You will adore Love Me Tomorrow

What if you wished for proof that love is real and lasts and you start getting letters from the future and your great love? But you don't know who it is?! This absolutely fun & touching book by Emiko Jean is out now. Read my 5-star review:

17-year-old Emma Nakamura-Thatcher doesn't believe in love after her parents' divorce. At the Tanabata festival, she wishes for proof that love is real. Then the notes start appearing... Her great love is writing to her from the future. When she accepts that this is really happening, she tries to figure out who it is and has 3 'candidates' in mind. Theo, the boy-next-door, Ezra, her musical prodigy crush and Coli,n the son of a rich client. In her race to discover the identity of the letter writer, will she also discover the true power of love?

A deeply personal, pleasantly insightful and so relatable story. Beautifully evocative thanks to clever, even quirky wordplay and wisps of vividness to describe the things our protagonist sees and feels. There are lyrical touches and seemingly unassuming details that make all the difference. Endearing, with a smart-alecky flavor, there were "OMG, I would have died" belly laugh moments.

It is the kind of humor that makes you chuckle or almost snort coffee out of your nose (that actually happened to me) and gives you a warm, gooey feeling inside. Poignancy embraces the prose, the pining for things that were or might be lost. The reality of a child of divorce becoming a guarded teenager. Bordering on eccentric, Emma plays the violin, goes to a school of arts, wears cardigans plus articles of her grandfather's clothing with t-shirts sporting puns. Having a total of 2 friends when this book started, she had never even been to a party. Grounded in its relationship dynamics, it has you wanting to hug the protagonist during the awkward and slightly or more painful occurrences in a divorced family.

The notes and the buildup of the storyline because of them is genius. Sweet anticipation settles in as you devour the captivating story. The 3 'candidates' all appear deserving and the evolution of each relationship is wholly entertaining, including instances of "Aha, it's him" or "it's not him" that color the path of discovery. Plenty of squeal-causing and/or touching moments make it hard to pick a favorite. The book is full of wonderful characters, not only the candidates, and the coolest grumpy grandfather ever.

There is a lesson in respect here, for family and heritage, in this case Japanese, which was so interesting. It is about accepting change and realizing your heart can handle and fit more than you expect. A not-so-subtle nudge to live life at its fullest, to put yourself out there. To quote a song from the movie Music and Lyrics: "What's the point of life if Risk is just a board game?" It is a hold-your-heart-with-your-hand-on-your-chest kind of romantic tale that ignites hope that love conquers all. I admit I smile-cried or cry-smiled and was absolutely enchanted by this book.