With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we at THP can’t help but direct new romance novels your way. Today’s recommendation is Love Makes Mochi by Stefany Valentine, starring Lilyn Jeong, a teen goth fashion designer spending her summer in Tokyo under the tutelage of a legendary tailor. She has no time to worry about dating, until she has whirlwind summer romance with her mentor’s daughter.
Love Makes Mochi even features guest cameos of Lilyn’s best friends, Whitney and Archi. If you recognize the names, you’ll remember them from the first two books of the Love in Translation series. Whitney spent her semester in Paris in Love Requires Chocolate by Ravynn K. Stringfield. Meanwhile, Archi spent her semester in Jaipur Love Craves Cardamom by Aashna Avachat.
For those of you planning your next trip to Tokyo, Japan, this book’s perfect to get in the traveling spirit! Here are three things we love about Love Makes Mochi by Stefany Valentine.
Book Overview: Love Makes Mochi
Summary: Lilyn Jeong is living her best life—in Tokyo! She gets to learn from the legendary yet notoriously terrifying tailor Mrs. Matsumoto. Getting a glowing recommendation from her could be Lilyn’s ticket into her dream fashion school.
So when Lilyn is tasked with designing an entire collection, panic sets in. She has only weeks to figure out how to mix her goth aesthetic with traditional Japanese style. Thankfully, Mrs. Matsumoto’s rebellious, tattooed, rainbow-haired daughter Yua offers to help.
But going on cozy dates with this cute girl is way easier than sewing yukatas. Can Lilyn find a path forward in fashion and love? Or will she watch as everything falls apart at the seams?
Lilyn’s Fashion Assignment
To start, we absolutely love the goal of Lilyn’s summer abroad in Love Makes Mochi. Her mentorship with the legendary Mrs. Matsumoto must result in a glowing recommendation if she wants any hope of getting into her dream fashion school. On top of that, Lilyn must design pieces that combine her goth aesthetic with traditional Japanese clothing. She learns about the ins and outs of sericulture, or silk farming, along with sewing techniques from the very best. This collection is the ultimate test of her talents and vision. Thankfully, she has Mrs. Matsumoto’s daughter Yua for a trusted opinion.
Everything Japan Has To Offer
Love Makes Mochi has the stunning backdrop of Tokyo, Japan. Naturally, we took notes on the kind of places to sightsee and visit for our next trip there. Lilyn and Yua took us along on their dates, from the busiest pedestrian street crossing in Shibuya to the scenic and peaceful Chidorigafuchi Park. They tried everything from mochi desserts to ramen, which are obviously must-try foods. Somehow, we fell even more in love with the moments of stillness and the hustle and bustle of the city through this book, as if that were possible.
The Summer Romance & Beyond
Lilyn’s romance with Yua in Love Makes Mochi is straight out of a movie. How can you have a summer semester in Tokyo without having an incredible love story come out of it? Thanks to Yua, Lilyn gets to experience the city from the eyes of someone who can call it home. They get to paint together, row a boat, play arcade games, and so much more. But most importantly, they each help the other progress in their skills and career paths. Yua hopes to be a tattoo artist, while Lilyn has her sights on being a designer. Their growth alongside each other is the cherry on top of their sugary sweet romance.
A short and sweet YA romance set in the heart of Japan, Stefany Valentine’s Love Makes Mochi lets us get lost in a fashion dream mixed with a sapphic summer romance. We’re absolutely obsessed!
Love Makes Mochi by Stefany Valentine comes out January 27th, and you can order a copy of it here!
Did you enjoy our review of Stefany Valentine’s Love Makes Mochi? Have you read the rest of the Love in Translation series? Let us know on Twitter! You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram!
Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!
