This is a lovely and enjoyable story. Naomi lives in Japan and never knew her American father, so she didn't know how to react when she was informed of his death. Then a lawyer tells her she has inherited all of his money and possessions, including two farms in Nebraska. There is one catch. She has to live in Nebraska for a year to really get to know the town and learn about the business of farming. The people seem nice when Naomi first arrives, but it soon becomes apparent that somebody doesn't want her there.

I enjoyed Naomi's growth in confidence as she navigated her way around a new country and a new way of life. The mystery is not hard to figure out, but the villain is so well written that it doesn't matter. The romance between Naomi and Jason is sweet and entertaining. There is one complication thrown in that I didn't think was necessary.

I love "found family" stories, and this is no exception.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

oh this book was so clever and charming to read. it held so much warmth and heart between its pages. it was about what we all want really. some of course more than others. and that is to belong, to be love, to feel safe and accepted. more than anything in naomi we want this woman to just be able to be at peace. and have something good in her life and feel good in herself. shes such a lovely character. i wanted so much for her to be ok. and all the way through i just wanted the people around her to be kind, and finally help her find that inner sense of self and the strength to do so.
she didnt have an easy childhood. not least because her American dad is nowhere to be seen and she wasnt given the truth of how or why that is. then hearing his death she also learn she is heir to his estate. but only if she goes from her home in Japan to his in America. enter the building a huge culture difference...often culture clash! i loved how this was explored. and learning myself about the two cultures and how someone might live them both.
the side characters in this book lend themselves so well to the story and i found them so enjoyable to read about them and their interaction with naomi.
this is a really great read and i enjoyed it. it was a different one for me, unique. and i so love it when a original book hits my shelf.

This book was provided to me for free by NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was a solid read for me. I am quite pleased to say that it exceeded my expectations.
We follow the story of Naomi; she is Japanese, but her father is American and not in the picture. We soon discover the hard life she is living and the traumatic childhood she’s had due to some unfortunate events that I wish were given more voice here, and we had more of a backstory. It is no surprise that the author was able to depict such a truthful characterisation as she is married to a Japanese man and has lived in Japan for many years now.

I absolutely adored Ashley, Marvilla, Jason and Naomi’s grandmother. Those people were portrayed amazingly. Naomi, I have been waiting for her to grow a backbone since the beginning of this book, I really was praying she would just explode at some point and stand up for herself. Again, I did like her character as well, but she felt a bit bland and quite generic.

There were some topics that were touched and left abruptly, and I hoped they would be explored more. The “mystery” bits kind of came out of nowhere I think it was just to spice things up, and that otherwise would have been quite the boring book. It was quite predictable in fact, I guessed pretty much everything, with a few exceptions. But again, I hoped there was more to it because the ending felt rushed and chopped. It definitely felt like a lot of drama was going on just like in Dallas which is even mentioned in the book at some point haha I can see where the author got some inspiration from.

Regardless, this was a book of self-discovery, newfound family, love, tradition, betrayal and forgiveness.
The writing style was approachable, easy to follow and engaging. I very much enjoyed the integration and representation of the Japanese culture, the food, and customs.

Overall this book received 4 stars, had it explored some topics more in-depth I think it would have been a 5-star read for me.
I definitely recommend it.

Heartwarming,feel good story with some surprising twists. A set of interesting characters and an involving story.

What a sweet and charming story! It’s so nice to read a book from cover to cover and just zip through it without hunting for deeper meaning. It’s the kind of book to curl up with when you need a break from your daily grind and a diversion from reality.

Essentially, Finding Naomi is a romance but since it takes place in Japan as well as Nebraska, USA it is also of multicultural interest. And just when you think you know where it’s heading, the author inserts a bit of murder and mayhem. There are many twists and turns. Most of it isn’t realistic but that’s part of the charm. The reader can suspend belief, go with the flow and even find a few chuckles between the pages.

Naomi Kihara is being raised in Japan by her mother’s parents, following her mother’s death. Her American dad has disappeared and because of the common name of Mike Johnson, he is very difficult to find. Naomi is going nowhere in a dead end job when she is notified that her father has died and she is the heiress to his estate . There is one big BUT. She must live one year in Felix, Nebraska, a very tiny town filled with people who love to gossip and get into each others’ business.

The characters are rather black and white and most of the story is predictable with the usual heroes and villains. Yet I found them quite endearing and at times interesting. The plot drew me in and I wasn’t disappointed at the end. Three and a half rounded to four lovely stars for a fast paced engaging frolic in small town America. It was published in November 2024 and is available now. My thanks to NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for an ARC in exchange for my review.

I love loved this story so much that I couldn't put it down!
This is a story of finding out who you really are and where you belong.
A storyline that will have you in all kinds of emotions!
I thoroughly enjoyed in getting to know Naomi. She's quite the best character in here. At times my heart ached for her.
Finding family and making friends was my favorite part of the story.
I'm still thinking about this book of course. I love learning new things from stories like these.
5 stars for keeping me interested all the way through. I highly recommend this beautiful story.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

This book was ultimately a book about self discovery but it also threw in a little mystery and a love story. It took place mostly in NE, which I enjoyed since I have been visiting that area recently.

"Finding Naomi" is a book a had to read, though I don't usually read romances. The plot description of a woman who moves to Nebraska from Tokyo because of inheriting a large estate is a story I just had to read. Diane Hawley Nagatomo is a skilled writer and the story is a rags to riches kind of fairytale with a character you will root for. Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC. Pub Date: Nov 14, 2024.

#FindingNaomi