and Hank is Filipino and Chinese. I am biracial myself (Filipino and white) so I related a lot to them. I really resonated with something Rika said. She states, “But it’s not like white people look at me and think I’m one of them” (pg. 130). I have felt that way my whole life.
Also in terms of representation, Rika’s aunts were lesbians which I found very refreshing and important especially in regards to the Asian American community. Often times LBGTQA+ people are not accepted by the Asian American community and this book highlighted that fact.
I liked that the Rika was flawed. So many young adult female leads are written as perfect people, so it was nice to see one who had flaws. It made her feel more realistic.
I also enjoyed that the city of LA was utilized well. Numerous books just use LA as a backdrop but never explore the city. Here, it was given a life of its own and featured lesser known attractions like the old Griffith Park Zoo (I never knew this existed and need to check it out!).
Lastly, going back to Asian American communities, this book delved into the shortcomings of said communities. One character states, “I really wish so many of our communities would just, like, acknowledge that anger isn’t always a bad emotion…You can’t just reject it — you have to let yourself feel it, make room for it, or all that repressing will burn you up inside” (pg 313). That is so true. We are often taught to just hold our anger inside but that isn’t healthy. We can and should be angry. Additionally, the book also talks about shame in relation to not being what is considered to be “perfect” in the community.
Overall, this book was relatable with a super cute romance, but it also struck a more serious note and shed a light on the Asian American experience.
This was such a cute and heartwarming story!
I loved the representation in this. Both the main characters are biracial. Rika is Japanese and white and Hank is Filipino and Chinese. I am biracial myself (Filipino and white) so I related a lot to them. I really resonated with something Rika said. She states, “But it’s not like white people look at me and think I’m one of them” (pg. 130). I have felt that way my whole life.
Also in terms of representation, Rika’s aunts were lesbians which I found very refreshing and important especially in regards to the Asian American community. Often times LBGTQA+ people are not accepted by the Asian American community and this book highlighted that fact.
I liked that the Rika was flawed. So many young adult female leads are written as perfect people, so it was nice to see one who had flaws. It made her feel more realistic.
I also enjoyed that the city of LA was utilized well. Numerous books just use LA as a backdrop but never explore the city. Here, it was given a life of its own and featured lesser known attractions like the old Griffith Park Zoo (I never knew this existed and need to check it out!).
Lastly, going back to Asian American communities, this book delved into the shortcomings of said communities. One character states, “I really wish so many of our communities would just, like, acknowledge that anger isn’t always a bad emotion…You can’t just reject it — you have to let yourself feel it, make room for it, or all that repressing will burn you up inside” (pg 313). That is so true. We are often taught to just hold our anger inside but that isn’t healthy. We can and should be angry. Additionally, the book also talks about shame in relation to not being what is considered to be “perfect” in the community.
Overall, this book was relatable with a super cute romance, but it also struck a more serious note and shed a light on the Asian American experience.
May 6, 2021
read on my blog
rep: ownvoices biracial (Japanese, white) protagonist, biracial (Filipino, Chinese) love interest, wlw Japanese-American side characters, Japanese-American side characters
cw: racism, homophobia
**I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley (thank you, Penguin Teen!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
I’ve really enjoyed Sarah Kuhn’s other books, particularly her adult series, so of course, I was so excited for her next YA release! The premise of this book also sounded so intriguing. From Little Tokyo, with Love is a story of love, in your community and your family, and perhaps most importantly, for yourself.
Rika has never truly felt like she’s belonged. She’s half-white in a majority Japanese-American community, and she was adopted by her aunts. On top of this feeling is her propensity to anger, earning her a reputation for being “difficult.” During the annual Nikkei Week Festival, she accidentally runs into Grace Kimura, a famous actress. When she realizes that Grace might be her long-lost mom, she enlists Grace’s co-star, Henry, to help her track her down.
I really liked the characters in this book! Rika has an anger problem, which is interesting to see in a YA book, but she realizes that shouldn’t necessarily equate to being difficult. I found her journey to find where she belongs (and herself along the way) very heartfelt. I also liked Henry’s own character arc as he struggled with fame and being typecast in stereotypical roles. Rika’s cousins, Belle and Rory, are so supportive of Rika too, and I really liked seeing their relationship!
The romance was really cute! Henry is a great love interest, who’s going through his own things yet also provides a lot of support for Rika. They had some really sweet scenes, as well as some really funny ones.
Much of this book is centered on Rika feeling like she doesn’t belong, primarily because she’s biracial, both Japanese and white. She’s grown up in Little Tokyo, where she sticks out and people never fail to remind her of her roots. She and Henry bond over being biracial and how they feel themselves yet struggle with their identity simply because of what people tell them they are. I liked how this book approached identity, especially from an author who’s building this on her own experiences, and I think this is very important to see in fiction today.
The plot itself was fun to follow; Grace is completely off the grid, but Rika desperately wants to find her. She and Henry embark on a quest to find her, exploring landmarks in Los Angeles and Little Tokyo. In the end though, this book is about Rika’s character development, but I liked seeing the plot and her character growth occur in parallel.
From Little Tokyo, with Love was a heartwarming book about finding yourself. I really liked the characters and the romance. If you’re looking for cute romances, stories set in L.A., or ones with biracial protagonists, I definitely recommend From Little Tokyo, with Love!
original review:
ohhh this was very cute!! I really loved the characters
rep: ownvoices biracial (Japanese, white) protagonist, biracial (Filipino, Chinese) love interest, wlw Japanese-American side characters, Japanese-American side characters
cw: racism, homophobia
**I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley (thank you, Penguin Teen!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
I have to find her, I realize . . . And not just to unravel the mystery of my past. I have to find her because for that brief moment when her eyes locked with mine, I felt a flash of connection with another person that was so powerful, it brought tears to my eyes. Maybe, like me, she doesn’t belong to anyone.
Maybe we could belong to each other.
I’ve really enjoyed Sarah Kuhn’s other books, particularly her adult series, so of course, I was so excited for her next YA release! The premise of this book also sounded so intriguing. From Little Tokyo, with Love is a story of love, in your community and your family, and perhaps most importantly, for yourself.
Rika has never truly felt like she’s belonged. She’s half-white in a majority Japanese-American community, and she was adopted by her aunts. On top of this feeling is her propensity to anger, earning her a reputation for being “difficult.” During the annual Nikkei Week Festival, she accidentally runs into Grace Kimura, a famous actress. When she realizes that Grace might be her long-lost mom, she enlists Grace’s co-star, Henry, to help her track her down.
I really liked the characters in this book! Rika has an anger problem, which is interesting to see in a YA book, but she realizes that shouldn’t necessarily equate to being difficult. I found her journey to find where she belongs (and herself along the way) very heartfelt. I also liked Henry’s own character arc as he struggled with fame and being typecast in stereotypical roles. Rika’s cousins, Belle and Rory, are so supportive of Rika too, and I really liked seeing their relationship!
The romance was really cute! Henry is a great love interest, who’s going through his own things yet also provides a lot of support for Rika. They had some really sweet scenes, as well as some really funny ones.
“I believe in your happy ending,” he says, and the certainty in his voice makes my heart skip several beats. “Because I believe in you.”
Much of this book is centered on Rika feeling like she doesn’t belong, primarily because she’s biracial, both Japanese and white. She’s grown up in Little Tokyo, where she sticks out and people never fail to remind her of her roots. She and Henry bond over being biracial and how they feel themselves yet struggle with their identity simply because of what people tell them they are. I liked how this book approached identity, especially from an author who’s building this on her own experiences, and I think this is very important to see in fiction today.
The plot itself was fun to follow; Grace is completely off the grid, but Rika desperately wants to find her. She and Henry embark on a quest to find her, exploring landmarks in Los Angeles and Little Tokyo. In the end though, this book is about Rika’s character development, but I liked seeing the plot and her character growth occur in parallel.
From Little Tokyo, with Love was a heartwarming book about finding yourself. I really liked the characters and the romance. If you’re looking for cute romances, stories set in L.A., or ones with biracial protagonists, I definitely recommend From Little Tokyo, with Love!
original review:
ohhh this was very cute!! I really loved the characters
October 3, 2021
➸ Trigger warnings for .
▷ Representation: Rika (mc) Japanese-American; Henry (mc) Filipino-Chinese & anxiety; Rika's guardians are her two lesbian aunts.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • Twitter • Instagram
▷ Representation: Rika (mc) Japanese-American; Henry (mc) Filipino-Chinese & anxiety; Rika's guardians are her two lesbian aunts.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • Twitter • Instagram
May 7, 2021
this book resonated so much with me. I saw myself in Rika's anger, loneliness and hurt. I cannot express how happy I am that biracial kids will be able to see themselves represented in this book, will be able to see that they're not alone in their feelings and experiences.
this was such a lovely book about self-discovery and believing in your own happy ending! (4.22)
trigger warnings: racism, homophobia
thank you so much PRH for sending me a review copy!
this was such a lovely book about self-discovery and believing in your own happy ending! (4.22)
trigger warnings: racism, homophobia
thank you so much PRH for sending me a review copy!
Read
March 21, 2021Aw, I really liked this. It's rare in YA to see a heroine talk about struggling with anger issues, and while people with tempers are definitely a trigger for me, it's so rare to see it be a girl who has one that I really appreciated it. The romance is super sweet, there's a lot of conversation about being biracial, which I'm sure will mean a lot to readers who seem themselves in it, and if you're passionate about LA, this book is definitely a love letter, not just to Little Tokyo but to the entire city.
May 17, 2021
3.5 rounded up i think !!!
overall v. cute & wholesome !
content warnings for: racism, homophobia, absent parents, panic attacks/anxiety, invasion of privacy
overall v. cute & wholesome !
content warnings for: racism, homophobia, absent parents, panic attacks/anxiety, invasion of privacy
May 3, 2021
A love letter to Little Tokyo and LA, this modern day fairy tale beautifully explores family, identity, first love and coping with anger.
The cast of characters in this book were immediately lovable and impossible to dislike. The romance was adorable, the plot addictive, the relationship dynamics complicated but honest and the conversations surrounding race, identity, representation and belonging were poignant, accessible and pulled on every heartstring.
However, despite loving all these elements, I think my favourite parts were firstly, Rika's relationship with her anger. It's so rare to see a YA character dealing with anger issues, let alone a teen girl, and it was so incredibly refreshing to read.
I also adored the way I felt like I was being given my own private guided tour around LA and Little Tokyo. There's something about an author writing a book in a setting they know intimately that makes the whole world come to life and I have a feeling that's exactly what happened here. From the Griffith Park Zoo to the food market, I felt I saw each place vividly through Rika's eyes and I loved every moment.
If you're looking for a meet-cute romance with a diverse cast of characters, delicious food, discussions surrounding being biracial and a Hollywood mystery, this is the book for you.
The cast of characters in this book were immediately lovable and impossible to dislike. The romance was adorable, the plot addictive, the relationship dynamics complicated but honest and the conversations surrounding race, identity, representation and belonging were poignant, accessible and pulled on every heartstring.
However, despite loving all these elements, I think my favourite parts were firstly, Rika's relationship with her anger. It's so rare to see a YA character dealing with anger issues, let alone a teen girl, and it was so incredibly refreshing to read.
I also adored the way I felt like I was being given my own private guided tour around LA and Little Tokyo. There's something about an author writing a book in a setting they know intimately that makes the whole world come to life and I have a feeling that's exactly what happened here. From the Griffith Park Zoo to the food market, I felt I saw each place vividly through Rika's eyes and I loved every moment.
If you're looking for a meet-cute romance with a diverse cast of characters, delicious food, discussions surrounding being biracial and a Hollywood mystery, this is the book for you.
May 13, 2021
4.5 stars rounded up!
Why is it always the books that absolutely tear me apart in the best possible way that I have the hardest time trying to review?
This was my first book by Sarah Kuhn and needless to say, it will not be my last.
Rika has always been an outsider. She’s half-white in the majority Japanese American community of Little Tokyo in Los Angeles. Following the her mother’s death in childbirth, Rika was raised by her aunts. Rika is unlike her sisters (cousins). She has a propensity for anger, which has been attributed to her white father and has given Rika the reputation of being difficult and not Japanese enough.
During the renowned Nikkei Week Festival, Rika (literally) runs into the famous Japanese American sweetheart Grace Kimura, who she realizes may actually be her mother…damn those aunties and their lies! With the help of Grace’s co-star Henry (also biracial: Filipino and Chinese), Rika decides to uncover the truth about her mother and track her down.
I LOVED Rika’s character. Yes, she’s been labeled as angry and difficult, which is at odds with traditional Japanese culture as the author addresses. But let’s be honest, she knew virtually nothing of her parents and being biracial automatically puts you as an outsider. As someone who also is biracial, Rika’s anger and pain was so much of what I endured throughout my life. Rika is too Asian to be white, and too white to be fully appreciated by the Japanese American community.
I also loved that the love interest in this book was biracial but differed from Rika. Henry is Filipino and Chinese he touches on the complications that exist even when you have two cultures within the same race such as colorism (love when the colorism issue is on page…so freaking important!). Henry is a cinnamon roll after my own heart. His public image comes off as a bit self absorbed, but as you get to know him and his circumstances, you realize that there’s more to Henry than what’s on the surface.
One of the other things that I loved in this book is the way queerness within the Japanese American community is addressed by the author. Rika’s aunts are lesbian and have been together for decades. While their queerness has been begrudgingly accepted (for reasons), that isn’t to say that they did not struggle to be accepted in Little Tokyo. Furthermore, one of Rika’s sisters is pansexual, and she faces a lot of the same prejudices as her mothers.
I could honestly keep gushing about this book. I didn’t even get to all of the adventures that Rika and Henry embark on while looking for Grace, but I’m just going to stop here.
This book is incredible, and y’all really just need to read it. And if you're a crier, have the tissues on deck.
Thank you to Penguin Teen for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
Why is it always the books that absolutely tear me apart in the best possible way that I have the hardest time trying to review?
This was my first book by Sarah Kuhn and needless to say, it will not be my last.
Rika has always been an outsider. She’s half-white in the majority Japanese American community of Little Tokyo in Los Angeles. Following the her mother’s death in childbirth, Rika was raised by her aunts. Rika is unlike her sisters (cousins). She has a propensity for anger, which has been attributed to her white father and has given Rika the reputation of being difficult and not Japanese enough.
During the renowned Nikkei Week Festival, Rika (literally) runs into the famous Japanese American sweetheart Grace Kimura, who she realizes may actually be her mother…damn those aunties and their lies! With the help of Grace’s co-star Henry (also biracial: Filipino and Chinese), Rika decides to uncover the truth about her mother and track her down.
I LOVED Rika’s character. Yes, she’s been labeled as angry and difficult, which is at odds with traditional Japanese culture as the author addresses. But let’s be honest, she knew virtually nothing of her parents and being biracial automatically puts you as an outsider. As someone who also is biracial, Rika’s anger and pain was so much of what I endured throughout my life. Rika is too Asian to be white, and too white to be fully appreciated by the Japanese American community.
I also loved that the love interest in this book was biracial but differed from Rika. Henry is Filipino and Chinese he touches on the complications that exist even when you have two cultures within the same race such as colorism (love when the colorism issue is on page…so freaking important!). Henry is a cinnamon roll after my own heart. His public image comes off as a bit self absorbed, but as you get to know him and his circumstances, you realize that there’s more to Henry than what’s on the surface.
One of the other things that I loved in this book is the way queerness within the Japanese American community is addressed by the author. Rika’s aunts are lesbian and have been together for decades. While their queerness has been begrudgingly accepted (for reasons), that isn’t to say that they did not struggle to be accepted in Little Tokyo. Furthermore, one of Rika’s sisters is pansexual, and she faces a lot of the same prejudices as her mothers.
I could honestly keep gushing about this book. I didn’t even get to all of the adventures that Rika and Henry embark on while looking for Grace, but I’m just going to stop here.
This book is incredible, and y’all really just need to read it. And if you're a crier, have the tissues on deck.
Thank you to Penguin Teen for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
May 25, 2021
2.5
Thank you to penguin teen for sending me an eARC of this book. I was super excited to get to know Rika, A half Japanese half American girl living in Little Tokyo LA. She lives with her two aunts and her two cousins and always wondered who her parents were.
She has an interesting encounter with Grace Kimura, A famous Hollywood Asian actress which makes her believe that Grace could potentially be her mom.
With the help Of an upcoming asian actor named Henry, they start their adventure of finding clues and discovering if Grace really is her mom.
The beginning of the story was excellent. Rika was such an interesting character and her temper was completely out of control. It reminded me a lot of Kyo from Fruits Basket. I loved the representation with her aunts and the representation of having a mixed identity and what that feels like living in an Asian community. It was really interesting to see the struggles that she face living in a home that from the outside looked very loving but still felt isolating to the main character.
I enjoyed the chemistry between the two main love and trust and I really enjoyed these clues that they were finding in order to find the mom.
Around the 50% mark is when it went downhill. The romance became an interesting because suddenly the characters had things figured out and the romance was solved halfway through the book. Then in the second half of the book The characters decided to stop trying to find the mom and instead try to help Henry the actor be successful in an audition he really wanted. The book just took a really weird turn halfway through
I continue to read because I really wanted to know if Grace is her mom. I was hoping for a really interesting twist at the end that I would not have seen coming but… The ending was mushy, predictable and anti-climactic.
I think it’s a cute sweet contemporary and I still think they’re a lot of people out there who would enjoy it. My favourite parts of the book was definitely the different little Tokyo sites The food and the language that was present throughout the story. I think this book was just trying to do too much and really just need to focus on one or two things. It was trying to be about family, self identity, race, mental health, and more. And because it was trying to take all of this and put it into one, it just took away from other things of the story
I still think a lot of young readers will enjoy it and if you read it I hope you enjoy it to.
Thank you to penguin teen for sending me an eARC of this book. I was super excited to get to know Rika, A half Japanese half American girl living in Little Tokyo LA. She lives with her two aunts and her two cousins and always wondered who her parents were.
She has an interesting encounter with Grace Kimura, A famous Hollywood Asian actress which makes her believe that Grace could potentially be her mom.
With the help Of an upcoming asian actor named Henry, they start their adventure of finding clues and discovering if Grace really is her mom.
The beginning of the story was excellent. Rika was such an interesting character and her temper was completely out of control. It reminded me a lot of Kyo from Fruits Basket. I loved the representation with her aunts and the representation of having a mixed identity and what that feels like living in an Asian community. It was really interesting to see the struggles that she face living in a home that from the outside looked very loving but still felt isolating to the main character.
I enjoyed the chemistry between the two main love and trust and I really enjoyed these clues that they were finding in order to find the mom.
Around the 50% mark is when it went downhill. The romance became an interesting because suddenly the characters had things figured out and the romance was solved halfway through the book. Then in the second half of the book The characters decided to stop trying to find the mom and instead try to help Henry the actor be successful in an audition he really wanted. The book just took a really weird turn halfway through
I continue to read because I really wanted to know if Grace is her mom. I was hoping for a really interesting twist at the end that I would not have seen coming but… The ending was mushy, predictable and anti-climactic.
I think it’s a cute sweet contemporary and I still think they’re a lot of people out there who would enjoy it. My favourite parts of the book was definitely the different little Tokyo sites The food and the language that was present throughout the story. I think this book was just trying to do too much and really just need to focus on one or two things. It was trying to be about family, self identity, race, mental health, and more. And because it was trying to take all of this and put it into one, it just took away from other things of the story
I still think a lot of young readers will enjoy it and if you read it I hope you enjoy it to.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2021
From Little Tokyo, with Love was such a charming and heartfelt read. I loved seeing so much representation in this book. Rika is biracial (Japanese and White) as well as Henry who is Filipino and Chinese. Just want to say Henry is the softest angel of a love interest and should be protected at all costs!
Kuhn really showed the heart of Los Angeles. Growing up there made it fun for me to read through the eyes of Rika and Henry. It made me a little homesick but I really loved it. I also enjoyed learning more about Little Tokyo, as I only ever visited a handful of times. What really stood out to me was the wholesomeness use of fairy tales in this story. I loved that Rika’s cousins were named after Disney princesses and I adored how the outro of every chapter was written in a classic story book style. It was very cute without being cringe! It added a lot of whimsical and light hearted feels.
Another aspect I appreciated was having a character that dealt with anger issues and another deal with body image and anxiety. It isn’t something that is commonly explored in young adult novels. There was also some racism and internal identity conflicts. Rika, is biracial and would have white “friends” would feel comfortable to claim they are spiritually Asian while some Japanese people don’t want to claim her because of not looking “Japanese enough”. As a “white passing” minority, I related a bit to the struggles explored in this book. White people would want me to share my culture while Mexicans wanted me to prove I am one of them. I don’t want to get off topic into my own struggles as we are talking about different cultures and identity in this novel, but this is why this aspect resonated with me somewhat.
A large part of the story was tracking down Rika’s famous biological mother. I enjoyed the clues arounf Los Angeles and how the history of Grace (the mother) was explored and revealed. The ending was so satisfying and it made my heart swell. Perfect to read so close to Mother’s Day in America!
If you love young adult contemporary romances, pick this up! It is a quick read filled with the magic of fairy tales and Little Tokyo. I will definitely read more from Kuhn in the future!
Kuhn really showed the heart of Los Angeles. Growing up there made it fun for me to read through the eyes of Rika and Henry. It made me a little homesick but I really loved it. I also enjoyed learning more about Little Tokyo, as I only ever visited a handful of times. What really stood out to me was the wholesomeness use of fairy tales in this story. I loved that Rika’s cousins were named after Disney princesses and I adored how the outro of every chapter was written in a classic story book style. It was very cute without being cringe! It added a lot of whimsical and light hearted feels.
Another aspect I appreciated was having a character that dealt with anger issues and another deal with body image and anxiety. It isn’t something that is commonly explored in young adult novels. There was also some racism and internal identity conflicts. Rika, is biracial and would have white “friends” would feel comfortable to claim they are spiritually Asian while some Japanese people don’t want to claim her because of not looking “Japanese enough”. As a “white passing” minority, I related a bit to the struggles explored in this book. White people would want me to share my culture while Mexicans wanted me to prove I am one of them. I don’t want to get off topic into my own struggles as we are talking about different cultures and identity in this novel, but this is why this aspect resonated with me somewhat.
A large part of the story was tracking down Rika’s famous biological mother. I enjoyed the clues arounf Los Angeles and how the history of Grace (the mother) was explored and revealed. The ending was so satisfying and it made my heart swell. Perfect to read so close to Mother’s Day in America!
If you love young adult contemporary romances, pick this up! It is a quick read filled with the magic of fairy tales and Little Tokyo. I will definitely read more from Kuhn in the future!
May 9, 2021
I had very high hopes for this book, because I absolutely adored I Love You So Mochi. And while this was a disappointing read for me, that was very much because there was a mismatch between my expectations and what this book actually was. I was fully expecting another wholesome YA romance, but while this did have a romance, and I did mostly like it, the tone of the book was very different from what I expected. I don't think it was necessarily bad, but it caused a disconnect for me and I didn't end up enjoying myself. I might give this book a second chance later on to see if I will enjoy it with the right expectations. So please take this review with a grain of salt!
December 18, 2021
a+ cinderella retelling!!
super cute but also centered rika's character development -- her arc ties in with the cinderella theme with a lot of discussion on happy endings, who gets them, and becoming vulnerable to achieve them
swoon worthy romance 100% we love henry
beyond that the book also discusses belonging & community (esp in rika's case as biracial - half Japanese & half white), family, anxiety, and Asian identity
cw: racism, anxiety, panic attacks (on-page), homophobia
super cute but also centered rika's character development -- her arc ties in with the cinderella theme with a lot of discussion on happy endings, who gets them, and becoming vulnerable to achieve them
swoon worthy romance 100% we love henry
beyond that the book also discusses belonging & community (esp in rika's case as biracial - half Japanese & half white), family, anxiety, and Asian identity
cw: racism, anxiety, panic attacks (on-page), homophobia
February 25, 2021
Wow. I would love to rate this 2 stars, but the message and plot was I think meant from a good place. I had many issues with this book. Believe me, i wanted to like this so bad. It felt like it would be a fantastic book. Here are some of my thoughts.
1. Don’t fight racism with racism. It doesn’t solve anything. I’m a white person, and the amount of racist remarks about white people was just sad. It took me away from the story and I couldn’t bring myself to appreciate the message of the book because I was angry at the stereotypes of white people. Why is this author so narrow minded about white people who have a passion and a love for Japanese culture? Why hate on them for loving a different culture? That blows my mind. I love Japan and would love to live there some day, and this author just shot my dreams down and basically sneered at anyone who appreciates Japanese culture. Well damn, sorry I’m a white person who loves Japan and it’s people.
2. This YA book sure had a ton of language, which really surprised me.
3. I didn’t care for the ending as much as I hoped. This girls family treated her like she wasn’t part of them and like an outcast, and suddenly at the end they all loved her (mostly talking about the Aunties) and are now a great big happy family. Years of abusive relationships don’t get resolved over a story.
4. I’m glad for the closure regarding Grace, but there’s still a part of me that’s angry at giving Rika all these clues and meeting places and never showing up or reaching out at all. Wouldn’t you at least try to reach her like through a new email or phone? Idk just seemed the story didn’t convince me enough. If I was Rika, I would still be upset at getting my hopes up all those times.
Overall I really did appreciate the story and the message trying to be portrayed, but I ultimately didn’t like being hated on for my own skin color and a few of the bigger problems with the plot. Still would recommend reading. It’s an important topic for any person of color to read, and I applaud the author for being bold enough to share it.
1. Don’t fight racism with racism. It doesn’t solve anything. I’m a white person, and the amount of racist remarks about white people was just sad. It took me away from the story and I couldn’t bring myself to appreciate the message of the book because I was angry at the stereotypes of white people. Why is this author so narrow minded about white people who have a passion and a love for Japanese culture? Why hate on them for loving a different culture? That blows my mind. I love Japan and would love to live there some day, and this author just shot my dreams down and basically sneered at anyone who appreciates Japanese culture. Well damn, sorry I’m a white person who loves Japan and it’s people.
2. This YA book sure had a ton of language, which really surprised me.
3. I didn’t care for the ending as much as I hoped. This girls family treated her like she wasn’t part of them and like an outcast, and suddenly at the end they all loved her (mostly talking about the Aunties) and are now a great big happy family. Years of abusive relationships don’t get resolved over a story.
4. I’m glad for the closure regarding Grace, but there’s still a part of me that’s angry at giving Rika all these clues and meeting places and never showing up or reaching out at all. Wouldn’t you at least try to reach her like through a new email or phone? Idk just seemed the story didn’t convince me enough. If I was Rika, I would still be upset at getting my hopes up all those times.
Overall I really did appreciate the story and the message trying to be portrayed, but I ultimately didn’t like being hated on for my own skin color and a few of the bigger problems with the plot. Still would recommend reading. It’s an important topic for any person of color to read, and I applaud the author for being bold enough to share it.
June 5, 2021
Initial Thoughts: This was so relatable and fun and such a quick read!
Full review also on my blog:
This was such a fun and light read! I was instantly attached to Rika because she was so relatable! I loved that she was flawed in the sense that she had the tendency for outbursts and anger because honestly, same girl. I didn’t even realize this was like a Cinderella sort of tale until after I finished the book, so that was great because it clearly was unique enough to stand on its own!
Like I said before, Rika is a flawed, really well rounded and extremely relatable character. I loved reading in her point of view because we get to see all of her insecurities and her inner monologues and her passion and anger!
I also loved the male lead and how we get to see more than just the whole famous actor kind of trope. I loved that he struggled with fitting in and wanting to get roles that he wasn’t just typecasted in. And seeing both the character struggle with the not quite one or the other ethnicity was really relatable and interesting to read! Sarah Kuhn did an amazing job making all the characters extremely well rounded!
The book flew by with lots of wild goose chases, drama, and emotion! I finished the book in one night because it went by so quickly! While the plot itself was fun to follow, I just really appreciated that this story wasn’t JUST a fun rom-com (though I loved the chemistry and the cuteness!). It was overall a story of community and family and trying to be your authentic self.
If you want a drama filled fairy tale retelling this is definitely for you! If you like flawed characters that are misunderstood and go through a lot of growth, badass judo flips, mysterious scavenger hunts (or maybe wild goose chases!), family drama and beautiful relationships, I would highly recommend this book!
Full review also on my blog:
This was such a fun and light read! I was instantly attached to Rika because she was so relatable! I loved that she was flawed in the sense that she had the tendency for outbursts and anger because honestly, same girl. I didn’t even realize this was like a Cinderella sort of tale until after I finished the book, so that was great because it clearly was unique enough to stand on its own!
Like I said before, Rika is a flawed, really well rounded and extremely relatable character. I loved reading in her point of view because we get to see all of her insecurities and her inner monologues and her passion and anger!
I also loved the male lead and how we get to see more than just the whole famous actor kind of trope. I loved that he struggled with fitting in and wanting to get roles that he wasn’t just typecasted in. And seeing both the character struggle with the not quite one or the other ethnicity was really relatable and interesting to read! Sarah Kuhn did an amazing job making all the characters extremely well rounded!
The book flew by with lots of wild goose chases, drama, and emotion! I finished the book in one night because it went by so quickly! While the plot itself was fun to follow, I just really appreciated that this story wasn’t JUST a fun rom-com (though I loved the chemistry and the cuteness!). It was overall a story of community and family and trying to be your authentic self.
If you want a drama filled fairy tale retelling this is definitely for you! If you like flawed characters that are misunderstood and go through a lot of growth, badass judo flips, mysterious scavenger hunts (or maybe wild goose chases!), family drama and beautiful relationships, I would highly recommend this book!
May 23, 2021
3.5 stars
This book is definitely a love letter to Little Tokyo and its community. You can tell the author has a soft spot for the place through her writing. As for the characters, I really like all of them. It's nice to see Rika, our main character, grow throughout the entire book. Also, I feel bad for her since she has gotten so much hate from Craig and his dad.
I adore the romance between Rika and Henry in this book. There are many scenes of the two of them hanging out and discussing what it's like being biracial and not being accepted in their communities. Seeing them navigating their relationship is pretty great since I love them together.
As for my critique, I wish things aren't being repeated all the time. Whenever we read from Rika's perspective, there are certain things being told to us numerous times, so by the end it feels redundant. But overall, I really enjoy this book, and I think people'd enjoy this as well.
Thank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an ARC!!
This book is definitely a love letter to Little Tokyo and its community. You can tell the author has a soft spot for the place through her writing. As for the characters, I really like all of them. It's nice to see Rika, our main character, grow throughout the entire book. Also, I feel bad for her since she has gotten so much hate from Craig and his dad.
I adore the romance between Rika and Henry in this book. There are many scenes of the two of them hanging out and discussing what it's like being biracial and not being accepted in their communities. Seeing them navigating their relationship is pretty great since I love them together.
As for my critique, I wish things aren't being repeated all the time. Whenever we read from Rika's perspective, there are certain things being told to us numerous times, so by the end it feels redundant. But overall, I really enjoy this book, and I think people'd enjoy this as well.
Thank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an ARC!!
May 5, 2021
4.5 stars. I'm pretty sure that From Little Tokyo, with Love is my first experience with Sarah Kuhn's work, but you can be that it won't be my last! This story reads like a modern-day fairytale. There's something magical in the way Kuhn portrays Rika's story. She's a girl searching for her mother, but what she's really looking for is a place to belong and someone to belong to, and that totally tugged on my heartstrings. There are such lovely moments in this story, as well as a few that felt a little bit like 'movie magic' (in that it seems like this is the type of thing that would happen in a film), and it all wrapped up together beautifully by the end (and also had me tearing up a few times). A lovely novel, and I can't wait to check out more from this author!
May 15, 2021
This is Sarah Kuhn’s first book and I can confidently say that I will be continuing to pick up whatever she releases! I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
What I loved:
- representation! Not only is there racial representation, but there is also LGBTQ+ representation! Our MC Rika is Japanese and white, and her love interest is Chinese and Filipino. Her aunts are lesbian, and one of her sisters is pan sexual.
- issues on the page. I love that Kuhn addressed many things on the page, like stereotypes and color issues, and even struggles people that are biracial face. In this case for Rika, she is too white to fit in with the Asian community and too Asian to fit in with the white community. While this isn’t a struggle I personally face, I have many friends who struggle with this exact issue so it really spoke to me.
- an MC with anger issues! I have been a reader for 10+ years, and have to say it was incredibly refreshing to see an MC struggle with it. Especially a female MC!
- the romance between Rika and Henry is *chefs kiss*. I absolutely loved their sweet romance. Henry is a new top favorite cinnamon roll character!
What I loved:
- representation! Not only is there racial representation, but there is also LGBTQ+ representation! Our MC Rika is Japanese and white, and her love interest is Chinese and Filipino. Her aunts are lesbian, and one of her sisters is pan sexual.
- issues on the page. I love that Kuhn addressed many things on the page, like stereotypes and color issues, and even struggles people that are biracial face. In this case for Rika, she is too white to fit in with the Asian community and too Asian to fit in with the white community. While this isn’t a struggle I personally face, I have many friends who struggle with this exact issue so it really spoke to me.
- an MC with anger issues! I have been a reader for 10+ years, and have to say it was incredibly refreshing to see an MC struggle with it. Especially a female MC!
- the romance between Rika and Henry is *chefs kiss*. I absolutely loved their sweet romance. Henry is a new top favorite cinnamon roll character!
Read
March 13, 2022DNF’d at about 30%. Just couldn’t get into the story or relate to the characters.
January 1, 2022
Rika lives with her aunts and two cousins after her mom died when she was just a baby. She's never fully felt a part of Little Tokyo, where she lives, or her family. She's quick to anger and biracial--both attributes that get her mocked. But when she makes eye contact with Grace Kimura, the romantic comedy sweetheart of the Asian American community at a festival, everything changes. Grace races after Rika and crashes into her, causing them both to go viral and Grace to disappear from the public eye. Rika follows a series of clues that has her wondering if Grace is actually her mother--something she explores with the help of actor Hank Chen. But deep down she knows that fairy tale endings are not possible for girls like her, right?
I loved this book so much. It's so wonderful in so many ways, exploring the sense of not belonging in the Asian American community (or just not belonging in general), mental health, being one's own hero, and so much more. Rika lives with her gay aunts, who are awesome in their own way, and the book also covers some of the ways they experienced discrimination in the community.
Rika is an amazing, individualistic and real character, as are her two sisters, as she calls them, Belle and Rory. She feels scared to trust and belong in her world, but she's also such a loyal family member and friend. It is impossible not to root for this girl. I loved her immediately.
Rika and Hank's relationship is adorable, with neither being the "savior" to the other. Hank (Henry) has his own issues with belonging and watching them turn each other stronger is truly magical. They make this such a funny, sweet, romantic but also serious and beautiful story. I loved the message that it is okay to have emotions, even anger, and that sometimes those emotions are justified in the face of what is happening in your life. This book seriously made me cry.
Overall, this is a must-read book. It features real characters, covers serious topics while remaining funny and romantic, and will sweep you off your feet with its beautiful story. This is my kind of fairy tale! 4.5+ stars.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Smashbomb ~ Instagram
I loved this book so much. It's so wonderful in so many ways, exploring the sense of not belonging in the Asian American community (or just not belonging in general), mental health, being one's own hero, and so much more. Rika lives with her gay aunts, who are awesome in their own way, and the book also covers some of the ways they experienced discrimination in the community.
Rika is an amazing, individualistic and real character, as are her two sisters, as she calls them, Belle and Rory. She feels scared to trust and belong in her world, but she's also such a loyal family member and friend. It is impossible not to root for this girl. I loved her immediately.
Rika and Hank's relationship is adorable, with neither being the "savior" to the other. Hank (Henry) has his own issues with belonging and watching them turn each other stronger is truly magical. They make this such a funny, sweet, romantic but also serious and beautiful story. I loved the message that it is okay to have emotions, even anger, and that sometimes those emotions are justified in the face of what is happening in your life. This book seriously made me cry.
Overall, this is a must-read book. It features real characters, covers serious topics while remaining funny and romantic, and will sweep you off your feet with its beautiful story. This is my kind of fairy tale! 4.5+ stars.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Smashbomb ~ Instagram
July 5, 2023
This YA contemporary was slightly hard for me to get through. The misunderstood and unrational no one never understands me angry main character frustrates me. Doing everything she can to seem tough and not be loved.
But once I pushed past it, there is a message in there. That it is okay to be angry. Don't let other people dictate your emotions. That anger is not a bad thing. It is how you use it and channel it.
The romance in this was cute but a little too much young adult insta love dating. There were moments where the way they responded to each other was annoying and I didn't care for it too much. But overall, I did like the relationship did eventually evolve and grown as they grow as characters.
It was hard to see the discrimination within the Japanese culture in regard to be half Japanese. But I loved how it was dealt with and handled in the end.
But once I pushed past it, there is a message in there. That it is okay to be angry. Don't let other people dictate your emotions. That anger is not a bad thing. It is how you use it and channel it.
The romance in this was cute but a little too much young adult insta love dating. There were moments where the way they responded to each other was annoying and I didn't care for it too much. But overall, I did like the relationship did eventually evolve and grown as they grow as characters.
It was hard to see the discrimination within the Japanese culture in regard to be half Japanese. But I loved how it was dealt with and handled in the end.
July 30, 2021
Adorable, funny, sweet, and fierce!
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This audiobook was just what I needed! Two people finding their way to their own happy ending, through racial stereotypes and prejudices, family betrayals and insecurities, doubt and anxiety.⠀
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A bit of Cinderella, a lot of heart, a smidge of insta-love, tons of self-discovery and hope and forgiveness. Go give it a listen! Emily Woo Zeller narrates spectacularly!⠀
Thank you to PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook!
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This audiobook was just what I needed! Two people finding their way to their own happy ending, through racial stereotypes and prejudices, family betrayals and insecurities, doubt and anxiety.⠀
⠀⠀
A bit of Cinderella, a lot of heart, a smidge of insta-love, tons of self-discovery and hope and forgiveness. Go give it a listen! Emily Woo Zeller narrates spectacularly!⠀
Thank you to PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook!
May 14, 2021
I’ve said it once (at least ten times) and I’ll say it again: contemporaries and I aren’t the best of friends. But the synopsis had the word fairytale in it, which meant I went weak. Again. But I’m happy I read this, because it was very much a lovely modern fairytale contemporary story*!
*adjectives are my strong suit. for better or for worse.
Rika is biracial: half Japanese, half white/ She doesn’t quite fit into the Japanese community of Little Tokyo, yet she also doesn’t fit in with white girls. She’s hot-tempered, and loves dark Japanese folktales far more than the fuzzy, sappy Disney movies her cousins are named after. Watching her slowly come to terms with the vulnerabilities she tries so hard to hide while also not losing her red-hot spark was a great experience. Her character was written in such a believable way too! I never felt that she was angry as a “unique personality trait” or that her character arc was forced in any way.
Henry is biracial as well, half Filipino, half Chinese. I absolutely adored the way he and Rika connected over their shared experiences of not being totally one thing, not fitting in, and yet coming to terms with their own identity as an individual with a mixed background. I totally resonated with this aspect of the book, in case you couldn’t tell. Also, Henry is just adorable! In the process of letting Rika drag him all over Little Tokyo in search of her mother, he learns to deal with his own identity crisis and struggles.
Which brings me to my next point: community is such a powerful thing, and in the COVID pandemic it’s been so hard living without it, or at least not on the same level it was before. But truly, this book portrayed the Asian community (specifically the Little Tokyo Japanese community) as being both flawed and inextricably tied together in such a beautiful way. The concepts of strong friendships, blood family and adopted family, and romance without any caveats were honestly the starring roles in this book. That was the heart of this fairytale: the power of relationships and how important they are to an individual.
As much as I enjoyed certain pieces of this book, others just fell flat for me. Some might be bothered by the sheer amount of rom-com coincidences but I actually loved them! They felt naturally unnatural if that makes sense. However, with that being said, I did find myself feeling a little bit impatient with the plot. It often felt like we had tread through certain conversations before: like okay Rika, we get that you have a temper!! We don’t need you to think about it constantly or tell Henry about it every other minute! It also felt that the actual events lagged just a bit. I wasn’t as invested in the details of what was happening the way I wanted to be, unfortunately.
I also think that this book could have been just a bit shorter. There were some great moments for Rika, some great moments for Henry, and some fantastic moments that really captured the spirit of the modern fairytale. The addition of Rika’s two aunts and her cousins Belle and Rory doing their best to support her but at times not understanding her, was handled really well. However, sometimes the dialogue felt forced, stilted, too much “rom-com” for what it was worth. It’s the same with the plot: in movie form, the amount of unnecessary scenes wouldn’t have been bad! But when I’m reading, I’m a bit more impatient. Which…might just be a me problem come to think of it.
So that’s it! I know that this might not be the most descriptive of reviews, but I honestly believe that the strength of this story lies in its characters and messages. a huge thank you to penguin teen for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
*adjectives are my strong suit. for better or for worse.
Rika is biracial: half Japanese, half white/ She doesn’t quite fit into the Japanese community of Little Tokyo, yet she also doesn’t fit in with white girls. She’s hot-tempered, and loves dark Japanese folktales far more than the fuzzy, sappy Disney movies her cousins are named after. Watching her slowly come to terms with the vulnerabilities she tries so hard to hide while also not losing her red-hot spark was a great experience. Her character was written in such a believable way too! I never felt that she was angry as a “unique personality trait” or that her character arc was forced in any way.
Henry is biracial as well, half Filipino, half Chinese. I absolutely adored the way he and Rika connected over their shared experiences of not being totally one thing, not fitting in, and yet coming to terms with their own identity as an individual with a mixed background. I totally resonated with this aspect of the book, in case you couldn’t tell. Also, Henry is just adorable! In the process of letting Rika drag him all over Little Tokyo in search of her mother, he learns to deal with his own identity crisis and struggles.
Which brings me to my next point: community is such a powerful thing, and in the COVID pandemic it’s been so hard living without it, or at least not on the same level it was before. But truly, this book portrayed the Asian community (specifically the Little Tokyo Japanese community) as being both flawed and inextricably tied together in such a beautiful way. The concepts of strong friendships, blood family and adopted family, and romance without any caveats were honestly the starring roles in this book. That was the heart of this fairytale: the power of relationships and how important they are to an individual.
As much as I enjoyed certain pieces of this book, others just fell flat for me. Some might be bothered by the sheer amount of rom-com coincidences but I actually loved them! They felt naturally unnatural if that makes sense. However, with that being said, I did find myself feeling a little bit impatient with the plot. It often felt like we had tread through certain conversations before: like okay Rika, we get that you have a temper!! We don’t need you to think about it constantly or tell Henry about it every other minute! It also felt that the actual events lagged just a bit. I wasn’t as invested in the details of what was happening the way I wanted to be, unfortunately.
I also think that this book could have been just a bit shorter. There were some great moments for Rika, some great moments for Henry, and some fantastic moments that really captured the spirit of the modern fairytale. The addition of Rika’s two aunts and her cousins Belle and Rory doing their best to support her but at times not understanding her, was handled really well. However, sometimes the dialogue felt forced, stilted, too much “rom-com” for what it was worth. It’s the same with the plot: in movie form, the amount of unnecessary scenes wouldn’t have been bad! But when I’m reading, I’m a bit more impatient. Which…might just be a me problem come to think of it.
So that’s it! I know that this might not be the most descriptive of reviews, but I honestly believe that the strength of this story lies in its characters and messages. a huge thank you to penguin teen for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
September 21, 2023
adorable
January 1, 2023
4.5/5 ⭐️
The characters were amazing especially Rika, she was easy to connect with and you are always rooting for her. I also thought it was interesting the main character was often talked about having an anger problem because that’s not often discussed in young adult books. Henry, the love interest, I surprisingly liked a lot because for a while he had this perfect image showing but I’m glad we got to see more sides of him like his worries and insecurities about fame and getting stereotypical roles. And his friends that Rika meets are all great and I wish there was more time with them. As for Rika’s cousins Belle and Rory, I have mixed feelings, overall I think they are nice. But there were moments the author indicated especially with Belle where they would get angry with Rika for standing up for her family or herself. So, I was surprised nothing more was done with that. As for the romance, I thought it was done really well in the beginning but with Rika running away a few times their connection was kind of lost to me. But the romance was overall pretty good and I like them together. And the relationship between Rika and her family it was great seeing them come together in the end. Also, the moment between Rika and her mom was perfect. The plot was really good and I liked it was centered on Rika’s character development through her trying to learn and find her mother Grace. Overall, this is a really heartwarming story about finding oneself.
The characters were amazing especially Rika, she was easy to connect with and you are always rooting for her. I also thought it was interesting the main character was often talked about having an anger problem because that’s not often discussed in young adult books. Henry, the love interest, I surprisingly liked a lot because for a while he had this perfect image showing but I’m glad we got to see more sides of him like his worries and insecurities about fame and getting stereotypical roles. And his friends that Rika meets are all great and I wish there was more time with them. As for Rika’s cousins Belle and Rory, I have mixed feelings, overall I think they are nice. But there were moments the author indicated especially with Belle where they would get angry with Rika for standing up for her family or herself. So, I was surprised nothing more was done with that. As for the romance, I thought it was done really well in the beginning but with Rika running away a few times their connection was kind of lost to me. But the romance was overall pretty good and I like them together. And the relationship between Rika and her family it was great seeing them come together in the end. Also, the moment between Rika and her mom was perfect. The plot was really good and I liked it was centered on Rika’s character development through her trying to learn and find her mother Grace. Overall, this is a really heartwarming story about finding oneself.
June 7, 2022
More thoughts found in this reading vlog.
Y'all I had such a good time. Kuhn does a wonderful job of layering in a sense of community, a search for family, and a romance. That alone is more than most authors can do in a series let alone a standalone novel. This book was a delight to spend an afternoon listening to. It had just the amount of spectacle while also staying grounded in a reality. I thought that the adventure that our main character went on was a little educational and pulled on all the right emotions. I think that it also must be said that this has one of the best cases I've seen for miscommunication and how that was implemented over the course of the book that culminated in the conclusion. Because it wasn't so much about the love interest but how it played into something on a large scale so calling it miscommunication might not be entirely accurate. I love it, I think that a lot of people will love it, and it should definitely be something you pick up when you need a good time.
Y'all I had such a good time. Kuhn does a wonderful job of layering in a sense of community, a search for family, and a romance. That alone is more than most authors can do in a series let alone a standalone novel. This book was a delight to spend an afternoon listening to. It had just the amount of spectacle while also staying grounded in a reality. I thought that the adventure that our main character went on was a little educational and pulled on all the right emotions. I think that it also must be said that this has one of the best cases I've seen for miscommunication and how that was implemented over the course of the book that culminated in the conclusion. Because it wasn't so much about the love interest but how it played into something on a large scale so calling it miscommunication might not be entirely accurate. I love it, I think that a lot of people will love it, and it should definitely be something you pick up when you need a good time.
May 24, 2022
This was really fun. I don't know what it is about Sarah Kuhn's writing style but her books just feel so comforting and familiar. As always with her books, the characters are the shining stars. They feel so lifelike and are so likeable, even when they are doing questionable things. I was rooting so hard for Rika to get her happy ending. Also, the plot was very farfetched but it was entertaining. I could definitely see this being a movie.
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May 5, 2021RTC
December 26, 2020
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
The book felt very ambivalent to me in that the fairy tale cutesy premise overlaid characters with a lot of angst and anger over superficial judgements from both the outside non-Asian communities as well as their own Asian communities. It didn't feel like a fun book and the message quickly became a repetitive agenda that overshadowed plot, characters, and even the heart of the book. Even more problematic for me, the only character I liked or even felt was remotely realistic was the setting of Los Angeles itself, to which this book is a sweet love letter.Story: Little Tokyo in Los Angeles exists in its own world: despite pressures from the outside world traditions still hold strongly. Identities can be questioned or disdained, as is the case with Rika Rakuyama - a daughter of Japanese and Caucasian parents and adopted daughter of a same-sex couple. The Rakuyamas have a precarious position in Little Tokyo despite generations having lived there. When the big Nikkei week parade and celebration happens, movie star darling Grace Kimura is set to be grand marshall. When Grace panics at first sight of Rika in the car behind her, Rika realizes something is very wrong and that this stranger, who calls out her name, may actually be the mother she thought dead. Rika embarks on a journey to find the suddenly MIA Grace, enlisting the assistance of Grace's handsome young costar, Henry Chen.
The book has many 'fairy tale' undertones (including Rika's half sisters being named Belle and Aurora) but they contrast poorly with a plot with heavy messages about the challenges facing Asian Americans. From Rika's problems being ostracized and ridiculed for being a 'half breed' by her own Japanese community to Henry's problems being both Chinese and Filipino in a world that wants to label and compartmentalize him. Nearly every character (including all the members of the Asian actor club) will talk about the discriminations they face being Asian. So while I appreciate and respect that there is still a problem with this issue even in this modern age, the message was so heavy and so often repeated that it became laborious and overshadowed the plot.
Another problem for me were the characters. Rika was probably the most annoying character I read all year, constantly losing her temper, yammering about being a Japanese demon, and just being honestly kind of stupid in about everything she did. We're given reasons later for these characteristics by other characters who honestly likely would never have been that astute in real life. Everyone seems to always say the right thing to psychoanalyze other characters and it felt both unrealistic but also heavy-handed by the author. Henry was overidealized, Rika had a character arc that went from 0 to 100 every ten pages, and I found I intensely disliked the labeling/denigrating of Caucasians who came to Little Tokyo with a love of Japanese culture as despicable 'Beckys' by the locals. It made a lot of the Japanese characters seem mean and petty.
The best character of the book and best aspect had to be the various Los Angeles locations. From Little Tokyo's sundrenched malls to the abandoned zoo at Griffith Park and amusement park at Santa Monica Pier. These were all great locations that were well described and we could easily see why the characters really loved those places. I really enjoyed reading about the locales and little nooks and crannies that made those places special.
In the end, I can say that the book has a good message (if belabored) and great locations. But unrealistic and very unlikeable characters made everything else a chore to read. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
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