Review: I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn

I Love You So Mochi

by Sarah Kuhn

May 28, 2019

308 pages

Goodreads Summary:

Kimi Nakamura loves a good fashion statement.

She's obsessed with transforming everyday ephemera into Kimi Originals: bold outfits that make her and her friends feel like the Ultimate versions of themselves. But her mother disapproves, and when they get into an explosive fight, Kimi's entire future seems on the verge of falling apart. So when a surprise letter comes in the mail from Kimi's estranged grandparents, inviting her to Kyoto for spring break, she seizes the opportunity to get away from the disaster of her life.

When she arrives in Japan, she's met with a culture both familiar and completely foreign to her. She loses herself in the city's outdoor markets, art installations, and cherry blossom festival -- and meets Akira, a cute aspiring med student who moonlights as a costumed mochi mascot. And what begins as a trip to escape her problems quickly becomes a way for Kimi to learn more about the mother she left behind, and to figure out where her own heart lies.

In I Love You So Mochi, author Sarah Kuhn has penned a delightfully sweet and irrepressibly funny novel that will make you squee at the cute, cringe at the awkward, and show that sometimes you have to lose yourself in something you love to find your Ultimate self.

Review

With relatable family drama, adorable friendships and an uplifting romance, I Love You So Mochi was just the kind of read I needed- a happy and hopeful story!

Japan is a country I've always wanted to explore and after finishing I Love You So Mochi, Kyoto might just be my first stop. Kimi visited some memorable places but of all of them, the Fushimi Inari Taisha with its thousands of toriis sounds like THE sight to behold. I would love to challenge myself to those steps!

Even though Kimi was unsure of what she wanted to do with her life, she didn't just blindly follow her mother's wishes. Kimi was her own person. She was like a flower- ready to bloom but needing just a little more watering. It took Kimi some time and distance (literally) to figure herself out but once she did, her confidence was radiant. Not to mention she was talented as hell. Her Kimi Originals sound amazing.

While the cover of I Love You So Mochi suggests it's a romance, the heart of the story was about family. It was sometimes awkward but always touching to watch Kimi bond with her estranged grandparents. I really liked that she was able to share her (mom and boy) troubles with them. Despite having made some poor choices in their pasts, Kimi's Ojiichan and Obaachan gave her some wise advice. "If you want something, you have to say it out loud and to the correct person." (p. 169)

Kimi and Akira were so supportive of each other but I had some reservations about their relationship. Their romance was a bit of a whirlwind, happening fast in a short period of time. I found myself just not quite believing considering their age. I also want to point out that Akira had near perfect English. Although not exactly relevant to the overall story, it bothered me. I wish that little detail was filled in.

I Love You So Mochi was a relatable story with fun characters. It was heartwarming and sweet. Read it and it just might inspire you!

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the copy I received.