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rooireland7884's review
4.0
Meet You By Hachiko was a beautiful story and I am excited to read the sequel. I enjoyed the plot and the characters quite a bit. In this story, Grace, who lives in Canada, begins talking to Kana, who lives in Japan. Their friendship blossoms from a love of fashion, a desire to learn one another's native language, and a sense of separation and loneliness from those around them. The story that follows explores what a virtual friendship looks like through school hardships and romance troubles. I related to the characters and I found them realistic.
It is hard to pinpoint exactly what in the story did not make it five stars for me. This is a book that I absolutely will read again and I want to read the sequel but its closer to four and a half stars for me. Personally, I had issues getting into the story and I think that is on me and not the book itself. I felt that the plot was interestingly paced but that contributed to my ability to get into the book and my pace while reading the book. Overall I will definitely recommend this book, I look forward to reading the sequel, and I will be looking for more wor from Loren Greene.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It is hard to pinpoint exactly what in the story did not make it five stars for me. This is a book that I absolutely will read again and I want to read the sequel but its closer to four and a half stars for me. Personally, I had issues getting into the story and I think that is on me and not the book itself. I felt that the plot was interestingly paced but that contributed to my ability to get into the book and my pace while reading the book. Overall I will definitely recommend this book, I look forward to reading the sequel, and I will be looking for more wor from Loren Greene.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
lillist's review
5.0
I have received an digital review copy via BookSirens and voluntarily provide my honest opinion. Thank you!
5 stars - So very lovely
Grace has mastered the art of being invisible, Kana is spending every waking minute of her life preparing for the entrance exams for the University she would like to enter. Grace is just discovering her personal style and has become kind of obsessed with Tokyo street style - so she contacts Kana over an internet website for a fashion magazine. It's a lucky coincidence as Kana is hoping to find a way to brush up her English and so they connect instantly.
They share their everyday worries and experiences and grow close. But then Kana disappears quite suddenly and Grace makes the - for her incredibly bold - decision to fly to Tokyo to try and find her friend, although she is not exactly the daring type and knows next to no Japanese. Of course, all will be well in the end, but until then both Grace and Kana will have to face many challenging situations that will eventually help them grow into the persons they want to be.
I feel like this book was written for the younger me when I became obsessed with Japan, the language, the culture, the street style, the music, everything. I can also relate so much to both Kana and Grace who have a hard time speaking up for themselves, always trying to please everybody, not taking good care of themselves. And I just love how they can support each other through their friendship.
The pacing and progression of the plot is very much character-driven (just like in the sequel "Edokko"), which I very much prefer. It is also always great to have a cast of different personalities who all feel well realized and a story that is not comprised of manufactured drama but is just a big slice of life.
I have already read Edokko (the sort of sequel) and I had the same distinct feeling with it as I had with this one: I found the storytelling to be very "Japanese" for lack of a better word. There is a much stronger reliance on realistic situations, nuanced characters and character growth.
This was one of the loveliest, most uplifting reads for me this year and I very much look forward to the next installment in the Sakura + Maple series!
5 stars - So very lovely
Grace has mastered the art of being invisible, Kana is spending every waking minute of her life preparing for the entrance exams for the University she would like to enter. Grace is just discovering her personal style and has become kind of obsessed with Tokyo street style - so she contacts Kana over an internet website for a fashion magazine. It's a lucky coincidence as Kana is hoping to find a way to brush up her English and so they connect instantly.
They share their everyday worries and experiences and grow close. But then Kana disappears quite suddenly and Grace makes the - for her incredibly bold - decision to fly to Tokyo to try and find her friend, although she is not exactly the daring type and knows next to no Japanese. Of course, all will be well in the end, but until then both Grace and Kana will have to face many challenging situations that will eventually help them grow into the persons they want to be.
I feel like this book was written for the younger me when I became obsessed with Japan, the language, the culture, the street style, the music, everything. I can also relate so much to both Kana and Grace who have a hard time speaking up for themselves, always trying to please everybody, not taking good care of themselves. And I just love how they can support each other through their friendship.
The pacing and progression of the plot is very much character-driven (just like in the sequel "Edokko"), which I very much prefer. It is also always great to have a cast of different personalities who all feel well realized and a story that is not comprised of manufactured drama but is just a big slice of life.
I have already read Edokko (the sort of sequel) and I had the same distinct feeling with it as I had with this one: I found the storytelling to be very "Japanese" for lack of a better word. There is a much stronger reliance on realistic situations, nuanced characters and character growth.
This was one of the loveliest, most uplifting reads for me this year and I very much look forward to the next installment in the Sakura + Maple series!
bookishcheryl's review
4.0
This book was such a lovely read! It was so refreshing to read a story that was focused on friendship. It was engaging from the start and both main characters were very relatable. Overall, it was a very satisfying read.
pirate10100's review
4.0
Enjoyed this read. Stood out to me as I could relate to the story of a long distance friendship.
The ending was a bit anti-climactic, not what I had expected but regardless, it was a good book.
The ending was a bit anti-climactic, not what I had expected but regardless, it was a good book.
junereadsbooks's review
3.0
A nice YA about friendship and Japan. It brought back memories from my trip there a few years ago. The friendship portrayed in this book looks so pure and at times unrealistic. I believe that when you portray people from another culture it is a tricky one. It does show an understanding of Japanese culture.
smartie_chan's review
4.0
3.5 / 5 Stars
I've finished this a few days ago and yet, I'm still unsure about how to rate this.
There was a lot of stuff that I liked, which is why, I was practically binge reading this in one setting. I couldn't because I had to do other human stuff, but I think you get what I'm trying to say.
This is obviously contemporary, so it's not like I was expecting a kidnapping to happen or for one of them to commit die. And yet, the reason for as to why the plot happens and how everything is resolved left me feeling not quiet satisfied. There is a lot of good stuff in the book, but a lot feels rushed towards the end, because we spend a long time introducing conflicts and sub plots, that aren't all resolved at the end of the book.
I'd even say, that only 1 of our 2 MC's got a full, finished and complete character arc, where as the other one was left hanging. Even though the other one seemed like the one that was in more need of a completed character arc. This is especially sad, if you consider, that those two and their struggles were the main focus of the book.
Which brings me to the characters. I loved them. All of them. Simon was such a sweet heart. Grace was someone that I could see a lot of myself in, and Kana and Daisuke were great as well. I love how we got to know Daisuke, because I - same as Kana - was being like 'o.O Stranger Danger!' although Daisuke is nothing even close to stranger danger. I didn't expect to ship them, but here I am.
The main fokus wasn't on Kana & Daisuke or Grace & Simon though - on that later more - but rather on Kana & Grace. There were some sub plots around both of their bffs - especially around Grace and hers - but the focus was still on the slowly building relationship of Kana & Grace. The way those to slowly became friends was believable and sweet. I also thought that you could see a difference in english skill - especially in the written e-mails - and how that differnece started to slowly become smaller. Great detail. So anyways, when because the relationship was done so well, I could totally see and believe why Grace did what she did. HOWEVER after she arrives in Japan the point of 'OK, I see and understand your actions' beginns to fall apart. Yes, she wasn't really thinking this through BUT if she was really believing that Kana could have commited die - which was heavily implied - she should and would have acted differently. She should have tried to find Daisuke or Kanas parents. What she did instead was just walking around believing Kana - who she thought was either dead or missing - would just randomly appear somewhere in town.
And her actions after that point are also kinda questionable. Not in a moral sense but more in a 'what are you doing????' kind of way.
There was also an aro ace sub plot going on that I DID pick up apon and that I DID like, especially if you look at how it affected her and Simons relationship. Never seen this done before in fiction and I thought it was really great. Which is why I think that it was absolutly sad, that we didn't spend more time in and with this sub plot. I felt like it was really important! For Grace as a person but also - considering the ending of the sub plot - for the ace aro rep in books.
The sub plot around Grace's bff was also not as great as it could have been. Was a lot of it only happening in Grace head? Was her anxiety to blame? I don't think so. I really don't. And yet I feel like actions didn't really have as many consequences as they should have. There seemed to be a lack of communication happening. I'm not saying she should have ended that friendship, but if you look at Kana's bff and compare her to Grace's, - even though Rumi can be stubborn too - she still seems like the healthier and better friend.
Apart from those two sub plots, I also felt like Grace's search for self love and acceptance was still left open. Yes, those are hard things to tackle and yes you won't change your ways and views that fast, but I still felt like Grace got the shorter end of the stick in regards to development.
So this leaves me with a book that was not bad, but rather fluffy. A book that had great characters and an interesting take on aroness. And a story, that taught me a lot about Japan and its culture.
Great stuff.
And yet it could have been more.
I've finished this a few days ago and yet, I'm still unsure about how to rate this.
There was a lot of stuff that I liked, which is why, I was practically binge reading this in one setting. I couldn't because I had to do other human stuff, but I think you get what I'm trying to say.
This is obviously contemporary, so it's not like I was expecting a kidnapping to happen or for one of them to commit die. And yet, the reason for as to why the plot happens and how everything is resolved left me feeling not quiet satisfied. There is a lot of good stuff in the book, but a lot feels rushed towards the end, because we spend a long time introducing conflicts and sub plots, that aren't all resolved at the end of the book.
I'd even say, that only 1 of our 2 MC's got a full, finished and complete character arc, where as the other one was left hanging. Even though the other one seemed like the one that was in more need of a completed character arc. This is especially sad, if you consider, that those two and their struggles were the main focus of the book.
Which brings me to the characters. I loved them. All of them. Simon was such a sweet heart. Grace was someone that I could see a lot of myself in, and Kana and Daisuke were great as well. I love how we got to know Daisuke, because I - same as Kana - was being like 'o.O Stranger Danger!' although Daisuke is nothing even close to stranger danger. I didn't expect to ship them, but here I am.
The main fokus wasn't on Kana & Daisuke or Grace & Simon though - on that later more - but rather on Kana & Grace. There were some sub plots around both of their bffs - especially around Grace and hers - but the focus was still on the slowly building relationship of Kana & Grace. The way those to slowly became friends was believable and sweet. I also thought that you could see a difference in english skill - especially in the written e-mails - and how that differnece started to slowly become smaller. Great detail. So anyways, when because the relationship was done so well, I could totally see and believe why Grace did what she did. HOWEVER after she arrives in Japan the point of 'OK, I see and understand your actions' beginns to fall apart. Yes, she wasn't really thinking this through BUT if she was really believing that Kana could have commited die - which was heavily implied - she should and would have acted differently. She should have tried to find Daisuke or Kanas parents. What she did instead was just walking around believing Kana - who she thought was either dead or missing - would just randomly appear somewhere in town.
And her actions after that point are also kinda questionable. Not in a moral sense but more in a 'what are you doing????' kind of way.
There was also an aro ace sub plot going on that I DID pick up apon and that I DID like, especially if you look at how it affected her and Simons relationship. Never seen this done before in fiction and I thought it was really great. Which is why I think that it was absolutly sad, that we didn't spend more time in and with this sub plot. I felt like it was really important! For Grace as a person but also - considering the ending of the sub plot - for the ace aro rep in books.
The sub plot around Grace's bff was also not as great as it could have been. Was a lot of it only happening in Grace head? Was her anxiety to blame? I don't think so. I really don't. And yet I feel like actions didn't really have as many consequences as they should have. There seemed to be a lack of communication happening. I'm not saying she should have ended that friendship, but if you look at Kana's bff and compare her to Grace's, - even though Rumi can be stubborn too - she still seems like the healthier and better friend.
Apart from those two sub plots, I also felt like Grace's search for self love and acceptance was still left open. Yes, those are hard things to tackle and yes you won't change your ways and views that fast, but I still felt like Grace got the shorter end of the stick in regards to development.
So this leaves me with a book that was not bad, but rather fluffy. A book that had great characters and an interesting take on aroness. And a story, that taught me a lot about Japan and its culture.
Great stuff.
And yet it could have been more.
anniesdreaming's review
5.0
Meet You by Hachiko has been one of the cutest stories I have read this year. I loved that not only is the story heart-warming contemporary but that it also had a splash of adventure as well.
I connected with the two main characters, Grace and Kana, right away. I can remember going through situations like they went through causing similar feelings in my life many times over the years. I related to Grace the most as I feel that our personalities are almost exactly the same... makes me wonder if she is an INFJ(Meyers-Briggs) as well.
One of my favorite quotes of the book was "If you feel it's right, you have to act - because if you think too much about something, you might never find the courage to follow through." It spoke to me on such a deep level, I tend to overthink things quite a bit, and I feel that this is really good advice. Not only in regards to my life now but I wish that I had heard it when I was in High School. In taking it as advice it may not always work the way we think it will(as Grace found out), but at least in the end you can say that you did it.
I received a free copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
I connected with the two main characters, Grace and Kana, right away. I can remember going through situations like they went through causing similar feelings in my life many times over the years. I related to Grace the most as I feel that our personalities are almost exactly the same... makes me wonder if she is an INFJ(Meyers-Briggs) as well.
One of my favorite quotes of the book was "If you feel it's right, you have to act - because if you think too much about something, you might never find the courage to follow through." It spoke to me on such a deep level, I tend to overthink things quite a bit, and I feel that this is really good advice. Not only in regards to my life now but I wish that I had heard it when I was in High School. In taking it as advice it may not always work the way we think it will(as Grace found out), but at least in the end you can say that you did it.
I received a free copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
steffmau's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only*
'A student who might fall through the cracks, not for failing, but for failing to stand out.’
Boy, this line hit me. I immediately liked Grace and could feel the similarities literally within the Prologue. The feeling of invisibility throughout early life. I'm just glad that with age I was more comfortable in my own skin and could feel myself hoping Grace will too - not because she should, but because she may find her confidence and love for herself.
I literally was drawn to this read simply because of the title: Hachiko / Hachikō is one of my favourite films and stories so this was an immediate yes sign me up. For those who aren’t familiar, Hachikō was a Japanese Akita who is remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner, for waiting over 9 years for his owner to return but his owner had died. A statue lies where Hachikō would wait at Shibuya Station.
The story itself wasn’t about Hachikō, but the involvement made me smile all the same.
'If a person meets someone in Shibuya or becomes lost, they always find each other at Hachiko. Rumi and I do this, too.'
It’s a really delightful read with some likable and relatable characters. I loved the fact these friends became close overseas on their shared love for fashion. English being a small ‘barrier' but no barrier that can’t be overcome with translations and patience it was a joy to read. I think we’ve all made friends online too so think this story would appeal to most ages.
I’m also a sucker for mixed media so having their messages laid out was so lovely.
It's a read I would recommend and would love to read more by this author.
'A student who might fall through the cracks, not for failing, but for failing to stand out.’
Boy, this line hit me. I immediately liked Grace and could feel the similarities literally within the Prologue. The feeling of invisibility throughout early life. I'm just glad that with age I was more comfortable in my own skin and could feel myself hoping Grace will too - not because she should, but because she may find her confidence and love for herself.
I literally was drawn to this read simply because of the title: Hachiko / Hachikō is one of my favourite films and stories so this was an immediate yes sign me up. For those who aren’t familiar, Hachikō was a Japanese Akita who is remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner, for waiting over 9 years for his owner to return but his owner had died. A statue lies where Hachikō would wait at Shibuya Station.
The story itself wasn’t about Hachikō, but the involvement made me smile all the same.
'If a person meets someone in Shibuya or becomes lost, they always find each other at Hachiko. Rumi and I do this, too.'
It’s a really delightful read with some likable and relatable characters. I loved the fact these friends became close overseas on their shared love for fashion. English being a small ‘barrier' but no barrier that can’t be overcome with translations and patience it was a joy to read. I think we’ve all made friends online too so think this story would appeal to most ages.
I’m also a sucker for mixed media so having their messages laid out was so lovely.
It's a read I would recommend and would love to read more by this author.
letterfromafifah's review
3.0
First of all, thank you BookSirens for this review copy! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Told from two different POVs, the story revolves around the friendship between two friends, Grace and Kana. One is a Canadian and the other one is Japanese. They become friends online via an online forum of a Tokyo street fashion magazine. Due to her fall out with her best friend and Kana’s sudden disappearance, Grace makes a hasty decision to find Kana in Tokyo, unprepared.
In my opinion, what I like about the story is how relatable these two friends are. I can relate to Grace’s awkwardness and struggles and Kana’s exhaustion in studying for her exam. These two have their own set of struggles in different matters but are still able to become friends due to their same interests.
Other aspects that in my opinion become this story’s plus point is its detailed explanation about places in the story. For me, I may not really be able to visualize these places but for readers that have been there especially in Tokyo and surrounding areas, it is easier for them to imagine these places and their environment when reading the story.
For me, this story is painfully slow-paced in the early chapters but improving after Grace's fallout with her best friend. I don't know why but it may be because of the description of the scenes. Plus, the other reason is maybe that this story is not a genre that I usually read, it takes a lot of time for me to warm up with it. In general, this story is quite nice although the pace is slow for me. Plus, I like the friendship theme of the story. I give this story ⅗ stars.
Told from two different POVs, the story revolves around the friendship between two friends, Grace and Kana. One is a Canadian and the other one is Japanese. They become friends online via an online forum of a Tokyo street fashion magazine. Due to her fall out with her best friend and Kana’s sudden disappearance, Grace makes a hasty decision to find Kana in Tokyo, unprepared.
In my opinion, what I like about the story is how relatable these two friends are. I can relate to Grace’s awkwardness and struggles and Kana’s exhaustion in studying for her exam. These two have their own set of struggles in different matters but are still able to become friends due to their same interests.
Other aspects that in my opinion become this story’s plus point is its detailed explanation about places in the story. For me, I may not really be able to visualize these places but for readers that have been there especially in Tokyo and surrounding areas, it is easier for them to imagine these places and their environment when reading the story.
For me, this story is painfully slow-paced in the early chapters but improving after Grace's fallout with her best friend. I don't know why but it may be because of the description of the scenes. Plus, the other reason is maybe that this story is not a genre that I usually read, it takes a lot of time for me to warm up with it. In general, this story is quite nice although the pace is slow for me. Plus, I like the friendship theme of the story. I give this story ⅗ stars.
booksbydany's review
3.0
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Well, this was my first Book Sirens read and I liked it a lot, this is a young adult very very fresh. In this story, we follow the friendship of two girls that live in opposite places in the world.
Momokawa Kana is a senior in a Tokyo high school, she loves fashion and wants to enter Nishi Gaidai University so badly that she has cram school almost every day after her classes.
Grace Ryan lives in Newfoundland, Canada, she is a very shy and average girl, but she wants to be a little more noticed in school, also she loves to make her own cloth and accessories, she is a fashion fan like Momokawa.
Momokawa and Grace meet in an online fashion magazine called Sweet, and there starts a beautiful long-distance friendship.
I liked this book a lot but it was a little too slow pacing for me. I loved the descriptions of Japan that took me there in my imagination but in some scenes, I needed more details.
Thank you very much to the author and Book Sirens for the Arc.
Well, this was my first Book Sirens read and I liked it a lot, this is a young adult very very fresh. In this story, we follow the friendship of two girls that live in opposite places in the world.
Momokawa Kana is a senior in a Tokyo high school, she loves fashion and wants to enter Nishi Gaidai University so badly that she has cram school almost every day after her classes.
Grace Ryan lives in Newfoundland, Canada, she is a very shy and average girl, but she wants to be a little more noticed in school, also she loves to make her own cloth and accessories, she is a fashion fan like Momokawa.
Momokawa and Grace meet in an online fashion magazine called Sweet, and there starts a beautiful long-distance friendship.
I liked this book a lot but it was a little too slow pacing for me. I loved the descriptions of Japan that took me there in my imagination but in some scenes, I needed more details.
Thank you very much to the author and Book Sirens for the Arc.