Fluttering cherry blossoms, gorgeous kimonos and sweet and sorrowful love.
For cake-loving college girl Hana, Japan was the romantic destination of her dreams. With boyfriend Jin she planned an exciting new life in the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. But when she finally arrives after months of planning, Jin isn't there.
Hana is left broken-hearted on a rainy Tokyo street. Jin left no note. One day he just walked out of classes and disappeared.
Hana begins her new life alone. Watching cherry blossoms fall into the Tokyo river. Working hard and delivering her lovely home-baked cakes by orange bicycle. Then she meets handsome young farmer Hikaru, and glimpses a new way forward - in an alien place where she doesn't know a soul.
The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery is a sweet romance with a hint of magic realism. It's a perfect book to carry with you and read on holiday or weekends.
Purchase Links - Amazon US here / Amazon UK here
Review
Hana loves baking and her boyfriend Jin, but when she arrives in Tokyo to join him, he's vanished. Lost and alone, she slowly makes new friends and builds a life there. But is working in a vegetable shop what she really wants?
This is a magically sweet novel, filled to the brim with dreamy prose and delicious food. I was initially annoyed by Hana's passivity - going overseas to find your boyfriend missing generally invites a stronger reaction - then again, my mom was so mad at my dad for being late to pick her up from the airport, she missed the way his entire bumper was caved in by the old guy who'd turned in front of him, so my family's tolerance for overseas abandonment is obviously quite low. Nonetheless, I appreciated how Hana slowly built herself up, making connections and choices that brought the book to a satisfying conclusion.
I'm not sure how I feel about Jin. Without spoilers, he seemed like more of a catalyst than a character. Regardless, his poor communication skills left Hana in the lurch and I feel like she deserved a bit more of a resolution on that front.
The cast of characters - mainly Hana's parents and her new friends in Tokyo, all get minor arcs as well, as if their own stories are peeking around the corner. Some felt a little rushed, but that's understandable given that this is Hana's story, not theirs.
This dreamy novel is like a meringue, airy and sweet though perhaps light on substance. The only thing it's missing are recipes because Hana's cooking has left me seriously hungry!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own
Author Bio
Su Young Lee is a Korean romance author who lived in Tokyo, Japan for 10 years and now lives in London, England with her husband and two lovely cats.
Su works in academic publishing and loves baking, playing piano and working on her calligraphy.
Check her blog here: https://suyoungleesblog.wordpress.com
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