Can't Wait Wednesday: I Love You So Mochi & A Kind of Paradise

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I can't wait for 

I Love You So Mochi
Sarah Kuhn
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: May 28, 2019
Goodreads

Kimi Nakamura loves a good fashion statement. She's obsessed with transforming everyday ephemera into Kimi Originals: bold outfits that make her and her friends feel brave, fabulous, and like the Ultimate versions of themselves. But her mother sees this as a distraction from working on her portfolio paintings for the prestigious fine art academy where she's been accepted for college. So when a surprise letter comes in the mail from Kimi's estranged grandparents, inviting her to Kyoto for spring break, she seizes the opportunity to get away from the disaster of her life.

When she arrives in Japan, she loses herself in Kyoto's outdoor markets, art installations, and cherry blossom festival--and meets Akira, a cute med student who moonlights as a costumed mochi mascot. What begins as a trip to escape her problems quickly becomes a way for Kimi to learn more about the mother she left behind, and to figure out where her own heart lies.

Why I want to read this book

This was another book I added to my TBR as soon as I saw the cover. The cover is adorable. The title is adorable. And, you know who loves adorable? THIS girl! Japan is a bucket list place for me, so the story being set there is a definite draw, but the promise of Kimi getting to know her grandparents and maybe even discover a way to connect to her mother by learning more about her mother's past makes me want to read it even more.

A Kind of Paradise
Amy Rebecca Tan
Age/Genre: Middle Grades, Contemporary
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: April 30, 2019
Goodreads

Amy Rebecca Tan’s debut novel is a heartwarming middle grade coming-of-age story about the power of community, the power of the library, and the power of forgiveness.

Jamie Bunn made a mistake at the end of the school year. A big one. And every kid in her middle school knows all about it. Now she has to spend her summer vacation volunteering at the local library—as punishment. It may be boring, but at least she’ll be able to hide from mean girl Trina, who’s always had it out for her, and beautiful Trey, the boy at the root of her big mistake.

Or so she thinks.

Not only does her job bring her face-to-face with both her mortal enemy and her ultimate crush, Jamie also encounters a territorial patron, an elderly movie fanatic, a super-tall painter who loves to bake, and a homeless dog. Over the course of the summer, as Jamie gets to know the library and the people in it, she finds—and gives—help where she least expects it.

And she just might find herself along the way.

Why I want to read this book

I am so curious about Jamie, and really want to find out what she did to earn her punishment. By the way, as far as punishments go, the library is a pretty good place to have to serve your time. It sounds like her library is filled with some colorful characters and that Jamie will grow quite a bit during this summer vacation.

What are you waiting on?

Let us know in the comments!