In general, I Love You So Mochi is a cute book, from its pastel-pink color and fixation on mochi to the fabulous sights of Japan that are explored. But that's all I can say about it—it's cute, but not serious enough to be an overly interesting read. The main character, Kimi, is written to be a confused seventeen-year-old girl who takes an expedition to Japan to try to figure herself out. Yet I found myself cringing at a few moments and certain portions of her narration because she was just that naive. Kimi's love interest, Akira, is also very unrealistic—in the span of about two days, he has suddenly fallen head over heels with Kimi and proclaimed his devotion to the cause of finding Kimi's true self. This was, needless to say, very strange. I can't say that this book was all bad; I appreciate its amplification of the life of a struggling Asian American teenager caught between her parents and her heart. The emphasis on food and fashion was well established and added some flair to Kimi's character. It's perfect for anyone seeking a fluffy romance novel that will cheer you up. But other than that, I cannot say this book was heartwarming so much as painstaking. Would recommend this to die-hard fans of romance, but not to those looking for a more realistic and multifaceted romance novel.
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I Love You So Mochi
By Sarah Kuhn
Kimi Nakamura has wanted to be an artist since she was a kid. But the pressures of living up to her parents' expectations and following in the path they've set out for her have finally reached a boiling point. Then, when a surprise letter comes in the mail from Kimi's estranged grandparents, inviting her to spend two weeks with them in Kyoto for spring break, she sees it as an opportunity to get away from the stress of her life and focus on finding her own path, even if just temporarily.
But when Kimi accidentally embarrasses herself in front of Akira, a cute Japanese boy dressed up in a mochi costume, she inadvertently sets herself on an entirely different path than she'd planned. Soon, they're spending their days together, touring all the sights Kyoto has to offer, including sacred temples, art installations, a cherry blossom festival, and even a pug café. And what was meant to be a solo journey of self-discovery, quickly becomes something completely unexpected.
But when Kimi accidentally embarrasses herself in front of Akira, a cute Japanese boy dressed up in a mochi costume, she inadvertently sets herself on an entirely different path than she'd planned. Soon, they're spending their days together, touring all the sights Kyoto has to offer, including sacred temples, art installations, a cherry blossom festival, and even a pug café. And what was meant to be a solo journey of self-discovery, quickly becomes something completely unexpected.
Publisher: Point
ISBN-13: 9781338608366
ISBN-10: 1338608363
Published on 5/5/2020
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 320