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A review by yourstrulyemi
I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn
emotional
inspiring
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
3.5
Contains spoilers
This book is rated 3.5/5
Not bad. I mean, for a slice of life written in the first person’s view, really not bad. Those who know my reading preferences know how much I dislike the first-person narrative, as I prefer to have access to the inner feelings of all major characters and get to know their motivation. But yeah I love you so mochi really wasn’t so bad.
However, the romance in the book was underwhelming, and that fact stood out for me even more because I went in expecting fluffy romance. I have nothing to say about Kimi, she’s a normal girl with her passions, her hobbies, her struggles, her flaws and all that. Compared to her, Akira is Mister Perfect. I’ve rambled about it to my friends when we read the book together, but the fact that everything about him made him into a person that just so conveniently happens to benefit Kimi in every way, made him such an unrealistic character in a story that is supposed to be relatable due to its realism. He’s perfect in every way, he has no flaws. Even when their relationship meets an obstacle, it’s because he’s worrying about someone else, which once again contributes to his qualities instead of his flaws. Akira having lived his entire life in Japan, a cultural barrier that they both need to overcome with some awkward moments, would have been more enjoyable to read in my opinion.
But thankfully, Kimi’s story with her family, how she manages to reconnect everyone and finds her passion alongside it are what made the book truly shine. My favorite moments by far were those Kimi spent with her grandparents, two interesting and adorable individuals. Seeing them warm up to Kimi and her open up to them little by little was heartening. They became her home in a country she was so unfamiliar with, while also teaching her about herself and her family. The author managed to tell a very touching story where Kimi collects all the missing puzzles and puts them together to figure out who she is.
The author also has the talent for writing feelings in a way that they’re so relatable, almost as if the reader was also going through them. Besides, Kimi trying to figure out her future is a common struggle young people go through, so it easily resonates with many.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I just wished the romance in this book didn’t exist so that we could see more family bonding moments.
This book is rated 3.5/5
Not bad. I mean, for a slice of life written in the first person’s view, really not bad. Those who know my reading preferences know how much I dislike the first-person narrative, as I prefer to have access to the inner feelings of all major characters and get to know their motivation. But yeah I love you so mochi really wasn’t so bad.
However, the romance in the book was underwhelming, and that fact stood out for me even more because I went in expecting fluffy romance. I have nothing to say about Kimi, she’s a normal girl with her passions, her hobbies, her struggles, her flaws and all that. Compared to her, Akira is Mister Perfect. I’ve rambled about it to my friends when we read the book together, but the fact that everything about him made him into a person that just so conveniently happens to benefit Kimi in every way, made him such an unrealistic character in a story that is supposed to be relatable due to its realism. He’s perfect in every way, he has no flaws. Even when their relationship meets an obstacle, it’s because he’s worrying about someone else, which once again contributes to his qualities instead of his flaws. Akira having lived his entire life in Japan, a cultural barrier that they both need to overcome with some awkward moments, would have been more enjoyable to read in my opinion.
But thankfully, Kimi’s story with her family, how she manages to reconnect everyone and finds her passion alongside it are what made the book truly shine. My favorite moments by far were those Kimi spent with her grandparents, two interesting and adorable individuals. Seeing them warm up to Kimi and her open up to them little by little was heartening. They became her home in a country she was so unfamiliar with, while also teaching her about herself and her family. The author managed to tell a very touching story where Kimi collects all the missing puzzles and puts them together to figure out who she is.
The author also has the talent for writing feelings in a way that they’re so relatable, almost as if the reader was also going through them. Besides, Kimi trying to figure out her future is a common struggle young people go through, so it easily resonates with many.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I just wished the romance in this book didn’t exist so that we could see more family bonding moments.