I Love You So Mochi 12+

About this book

Kimi Nakamura loves a good fashion statement.

She's obsessed with transforming everyday ephemera into Kimi Originals: bold outfits that make her and her friends feel brave, fabulous, and like the Ultimate versions of themselves. But her mother sees this as a distraction from working on her portfolio paintings for the prestigious fine art academy where she's been accepted for college. So when a surprise letter comes in the mail from Kimi's estranged grandparents, inviting her to Kyoto for spring break, she seizes the opportunity to get away from the disaster of her life.

When she arrives in Japan, she loses herself in Kyoto's outdoor markets, art installations, and cherry blossom festival—and meets Akira, a cute med student who moonlights as a costumed mochi mascot. What begins as a trip to escape her problems quickly becomes a way for Kimi to learn more about the mother she left behind, and to figure out where her own heart lies.

Reviews

"As sweet and satisfying as actual mochi... a tender love story wrapped up in food, fashion, and family. I gobbled it up." -- Maurene Goo, author of The Way You Make Me Feel

"A walk through Japan, a swoon-worthy boy, and an amazing journey of self-discovery. It was adorably perfect!" -- Kasie West, author of P.S. I Like You

"Filled with fashion, heart, family, and romance... Sarah Kuhn is a bright new voice in YA." -- Cecil Castellucci, New York Times bestselling author of Don't Cosplay with My Heart

"As delightful as its title, I Love You So Mochi is a nuanced exploration of the struggle between where you come from and who you are, and how together they define where you're going. I connected with this book so mochi!" -- Gloria Chao, author of American Panda

"Just as sweet and delectable as mochi! This book is a delightful, tender romance full of humor and humanity that will take you on a heart-warming journey through the streets and dishes of Kyoto." -- Britta Lundin, writer on CW's Riverdale and author of Ship It

"Travel! Fashion! Romance! I Love You So Mochi has it all. Sarah Kuhn combines flirty fun with deep questions of purpose and familial loyalty. Filled with wonderfully unique characters and the equally intricate and varied relationships between them, this book is a dish you want to keep diving into." -- Keiko Agena, actress, and author of No Mistakes

"A deft, fun, and heartfelt coming-of-age story about finding yourself even when you don't know where to start looking. There is a real depth here that -- when balanced with Sarah Kuhn's tart sense of humor -- creates a transcendent, compelling read." -- Amber Benson, actress, director, and author of The Witches of Echo Park series

"Whimsically fresh, funny and heartfelt... A treasure trove of charming characters and delicious adventures, this book is one you won't be able to put down!" -- Ally Maki, actress on Marvel's Cloak & Dagger and Wrecked

"I Love You So Mochi is a sassy, delightful, heartwarming love story about navigating familial expectations, finding yourself in-between two cultures, and following your true happiness... while eating delicious Japanese food along the way. I wish I could travel back in time to gift this book to my teenage self." -- Yumi Sakagawa, author of The Little Book of Life Hacks

"[A] frothy romance as sweet as mochi with a heaping side of satisfying self-discovery." -- School Library Journal

"An incredibly sweet and heartwarming coming-of-age romantic comedy... Strong characters and a story with real depth make this a worthy read." -- Kirkus Reviews