Mika desperately wants the relationship with her daughter that she never had with her Japanese mother. When Penny tells Mika that she wants to fly to Oregon (Penny and her adoptive father Thomas live in Ohio) to meet her, Mika panics — but luckily, her devoted friends come to the rescue and help her turn the fake life she created into a reality. Brooke obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism with an emphasis on Magazine Editing and has a minor in Textile and Apparel Management. When you are craving a loveable story with depth and true character development - this should be your next read. Mika in Real Life follows a 35-year-old whose adopted daughter finds her and wants a relationship with her.

Having themes on finding identity, of dreams, family dynamics, motherhood and forgiveness—the blurb was so engrossing and I kind of falling in love with the characters later on. I supposed Mika really spoke through me with her whole journey but Mika didn't really amazed me and I think it was intentional. There’s nothing that I love more than a good redemption story and Mika might just be making my dreams come true! As a mom now myself, I connected so deeply with Jean's descriptions of Mika's love for Penny, her yearning, and her deep desire to do anything and EVERYthing for her child. We equip them with everything we can, but we really don’t know what storms they’re gonna face and what leaks they’re going to spring.Penny was adopted by Caroline and Thomas Calvin, truly loving, adoring parents who made great efforts to keep Penny close to her Japanese heritage while also keeping Mika informed about her daughter through yearly letters and pictures. This was a feel good story about the complex relationships between mothers and daughters, with a focus on adoption. I also really like how the author keep slipping Mika's past in between of her vulnerability in certain times in the book, it felt so relatable you know? I think this story can also be appreciated by parents and what it means to be one, especially when you're child is on the cusp of adulthood. Mika in Real Life' focuses on identity and the diversity of parental bonds : NPR's Book of the Day Young adult author Emiko Jean is out with her first book for adults – Mika in Real Life.

Though Mika's background and passion lies in art, perhaps her biggest and most important work will ALWAYS be a work in progress, as she continues to add color and light to the most vital canvas of all: her messy, complex, and perfectly imperfect life! With the help of her best friends Hana and Charlie, and even her reluctant ex, Mika makes her choice. Penny is determined to forge a relationship with her birth mother, and in turn, Mika longs to be someone Penny is proud of. Mika is Japanese American, born in Japan but moving to Portland as a young child with her job-seeking father and unwilling, frightened and resentful mother.

This book is such a relatable book and fuck I have a soft spot for relatable and realistic fiction book.