Date of Reading: 31/10/2020
Author: Su Young Lee
Publication Date: August 20, 2020
Rating: 3/5
(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Rachel's Random Resources)
About the book:
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. Searching for Jin but finding no trace. 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 and sorrowful love story with a dash of magic realism, a sprinkle of mystery and a whole lot of cakes.
Review:
To tell that this book took me by surprise will be an understatement. How does it feel when you can't predict anything about the story? Strange . . . somewhat nice too. More than a sweet love story set in Japan, this is a story of self-discovery emphasising the need to pursue our own dreams.
I won't advocate all the things referred to here. After all, a protagonist who leaves her home suddenly to live with her boyfriend in another country is not a very mature decision. But Hana is a role model when it comes to her kind-heartedness and caring nature. No wonder help comes to her from every quarter.
What I didn't like is the writing style which felt too mechanical. The dialogues were stilted and I couldn't find much chemistry between Hana and Hikaru. Jin's character was intriguing, but sadly he didn't get much of a voice. Well, we could always hope for another story featuring him getting to know more of his strange abilities.
Meet the author:
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 the piano and working on her calligraphy.
Check her blog here.
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