ahhh okay this book was so adorable!! i really liked getting a glimpse into life in Tokyo from a foreigner’s pov! it definitely made this book different and stand out to me compared to other romance books out right now, which was definitely my favorite aspect.

if you’re looking for a cute, simple read this is the book for you. although i really liked ryo’s character, i found bella really annoying. as someone who is the same age as her, i found her a little immature. their love story was cute and sappy but a bit all at once for me. i would definitely recommend this to young adults and teens!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley & Xpresso Book Tours!

Bella Bell is excited at the chance of leaving her boring office job behind even for a short period of time. Her boss offers her the opportunity to help open one of their companies’ cafes in Tokyo. On her flight from California, she meets a handsome but standoffish man she calls “The Frowner”. Ryo Yamada is forced, by family obligation, to leave behind the life he’s built for himself in California when his twin sister’s health begins to fail. He soon finds himself continuing to run into the annoying redhead from the plane.

A Warm Rainy Day in Tokyo is a light-hearted romance. While it’s not “love at first sight”, it’s pretty close to it. I love the author's use of Japanese culture and traditions. While Bella and Ryo are from very different backgrounds, Bella seems to have a general appreciation for Japan and is willing to learn from those around her. Ryo’s dedication to his family, especially his twin sister, is heartwarming.

My only issue with the book is the timeline. It was difficult to tell how much time passes at the end of the book.

I loved that this rom com was mostly set in Tokyo as quite frankly I'm kind of getting tried of seeing them set in the US or England. There are indeed other countries were rom coms can be set. And reading this one I almost felt like I was in Tokyo.

This book was cute at times and very silly at other times. Bella is your traditional Mary Sue character, knows everything, gets everything etc. she doesn’t really jump out to me as a main character, even though she definitely is likeable and relatable; especially the parts re: being in her 20s, starting life/job, and finding love. And I especially loved the representation. As someone who loves Japanese culture (and food) I loved reading about it in this book - it’s very rare to read a book not based in the states or UK. Wu obviously knows her stuff and does a great job portraying it to the reader. If this book was about travelling or finding oneself in Japan, or something, I would’ve loved it more.

However, after the romance starts it gets silly very fast. As adults they should behave… adult like, but instead their romance is a lot of immature bickering and then falling in love so quickly it gave me whiplash. There was little development in the romance sector, and as a lover of slow-burns, I felt like it was far too quick even by mainstream standards. Regardless of how unrealistic it felt, if you like a sappy, cutesy romance then this is for you. I think it’s catered more for young teens and not adults.

Although spring is just around the corner, the cold days of winter still linger. So, what better than to curl up with a romance and hide from the gloomy day?

Bella is in her early twenties, and she gets sent to Japan on a work trip. Ryo is returning from the States to care for his family. Romance ensues - set against the many facets of Tokyo.

I think a lot of the plot and romance relies on liking Bella, which I did not. I found her to be spoiled, entitled, and a bit generic. Having recently-ish left my early twenties, I get that a lot is new and overwhelming…and at the same time, Bella is on a particularly immature end of the spectrum. Like look, I get it - the economy is rough. I am always one step away from living at home. But even so!! I wanted to be like “GIRL!!! You are in JAPAN!!!” How many people get a paid work trip to Japan in their early twenties??

Ryo was sweet - I really felt for him and his obligation to take care of his sister and not trouble his mother! Relatable. I also like that he was the romantic lead because I feel like I rarely see a Japanese romantic male lead, but I wanted better for him!!! Sorry.

Life in Tokyo and the food/culture was nicely described. The supporting characters were okay - mostly forgettable (some sisters, other Americans, the café workers, and some of Ryo’s friends) except for Sara who was Bella’s foil maybe (or reflection of her own insecurities about her sister??). I am a little tired of the hard-working woman with a crush being the “villain” - she doesn’t have to be the love interest! Just let her be and live her life…or flesh her out and make her a better villain. ;)

This book was not really my cup of tea, but perhaps some other folks may enjoy the romance and journey in Tokyo. It's a 2.5 (rounded down to 2) for me, y'all.

I honestly wanted to read this one for two reasons. 1.) I really liked the cover and how vibrant it was 2.) I will read anything set in Japan. I know what I like! There were some really cute things in this story and I liked that it was a slow-burn romance. I did have a hard time with the writing and a couple other elements, but it was still a good read.

The book is told from two point-of-views, Bella and Ryo. I always like seeing two perspectives in a romance because its fun to get inside the guy’s head. I want to see how both of them felt about each other and how their feelings changed over time. Bella and Ryo definitely got off on the wrong foot, lol. It was pretty humorous, especially the plane ride. I honestly felt bad for Bella at that moment because I could completely understand her problem.

Both Bella and Ryo are dealing with their own personal issues outside of work. Ryo is a twin and his sister has health issues that started from the moment she was born. He feels responsible for it and so he tries his best to be there for her when she needs it most even if she wants him to just live his life. Bella doesn’t always get along with her mother, especially when it comes to pursuing what she enjoys as a job and going to college on the side. Her mother wants her to commit to college. It was interesting to see how they dealt with both of these situations.

The writing was probably my least favorite thing about this book. It’s not that it is poorly written but I just didn’t vibe with how the characters, especially Bella and her mom, acted at certain times. It just seemed very childish for their age. I am assuming it was meant to add humor but it was something that didn’t work for me.

Overall, this was good. It had its moments and I enjoyed the setting and seeing how the characters romance progressed throughout.

I make it a point to read any book set in Japan because I used to live there and I get grouchy when someone writes about Japan and makes stupid mistakes. Writer, write what you know! So, A Warm Rainy Day in Tokyo gets a very high score from me for getting Japan right. Wu obviously knows Japan and her setting works.

You get what you'd expect from this book. It's a pretty silly romance that seems unrealistic in today's world, but if you like a sappy romance, and you would enjoy a Tokyo setting, then perhaps this is your book. I imagine it would appeal to very young adults and perhaps some teenagers.

I was really looking forward to this, as the concept sounds so cute and sweet. Two strangers, both out of place in different ways, getting under each others skin and falling in love within a beautiful setting.

However good the concept is, though, the writing was a bit too juvenile for my stage in life and where I am in my reading. I also didn't find the characters very likeable, which is a problem for me if the characters in question are in a romance novel.