My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genres:
Contemporary Romance, NA Romance,
NA Fiction, NA Contemporary
NA Fiction, NA Contemporary
Blurb:
For as long as Emily Johnson can remember, it has been her dream to become a mangaka, a Japanese manga illustrator. But when she finally moves to Tokyo to start her junior year of college at Tokyo International University, things don't go exactly as planned. One crazy idea might be all it takes to help her break into the industry, but will it do more harm than good? To make matters worse, after a lifetime of feeling left out, Emily finally has a group of "real-life" friends who genuinely seem to like her—including Akio, an easy-going photography student she can't help but find attractive. Her mind knows that she needs to keep her distance from Akio, in order to protect her secret. But her wayward heart seems to have other ideas. Will Emily finally find enough courage to be herself and find that "paper dreams" really do come true?
–––––––-–––––––––📖–––––––-–––––––––
“For a wish that I can’t tell you yet,” he finally answered.
When Akio (the main guy) said this to Emily, I just knewwwww it had to be about her because that’s sooooo flippin’ romantic!! 😍😭
 |
| this gif is kind of creeping me out lol |
So, I loved that the book took place in Japan, I don’t know...there’s just something so interesting about a foreign location for a story’s backdrop! And it was fun/interesting to read about the Japanese culture.
Akio was just swoonyyyy as heck. And Hamada was such a precious sweetheart. Oh. My. Gosh. And even though Emily and Michi has their ups and downs, I lovedddd their friendship and I think it was definitely realistic.
 |
| and so do i 👍 |
I highlighted sooooo much and made little notes along the way, lol. 🙈😂
"Some people will follow you; others won’t. And that’s okay. No matter what you do, there will be people who don’t like you or the work you’ve created. Even if it is ‘perfect’ in the eyes of most. But if you don’t believe in your work, you’ll never convince anyone else to believe in it either."
Note: Thisssss
I just think this part says SO much. It was incredibly encouraging for me. 😊
📖
A spark of energy shot through Emily’s right hand. She glanced up to see Akio’s hand on top of hers.
📖
“Mii-chan,” Emily protested, which was difficult as she ran to keep up with Michi’s long legs. She whined like an obnoxious child until Michi finally halted to a stop in front of her business building.
“Ugh! Fine. I’ll tell you. Just so you’ll stop that horrible sound.”
Lovedddd this!!
📖
She extended a hand to him, and she pulled him up. But when she went to take her hand back, he held tight. “Please, I just….”
She smiled up at him, even though her heart hammered. “Of course.” And she slid her hand in the rest of the way, back into his own.
📖
His dark eyes glazed over as he gazed out at the scenery. “I know it’s totally cliché, but the truth is, if she’s happy then I’m happy for her.” He gave Emily a small smile. “Even if that means she’s not with me,” he added softly.
THIS WAS SO SAD AND BEAUTIFUL.
📖
“I’m just walking around the neighborhood. I haven’t been able to sleep lately. Walking helps me think.”
“It’s freezing out,” she softly scolded him, “you shouldn’t be out there. You’ll get sick.”
😭😭
📖
The whole ordeal had made her realize something; life really was too short to keep secrets. She wanted to be with him, wholeheartedly. Even if it couldn’t be right now.
📖
“Hamada-kun?” Emily whispered.
He looked up from his tray. The pain in his eyes made Emily’s want to instantly fill up with tears, and she detested crying in public. “I really, really don’t want to talk about it.”
And with that, he picked up his tray and left.
Note: Oh. My. Gosh. 😩😭
📖
Akio and Emily spent the rest of their classes together that week discussing the possibilities of what had happened.
“I still think he told her he liked her,” Akio spouted off again during Thursday’s class.
“There’s no way!” Emily protested again. “Hamada-kun is way too shy to be that forward! They’ve only known each other a couple months!”
Note: I think it’s so cute when “couples” (or should be couples) talk about other “couples” (or should be couples)
📖
Their embrace was harder to sketch. It wasn’t something she could see. Just something she could feel. So she sketched those out instead. Swirls of feelings. Explosions of fear sprinkling into nervous butterflies. Shapes and figures filled the space, all encapsulated in a strong, warm circle.
Note: I love how this was describedddd.
📖
“Shut up!” she protested. “I can’t help it. Fangirls gonna fangirl.”
📖
“No, no!” he laughed. “Seriously, it’s fine! Don’t be embarrassed.”
He paused. “You fangirls just get really excited about stuff, huh?”
Emily snorted, peeking back out at him. “Yeah, that would be the world’s biggest understatement.”
Note: I need a guy like thissss. Who lets me freely fangirl, and encourages itttt.
 |
| all. day. every. day. |
I have sooooo many more highlights, which shows how much I lovedddd this book, but I'm not going to share them all...YOU just need to read the book for yourself!! 👏💗
As far as content goes: There is language. Nothing to crazy, but definitely more than a few curse words...so just a warning for those of you that don't prefer language in your reading. And because some readers may have a problem with it, I'm also going to mention that a major part of the plot revolves around Emily lying. Two characters end up falling asleep in the same bed because of certain circumstances, but nothing happens and it wasn't a "romantic" situation. Grief, anxiety, and anger are some of the major feelings that are experienced and talked about. I believeeeee there were also some tipsy moments, but nothing crazy or inappropriate happened.
Kayla did such a wonderful job with this story...the characters were lovable despite their flaws, and they were very well-developed. I seriously enjoyed the book so much!! 💕🙌
Anddddd one more highlight BECAUSE I CAN'T HELP MYSELF!!
"You’re mad at me, aren’t you,” she stated more than asked.
“I’m not mad.” Akio’s answer was hard, and it made her even more certain that she was right. But his voice softened as he continued, “I’m just worried.”
Kami-sama above, that was so cute. He was worried about her.
Note: That IS so cuteeeee
–––––––-–––––––––📖–––––––-–––––––––
About the Author:
Kayla Morgan has been writing ever since she discovered the wonderful world of fanfiction on the Nickelodeon Message Boards back in the early 2000's. Since that fateful day, she has been happy to live in her little fandom world.
When she's not writing, Kayla spends her days bingeing her latest obsession and dreaming of the day she can eat Tokyo's crepes once again.
Kayla lives in Canton, Ohio with her husband and their three adorable fur-babies.
