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The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery
Fluttering cherry blossoms, gorgeous kimonos and a boyfriend who's disappeared.
For cake-loving college girl Hana, Japan was the romantic destination of her dreams. With boyfriend Jin she planned an exciting new life in the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. But when she finally arrives after months of planning, Jin isn't there.
Hana is left broken-hearted on a rainy Tokyo street. Jin left no note. One day he just walked out of classes and disappeared.
Hana begins her new life alone. Searching for Jin but finding no trace. Watching cherry blossoms fall into the Tokyo river. Working hard and delivering her lovely home-baked cakes by orange bicycle. Then she meets handsome young farmer Hikaru, and glimpses a new way forward - in an alien place where she doesn't know a soul.
The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery is a sweet and sorrowful love story with a dash of magic realism, a sprinkle of mystery and whole lot of cakes.
For cake-loving college girl Hana, Japan was the romantic destination of her dreams. With boyfriend Jin she planned an exciting new life in the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. But when she finally arrives after months of planning, Jin isn't there.
Hana is left broken-hearted on a rainy Tokyo street. Jin left no note. One day he just walked out of classes and disappeared.
Hana begins her new life alone. Searching for Jin but finding no trace. Watching cherry blossoms fall into the Tokyo river. Working hard and delivering her lovely home-baked cakes by orange bicycle. Then she meets handsome young farmer Hikaru, and glimpses a new way forward - in an alien place where she doesn't know a soul.
The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery is a sweet and sorrowful love story with a dash of magic realism, a sprinkle of mystery and whole lot of cakes.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2020
24 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
November 11, 2020
4☆ A Scrumptious Romance.
The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery is a sweet romance that is full of scrumptious food and culture.
I absolutely love anything to do with cooking or baking and this book has an abundance of delicious delights, even the chapter titles feature food.
Hana sets off to live with her one true love Jin. But when she arrives in Japan to surprise him, he is nowhere to be found. Not even at his home or university.
So Hana makes a conscious decision to stay in Japan and wait for him to maybe come back.
But what Hana is really gaining is an adventure of self discovery and growth as she learns Japanese, makes friends, explores, bakes, cooks and finds work.
But will Hana and Jin ever reunite? I guess you will just have to read it to find out!
A word of warning do not read this on an empty tummy!! I made that mistake 🙊
I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming, sweet and endearing romance.
It's the perfect read to escape the outside chaos.
So if your craving adventure, romance, warmth, fun and delightful dishes then I highly recommend you pick up a copy of The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery you won't be disappointed!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/1...
The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery is a sweet romance that is full of scrumptious food and culture.
I absolutely love anything to do with cooking or baking and this book has an abundance of delicious delights, even the chapter titles feature food.
Hana sets off to live with her one true love Jin. But when she arrives in Japan to surprise him, he is nowhere to be found. Not even at his home or university.
So Hana makes a conscious decision to stay in Japan and wait for him to maybe come back.
But what Hana is really gaining is an adventure of self discovery and growth as she learns Japanese, makes friends, explores, bakes, cooks and finds work.
But will Hana and Jin ever reunite? I guess you will just have to read it to find out!
A word of warning do not read this on an empty tummy!! I made that mistake 🙊
I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming, sweet and endearing romance.
It's the perfect read to escape the outside chaos.
So if your craving adventure, romance, warmth, fun and delightful dishes then I highly recommend you pick up a copy of The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery you won't be disappointed!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/1...
October 20, 2020
I loved this book and can’t wait to read more from this author. It was a sweet story with wonderful characters and fantastic food. When it ended I had tears, happy tears, it was such an emotional journey.
Hana is a young college student in Korea. She leaves during time off to visit her boyfriend who is studying in Japan. Her boyfriend who has been unresponsive for weeks, she is worried. When she gets to his apartment, someone else opens the door and doesn’t know who her boyfriend is. Devastated she looks for shelter and hope to find answers on where he is. Her life will change slightly with each person she meets as she holds onto her old dreams.
Jin is Hana’s boyfriend and childhood friend. He was studying till he started to feel like something was very wrong. His life was not right, but what was the answer ? His search takes him away from all he knew and sets him adrift.
These two are fascinating, they’ve had a relationship built on friendship. There was never any vengeance or hatefulness which I loved. They always cared and supported each other even in the unknown.
There are many other characters that come into their lives. I loved them all and when a couple left the story I cried for them. Hana is the kind of person I’d like to be. She was so kind, giving and loving to everyone and she could bake ! Just wait till you read about the food. YUM ! The ending was beautiful, yes it is a HEA.
I will re-read this and would love to see this on the screen
I received a copy from the publisher for an honest review
Hana is a young college student in Korea. She leaves during time off to visit her boyfriend who is studying in Japan. Her boyfriend who has been unresponsive for weeks, she is worried. When she gets to his apartment, someone else opens the door and doesn’t know who her boyfriend is. Devastated she looks for shelter and hope to find answers on where he is. Her life will change slightly with each person she meets as she holds onto her old dreams.
Jin is Hana’s boyfriend and childhood friend. He was studying till he started to feel like something was very wrong. His life was not right, but what was the answer ? His search takes him away from all he knew and sets him adrift.
These two are fascinating, they’ve had a relationship built on friendship. There was never any vengeance or hatefulness which I loved. They always cared and supported each other even in the unknown.
There are many other characters that come into their lives. I loved them all and when a couple left the story I cried for them. Hana is the kind of person I’d like to be. She was so kind, giving and loving to everyone and she could bake ! Just wait till you read about the food. YUM ! The ending was beautiful, yes it is a HEA.
I will re-read this and would love to see this on the screen
I received a copy from the publisher for an honest review
October 15, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley for a arc copy for a honest review. I’m giving The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery 3 stars it was just okay. I love the cover.
Happy Reading
Lisa
Happy Reading
Lisa
November 7, 2020
To tell that this book took me by surprise will be an understatement. How does it feel when you can't predict anything about the story? Strange . . . somewhat nice too. More than a sweet love story set in Japan, this is a story of self-discovery emphasising the need to pursue our own dreams.
I won't advocate all the things referred to here. After all, a protagonist who leaves her home suddenly to live with her boyfriend in another country is not a very mature decision. But Hana is a role model when it comes to her kind-heartedness and caring nature. No wonder help comes to her from every quarter.
What I didn't like is the writing style which felt too mechanical. The dialogues were stilted and I couldn't find much chemistry between Hana and Hikaru. Jin's character was intriguing, but sadly he didn't get much of a voice. Well, we could always hope for another story featuring him getting to know more of his strange abilities.
I won't advocate all the things referred to here. After all, a protagonist who leaves her home suddenly to live with her boyfriend in another country is not a very mature decision. But Hana is a role model when it comes to her kind-heartedness and caring nature. No wonder help comes to her from every quarter.
What I didn't like is the writing style which felt too mechanical. The dialogues were stilted and I couldn't find much chemistry between Hana and Hikaru. Jin's character was intriguing, but sadly he didn't get much of a voice. Well, we could always hope for another story featuring him getting to know more of his strange abilities.
November 19, 2020
Cute cover, sweet and catchy blurb...Doesn't it look like a good read?
I love books around food, I love baking, I love different cultural representation. This book betrayed me on some next level.
First- Blurb is so misleading, or you can say it is the whole story.
Second- Writing, It was repetitive and robotic.
Third-Characters doesn't make any sense. I couldn't connect to anyone.
Fourth-Cultural representation is so forced.
I get it that the author really has a thing for food. But this book turned into something else.
This book=recipe book+Masterchef+Food reviews
I don't know where I'll find these kinds of people in real life who just talk about food, from recipe to texture, from its origin to which soil or fertilizer they used. It was too much.
There was one paragraph where the author just defined apple: its texture, taste and whatever else and called it a sincere and honest apple- Are you kidding me?
It was clear in the start that Hana doesn't have much saving, still, she kept spending her money on whatever food came in her sight. I was more concerned about her budget than she was.
People always had time to eat, even it was funeral, someone is on a death bed or they are in the middle of a job. Everyone was feeding others. *Please feed me too*
One thing which annoyed me a lot was that there were 3 kids in the book whose front teeth were missing and all of them were under 5. It is common knowledge that kids lost their first teeth when they are 6+. One kid can have an accident or something but all three kids...Why?
Hana's conversations with this kid Leo made me cringe. Who dumps all those adult life problems on 4 years old?
The first 50 pages were so dragged nothing was happening but when I realized there are the chapters from Jin's prospect, I was relieved that finally. But guess What? I wanted to bang my head in the wall after reading his side of the story.
The romance blurb talked about is the same amount as salt in a cake-a pinch.
Overall this was a positive read and the author tried to make a circle of events and some connection between the lives of all characters, but the story was hidden in layers of all of this food.
P.S. I guess Soy sauce is author's favourite word.
I love books around food, I love baking, I love different cultural representation. This book betrayed me on some next level.
First- Blurb is so misleading, or you can say it is the whole story.
Second- Writing, It was repetitive and robotic.
Third-Characters doesn't make any sense. I couldn't connect to anyone.
Fourth-Cultural representation is so forced.
I get it that the author really has a thing for food. But this book turned into something else.
This book=recipe book+Masterchef+Food reviews
I don't know where I'll find these kinds of people in real life who just talk about food, from recipe to texture, from its origin to which soil or fertilizer they used. It was too much.
There was one paragraph where the author just defined apple: its texture, taste and whatever else and called it a sincere and honest apple- Are you kidding me?
It was clear in the start that Hana doesn't have much saving, still, she kept spending her money on whatever food came in her sight. I was more concerned about her budget than she was.
People always had time to eat, even it was funeral, someone is on a death bed or they are in the middle of a job. Everyone was feeding others. *Please feed me too*
One thing which annoyed me a lot was that there were 3 kids in the book whose front teeth were missing and all of them were under 5. It is common knowledge that kids lost their first teeth when they are 6+. One kid can have an accident or something but all three kids...Why?
Hana's conversations with this kid Leo made me cringe. Who dumps all those adult life problems on 4 years old?
The first 50 pages were so dragged nothing was happening but when I realized there are the chapters from Jin's prospect, I was relieved that finally. But guess What? I wanted to bang my head in the wall after reading his side of the story.
The romance blurb talked about is the same amount as salt in a cake-a pinch.
Overall this was a positive read and the author tried to make a circle of events and some connection between the lives of all characters, but the story was hidden in layers of all of this food.
P.S. I guess Soy sauce is author's favourite word.
September 4, 2020
This is more then your usual food centric quirky novel, nor is it just about a woman who's one impulsive decision related to her love life lead to a comedy of errors.
I had also recently listened to an audiobook chapter about the linguistics of Japanese and I was so fascinated by how Hana, a woman from South Korean traveled all alone you Japan with not complete fluency in the language.
Tokyo and the community she found there, with the language school, her dormitory, the photo studio, the vegetable store and finally the farmers Kato, all like a warm hug when her illusions about her love life were brutally shattered.
I must mention that Miyo and Jiyo have my heart, and made me want to cry into my cat's fur, they were also an integral part of Hana healing from her heartbreak, disillusionment and loneliness.
I loved how there is so much foregivenet and healing in this book, Hana's relationship with her parents and even Jin, the author shows how people are not black and white.
The book veers in a slightly mystical note with magical realism in some places, which was entirely unexpected but appreciated. Since the author is a person who is South Korean and had indeed lived in Japan, there is no fear of the stereotypical mystical shade given to Asia by other authors and movie makers.
This book will ramble along will Hana's bicycle, interspersed with bites of dessert and hearty food that gives you strength, physical and mental, but worry not, never will it lose sight of the plot.
I had also recently listened to an audiobook chapter about the linguistics of Japanese and I was so fascinated by how Hana, a woman from South Korean traveled all alone you Japan with not complete fluency in the language.
Tokyo and the community she found there, with the language school, her dormitory, the photo studio, the vegetable store and finally the farmers Kato, all like a warm hug when her illusions about her love life were brutally shattered.
I must mention that Miyo and Jiyo have my heart, and made me want to cry into my cat's fur, they were also an integral part of Hana healing from her heartbreak, disillusionment and loneliness.
I loved how there is so much foregivenet and healing in this book, Hana's relationship with her parents and even Jin, the author shows how people are not black and white.
The book veers in a slightly mystical note with magical realism in some places, which was entirely unexpected but appreciated. Since the author is a person who is South Korean and had indeed lived in Japan, there is no fear of the stereotypical mystical shade given to Asia by other authors and movie makers.
This book will ramble along will Hana's bicycle, interspersed with bites of dessert and hearty food that gives you strength, physical and mental, but worry not, never will it lose sight of the plot.
October 19, 2020
The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery by Su Young Lee is a decadent feast of a novel that drew me in with its gorgeous cover. If you like your romance served with a side of sumptuous and delightful edibles, then this one is for you.
Hana leaves her life in South Korea to join her boyfriend Jin in Japan. It is a leap of faith for Hana, who knows nothing of Japanese culture, and one that does not go to plan. When she realizes that Jin has left to travel around South America without a word of his plans, Hana decides that she will stay in Japan on her own. Taking language classes, meeting locals, and sharing her love of baking soon give Hana a purpose, and the motivation she needs to begin anew.
This is a charming story that relies heavily on the way in which food can unify and create a true sense of comminity. Foodies will not want to miss this smorgasbord of culinary delights. 3.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Su Young Lee for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Hana leaves her life in South Korea to join her boyfriend Jin in Japan. It is a leap of faith for Hana, who knows nothing of Japanese culture, and one that does not go to plan. When she realizes that Jin has left to travel around South America without a word of his plans, Hana decides that she will stay in Japan on her own. Taking language classes, meeting locals, and sharing her love of baking soon give Hana a purpose, and the motivation she needs to begin anew.
This is a charming story that relies heavily on the way in which food can unify and create a true sense of comminity. Foodies will not want to miss this smorgasbord of culinary delights. 3.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Su Young Lee for the opportunity to read this ARC.
December 3, 2020
This was one of the cutest little novels i've read in a while. While i strongly believe in self discovery, it doesn't hurt to make amazing little cakes along the way and find new friends and even a new family. Would definitely recommend for that wanderlust traveler in my life!
October 15, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley for a arc copy for a honest review. I’m giving The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery 3 stars it was just okay. I love the cover.
Happy Reading Lisa
Happy Reading Lisa
November 6, 2020
The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery tells a lovely emotional story of love and life.
I adored Su Young Lee's portrayal of Hana who, despite travelling to Tokyo to start a new life with the love of her life, Jin, and finding that he wasn't there, was sunny, upbeat and nearly always positive. The plot was intriguing and the pacing was zippy and brisk. Hana searched for Jin but when she drew a blank she threw herself into her work, delivering her home-baked cakes by orange bicycle. She embarked on another journey, this time one of self-discovery and the reader was privy to her adventures as she met the locals, took language classes, and shared her love of baking. Everyone was keen to lend a hand and Hana harboured very little resentment towards Jin, even though he had let her down badly.
The time Hana spent at the guest house accommodation where she stayed and the shops and general locale all provided a wonderful backdrop for this sweet story. Working in a vegetable shop, Hana met the vegetable supplier's son, Hikaru who was interested in organic farming. For me, though, the icing on the cake was definitely the mouthwatering and scrumptious sounding foodie references! There were so many that I kept on changing my mind as to which sounded the most appealing, but I eventually settled on the Toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles) and shrimp tempura. I also liked the sound of the warm bags of Taiyaki (fish-shaped pancakes) filled with chocolate custard.
The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery is not a standard romance, but it is offbeat, and magical and reading it was loads of fun!
Thank you to Su Young Lee and Rachel’s Random Resources for a complimentary copy of this novel at my request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I adored Su Young Lee's portrayal of Hana who, despite travelling to Tokyo to start a new life with the love of her life, Jin, and finding that he wasn't there, was sunny, upbeat and nearly always positive. The plot was intriguing and the pacing was zippy and brisk. Hana searched for Jin but when she drew a blank she threw herself into her work, delivering her home-baked cakes by orange bicycle. She embarked on another journey, this time one of self-discovery and the reader was privy to her adventures as she met the locals, took language classes, and shared her love of baking. Everyone was keen to lend a hand and Hana harboured very little resentment towards Jin, even though he had let her down badly.
The time Hana spent at the guest house accommodation where she stayed and the shops and general locale all provided a wonderful backdrop for this sweet story. Working in a vegetable shop, Hana met the vegetable supplier's son, Hikaru who was interested in organic farming. For me, though, the icing on the cake was definitely the mouthwatering and scrumptious sounding foodie references! There were so many that I kept on changing my mind as to which sounded the most appealing, but I eventually settled on the Toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles) and shrimp tempura. I also liked the sound of the warm bags of Taiyaki (fish-shaped pancakes) filled with chocolate custard.
The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery is not a standard romance, but it is offbeat, and magical and reading it was loads of fun!
Thank you to Su Young Lee and Rachel’s Random Resources for a complimentary copy of this novel at my request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
November 10, 2020
What a refreshing read! I felt all sorts of emotions while reading The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery. Being stuck at home during a pandemic can be a major mood downer, which is why books like The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery are our heroes. The book transported me to the beautiful setting of Tokyo, and saying that I just felt “happy” being there through the pages of a book might be an understatement. It’s rare to find contemporary books which have such an atmospheric touch to the story. Kudos to the author, Su Young Lee, for giving me a very realistic tour through Tokyo in a little amount of time. 💜
Seeing how heart-broken Hana was at the beginning of the book made me feel that I’m going to be really sad when the book ends, but it actually cheered me up in an unexpected way! There’s something really comforting about the way you can connect to a fictional character and be happy about them growing throughout the story. I felt the same about Hana. I wanted to hug her countless times while reading the book. She was such a fascinating character to know about.
A mysterious ambience prevailed throughout the book, and I couldn’t wait to see how Hana’s life turned out in the end. Character-driven novels almost always bore me out, but I never felt that way about The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery. :') The magical realism part of the story was done perfectly as well. ALSO DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON HOW DELICIOUS THE FOOD DESCRIPTIONS WERE! I could have traded anything just to have Japanese/Korean food that were mentioned in the book.
If you’re looking for a sweet and uplifting book, but don’t mind crying a little along the way – The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery will be perfect for you. 💕
Seeing how heart-broken Hana was at the beginning of the book made me feel that I’m going to be really sad when the book ends, but it actually cheered me up in an unexpected way! There’s something really comforting about the way you can connect to a fictional character and be happy about them growing throughout the story. I felt the same about Hana. I wanted to hug her countless times while reading the book. She was such a fascinating character to know about.
A mysterious ambience prevailed throughout the book, and I couldn’t wait to see how Hana’s life turned out in the end. Character-driven novels almost always bore me out, but I never felt that way about The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery. :') The magical realism part of the story was done perfectly as well. ALSO DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON HOW DELICIOUS THE FOOD DESCRIPTIONS WERE! I could have traded anything just to have Japanese/Korean food that were mentioned in the book.
If you’re looking for a sweet and uplifting book, but don’t mind crying a little along the way – The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery will be perfect for you. 💕
November 5, 2020
Would you travel hours to surprise a loved one, a loved one who hasn’t been answering calls or emails? I’m not sure I would but then again I am not Hana, a tenacious young woman from South Korea.
Her boyfriend Jin has moved to Japan and Hana plans to surprise him with a visit to his new home in Tokyo, despite repeated calls and emails she hasn’t been able to get a hold of him but that does not deter her, she packs her bags and flies to Tokyo. Her excitement at a reunion is short lived, Jin is not at his apartment in fact there is no trace of him. Despondent yet hopeful Hana finds herself roaming the streets.
She finds herself living in a hostel and from there she starts to learn Japanese and enjoy her time in the country, she also starts wowing her new friends with her baking and the descriptions of the baking is just delicious, like the Great British Bake Off in book form! Pies, puddings, cakes, all yummy! She also buys herself a bicycle and with that her confidence grows as she explores the neighbourhood and gets not one but two jobs, one at a photo studio and another a fruit and veg shop.
She hasn’t forgotten Jin but she tries to make the best of it and through her new job at the fruit and veg shop she meets young farmer Hikaru and through him she realises her passion for baking. She soon realises she will need decide between returning home or making a new life for herself in this wonderful new country.
Now I haven’t mentioned much about Jin and that is deliberate as I would spoil the story for you but he does get his say and this is where this book is a little deceptive, it is a sweet romance but it also has a hint of something else to it, something a little serendipitous.
This was such a quirky sweet read, I love learning about Japan and South Korea so this book was great as it brings together these two fascinating countries. As I said above the descriptions of the food in the book was perfect, regular apple sound like the most marvellous things in the world, shiny like jewels!
They way the world is today this book definitely warmed my heart, a lovely read.
Her boyfriend Jin has moved to Japan and Hana plans to surprise him with a visit to his new home in Tokyo, despite repeated calls and emails she hasn’t been able to get a hold of him but that does not deter her, she packs her bags and flies to Tokyo. Her excitement at a reunion is short lived, Jin is not at his apartment in fact there is no trace of him. Despondent yet hopeful Hana finds herself roaming the streets.
She finds herself living in a hostel and from there she starts to learn Japanese and enjoy her time in the country, she also starts wowing her new friends with her baking and the descriptions of the baking is just delicious, like the Great British Bake Off in book form! Pies, puddings, cakes, all yummy! She also buys herself a bicycle and with that her confidence grows as she explores the neighbourhood and gets not one but two jobs, one at a photo studio and another a fruit and veg shop.
She hasn’t forgotten Jin but she tries to make the best of it and through her new job at the fruit and veg shop she meets young farmer Hikaru and through him she realises her passion for baking. She soon realises she will need decide between returning home or making a new life for herself in this wonderful new country.
Now I haven’t mentioned much about Jin and that is deliberate as I would spoil the story for you but he does get his say and this is where this book is a little deceptive, it is a sweet romance but it also has a hint of something else to it, something a little serendipitous.
This was such a quirky sweet read, I love learning about Japan and South Korea so this book was great as it brings together these two fascinating countries. As I said above the descriptions of the food in the book was perfect, regular apple sound like the most marvellous things in the world, shiny like jewels!
They way the world is today this book definitely warmed my heart, a lovely read.
May 5, 2024
Hana heads to Tokyo to meet her boyfriend, Jin. Upon her arrival there is no sign of Jin. Anyone else might have gone home, but Hana stays and decides to see what happens.
What happens is she learns Japanese, befriends all manner of people and shows she’s a warm and compassionate person who seems to have a real knack for baking.
By the end of the book characters she’d never met before have become dear to her, and her love of baking seems destined to become a feature of her new life.
What happens is she learns Japanese, befriends all manner of people and shows she’s a warm and compassionate person who seems to have a real knack for baking.
By the end of the book characters she’d never met before have become dear to her, and her love of baking seems destined to become a feature of her new life.
December 30, 2021
Hm, it was not what i had hoped it to be.
I found it annoying and kind of dumb that Jin suddenly had all these magical powers...it felt like it didn`t fit? Surreal it sure was, and Hana was okay but...sort of meh at the same time.
I got this from earc from netgalley.
I found it annoying and kind of dumb that Jin suddenly had all these magical powers...it felt like it didn`t fit? Surreal it sure was, and Hana was okay but...sort of meh at the same time.
I got this from earc from netgalley.
May 19, 2021
3.5 on the blog.
This was a great palate cleanser! People have this shelved as romance, but it's not in my opinion. It reminded me of older K-dramas from the 2000s. At first I was scratching my head about the two blogging buddies glowing reviews I saw, because the first 20-25% is, as one Goodreads reviewer put it, on the robotic side. However, the rest of the book is heartwarming, up-lifting, and wonderful. I am happy I read it.
I highly recommend this for teenagers. Especially those interested in Japanese culture.
This was a great palate cleanser! People have this shelved as romance, but it's not in my opinion. It reminded me of older K-dramas from the 2000s. At first I was scratching my head about the two blogging buddies glowing reviews I saw, because the first 20-25% is, as one Goodreads reviewer put it, on the robotic side. However, the rest of the book is heartwarming, up-lifting, and wonderful. I am happy I read it.
I highly recommend this for teenagers. Especially those interested in Japanese culture.
November 9, 2020
This book turned out to be completely different from what I’d expected, not in terms of the plot but in terms of the writing style and the otherworldly vibes of the story. The simplistic style reminded me of Alexander McCall Smith’s The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. The author uses interesting, unique similes that I’ve never heard before.
“It was a perfect afternoon, like a clean white ironed tablecloth.”
Every action, every step, and every emotion is described in excruciating detail. The pacing is slow, zen-like and forces you to pause and think about what you’re reading. To me, it was like an exercise in mindfulness.
Little nuggets of wisdom are sprinkled throughout the book, interspersed with mouth-watering descriptions of food and cooking.
Fruits, especially different varieties of apples (Granny Smith, Fuji, Snow White) and vegetables are described often with respect to their appearance, taste, texture, and quality. In fact, this book is a celebration of wholesome, healthy food and the impact it has on one’s physical and mental well-being.
“She’d heard that eating well-made, tasty food stimulated the body’s endorphins, just like being in love.”
Tea-drinking is central to the story, as can be expected from a book set in Japan, and various kinds of tea — Hoji tea, chamomile tea, corn silk tea, Rooibos, Earl Gray , Lady Grey — are described.
The story is overwhelmingly sad, with slivers of hope and joy. Loss of some kind is a pervasive theme, be it due to death, separation, or abandonment.
The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery is not your regular food book, even though food plays a dominant part in it. It is a story about heartbreak and self-discovery and following one’s heart.
If you’re looking for something different from the usual romance novels with a huge serving of cake and tea and set in mystical Japan, then this book is for you.
(I received a review copy from Rachel’s Random Resources in exchange for an honest review.)
“It was a perfect afternoon, like a clean white ironed tablecloth.”
Every action, every step, and every emotion is described in excruciating detail. The pacing is slow, zen-like and forces you to pause and think about what you’re reading. To me, it was like an exercise in mindfulness.
Little nuggets of wisdom are sprinkled throughout the book, interspersed with mouth-watering descriptions of food and cooking.
Fruits, especially different varieties of apples (Granny Smith, Fuji, Snow White) and vegetables are described often with respect to their appearance, taste, texture, and quality. In fact, this book is a celebration of wholesome, healthy food and the impact it has on one’s physical and mental well-being.
“She’d heard that eating well-made, tasty food stimulated the body’s endorphins, just like being in love.”
Tea-drinking is central to the story, as can be expected from a book set in Japan, and various kinds of tea — Hoji tea, chamomile tea, corn silk tea, Rooibos, Earl Gray , Lady Grey — are described.
The story is overwhelmingly sad, with slivers of hope and joy. Loss of some kind is a pervasive theme, be it due to death, separation, or abandonment.
The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery is not your regular food book, even though food plays a dominant part in it. It is a story about heartbreak and self-discovery and following one’s heart.
If you’re looking for something different from the usual romance novels with a huge serving of cake and tea and set in mystical Japan, then this book is for you.
(I received a review copy from Rachel’s Random Resources in exchange for an honest review.)
November 6, 2020
Reading Su Young Lee’s story felt like a grown up modern day Japanese fairy tale. There were elements in the story that set your imagination free and felt almost other worldly but I believe this enhanced the theme of the book.
This is a story about a young Korean girl wanting to surprise her boyfriend who is currently living in Tokyo but when she arrives in Japan she finds her boyfriend has disappeared without leaving any note of explanation. Heartbroken and now homeless in a strange city leaves Hana feeling very low but as she looks around she starts to see little light and wonder around her. The beauty of the cherry blossom trees, a peppermint plant that smells divine, a bright pink house like a beacon of hope for her.
Hana soon finds temporary accommodation and work and starts to build a new life meeting people and gaining new experiences and knowledge. The community she builds around her are as diverse as they come but Hana’s youth and spirit fits in well and whoever she meets gives Hana encouragement and inspiration. Hana loves baking and she finds during these trying times that creating delights with the produce around her gives her comfort and joy.
We follow Hana on her journey of enlightenment in life and love and I was charmed by this endearing story. The bakes Hana creates sounded absolutely delicious and I was in awe of her ingenuity. I also enjoyed reading about the Japanese culture surrounding food and tea and I found myself googling for more information regarding the teas and produce used.
The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery is a sweet, endearing romance that has a touch of magic and mystery about it.
This is a story about a young Korean girl wanting to surprise her boyfriend who is currently living in Tokyo but when she arrives in Japan she finds her boyfriend has disappeared without leaving any note of explanation. Heartbroken and now homeless in a strange city leaves Hana feeling very low but as she looks around she starts to see little light and wonder around her. The beauty of the cherry blossom trees, a peppermint plant that smells divine, a bright pink house like a beacon of hope for her.
Hana soon finds temporary accommodation and work and starts to build a new life meeting people and gaining new experiences and knowledge. The community she builds around her are as diverse as they come but Hana’s youth and spirit fits in well and whoever she meets gives Hana encouragement and inspiration. Hana loves baking and she finds during these trying times that creating delights with the produce around her gives her comfort and joy.
We follow Hana on her journey of enlightenment in life and love and I was charmed by this endearing story. The bakes Hana creates sounded absolutely delicious and I was in awe of her ingenuity. I also enjoyed reading about the Japanese culture surrounding food and tea and I found myself googling for more information regarding the teas and produce used.
The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery is a sweet, endearing romance that has a touch of magic and mystery about it.
November 6, 2020
Japan is a country that has been on my bucket list for years now, so when I saw this books and the fact that the author had lived there, I was absolutely excited. Since I can't visit Japan soon, at least I can use books as a way to explore it.
As we follow Hana in a new journey of her life, we are taking on a journey ourselves. Hana travels to Tokyo and life happens! Things don't always go according to plan and we have two options: we give up or we keep going and adapt. I truly felt I was a part of the adventure side by side with Hana, I was cheering for her, I was learning with her and I was going on an emotional journey.
What I loved about the book was the sweetness it had. And I'm not talk only about the cakes, although that definitely gave this element to the story that I could connect with. Hana was sweet, she as caring and giving and that's what made me love her and feel like the story was a sweet and emotional tale. Of course, the book is a romance, but it was a heartwarming one, that gave us friendship too, which is perfect for a cold weekend morning in bed.
Overall, I loved the story. It was a surprise and at the same time just what I needed. A book about love, friendship, forgiveness and healing, while keep going on with life. I will be looking out for more o Su Young Lee's books in the future because I need more sweetness in my life.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Su Young Lee for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]
As we follow Hana in a new journey of her life, we are taking on a journey ourselves. Hana travels to Tokyo and life happens! Things don't always go according to plan and we have two options: we give up or we keep going and adapt. I truly felt I was a part of the adventure side by side with Hana, I was cheering for her, I was learning with her and I was going on an emotional journey.
What I loved about the book was the sweetness it had. And I'm not talk only about the cakes, although that definitely gave this element to the story that I could connect with. Hana was sweet, she as caring and giving and that's what made me love her and feel like the story was a sweet and emotional tale. Of course, the book is a romance, but it was a heartwarming one, that gave us friendship too, which is perfect for a cold weekend morning in bed.
Overall, I loved the story. It was a surprise and at the same time just what I needed. A book about love, friendship, forgiveness and healing, while keep going on with life. I will be looking out for more o Su Young Lee's books in the future because I need more sweetness in my life.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Su Young Lee for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]
September 3, 2021
Not what I was expecting based on the cover and blurb (if anyone's read Julie Caplin's Romantic Escapades series, you'll know what I mean). This was supposed to be the chick-lit/borderline women's fiction vibe, but it really wasn't. More like this aspect was a foil for presenting Japan, its culture, and most importantly its food to the readers. Best be approached as a sort of fictional memoir about food then? Not sure... And that's just the thing about this book - I'm not sure exactly what it really is. The writing felt very literary and heavy, but I did enjoy the beautiful descriptions and the 'knowledge' of Japan it seemed to convey. Plot-wise, whole other kettle of fish (I mean, is it really safe for a 20-something foreign young woman to simply fall asleep on the stoop of an internet café and spend the night like this, and not get robbed, assaulted, or even just bothered?) But if you read this as a sort of food travelogue of Japan, then it can redeem itself
December 6, 2020
I liked the quietness of this book -- that's the word I would use to describe it. The story was told in such a picturesque way where I could envision the sights in Japan - especially the vegetable shop and the Kato Farm. I enjoyed the journey of Hana finding her own way and how her community helped her find her place and what she wanted to do. It was interesting how the character of Jin was woven into the story in somewhat of a mystical and mysterious way. Most especially, I enjoyed all the baked items Hana made -- wish there were some recipes at the back of the book.
October 27, 2020
I thought this was an interesting book written in a unique way. The author doesn't seem to be a native English speaker; her writing is a bit formal and stiff at times, like English isn't her first language. But that formal tone seems to enhance the story, since it's about a Korean girl who goes to Japan in search of her boyfriend. So she's basically a stranger in a foreign land, and the author's writing style adds to that feeling. If you like books filled with words that evoke pictures in your mind, this would be a good read for you, since the author describes the location of the book -- Tokyo -- in many evoking ways. If you are a foodie, you will like the book too, because she describes the food she makes, both the desserts and the main dishes, and her creations sound mouthwatering! It's not your usual romance, but it is fun to read!
October 24, 2020
3.5! It was a nice, easy read. I love Japan, and so seeing all the places mentioned was nostalgic for me. The addition of Jin added absolutely nothing for me, I found his presence in the others lives a little strange and unnecessary!
September 8, 2020
I think I found this through Bookbub or maybe just via the Kindle Unlimited page. In any case, it was a sweet book, not exactly what I was expecting, but in a good way. Sort of reminded me of Amelie, but with lots more food.
I noticed at the end of the book, the standard copyright statement was followed by another individual, Mike Grist, asserting the moral right to be identified as the author. Turns out he is an author of cyber-punk fiction and Su Young Lee is his wife. He’s also the author of a glowing 5 star review of this book, which discloses none of these relationships. This may all be neither here nor there, but nonetheless I found it interesting.
I noticed at the end of the book, the standard copyright statement was followed by another individual, Mike Grist, asserting the moral right to be identified as the author. Turns out he is an author of cyber-punk fiction and Su Young Lee is his wife. He’s also the author of a glowing 5 star review of this book, which discloses none of these relationships. This may all be neither here nor there, but nonetheless I found it interesting.
October 26, 2020
This is the story of Hana, a college-aged student who is tired of her fighting parents, so she travels from Korea to Japan to be with her boyfriend Jin. But when she arrives at his apartment in Tokyo, she discovers that another couple lives there and they don't know anything about Jin.
Upset and tired, she rents a room in a guest house and vows to search Tokyo and find Jin. When she visits his business school, she discovers that he left to go to South America. She id mystified, since he never told her that he was leaving. She doesn't want to go back to Korea and thinks that perhaps Jin will return to Tokyo, so she thinks she will stay in Tokyo and wait for him. While she waits, she gets two part-time jobs and studies the Japanese language, making friends and building a life for herself. She still wonders about Jin all the time, but eventually comes to terms with the fact that she may never see him again.
Several tragedies strike, but she overcomes them and becomes a stronger person, discovering more of who she is. She even starts a baking business at the encouragement of her friends in Japan, who always compliment the many cakes and desserts she makes for them. And maybe, just maybe, she finds love again with a handsome farmer?
This was a very enjoyable book to read. The writer's voice was soothing and almost calming! For me, it's very unusual for a book to have this calming effect on me. I think it's because Hana does not seem to get overly upset over her troubles, but methodically works towards solving them in a calm and peaceful way.
There were some interesting coincidences in the story, although that aspect isn't really explored by the author. (For example, her boyfriend meets some people in South America who Hana unknowingly becomes friends with later, but in most cases Hana does not find out that her friends met Jin.) I wish she would have allowed Hana to discover this, as it may have made it easier for her to understand why her boyfriend just disappeared.
I must admit I'm not a big fan of Asian food, but after reading this book, I'm going to start cooking more Japanese and Korean food. Much of the book describes how Hana makes different meals and desserts, and they all sound delicious!
I also loved the way the author, Su Young Lee, described Japanese culture. It made me feel like I was visiting Tokyo myself, experiencing traditional architecture, traditions, and nature.
She uses similes very creatively to describe things, too, which I really enjoyed. For example, she describes a seashore as "Waves hit the sharp cliff rocks and frothed into white foam with a prickling sound, like fresh Coke poured into a clean glass."
My only disappointment with the book was the Epilogue. It seemed a bit rushed, like the author was told she must finish the story in 10 pages, so she quickly narrated what happened in Hana's life. And we never really found out if she developed a relationship (beyond friendship) with the farmer, or if Jin came back in her life. In fact, the last page was a cliffhanger, where a certain young man suddenly appears in her life again. (She hints it might be Jin, but the reader is left wondering.) I don't know if she plans a sequel to this story, but after taking this path with Hana for so long, I really wanted to know if she found love.
I recommend this book if you are looking for an escape from pandemic news, would love to travel to Japan, or just want to read something calm and soothing.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Upset and tired, she rents a room in a guest house and vows to search Tokyo and find Jin. When she visits his business school, she discovers that he left to go to South America. She id mystified, since he never told her that he was leaving. She doesn't want to go back to Korea and thinks that perhaps Jin will return to Tokyo, so she thinks she will stay in Tokyo and wait for him. While she waits, she gets two part-time jobs and studies the Japanese language, making friends and building a life for herself. She still wonders about Jin all the time, but eventually comes to terms with the fact that she may never see him again.
Several tragedies strike, but she overcomes them and becomes a stronger person, discovering more of who she is. She even starts a baking business at the encouragement of her friends in Japan, who always compliment the many cakes and desserts she makes for them. And maybe, just maybe, she finds love again with a handsome farmer?
This was a very enjoyable book to read. The writer's voice was soothing and almost calming! For me, it's very unusual for a book to have this calming effect on me. I think it's because Hana does not seem to get overly upset over her troubles, but methodically works towards solving them in a calm and peaceful way.
There were some interesting coincidences in the story, although that aspect isn't really explored by the author. (For example, her boyfriend meets some people in South America who Hana unknowingly becomes friends with later, but in most cases Hana does not find out that her friends met Jin.) I wish she would have allowed Hana to discover this, as it may have made it easier for her to understand why her boyfriend just disappeared.
I must admit I'm not a big fan of Asian food, but after reading this book, I'm going to start cooking more Japanese and Korean food. Much of the book describes how Hana makes different meals and desserts, and they all sound delicious!
I also loved the way the author, Su Young Lee, described Japanese culture. It made me feel like I was visiting Tokyo myself, experiencing traditional architecture, traditions, and nature.
She uses similes very creatively to describe things, too, which I really enjoyed. For example, she describes a seashore as "Waves hit the sharp cliff rocks and frothed into white foam with a prickling sound, like fresh Coke poured into a clean glass."
My only disappointment with the book was the Epilogue. It seemed a bit rushed, like the author was told she must finish the story in 10 pages, so she quickly narrated what happened in Hana's life. And we never really found out if she developed a relationship (beyond friendship) with the farmer, or if Jin came back in her life. In fact, the last page was a cliffhanger, where a certain young man suddenly appears in her life again. (She hints it might be Jin, but the reader is left wondering.) I don't know if she plans a sequel to this story, but after taking this path with Hana for so long, I really wanted to know if she found love.
I recommend this book if you are looking for an escape from pandemic news, would love to travel to Japan, or just want to read something calm and soothing.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
November 3, 2020Hana is a college student in South Korea. Her boyfriend Jin moved to Japan to continue his studies. She planned to go visit him on break but she hasn't heard from him lately. She goes to Japan as planned but can't find Jin anywhere. She hears a vague rumor that he has taken off and gone to South America for some reason. So she decides to find a place to stay and wait for him to come back.
At this point, I was like, "Girl, no." I was not into reading a whole book about a delusional woman who was not getting the hint after her boyfriend changed countries not once but twice to get away from her. Honestly, if I had been reading this on my own and not for a book tour I would have probably DNFed it at this point. I don't tolerate pathetic female characters well.
But, I had to keep reading and I'm glad I did. It turns out that there are more reasons than waiting for an unreliable man for Hana to decide to stay in Japan. She joins a Japanese language school and starts picking up small part-time jobs to make ends meet. In her free time she likes to bake and share her creations with the people she's met.
About halfway through the book we get to find out what happened to Jin. No matter what you think happened to him, you're wrong. This is where the magical realism of the story appears. Just roll with it.
Meanwhile, back in Japan, Hana is working at a vegetable shop, making friends with alley cats (TW for one cat's death), and running a marathon. She's making friends as she goes and establishing herself as part of the neighborhood. She also meets the son of the farmer that supplies the vegetable shop. He's into organic farming and is an amazing cook. Jin who? It is a bit refreshing to see a female character given the chance to move on from a broken romantic relationship in a realistic way. She grieves but she gets over it after a while.
More than anything else everyone in this book loves food. Every chapter is named for a food that features in it. There aren't recipes but everything anyone makes is described lovingly. They talk about the wonderfulness of a tomato or strawberry or apple. She tastes ingredients and dreams up baked goods that would show them off best. This book could make you hungry.
This is a gentle story about making a community around you regardless of your circumstances.
Book tour through Rachel's Random Resources.
This review was originally posted on Based On A True Story
December 10, 2020
The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery Review
As a quick reminder, here is my rating structure:
1 star: Did not finish
2 Stars: Finished but I do not recommend
3 Stars: Liked but could use some improvements
4 Stars: Loved this book!
5 Stars: Rare. The unput-down-able, binge read obsession.
My star ratings are also based also genre based. I compare all books with books of the same genre. While I would love to believe that my love of books in general transcends all bias, there are genres I prefer over others.
I’m human.
Example: If I read a mystery novel and think it deserves a 5-star rating, then I have compared it to other mystery books, and determined it to be one of my absolute favorites. The unputdownable mystery.
This will hopefully keep me from comparing Outlander, a personal obsession of mine, with the experience of reading The Hate You Give. Both 5 star books for me, but completely and totally different. I couldn’t even try to rate them against each other, so I don’t. Makes my life easier. 🙂
My Thoughts
So, as I said above, The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery was a 3 star read, meaning that I liked the book, but I didn’t love it and thought there could have been some improvements. Let’s start with what I liked.
What I liked
The characters in The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery were astounding. I absolutely loved every person I met throughout the story especially the supporting characters. Not that the main characters were bad or anything, but I rarely get to to read a book with such interesting and well developed people outside of the main couple.
I also loved, loved, loved the main plot of the story. The little dashes of magical realism with the Japanese culture made for a beautifully balanced story that almost felt musical. The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery seemed to move and flow with such grace.
The scenes with baking were also some of my favorites because I am a baking enthusiast and to try nearly every recipe. There was a green tea cake that sounds to die for and I am looking for a similar recipe online.
What didn’t work for me…
I didn’t love the writing throughout the book. There were way too many mundane scenes that had nothing to do with advancing the plot. The dialogue often felt stilted and forced even when the feelings within the scene were not.
I honestly felt like with some editing The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery could be a homerun.
Conclusion
The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery is a cute romance that is enjoyable and beautifully atmospheric. With a few improvements, it could be wonderful.
As a quick reminder, here is my rating structure:
1 star: Did not finish
2 Stars: Finished but I do not recommend
3 Stars: Liked but could use some improvements
4 Stars: Loved this book!
5 Stars: Rare. The unput-down-able, binge read obsession.
My star ratings are also based also genre based. I compare all books with books of the same genre. While I would love to believe that my love of books in general transcends all bias, there are genres I prefer over others.
I’m human.
Example: If I read a mystery novel and think it deserves a 5-star rating, then I have compared it to other mystery books, and determined it to be one of my absolute favorites. The unputdownable mystery.
This will hopefully keep me from comparing Outlander, a personal obsession of mine, with the experience of reading The Hate You Give. Both 5 star books for me, but completely and totally different. I couldn’t even try to rate them against each other, so I don’t. Makes my life easier. 🙂
My Thoughts
So, as I said above, The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery was a 3 star read, meaning that I liked the book, but I didn’t love it and thought there could have been some improvements. Let’s start with what I liked.
What I liked
The characters in The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery were astounding. I absolutely loved every person I met throughout the story especially the supporting characters. Not that the main characters were bad or anything, but I rarely get to to read a book with such interesting and well developed people outside of the main couple.
I also loved, loved, loved the main plot of the story. The little dashes of magical realism with the Japanese culture made for a beautifully balanced story that almost felt musical. The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery seemed to move and flow with such grace.
The scenes with baking were also some of my favorites because I am a baking enthusiast and to try nearly every recipe. There was a green tea cake that sounds to die for and I am looking for a similar recipe online.
What didn’t work for me…
I didn’t love the writing throughout the book. There were way too many mundane scenes that had nothing to do with advancing the plot. The dialogue often felt stilted and forced even when the feelings within the scene were not.
I honestly felt like with some editing The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery could be a homerun.
Conclusion
The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery is a cute romance that is enjoyable and beautifully atmospheric. With a few improvements, it could be wonderful.
November 6, 2020
There’s something about this book, it’s hard to explain. The plot itself is good, it’s not complicated or anything, it’s just someone trying to build a new life unexpectedly, something which happens to a lot of people. What makes this book special is the writing, the characters and the little details like the taste of the fruit and vegetables that Hana cooks with, the descriptions of her baking that are almost recipes in themselves, the pace of the story that feels like it lowers your blood pressure and removes stress instantly.
As the blurb says, we follow Hana as she goes to Japan and learns that her boyfriend has gone without letting her know. We then see her try to manage in an unfamiliar country on her own. Slowly she builds a life for herself there, meets new people and rediscovers the joy she finds in baking. We get Jin’s story as well which helps in understanding why he did what he did.
There’s lots of tiny details in the story, things that we might do in our own lives but we don’t put much thought into it or we no longer pay attention because we are rushed. Hana buys a peppermint plant, she cleans the leaves and enjoys the smell of them. Occasionally in the story we see comment that the plant has grown a little. These tiny details are not one’s that tend to be in books but these details are exactly what makes this book different. Japan is known for its tea ceremony and there is a lot of tea drinking in the book, of various different tea types. Even little things like making tea and having a piece of cake with it seem more special here.
It’s a beautifully written story that is at times sad, but that is also uplifting and made me feel lighter reading it. It’s like it invites you to experience a slower pace of life, but at the same time shows that you can still achieve a lot, without missing out on the tiny details. It’s a joy to read, so full of warmth. It’s like being wrapped in a warm blanket with a mug of tea and letting all your stresses disappear.
As the blurb says, we follow Hana as she goes to Japan and learns that her boyfriend has gone without letting her know. We then see her try to manage in an unfamiliar country on her own. Slowly she builds a life for herself there, meets new people and rediscovers the joy she finds in baking. We get Jin’s story as well which helps in understanding why he did what he did.
There’s lots of tiny details in the story, things that we might do in our own lives but we don’t put much thought into it or we no longer pay attention because we are rushed. Hana buys a peppermint plant, she cleans the leaves and enjoys the smell of them. Occasionally in the story we see comment that the plant has grown a little. These tiny details are not one’s that tend to be in books but these details are exactly what makes this book different. Japan is known for its tea ceremony and there is a lot of tea drinking in the book, of various different tea types. Even little things like making tea and having a piece of cake with it seem more special here.
It’s a beautifully written story that is at times sad, but that is also uplifting and made me feel lighter reading it. It’s like it invites you to experience a slower pace of life, but at the same time shows that you can still achieve a lot, without missing out on the tiny details. It’s a joy to read, so full of warmth. It’s like being wrapped in a warm blanket with a mug of tea and letting all your stresses disappear.
November 1, 2020
If you've followed my blog a while you may have notcied I love Japan and the Japanese culture. I have been lucky enough to visit Tokyo twice and I adore reading novels set there – particularly when I can identify places that I have been, food I ate and similar experiences to mine. The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery completely delivers on all of the above as well as telling a sweet and emotional story of love and life.
When Hana moves from Korea to Tokyo to see her boyfriend Jin her world is shattered when he isn’t there and has left without a trace. Heartbroken, in a strange country and with little money Hana begins a journey of discovery and growth with help from some interesting characters along the way.
I adored this novel. It’s so sweet and although there were moments when I was heartbroken for Hana, the overall novel was uplifting. I loved how Hana remained such a nice and caring character and harboured very little resentment towards JIn. Her character grew throughout the story and I felt like a protective friend towards Hana. Each time she found happiness of success I did a little celebration in my head.
The setting of the novel is Tokyo and many tourist spots are mentioned but I also enjoyed visualising ‘real’ Tokyo life as experiences by residents. The small shops and vendors, the language school and the guest house all created such a great picture of Tokyo life. And the food! My mouth was drooling constantly, and the delicious bakes and other foods mentioned.
This is a cute novel about two people and their journeys to discover more about themselves. It has sweet characters and a beautiful setting. It’s what the world needs right now.
When Hana moves from Korea to Tokyo to see her boyfriend Jin her world is shattered when he isn’t there and has left without a trace. Heartbroken, in a strange country and with little money Hana begins a journey of discovery and growth with help from some interesting characters along the way.
I adored this novel. It’s so sweet and although there were moments when I was heartbroken for Hana, the overall novel was uplifting. I loved how Hana remained such a nice and caring character and harboured very little resentment towards JIn. Her character grew throughout the story and I felt like a protective friend towards Hana. Each time she found happiness of success I did a little celebration in my head.
The setting of the novel is Tokyo and many tourist spots are mentioned but I also enjoyed visualising ‘real’ Tokyo life as experiences by residents. The small shops and vendors, the language school and the guest house all created such a great picture of Tokyo life. And the food! My mouth was drooling constantly, and the delicious bakes and other foods mentioned.
This is a cute novel about two people and their journeys to discover more about themselves. It has sweet characters and a beautiful setting. It’s what the world needs right now.
November 7, 2020
Hana loves baking and her boyfriend Jin, but when she arrives in Tokyo to join him, he's vanished. Lost and alone, she slowly makes new friends and builds a life there. But is working in a vegetable shop what she really wants?
This is a magically sweet novel, filled to the brim with dreamy prose and delicious food. I was initially annoyed by Hana's passivity - going overseas to find your boyfriend missing generally invites a stronger reaction - then again, my mom was so mad at my dad for being late to pick her up from the airport, she missed the way his entire bumper was caved in by the old guy who'd turned in front of him, so my family's tolerance for overseas abandonment is obviously quite low. Nonetheless, I appreciated how Hana slowly built herself up, making connections and choices that brought the book to a satisfying conclusion.
I'm not sure how I feel about Jin. Without spoilers, he seemed like more of a catalyst than a character. Regardless, his poor communication skills left Hana in the lurch and I feel like she deserved a bit more of a resolution on that front.
The cast of characters - mainly Hana's parents and her new friends in Tokyo, all get minor arcs as well, as if their own stories are peeking around the corner. Some felt a little rushed, but that's understandable given that this is Hana's story, not theirs.
This dreamy novel is like a meringue, airy and sweet though perhaps light on substance. The only thing it's missing are recipes because Hana's cooking has left me seriously hungry!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own
This is a magically sweet novel, filled to the brim with dreamy prose and delicious food. I was initially annoyed by Hana's passivity - going overseas to find your boyfriend missing generally invites a stronger reaction - then again, my mom was so mad at my dad for being late to pick her up from the airport, she missed the way his entire bumper was caved in by the old guy who'd turned in front of him, so my family's tolerance for overseas abandonment is obviously quite low. Nonetheless, I appreciated how Hana slowly built herself up, making connections and choices that brought the book to a satisfying conclusion.
I'm not sure how I feel about Jin. Without spoilers, he seemed like more of a catalyst than a character. Regardless, his poor communication skills left Hana in the lurch and I feel like she deserved a bit more of a resolution on that front.
The cast of characters - mainly Hana's parents and her new friends in Tokyo, all get minor arcs as well, as if their own stories are peeking around the corner. Some felt a little rushed, but that's understandable given that this is Hana's story, not theirs.
This dreamy novel is like a meringue, airy and sweet though perhaps light on substance. The only thing it's missing are recipes because Hana's cooking has left me seriously hungry!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own
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