Read for: Netgalley/ Requested Review
Synopsis: ""When it comes to fight or flight, I always choose to run like hell.”
Isa planned the perfect summer:
Tokyo and the Summer Olympics — check.
Helping her best friend prepare for the marathon — check.
Forgetting she's in love with Masa — double check.
But when Isa's mother is hospitalized, she has to abandon her summer plans to run the family's Tokyo business. Masa’s offer to help makes it impossible for Isa to ignore him — and the firecracker kiss they shared half a world away. Everyone expects the world of her, but the pressure to please them all is as oppressive as the Tokyo summer heat. The simplest answer to all her problems? Run."
My Review: This was a requested review from Netgalley, the book was received in exchange for an honest review. I don't read a lot of New Adult or a lot of contemporary romance but I was intrigued by both the title and the synopsis. I ended really enjoying the characters and the storyline. I did have to remind myself a few times that the characters were over 20 years old and that this wasn't a YA novel, it just had that younger voice occasionally. I was able to connect with Isa with regards to her need to plan everything, but I loved Masa's little haikus throughout the book, they were like little extra spots of sunshine. The push and pull of the relationship between Isa and Masa got to be a little tiring but it was worth it in the long run. I will say that some of the terms used for places or things in Tokyo were not easy to understand or clear what they meant (I actually had to go look up what a ryokan was), so this took me out of the story a few times. It was a very enjoyable, light read, perfect for the end of summer.
Isa planned the perfect summer:
Tokyo and the Summer Olympics — check.
Helping her best friend prepare for the marathon — check.
Forgetting she's in love with Masa — double check.
But when Isa's mother is hospitalized, she has to abandon her summer plans to run the family's Tokyo business. Masa’s offer to help makes it impossible for Isa to ignore him — and the firecracker kiss they shared half a world away. Everyone expects the world of her, but the pressure to please them all is as oppressive as the Tokyo summer heat. The simplest answer to all her problems? Run."
My Review: This was a requested review from Netgalley, the book was received in exchange for an honest review. I don't read a lot of New Adult or a lot of contemporary romance but I was intrigued by both the title and the synopsis. I ended really enjoying the characters and the storyline. I did have to remind myself a few times that the characters were over 20 years old and that this wasn't a YA novel, it just had that younger voice occasionally. I was able to connect with Isa with regards to her need to plan everything, but I loved Masa's little haikus throughout the book, they were like little extra spots of sunshine. The push and pull of the relationship between Isa and Masa got to be a little tiring but it was worth it in the long run. I will say that some of the terms used for places or things in Tokyo were not easy to understand or clear what they meant (I actually had to go look up what a ryokan was), so this took me out of the story a few times. It was a very enjoyable, light read, perfect for the end of summer.
My Rating: I loved the smattering of poetry throughout the book, though I wish there had been more, but it made what was there even more important. I really enjoyed this one despite the few difficulties. I give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag.
It's always nice when you read something out of your comfort zone and it ends up being great. I think the parts that threw you out of the story would bother me. Especially in a light contemporary read.
ReplyDeleteI find with the few books I have read set in Japan, there is a little struggle with the setting or locations. I am sure it goes both ways, but it was really fun to read this book.
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