I Love You So Mochi

Kimi Mills is at a crossroads. Her mother expects her to be a fine arts painter, but Kimi's heart belongs to fashion design. Following a tense blowout, Kimi flies to Kyoto for spring break to stay with her grandparents. There, she explores the city's unique fashion scene, meets a charming boy named Akira, and uncovers the reasons behind her mother's estrangement from her family. SENSITIVE TOPICS: The book deals with parental estrangement and generational trauma in a realistic, secular manner. The resolution is hopeful, emphasizing communication and mutual understanding rather than a perfect fix. EMOTIONAL ARC: The story begins with a sense of stifled frustration and heaviness. It transitions into a vibrant, exploratory middle as Kimi finds her voice in Japan, and concludes with an uplifting, warm reconciliation. IDEAL READER: A high schooler who feels misunderstood by their parents or is struggling with 'imposter syndrome' in their creative pursuits. PARENT TRIGGER: The catalyst is a sharp disagreement where a child rejects their parent's specific vision for their future. PARENT PREP: The book can be read cold. Parents may want to discuss the scene where Kimi travels alone to a foreign country to ensure their teen understands safety, though the book handles it responsibly. AGE EXPERIENCE: Younger teens will focus on the sweet romance and the 'aesthetic' of Japan, while older teens will resonate deeply with the career anxiety and the nuances of the mother-daughter conflict. DIFFERENTIATOR: It stands out for its vivid, sensory descriptions of both food and fashion, making the setting feel like a character itself. The book also explores the pressures Kimi faces as her mother pushes her towards a career path that aligns with the 'model minority' stereotype, and shows how these expectations impact their relationship. """