From Little Tokyo, with Love

By: Sarah Kuhn

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

One of PEOPLE Magazine's Best Books of Summer!

"I absolutely adored this funny, fierce, big-hearted book.”
—Morgan Matson, New York Times bestselling author of Save the Date

Celebrated author Sarah Kuhn reinvents the modern fairy tale in this intensely personal yet hilarious novel of a girl whose search for a storybook ending takes her to unexpected places in both her beloved LA neighborhood and her own guarded heart.

If Rika's life seems like the beginning of a familiar fairy tale—being an orphan with two bossy cousins and working away in her aunts' business—she would be the first to reject that foolish notion. After all, she loves her family (even if her cousins were named after Disney characters), and with her biracial background, amazing judo skills and red-hot temper, she doesn't quite fit the princess mold.

All that changes the instant she locks eyes with Grace Kimura, America's reigning rom-com sweetheart, during the Nikkei Week Festival. From there, Rika embarks on a madcap adventure of hope and happiness—searching for clues that Grace is her long-lost mother, exploring Little Tokyo's hidden treasures with cute actor Hank Chen, and maybe . . . finally finding a sense of belonging.

But fairy tales are fiction and the real world isn't so kind. Rika knows she's setting herself up for disappointment, because happy endings don't happen to girls like her. Should she walk away before she gets in even deeper, or let herself be swept away?

Critic reviews

"Evocatively written and beautiful in its rage, From Little Tokyo, With Love is one to treasure. To mixed race readers especially, this one's for you. Few heroines have spoken to me like Rika Rakuyama."
—Helen Hoang, USA Today bestselling author of The Kiss Quotient

"A heartfelt modern-day fairy tale that delivers a sweet romance alongside a thoughtful exploration of identity. From Little Tokyo, With Love takes you on an adventure through Los Angeles–full of family secrets and hidden histories—and its indelible characters will stick with you long after you’ve reached the happily ever after."
—Maurene Goo, author of Somewhere Only We Know

"This book completely swept me away. Brimming with rich culture and a city that demands to be seen in all its colors and complexities, Sarah Kuhn’s latest novel is a beautiful love letter to biracial kids that’s full of longing, hope, and so much heart.”
—Akemi Dawn Bowman, author of William C. Morris Award Finalist Starfish and The Infinity Courts series

"I so wish this book had been around for the angry, reluctantly romantic hafu teen I was, but luckily it's here for the angry, reluctantly romantic hafu woman I became. A charming and swoony story for anyone who feels like they don't belong."
—Maggie Tokuda-Hall, author of The Mermaid, The Witch, and The Sea

"Readers will cheer for tough-but-tender Rika as she navigates the city of Los Angeles—and her own complicated emotions—in search of love, family, and belonging in this heartwarming pick-me-up of a novel."
—Misa Sugiura, award-winning author of It's Not Like It's a Secret

"Written like a modern fairy tale, this is a thoughtful exploration of finding one’s full identity and sense of place and community...A beautiful and entertaining blend of family, romance, and self-discovery."
—Kirkus Reviews

"Kuhn has created a protagonist who doesn’t fit the mold of a typical 'princess.' Instead, she is spirited, fearless, real, and fights tirelessly for what her heart desires. The enthralling dialogue will keep readers engaged as they put together the pieces of the puzzle."
—School Library Journal

Really Enjoy It ..

I really enjoyed this book, it had a nice feel and it was more than about a girl searching for her mom .. So the story is about Rika who lives with her aunt and cousins in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles and she always felt that she doesn't belong, then on the day of the Nikkei Week parade she discovers that her mother is a well known super star .. so she goes on an adventure to discover who is her mother and why she left her all these years with the help of the cute actor Henry ( who is the cutest marshmallow EVER!! ) and they fall in love and they heal their wounds together
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book, since I never went to Little Tokyo it became a must visit on my list because she described it so beautifully .. the ending was really nice and overall it was a nice enjoyable book and I look forward to read more of this author books

The narrator is becoming one of my favorites .. I can't say anything about her performance because she is excellent