Loved, loved, loved this newest by author Emiko Jean, about flawed MC Mika, whom you grow to adore and root for as the story unfolds. As Mika rescues herself from a downward spiral of heartbreak and loss, she weaves for us a primer on healing our broken relationships.

It is so easy for us to get caught up in where we thought we should be in life and compare ourselves to others and Mika is a great reminder why that isn’t healthy and why we should celebrate what we have rather than chastising ourselves for what we don’t have or didn’t accomplish. I also liked that when Penny moves near for the summer, it’s because of her own athletic ability, hard work and talent, rather than just drifting around without purpose.Mika is ashamed of what her life looks like, and one white lie spirals into a series of many and Mika struggles to keep up the facade. I cared most about 1) the messiness of mother-daughter relationships, 2) the immigrant experience and the importance of culture, and 3) healing with the support of good friends. It was like they did their part rightfully and properly in complimenting the whole story, the book, and Mika. I rooted for her, I stood beside her, she spoke through me, and I love her, but she just didn't dazzling in my eyes though.

Mika in Real Life is all about making deep connections, figuring out one’s identity, and rebuilding one’s life.While slightly predictable, I think what this book offers best is a character study of a young woman who didn't know how to handle how hard life hit her. Her journey from using white lies to make Penny like her, to seeking genuine connection with her family, is touching. I also really adored her friendships; Books with healthy friendships and good banter are so satisfying to read.