Daisy Fields

by Maki Matsui

She was always lying.

A gentle soul searching for sincerity in an insincere world.
A tale-spinner living in a maze of lies.
A story that unfolds when two hearts meet.
What is sincerity, what is freedom, what is true love?

When David decides to take the wacky, quirky Kalifornia Mooney as his housemate, he doesn’t expect his world to be turned upside down. As their mutual affection grows, so does the inexplicable, unacknowledged chasm between the two friends. Kalifornia keeps her life shrouded in mystery, and no matter how much time they spend together, he doesn’t seem to know the first thing about her. Who is she? What is she so afraid of? Is she a refugee, as she claims to be, and if so, what is she running from?

Genres: Mystery

103 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 28, 2020

Reviews

[Kara (Books.and.salt) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daisy Fields was a cute little read. Definitely plays into the manic pixie dream girl trope - but it grabbed me with the characters.
I really, really, really wish I could join David's group of friends for their movie night. 🤩

[顏 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a light-hearted, easy read with a manic pixie dream girl trope.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daisy Fields by Maki Matsui

“What is sincerity, what is freedom, what is true love?”

David Nighthart, age twenty-four, is a passionate, soft-spoken photographer who is looking for a housemate. What he gets is a cute, quirky, emotionally damaged female hauling all of her possessions in two large plastic bags and a suitcase knocking at his door that evening. Her name is Kalifornia Mooney, and she claims to write fiction under the name Ambrosius Mooney. Now David is trying to learn how to tell the difference between Kalifornia’s fiction and her truths. Kalifornia guards her secrets profoundly.

After about three months David feels like he’s making headway into Kalifornia’s mysterious ways. Meanwhile, Kalifornia feels her protective walls crumbling. Her fallback is to pack all her stuff and run away. David’s world falls apart. His insecurity about love and relationships takes a wallop deep in his soul. The raw emotion comes off the page as David does a lot of soul searching, trying to figure out how he could have done things differently.

“Daisy Fields” is a sweet but emotional rollercoaster ride. The secondary characters are realistic and human with faults of their own. This would be a nice story to read on a quiet weekend.

FYI: Cozy romance that explores love from many angles. **Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** July 14, 2021
Format/Typo Issues: No significant proofing errors.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t get me wrong. I liked this. I really did, but Daisy Fields, and plots like it, are now seeming to become “a tale as old as time”. Yes, this reference to Beauty and The Beast is intentional. I wasn’t far into the book when I thought that Kalifornia reminded me of John Green’s Margo, Truman Capote’s Holly Go Lightly, Barbara Streisand’s character in What’s Up Doc and others like them in numerous novels and movies. I loved all those characters, now labelled by the media as Manic Pixie Dream Girls. I do realize that there are a limited number of basic plots and character traits so it is difficult to develop a really unique quirky character. Daisy Fields, with its’ character, Kalifornia, was well done and is a good novella for those who want a relatively quick read, with an unusual female protagonist. What Daisy Fields didn’t have was the glamour and allure of Holly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the quick, witty dialogue of Judy in What’s Up Doc or the poignant, compelling and creative character traits of Margo in Paper Towns. Nor did it have the carefully developed quirky characters in so many other novels and movies.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank Maki Matsui, author and Goodreads First Reads Giveaway for the eBook Kindle copy of Daisy Fields that i won in the Giveaway.

David is looking for a roommate and instead of the guy he was expecting Kalifornia shows up and they become comfortable with each other. He is a photographer and she writes for a living and they help each other supporting each other in many way. She spins lies and he learns to accept what she will give him. She disappears and he is lost until she returns a year later to tell him the 'true' story of her life. Daisy Fields is a roller coaster of emotions, lies and somehow it works as a pretty good story.

[Crystal Gehris · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Daisy Fields" is an endearing read that captivated me with its charming yet flawed characters. Though it leans into the manic pixie dream girl trope, the story's emotional depth and character dynamics kept me hooked. David Nighthart, a gentle 24-year-old photographer, unexpectedly finds himself living with Kalifornia Mooney, a quirky and emotionally scarred woman. As their relationship deepens, Kalifornia's guarded nature begins to crack, but fear drives her to run, leaving David in emotional turmoil. This sweet yet heart-wrenching story is perfect for a quiet weekend, lingering in your thoughts long after you’ve finished.

[Maki Matsui]

This novella is near and dear to my heart as the first book I started and finished writing with the intention of self-publishing...meaning, at no point in the writing of this novella did I give thought to whether it was "grabby enough" to catch the attention of some high-powered and sought-after literary agent. It was a real pleasure to write. I hope you enjoy it!

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very sweet story.

Like eating ice cream on a hot summer day. Sweet and refreshing. If I could have had the time I would have read through this in a day. Kalifornia is,quirky, annoying, sweet. David is likeable and kind and noble. And the story is clean. Nice to find that in a story these days.

[Kemonna Panchoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've only read' the first three chapters will I'll be reviewing for my English coursework and I must say, I am totally in love with this book. I'll be reading all of it as soon as I'm through with this assignment. Well done Maki!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MUST READ

Daisy Fields is a book that is experienced as much as it is read. Kalifornia is an unforgettable character and being pulled into her world is like experiencing it through a kaleidoscope. I loved this story and you might too.

[g · Rating 2 out of 5]

i love a book about nothing but what was the fucking point? it’s manic pixie dream girl circle jerk except the girl is clearly struggling with mental health or PTSD and yet we never get past the dream girl part of it. where was the nuance????

[Steph Beaudoin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. I loved it! What a wonderful love story. The characters are spectacular.

[Cassidy Miller]

it was ok a little hard to follow though

[salena · Rating 3 out of 5]

LOVE

the book felt slightly rushed but besides that I really enjoyed it! I also didn't understand the plot that much either but I do recommend to people

[Daniela · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so bleh.

Too many unnecessary characters, I couldn't keep up with all the names.

The relationships didn't felt real and the storyline was all over the place.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quirky book. I probably would have given it 2.5 stars if that option was available.
Love works in mysterious ways.

[Celinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted something quick to read before bedtime but I ended up wishing the story were much longer. I enjoyed it very much. Cleverly concocted, a heartwarming read.

[Lydia Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

#goodreads giveaway
I found this to be a delightful short novel, a perfect summer read. Kalifornia applies as a roomate - even though it states 'male' - and worms herself into his life. Unfortunately, she is a liar, so you can never trust what she says.
I liked the way the characters were developed as their relationships seemed natural and all the cicumstances seemed unforced. It was easy to read and totally enjoyable.

[Aprill Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a moment to read this book but it was rather a good book and was glad that I actually purchased it. It's a lot of story with all the different aspects of addiction and the consequences of it. We're definitely recommend it

[Denise]

I won a copy of this book from the Goodreads Giveaways. Once I have read it I will give a complete review.