DNF @ 33%. I'm sure Mika is on a great path of redemption and she's going to get her life together and come out on top, but man, I have never related to a character less and I find myself just angry with her terrible decisions and lack of motivation to fix her life. Emiko Jean is a fantastic writer and I have no doubt that this book will find a home with the right readers, so I will still be recommending this one to my patrons who want a little bit of escapism. It's just not for me.

*Publish date 8/9/22. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for the advanced ecopy.*

I thoroughly enjoyed Mika in Real Life by Emiko Jean. It is a poignant story that explores mother/daughter relationships, dreams, and self-worth. At 35, Mika Suzuki's life is in shambles - she has lost her job, her boyfriend, and her home. Her phone rings while she is in Target, and it is the daughter she gave up for adoption 16 years prior, Penelope Calvin. As the two explore their developing relationship, Mika is forced to explore the rocky one she has with her own mother. There are moments where I laughed out loud and moments where I choked up. The friends that come along side Mika as well as Penelope's adoptive parents complete the characters that you will grow to love as they all learn to pursue dreams and loves themselves.

I highly recommend this book!

Emiko Jean consistently publishes such noteworthy and wonderful books. She is quickly becoming an auto-read auto for me.

35 year old Mika Suzuki is a Japanese-American woman who is struggling to figure out her life. She’s been recently fired from her job, lives with her best friend in her house, has a messy relationship with her parents, and cannot find the right partner. On the day she gets fired from her job, she receives a phone call from her sixteen-year-old daughter Penny, who she had given up for adoption. Penny asks if they can start talking and ultimately flies to Portland to meet her, all behind her adoptive father’s back. Penny’s entry into Mika’s life could be the change that Mika needs, but will she be enough for her daughter?

This book did an excellent job of exploring personal identity and how it is intertwined with the identities/roles we have in our families. Mika so badly wants to be a woman Penny would be proud of, and she goes to great lengths to convince her of this (even if it is a dishonest depiction). Still, at the end of the day, family does (or at least should) love you for you, messiness and all. Penny’s character was so well done, and Jean really captured the complexity of “teenage-girl-ness” with some added layers. The choice to incorporate letters from Caroline and Thomas (the adoptive parents) to Mika as a way to fill in some of the gaps was a really smart move and was essential to the plot. While there weren’t really any “surprises” in this story, it was heartfelt, relatable, and a joy to read.

Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review 8/2/22

“Maybe this was her chance at redemption. Absolution. A way to go back in time and make things right. It was a twisted logic, but there it was - her chance to gain back what she had lost.”

35 year old Mika Suzuki is struggling…in her personal, professional and spiritual life, when the phone rings. On the other end is the 16 year old daughter she gave up for adoption and Mika’s already chaotic life is sent into a tailspin. This launches a journey of discovery for both the reader and Mika herself. What kind of a mother, daughter, friend, lover should she be or could she be, while being true to herself and to her heritage?

I was captivated with this novel which addresses some important topics with grace, thoughtfulness and Emiko Jean’s signature sharp dialogue, and look forward to discussing it with other readers!
Thank You NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Mika Suziki is a first generation Japanese American woman, who gave up a baby for adoption when she was 19 years old. Now 35, unemployed, and struggling to find herself, she receives a phone call while walking through Target from Penny, her now 16 year old daughter. Penny wants to meet Mika, but who is Mika in Real Life?
I loved this book! I loved reading as Mika and Penny got to know each other. I loved learning about the cultural differences between Mika’s family life, and her parents, and Penny’s family. I enjoyed learning how adoptions impact everyone-the child, the biological parent, the adoptive parent, and the grandparents. Mika and Penny’s adoptive father start off on a rocky footing-he’s had some recent upheavals in his life, and is unsure how Penny meeting Mika will work for Penny and for himself.
And Mika is quite a character! She’s a bit strong-willed, but she’s suffered a trauma that impacts her even in her adulthood. She struggles with relationships, and she struggles with accepting herself and reaching for what she wants.
As the story unfolds, Emiko Jean tells a beautiful story of parenthood, childhood, family, friendship and community. I really loved this story!
Thank you to #netgalley and #williammorrow for the advanced e-copy of #mikainreallife. This book was read as an early read for the Thoughts from a Page podcast. Thank you to Cindy Burnett for working to obtain this great book and I look forward to the author discussion later this month!

I really enjoyed this book that has two main themes, relationships between mothers and daughters and self discovery. Combining light-hearted humor, a dash of romance, and occasional pathos, it has elements to appeal to a broad spectrum of reading tastes. I also appreciated that it defied formulaic narrative solutions. More than once, I thought I knew the direction the book was taking, and instead it veered in an unexpected way. Perfect for readers who want an easy read that takes on substantive issues.

MIKA IN REAL LIFE is a #ownvoices contemporary fiction story that has emotional depth with a sweet side of romance.

The story follows Mika after she gives up her daughter Penny for adoption after an unexpected pregnancy. 16 years later Mika’s life looks nothing like the life she once dreamed of. When Penny and her widowed father reach out to connect with Mika she attempts to create an impressive life, even if it is all an illusion.

The story explored themes of complicated mother-daughter relationships, moving forward after sexual assault, and grieving what could of been in a thoughtful way. I like how the author captured the nuances of adoption and addressed aspects specific to transracial adoption. The author’s #ownvoices perspective brought to life aspects of Japanese culture that I found so interesting.

I found the characters to be flawed but endearing and enjoyed watching them grow. Pick up MIKA IN REAL LIFE for a quick, yet thought-provoking read.

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: August 9, 2022

Thank you to William Morrow, NetGalley, and Thoughts from A Page Podcast for providing me with an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh wow, this far exceeded my expectations! An excellent piece of woman’s fiction, one of my favorite genres and far superior to just a typical romcom. Mika is a hot mess and her journey of self-growth was beautiful, inspired by her daughter Penny to better her life. The side characters added so much to the story, aside from her awesome relationship with her best friend Hanna, I also liked the closure she got with her ex-bf Lief. The slow burn romance was everything! The letters we got to see from Penny’s adoptive parents added a lot to the story and I actually cried while reading the last one. I loved Emiko Jean’s YA work but this is my new favorite of hers. I can’t wait to see what she writes next! I’ll be recommending this to everyone who is a fan of this genre.

Thank you @williammorrowbooks and @thoughtsfromapage for my physical and NetGalley ARCs of Mika in Real Life!

Pub date: 8/2/22
Genre: family drama, own voices, coming of age
In one sentence: Mika's life is turned upside down when Penny, the daughter she gave up for adoption, decides she wants to get to know her - but who is Mika in real life?

Emiko Jean's #TokyoEverAfter series is a wonderful YA treat, so I knew I had to read this non-YA fiction. If you love stories about mothers and daughters, you need to read it too! It gave me Little Fires Everywhere vibes since Penny was adopted into a white family, but the focus on and evolution of Mika and Penny's relationship kept the story fresh and unique.

Mika is a well-drawn character I loved getting to know - she carried a lot of pain and trauma, and I was rooting so hard for her to find healing and her path forward. I also related to 16-year-old Penny's struggles with identity and grief, and I enjoyed seeing her learn about her Japanese heritage and question why she was isolated from it for so long.

I was in tears by the end of this book, which is super high praise for me. I also ended up reading it in one day (despite Owen's attempts to distract me)!

I'm betting lots of other readers will love this one too! 4.5 stars rounded to 5!

4.5 🌟

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for providing me with an arc of 'Mika in Real Life' in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this was my first Emiko Jean book and definitely won't be my last. Mika Suzuki is a Japanese-American woman in her thirties whose life is a total mess. Barely making ends meet, Mika's dealt with a lot of losses in her life: losing her job, her last relationship, her love for art, and most importantly the daughter she put up for adoption sixteen years ago. One day out of the blew everything begins to change Mika's life for the better when she receives a phone call from Penny, her biological daughter whom she's had no contact with before.

I loved how this story explores the many complex relationships in Mika's life including her new connection with her birth daughter, her broken relationship with her mother, and a new budding romance forming as well. The novel sheds light on the struggles both immigrants and their children face in America and the numerous expectations on what it means to parent and how to be a good one at that. I really enjoyed all the references to Japanese culture and learned a lot about the traditions shared within her family.

Emiko did a great job creating characters that you don't want to let go of! I hope we get a sequel that focuses on Hana, Mika's best friend because she definitely deserves her own book.

If you need please make sure to check trigger warnings before reading which I've listed below:
TW: rape, cancer, death of a parent

While this wasn't an OMG amazing everyone should read it book, it was perfectly pleasant. A second tier purchase

I loved seeing what Emiko Jean could do with women's fiction after loving her YA novels Tokyo Ever After and Tokyo Dreaming. Fiction has lots of complicated mother/daughter relationships between first-gen Americans and their immigrant parents, but as a Japanese American it's weirdly refreshing to see a JA character who's a hot mess and disappointment to her parents. Mika didn’t just bust the model minority myth, she ran it over with a Mack truck.

In college, Mika was sexually assaulted by an art school classmate and her half Japanese baby is adopted by a white family in Ohio. Sixteen years later, her birth daughter tracks her down and wants to get to know her. Mika has had annual updates over the years as part of the conditions of adoption, but an in-person relationship is a whole other thing. Especially when at 35, she was fired from her last job, her roommate is a semi-hoarder and her relationship with her parents is tenuous at best. But she has to make a good impression on Penny and invents the life she wishes she had. It’s one visit, what could go wrong?

Mika in Real Life is a book with real emotional depth. As Mika comes to grips with everything, her revelations shed light on complicated mother/daughter relationships and the downsides of parents treating their children like a do-over for everything they never got to do or be. But what makes it a worthwhile read is that Penny’s visit is only half the story. Mika finds a way to get back on track, so while it’s sometimes brutally honest, it’s also hopeful.

CW: rape, panic attacks, hoarding, grief/death of a parent (spouse)

Mika in Real Life tells the story of Mika Suzuki and the child she gave up for adoption 16 years ago, Penny. Though it was a closed adoption, Penny finds Mika and initiates a relationship with her. Mika, in an effort to both impress Penny and not make her feel like she derailed her birth mother's life, puts a *very* positive spin on her life, which has turned out to be a bit of a mess. Of course, all the lies catch up with her, and how Mika and Penny pick up the pieces afterward make up the best part of this book.

I found the first 100 or so pages to be a challenge to read because I was just barrelling towards the inevitable trainwreck as Mika weaves in more and more lies. You know (from the synopsis) that Penny will discover the truth, so reading about all the lies piling on is tough. But once the ish hits the fan, the story really comes to life. I flew through the last two-thirds of the book, waiting to see how the author would put all the pieces back together.

I also LOVED all the references to Japanese culture, tradition, language, and food - they are beautifully woven throughout the story and really deepen the experience of reading this book. I was learning about what it means to be Japanese right along with Penny, which was very special.

Lastly, (and I knew this going in having loved Emiko Jean's earlier work Tokyo Ever After) this author writes teenagers so well. They are teenager-y but not cringe-y. She really has a gift for bringing these characters to life in a compelling and identifiable way. Thank you for that!

There was a lot going on with Mika's relationships (with her parents, her daughter, and a love interest. I enjoyed it and Mika's growth.

The author tugged at my heart while I was reading this story. A lot of feelings are discussed by the Mika, the main character. She is not perfect and at age 35 she unexpectedly meets her 16 year old daughter that she gave up for adoption when she herself was a teenager. Raised by traditional Japanese parents who moved to America, Mika was never able to move forward in her life, always blaming herself. Without a purpose in life and many failed relationships including the one with her own mother, she was unfulfilled. While delving into her past, she allows the reader to fully understand the circumstances and experience her full range of emotions. Honesty and love drive the story home as we can’t help rooting for Mika and her new found relationships. #MikaInRealLife #EmikoJean #NetGalley

I have VERY mixed feelings about this book, but not in a bad way, just in a not-entirely-positive way. I think the story, characters, and themes of this book were great, but the way this was written felt like it would work better as a screenplay for a show--the writing managed to do well with the imagery, but it seemed a little out of place.

I also think the first half of the book was a little unnecessary. There were essentially two conflicts, two climaxes, and two resolutions, and it felt like there were two options that would've made this much better. Option 1 would be to split this into two book. There's already a lot to work with, and if there was extra room to have things sit for a bit, it wouldn't feel like we were flying through the story. This would make the events have a little more impact, and I think it would help make the resolution feel like it was earned, rather than sitting back and two chapters later everything's okay.

Option 2 would be to cut the first half entirely. I think most everything in the synopsis happened in the first half (except for the romance) and that meant we were going into the second half blind--I also think the "I lied about pretty much my whole life and now I have to fake it til I make it" plot line is a little overdone, with little time spent on the setup and execution, which made the climax feel odd. If it was just the second half--Penny contacting Mika, getting to know each other, Penny signing up for the summer program, and everything playing out from there--I feel like there would be the extra room to have story beats sit for a minute, and it wouldn't feel like a second book. Overall, the second half has much better pacing than the first, and I think if this option were taken, it would take little work to redo some important bits, and the book would be even better than before.

All in all, I really liked this story, the characters, the themes and relationships, and I really enjoyed reading this, but there were some pacing issues that I felt could've been easily solved.

Lots to unpack in this book about Mika, a Japanese-American woman in her 30's who gave up a daughter (Penny) for adoption when she was in college. When Penny turns 16 she contacts Mika and the events of the book begin. Mika has really done nothing with her life but has painted a very different picture for Penny in their phone conversations. When Penny tells Mika that she is coming to visit, Mika has to get her life together fast. This would make a great book club book.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Having read and enjoyed Emiko Jean's YA work, I was excited for her adult debut and it didn't disappoint! This book is a slow-paced exploration of motherhood, identity, chasing dreams, the often-changing shape of those dreams, and the traumas and pressures we inherit.

It took me a while to get into the narrative, but once it got going, it was gripping. There isn't much of a plot apart from the narrative thread that pushes this story into motion; instead it is focused on character, and it does it well, since all the main characters are complex, not always likeable but always engaging, and each go on their own journey of growth and discovery. I would have liked to see more from some of the important secondary characters but they never felt two-dimensional. The Japanese cultural elements felt like a natural part of the story and never shoe-horned for the sake of diversity.

I'll be keenly looking out for the author's next book!

4.5 ⭐️I am a big fan of Emiko Jean's writing style, and this book was beautiful and heartwarming.

Mika Suzuki is a Japanese- American woman in her mid thirties who's life is a mess. She got fired from her job, lives at her best friends house, her last relationship ended poorly and her parents view her as a failure. When she receives a phone call from Penny, the daughter she put up for adoption sixteen years ago, Mika's life begins to change for the better. But, of course, who's to say there wouldn't be some speed bumps along the way...

I loved how this story explored the many complex relationships in Mika's life: her new connection with her birth daughter, her broken relationship with her mother, her budding romance with Thomas and her lifelong friendships with her friends. Jean did a great job balancing all of these components within the story in a way that feels real and natural. One of my favorite parts was the Interstitial chapters, which detailed the yearly update Mika got from the adoption agency about Penny's life.

Emiko always does a great job creating characters that you don't want to let go of! I hope we get a sequel !!

Read this if you like:
-Asian American characters
-Japanese representation
-Mother/ daughter relationships
-Stories about love and self-discovery
-Family drama

Thank you William Harrow and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review 8/2/22.

This book was wonderful. Emiko Jean weaves a tale discussing the complexities of adoption & family brilliantly. I really loved reading Mika's story and being able to see the growth of not just her characters, but of various other characters like Penny & Thomas. This is definitely a novel you will wanna keep an eye out for this August.