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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
Right, so this was actually really cute and I felt it represented Japanese culture pretty well to an 'outsider' like me, especially how the family's uncommunicative ways affect Sana. But at the same time it annoyed me endlessly how she kept thinking her answers instead of saying them out loud, which is not a Japanese thing, but absolutely a YA thing. Also, I'm getting real tired of the whole 'if the author writes that something is funny, this book now has comedy' in YA. Like, No? Most of the time people are just boring and the author just wants it to look like they're having a good time, not feel.
Now to the plot. There were several WTF moments for me, like when Sana is super racist towards Jamie's friends and she's just like "It'll be fine" and they continue to 'heart eyes' at each other. Also that poem was great and all but it doesn't fix Sana's racism. And why would you just kiss people - Caleb - if you aren't good at showing affection, mostly physically. Who just goes around kissing people to see what happens, when you know you're a lesbian!?
Now to the plot. There were several WTF moments for me, like when Sana is super racist towards Jamie's friends and she's just like "It'll be fine" and they continue to 'heart eyes' at each other. Also that poem was great and all but it doesn't fix Sana's racism. And why would you just kiss people - Caleb - if you aren't good at showing affection, mostly physically. Who just goes around kissing people to see what happens, when you know you're a lesbian!?
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The main characters is just far too whiny for me to keep reading this, haha
I loved almost everything about this book until Jamie’s date with Kelsey and Sana’s whole thing with Caleb. I know Jamie didn’t do anything on the date, but the whole situation was weird. She shouldn’t have agreed to go with Kelsey alone. ALSO, SHE KISSED HER AND GOT UPSET ABOUT CALEB? SHE DID THE SAME THING?? I hate cheating storylines, especially from the main characters.
I really liked Sana’s character. The ordeal with Jamie’s friends knocked a lot of points off and the Caleb thing… I don’t expect all character’s to be perfect, but it just so happens that she did the two things that I hate the most.
I like that she acknowledges that she was wrong; I’m just not into cheating.
I really liked Sana’s character. The ordeal with Jamie’s friends knocked a lot of points off and the Caleb thing… I don’t expect all character’s to be perfect, but it just so happens that she did the two things that I hate the most.
I like that she acknowledges that she was wrong; I’m just not into cheating.
I thought the romance was actually the least interesting part of this book. The dynamic between Sana and her mother and Sana coming to terms with both her Japanese and lesbian identities were far more interesting and thoughtful and I wish more of the book could have been spent digging into those areas.
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's more about identity and understanding culture rather than it particularly being a queer crisis (it still is there, but the story is driven due to ethnic conflicts).
Quite frankly, the main issue or problem of the story was not brought clear until the very end. It felt like watching your average American teenagers go through their mundane life.
Quite frankly, the main issue or problem of the story was not brought clear until the very end. It felt like watching your average American teenagers go through their mundane life.
In general, the story is not bad. It's just a little dramatic to me. I understand that you have trouble telling your mom that your father might be cheating and I understand getting out and tell you are a lesbian is not the easiest but everything that happened during that is weird. She made everything worse instead of sitting still and thinking about reasonable tactics. Maybe I am too neutral or direct about it but this made it definitely worse and thus it was all not directly necessary.
I kind of don't like Jamie's reaction either. The pictures on Instagram weren't fun but it's all "Sona's fault for not trusting her." Yea yea, that's not entirely how it works in my opinion, surely the latter made it worse but oh well. It's a bit too good an ending when it comes to all the relationships in the book. Little too fairy tale? Maybe that's also the part of the book and stories but still, I found it a little strange.
I also don't think I have a favourite character in this book. Which is maybe why it is a little difficult. I think I learned a bit more about the other ethnic groups in the USA? That was interesting, how the stereotypes worked against the others. So I definitely learned something from it.
I kind of don't like Jamie's reaction either. The pictures on Instagram weren't fun but it's all "Sona's fault for not trusting her." Yea yea, that's not entirely how it works in my opinion, surely the latter made it worse but oh well. It's a bit too good an ending when it comes to all the relationships in the book. Little too fairy tale? Maybe that's also the part of the book and stories but still, I found it a little strange.
I also don't think I have a favourite character in this book. Which is maybe why it is a little difficult. I think I learned a bit more about the other ethnic groups in the USA? That was interesting, how the stereotypes worked against the others. So I definitely learned something from it.
DNF. I really wanted to love this one but the only good thing about the book was that there were a non white couple. Otherwise, I liked nothing. But since I didn't finish the book, won't rate it. The writing was poor in my opinion, I didn't like the characters and everything felt flat.
