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littlewishling's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this. It was so cute and sweet. Kuhn creates a beautiful story about accepting your emotions and how everyone deserves a happily ever after.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism and Racial slurs
quillify_'s review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Such a wholesome book and such a refreshing take on grumpy sunshine trope!!! I'll admit Rika was pretty annoying at first with the whole not like other girls thing but she grew on me with her character development. Her friendships and sisterly bonds were so amazing and seeing her becoming her own person was awesome. Henry, I appreciate for being a stereotype and yet having layers. Perfect sunshine to Rika and his panic disorder was honestly so very relatable. The representation, struggles of biracial people and their identities was so very authentic and well done. Plus loved learning about Japanese culture from someone who knows it and knows the struggle (and the white people jokes were honestly god-tier lol).
The thing I liked about this book was that the leads both had independent arcs. Yes, they clicked together almost instantly but they also underwent their own character development that did not hinge on sexual or romantic tension. As Rika said at one point, they both saved each other. That's how you show feminism—instead of shaming men and/or making them cardboard cutouts with abs, and making the girl a tiny, fetishized creature with zero personality, you give them each flaws and goals and backstories. Bare minimum, but there's so many hyped books that miss this mark in the name of performance.
Proof: 1. My hair is flying everywhere, that blazing red lock unfurled like a flag of pure rage. Henry stands a bit behind me: his face pale, his expression verging on terror. I am a wild monster girl, protecting a handsome prince.
2. “I—yes,” I say, feeling my nure-onna armor reinstate itself. “Why did you . . . you didn’t have to make a scene. I can handle myself. I don’t need someone else to fight my battles.” He takes a step closer to me, his gaze probing in a way that makes me squirm. This isn’t movie star Henry or joking Henry or too-cute-for-his-own-good Henry. It’s something clear and heartfelt, something I can’t quite process. “I know you can,” he finally says. “But you don’t always have to fight alone.”
The thing I liked about this book was that the leads both had independent arcs. Yes, they clicked together almost instantly but they also underwent their own character development that did not hinge on sexual or romantic tension. As Rika said at one point, they both saved each other. That's how you show feminism—instead of shaming men and/or making them cardboard cutouts with abs, and making the girl a tiny, fetishized creature with zero personality, you give them each flaws and goals and backstories. Bare minimum, but there's so many hyped books that miss this mark in the name of performance.
Proof: 1. My hair is flying everywhere, that blazing red lock unfurled like a flag of pure rage. Henry stands a bit behind me: his face pale, his expression verging on terror. I am a wild monster girl, protecting a handsome prince.
2. “I—yes,” I say, feeling my nure-onna armor reinstate itself. “Why did you . . . you didn’t have to make a scene. I can handle myself. I don’t need someone else to fight my battles.” He takes a step closer to me, his gaze probing in a way that makes me squirm. This isn’t movie star Henry or joking Henry or too-cute-for-his-own-good Henry. It’s something clear and heartfelt, something I can’t quite process. “I know you can,” he finally says. “But you don’t always have to fight alone.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Xenophobia
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Cursing
colleensreadingadventures's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Unfortunately From Little Tokyo With Love did not resonate with me liked I had hoped. While I enjoyed some of it, a lot of it felt like so many other YA books out there lately. Same story different scenery.
Rika is a half Japanese half American teen growing up in Little Tokyo, a Japanese division in LA. Her mom passed away in child birth and her 2 Aunties, one by blood one by marriage are raising her with her 2 cousins. Rika’s always felt like she’s an outsider not enough Japanese but can’t pass for Caucasian either. She definitely never feels like she’s enough for her aunties or her community. Because of this Rika has an anger (kaiju-temper) inside of her that she can’t keep down and to protect herself from all the people that look down on her she channels the nure-onna inside of herself. A fierce mythological monster who can defeat all of her enemies.
Rika is assigned at the last minute to drive her cousin Belle, this years Nikkei Week Queen, in the big parade to celebrate. Grace Nakamura, a famous Japanese RomCom star is the main attraction. And when Rika and Grace literally run into each other, she notices something familiar about her and knows there is something weird about her. Especially noticing the fear on Grace’s face when coming in to contact with Rika. It seemed to be the cause of her to taking off and running away from the parade. And then vanishing, completely off the grid.
Rika has to find out what the heck is going on and why she looks so much like the girl in the pictures with Auntie Suzy from long ago.
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬:
-I loved learning more about Japanese culture, including the food, the language, and the community within LA itself
-It was nice to see a diverse teen dealing with anger issues
-The LGBTQ representation with Rika’s Aunties was a especially interesting within a “traditional” Japanese family.
-The Last 1/4 or so picked up for me
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬:
-It was lacking in romance. I really didn’t see a whole lot of chemistry between Rika and Henry
-So darn slow. This should have had like 1/3 or more chopped off.
-It was anticlimactic. I can’t really go into detail without spoilers.
-The book was supposed to be about Rika finding out if Grace was her mom but somewhere along the way detoured to the difficulties of the acting world for Bi-Racial Asian actors.
-I just didn’t feel much of a connection to any of the characters.
For me this was a bit too wholesome of a YA read. I think that was a lot of my problem while reading From Little Tokyo With Love. So I encourage those of you who like a syrupy sweet story to give this a try. Don’t let my jaded thoughts stop you!
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.
Rika is a half Japanese half American teen growing up in Little Tokyo, a Japanese division in LA. Her mom passed away in child birth and her 2 Aunties, one by blood one by marriage are raising her with her 2 cousins. Rika’s always felt like she’s an outsider not enough Japanese but can’t pass for Caucasian either. She definitely never feels like she’s enough for her aunties or her community. Because of this Rika has an anger (kaiju-temper) inside of her that she can’t keep down and to protect herself from all the people that look down on her she channels the nure-onna inside of herself. A fierce mythological monster who can defeat all of her enemies.
Rika is assigned at the last minute to drive her cousin Belle, this years Nikkei Week Queen, in the big parade to celebrate. Grace Nakamura, a famous Japanese RomCom star is the main attraction. And when Rika and Grace literally run into each other, she notices something familiar about her and knows there is something weird about her. Especially noticing the fear on Grace’s face when coming in to contact with Rika. It seemed to be the cause of her to taking off and running away from the parade. And then vanishing, completely off the grid.
Rika has to find out what the heck is going on and why she looks so much like the girl in the pictures with Auntie Suzy from long ago.
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬:
-I loved learning more about Japanese culture, including the food, the language, and the community within LA itself
-It was nice to see a diverse teen dealing with anger issues
-The LGBTQ representation with Rika’s Aunties was a especially interesting within a “traditional” Japanese family.
-The Last 1/4 or so picked up for me
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬:
-It was lacking in romance. I really didn’t see a whole lot of chemistry between Rika and Henry
-So darn slow. This should have had like 1/3 or more chopped off.
-It was anticlimactic. I can’t really go into detail without spoilers.
-The book was supposed to be about Rika finding out if Grace was her mom but somewhere along the way detoured to the difficulties of the acting world for Bi-Racial Asian actors.
-I just didn’t feel much of a connection to any of the characters.
For me this was a bit too wholesome of a YA read. I think that was a lot of my problem while reading From Little Tokyo With Love. So I encourage those of you who like a syrupy sweet story to give this a try. Don’t let my jaded thoughts stop you!
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Bullying, Misogyny, and Racism
Moderate: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, and Abandonment
regal_leaves's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Racial slurs
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