Thank you to Su Young Lee for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. Also thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for organising this blog tour.
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Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3mJ0SIg
Synopsis
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
My Thoughts
If you’ve followed my blog a while you may have notcied I love Japan and the Japanese culture. I have been lucky enough to visit Tokyo twice and I adore reading novels set there – particularly when I can identify places that I have been, food I ate and similar experiences to mine. The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery completely delivers on all of the above as well as telling a sweet and emotional story of love and life.
When Hana moves from Korea to Tokyo to see her boyfriend Jin her world is shattered when he isn’t there and has left without a trace. Heartbroken, in a strange country and with little money Hana begins a journey of discovery and growth with help from some interesting characters along the way.
I adored this novel. It’s so sweet and although there were moments when I was heartbroken for Hana, the overall novel was uplifting. I loved how Hana remained such a nice and caring character and harboured very little resentment towards JIn. Her character grew throughout the story and I felt like a protective friend towards Hana. Each time she found happiness of success I did a little celebration in my head.
The setting of the novel is Tokyo and many tourist spots are mentioned but I also enjoyed visualising ‘real’ Tokyo life as experiences by residents. The small shops and vendors, the language school and the guest house all created such a great picture of Tokyo life. And the food! My mouth was drooling constantly, and the delicious bakes and other foods mentioned.
This is a cute novel about two people and their journeys to discover more about themselves. It has sweet characters and a beautiful setting. It’s what the world needs right now.
Author Bio – Su Young Lee
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
Herding Cats 