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maryk8 's review for:
Mika in Real Life
by Emiko Jean
Enjoyable Chic Lit type book, with lots of depth and character development. Mika is in her early 30's when she is contacted by her daughter, Penny, whom she gave up for adoption when she was in college. The trauma from the events that lead to her giving the baby up for adoption has stagnated Mika's life as she drifts from job to job, never really finding a fulfilling career or romantic relationship.
As she begins a relationship with her daughter, Mika begins to take control of her personal and professional life as she finds a new job, forms new friendships, address issues with her parents, and ventures into a new romantic relationship.
Although Mika has experienced trauma in her past and has an artistic personality that is at odds with her traditional family, the author doesn't use the tropes of mental illness or being on the spectrum as a plot device. I appreciated her presenting a character who had bad things happen, as is what happens in real life, and although she faced setbacks and made some bad choices, she works through things to make a life for herself.
As she begins a relationship with her daughter, Mika begins to take control of her personal and professional life as she finds a new job, forms new friendships, address issues with her parents, and ventures into a new romantic relationship.
Although Mika has experienced trauma in her past and has an artistic personality that is at odds with her traditional family, the author doesn't use the tropes of mental illness or being on the spectrum as a plot device. I appreciated her presenting a character who had bad things happen, as is what happens in real life, and although she faced setbacks and made some bad choices, she works through things to make a life for herself.