#Blog Tour #Book Review #The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery by Su Young Lee @rararesources @Su Young Lee

Thank to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery, a clean and wholesome romance.

The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery

Fluttering cherry blossoms, gorgeous kimonos and sweet and sorrowful love.

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. 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 romance with a hint of magic realism. It’s a perfect book to carry with you and read on holiday or weekends.

Purchase Links
Amazon US here / Amazon UK here

My thoughts:

The Tokyo Bicycle Bakery was such a delightful read, sweet, delicate, a perfect combination of a coming of age story and romance. Food descriptions are such an essential part of this book that any reader who loves carefully choosing and trying out new dessert recipes would feel in heaven.

Hana (I just love her name- ‘unique’ in Korean and ‘Flower’ in Japanese, both of which fit perfectly this very special girl) comes to Tokyo to visit her boyfriend Jin who went there to study Business Management. Jin hasn’t been in touch with her for two months and, understandably, Hana feels worried. Although she speaks only very basic Japanese and has little money in her savings account, Hana embarks on a journey that will change her life.

Once in Tokyo, she finds out Jin left Japan with no forward mail address or any kind of hint where he might be. Yet, our loyal Hana is determined to wait for him. Perhaps he is in a dire situation and will call her for help. Meanwhile, she finds a school to help her improve her Japanes language skills, a place to live and a part-time job. She also buys a cute orange bicycle with a little basket to put her shopping in.

Slowly, Hana begins to make friends and weave her magic of changing other people’s lives for better with her gift of listening, lending a helping hand at the moment of need, showing her gratitude and accepting the others as they are, and, of course, baking her delicious cakes. Hana carries her cakes in her bicycle basket with great attention, after all, they are all made with love and care for her new friends. All chapters have dessert names and you just have to read them to appreciate how much thought went into book.
For me, this is a book that deals with growing into yourself, discovering what your dreams and inclinations are and following them. There is also so much focus on kindness, that might manifest itself in both giving and accepting help and making somebody feel loved and appreciated.

I would recommend this book first and foremost to anyone who loves food and learning about different cultures and also those who enjoy a sweet clean romance in a beautiful setting.

Thank you to Rachel and Su Young Lee for the review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

Author Bio

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 piano and working on her calligraphy.

Check her blog here.
https://suyoungleesblog.wordpress.com

Thank you for stopping by and reading the post. If you would like to read more reviews or other promotional material for Su Young Lee’s book, please, see the full tour schedule: