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thegloomth's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kerropiz's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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
4.5
i think this book is magical.
maybe it’s because i needed something like this, or maybe it’s because i’ve been through my share of wishing for happy endings and still coming up short. and maybe, ultimately—because it almost always comes down to this, i was losing hope for .. something.
but genuinely, i connected with this book on such a level that i honestly didn’t think i would’ve.
now, i don’t mean magical in the sense that it solved all my lingering emotions. the book had its set themes and tackled them wholeheartedly, albeit almost surface level. but the characters, especially rika, all have a heart to them. and its characters like rika who have the experiences that she does that makes you believe that actually yeah, i can have whatever happily ever after i wanted when i was young—regardless of the fact that societally? a happy ever after isn’t meant to be in the cards for me.
i think that it came into my life at the right time. it definitely wasn’t a perfect book—more like a crash course on asian hate and the experience of feeling so out of place in a society that deems you unworthy of existence—but it’s a nice, funny, sweet, enchanting start to it.
and maybe i just needed a fairytale to believe in today.
maybe it’s because i needed something like this, or maybe it’s because i’ve been through my share of wishing for happy endings and still coming up short. and maybe, ultimately—because it almost always comes down to this, i was losing hope for .. something.
but genuinely, i connected with this book on such a level that i honestly didn’t think i would’ve.
now, i don’t mean magical in the sense that it solved all my lingering emotions. the book had its set themes and tackled them wholeheartedly, albeit almost surface level. but the characters, especially rika, all have a heart to them. and its characters like rika who have the experiences that she does that makes you believe that actually yeah, i can have whatever happily ever after i wanted when i was young—regardless of the fact that societally? a happy ever after isn’t meant to be in the cards for me.
i think that it came into my life at the right time. it definitely wasn’t a perfect book—more like a crash course on asian hate and the experience of feeling so out of place in a society that deems you unworthy of existence—but it’s a nice, funny, sweet, enchanting start to it.
and maybe i just needed a fairytale to believe in today.
almond's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Sweet romance with strong family relationships. Moved me.
books4susie's review
5.0
Rika feels like she doesn't fit in anywhere. Orphaned at birth, she lives with her doting aunts and cousins. Biracial, she is often made to feel out of place in her Japanese American community. When she bumps into a famous movie store at a parade, Rika’s life is turned upside down when she realizes that her mother may be alive after all. With the help of the handsome Henry Chen who just so happens to be filming a movie with her supposed mother, the two go on a quest to uncover the truth. Rika must confront not only her own insecurities but fight against a racist bully and society's preconceived notions in order to uncover her own happily ever after.
cassiesnextchapter's review against another edition
4.0
Adorable, funny, sweet, and fierce!
⠀⠀
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!
⠀⠀
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!
jen286's review
4.0
This was a really great read. I loved the representation, both main characters are biracial (Japanese/white and Chinese/Filipino) and some of the discussions of communities and families within this context. It was really wonderful.
When I first started reading I enjoyed how Rika saw herself, even if she was struggling. I...I just really loved Rika right from the start and wanted her to get everything she ever wanted. Wanted her to find her happily ever after even if she didn't believe in that. She is so sweet and kind and wonderful, even if she doesn't see herself that way. Even if she sees her monster side as this bad thing. I loved it and I loved the way she was written. She was so related, especially if you are younger. I loved reading her story.
And Henry? Oh, he was so wonderful too. He is such a sweetheart and he could see Rika right from the beginning. He could see behind the armour she would hide behind and helped her open up and see things in a different way. They were so great together and I just wanted more! I told myself that I was going to stop reading YA as everything I have been trying recently has not been for me, but I am glad I didn't realize this was YA until I started reading it and by then it was too late. I was in the story and couldn't put it down. A really great read, loved watching Rika find herself.
When I first started reading I enjoyed how Rika saw herself, even if she was struggling. I...I just really loved Rika right from the start and wanted her to get everything she ever wanted. Wanted her to find her happily ever after even if she didn't believe in that. She is so sweet and kind and wonderful, even if she doesn't see herself that way. Even if she sees her monster side as this bad thing. I loved it and I loved the way she was written. She was so related, especially if you are younger. I loved reading her story.
And Henry? Oh, he was so wonderful too. He is such a sweetheart and he could see Rika right from the beginning. He could see behind the armour she would hide behind and helped her open up and see things in a different way. They were so great together and I just wanted more! I told myself that I was going to stop reading YA as everything I have been trying recently has not been for me, but I am glad I didn't realize this was YA until I started reading it and by then it was too late. I was in the story and couldn't put it down. A really great read, loved watching Rika find herself.
thenextgenlibrarian's review
4.0
“It's like no one sees all of me, exactly. Because no one wants to.”
lenorasvaughn's review
5.0
this is my new comfort read. i love all the characters especially henry i wish i had him in my life. rika is an amazing strong mc and im so happy i finally read this book. the ending being a true happy ending and parts of rika i saw in myself. the way she has her walls up and the way she gets angry a lot is how i see myself. it felt amazing to read a character like that and i would give up my whole life savings to read this book again for the first time
luckies_universe's review
2.0
I wanted to like this book a lot, and for a moment, I was kind of into it. The weather's getting warmer which means it's the perfect time to settle down with a cute summer romance, especially a loosely-based Cinderella story featuring a biracial main character and an array of other BIPOC characters.
I just felt like the message the author wished to portray in the story overpowered the story itself. This book is very clearly about growing up biracial in America, feeling lost and out of place, battling racism within and without your own community, finding friendship and acceptance and facing your fears. On their own, these are important messages, and I love reading about them, but to me it seemed like the author was trying to put in too many core themes instead of sticking to one or two. It made the story far too long and it lacked direction and purpose. The dialogue so obviously pushed the key messages and it made the actual story (a girl trying to find her mother and falling in love) feel like background music.
I've read a lot of books from POC authors like S. K. Ali, Adiba Jaigirdar and Gary Lonesborough which tackle racism and self-acceptance in Young Adult literature in skillful and nuanced ways, giving readers equal parts story and message. I guess I just had high hopes for Little Tokyo and was really excited to read it, I couldn't help but feel a little let down.
I still want to read the author's other book, I Love You So Mochi, as I've heard it's much better compared to Little Tokyo.
I just felt like the message the author wished to portray in the story overpowered the story itself. This book is very clearly about growing up biracial in America, feeling lost and out of place, battling racism within and without your own community, finding friendship and acceptance and facing your fears. On their own, these are important messages, and I love reading about them, but to me it seemed like the author was trying to put in too many core themes instead of sticking to one or two. It made the story far too long and it lacked direction and purpose. The dialogue so obviously pushed the key messages and it made the actual story (a girl trying to find her mother and falling in love) feel like background music.
I've read a lot of books from POC authors like S. K. Ali, Adiba Jaigirdar and Gary Lonesborough which tackle racism and self-acceptance in Young Adult literature in skillful and nuanced ways, giving readers equal parts story and message. I guess I just had high hopes for Little Tokyo and was really excited to read it, I couldn't help but feel a little let down.
I still want to read the author's other book, I Love You So Mochi, as I've heard it's much better compared to Little Tokyo.