AUDIO

Mika in Real Life

by Emiko Jean
Harper Audio. Aug. 2022. 10:58 hrs. ISBN 9780063215719. $27.99. F
COPY ISBN
Sixteen years ago, Mika gave her newborn daughter up for adoption to a hand-picked couple. Now a thirtysomething struggling to make a living, she loses her job and receives a call from her daughter, Penny, on the same day. She soon meets Penny and her father, Thomas. In an effort to impress, she sets up a more idealized version of her life, until the truth comes out. She has to reckon with her past and navigate a future she only imagined. Jean’s (Tokyo Ever After) adult debut explores the intricacies of family, identity, and interracial adoption. Narrated by Sara Siu, Mika is brought to life as a young adult who is adrift because of circumstances beyond her control. Listeners will relate to the struggles of a millennial whose life is not exactly what it should have been.
VERDICT Although the romantic aspects of this book are somewhat predictable, listeners will appreciate Jean’s sensitive treatment of culture, race, and identity, both as an immigrant and an adoptee. A fluffy, but heartfelt novel that will have crossover appeal and should please fans of Kiley Reid’s Such a Fun Age or Chelsey Johnson’s Stray City.
Reviewed by Elyssa Everling , Dec 01, 2022
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