An uneven spin on a beloved classic.
Japanese Canadian teen Emiko Kimori loves love—and meddling.
As a 12th grader, she’s unable to avoid inquiries about her post-graduation plans. But Emiko, who lives in a small coastal town in British Columbia, is doing her best to deflect any talk about her future. Rather, she focuses on her shifts at Aunt Mitsuko’s café, festive celebrations like Obon and New Year’s Day, treating people to her homemade meals and baked treats and, most excitingly, orchestrating romances for those around her. Emiko proclaims herself a “matchmaking GENIUS”; one of her recent targets, Aunt Mitsuko, even got married. But not all the romances go the way she envisions. And when things go awry, Emiko must confront her shortcomings as well as the impact of and motivations behind her actions. Ultimately, the flawed matchmaking protagonist turns a welcome new leaf. Uegaki imbues her spin on Jane Austen’s Emma with interesting details of Japanese culture and dramatic hallmark high school experiences. Although the plot beats (some with twists) hit the right notes, the lackluster characterization and narration make it hard for readers to feel invested in the romantic entanglements and Emiko’s arc of growing self-awareness. The supporting cast surrounding the Japanese Canadian central characters contain some diversity in race, gender, and sexuality.
An uneven spin on a beloved classic. (Romance. 12-18)Pub Date: June 10, 2025
ISBN: 9781774885734
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: April 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters.
When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings.
Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781665921268
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
A promising premise that’s lacking in spice.
A fall romance with a New England backdrop.
Autumn leaves aren’t the only stunning thing to hit the town of Briar Glen—so has good-looking new boy Jack Harper, and Lucy Kane is enamored with both. Her new crush is the perfect thing to take her mind off the fact that Java Junction, part of a global chain, is opening across the street from Cup o’ Jo, Lucy’s mother’s coffee shop, where they take pride in baking everything from scratch and avoiding artificial ingredients. But there’s more than coincidence in the timing of the arrivals of both Jack and Java Junction: The Harper family moved to Briar Glen specifically to open this franchise location, which will bring competition that threatens Cup o’ Jo. This scenario has the makings of a perfect autumnal adversaries-to-lovers romance, but the writing lacks charm and chemistry. Jack seems to be completely enamored with Lucy, but her character isn’t sufficiently developed to warrant his attention. Lucy’s friends are continually supportive of her but have few distinguishing characteristics, and the story is weakened by confusing timelines and repetitive elements. The resolution relies upon successes that come too easily and do not feel earned. Major characters are cued white.
A promising premise that’s lacking in spice. (Romance. 12-16)Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781339030753
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
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