A review by helenareadsbooks
Himawari House by Harmony Becker

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

5.0

Himawari House is a graphic novel about three young women forging their own paths in Japan. Nao returns to Tokyo to reconnect with her Japanese heritage and books a yearlong stay at the Himawari sharehouse, which is where she meets Tina and Hyejung. This book is about their year together and explores friendship, freedom and identity, along with heavier themes like complex family dynamics, cultural disconnections and toxic relationships. 

 

This book is full of heart and diaspora feelings. It makes space for a variety of nuanced experiences while giving each character time to tell their own story. The book never feels rushed and I feel like I had enough time with each character. The art is in black and white, but the story still manages to feel vibrant through it’s display of strong emotions and character depth. 

 

Going into this I figured it would be emotional (and it was), but I was unprepared for just how much it would make me smile. Nao’s excitement about reconnecting with her culture was so bright and charming, as was the friendship between the three women. This book is equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming as it shows the ups and downs of each character’s life. These are tenderly written and lovingly illustrated slice of life stories, and my heart is so full after reading.