A review by danieltheblake
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A really solid and kind of depressing read (although not in a bad way). The story feels so personal and real, to the point that it genuinely feels like gazing in on someone’s actual life. There are a lot of layers built up in the narrative too: the parental tension, childhood love, the isolation felt when transitioning into a teenager etc and all are treated with a very grounded tone that make it feel uncomfortably genuine. The illustrations are also BEAUTIFUL and give a very wistful “old memories” type of vibe that compliments the story well. Overall, definitely worth a read if you’re in the mood for a solid coming of age story that doesn’t shy away from the discomfort of childhood.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings