Her flaws were a journey; those trauma and fears, to speak up on the truth and how she fights back— her characterization was the best! Her friends help her in this but also then help her to develop her ability to “do Mika”, to be her authentic self, and especially to reconnect with the art practice she lost at college.

I hope readers will find whatever they’re looking for within the pages, whether it’s a story about love or a deeper story about healing from trauma. It's a beautifully written exploration of relationships, mothers and daughters, adult friendship, and the complexities of adoption. But I think what it means overall is there are things that we put in the water, and we don’t know where they’ll end up. We equip them with everything we can, but we really don’t know what storms they’re gonna face and what leaks they’re going to spring.Amidst the backdrop of cherry blossoms, castles, and royal life, she has real-world struggles trying to fit in to two cultures.

There are some aspects that didn’t feel entirely believable to me, but there are also plenty of decent character and relationship moments, as well as good banter and emotion. Even with the heavy topics however, the overall tone of the book was lighthearted and hopeful, with humor playing a significant role in the narrative.

Penny announces that she has spent her birthday money on a flight to Portland to meet Mika, visit her home and attend her big gallery opening. However, I did appreciate that the deception plot only lasted half the book; that was unexpected and I was fully prepared to have it last the entire book and not be revealed/fall apart until the end. But even though I was not really surprised at any point, I was still engaged and entertained throughout. This book is such a relatable book and fuck I have a soft spot for relatable and realistic fiction book.