Love & Other Natural Disasters by Misa Sugiura is a hilarious and messy romantic comedy that is centered around a complicated fake dating scheme.
Nozomi Nagai has always dreamed about having the kind of summer romance that would outshine any romantic movie but she’d never planned on having a fake relationship.
That was long before she met the girl who was destined to be her perfect girlfriend. Willow is stunning in every sense of the word but she is also heartbroken. When Willow asks Nozomi to pose as her new girlfriend in order to make her ex jealous, Nozomi is happy to go along with Willow’s plan.
Nozomi doesn’t mind faking their relationship until it can turn into something real between them. But the lies become overwhelming and Nozomi and Willow’s fake dating scheme is spiraling out of control.
Will Nozomi hold on to her disastrous fake dating plan or will she embrace the love that was truly meant for her?
Pros And My Favourite Parts
This is the first book that I’ve read from Misa Sugiura and I can definitely say that it won’t be the last. I knew that I would fall in love with this story from the moment I laid eyes on the humorous title and the gorgeous book cover! I’m a huge sucker for fake dating schemes and this story took the fine art of fake dating to a whole new level with a few unforeseen circumstances thrown in for good measure. This author has done a fabulous job of bringing Nozomi, Max, Willow, Dela and Arden to life for me because I could easily understand what made them tick. By the way, I lost a lot of sleep because I got caught up in the endless family drama between Nozomi, her parents, her uncles and grandma. Plus, I also enjoyed learning about the Tanabata festival and Japanese mythology.
Cons And Heads Up
As much as I enjoyed this entertaining story, I felt as though the ending was a bit rushed because there were a couple of important issues that should have been dealt with, however, those issues remained unresolved.
The Conclusion
Did someone mention an awesome story that has summertime in San Francisco, origami, art installations, flawed and relatable characters and a fake dating plan that went totally wrong? Then count me in because I’m here for all of that! But seriously, this story is so much more than a romantic comedy because it deals with homophobia, strained family relationships, difficult decisions, grief and loss. This author definitely deserves the highest of fives for creating such a wonderful story!
Excerpt from Love & Other Natural Disasters by Misa Sugiura
While Stephen, Lance, and Max wait inside for the host to call us to our table, I go to the deck to get some time alone with the view. I close my eyes and breathe in lungfuls of bracing ocean air. The wind whips my hair around my face. Ahhhh.
If this is going to be the summer of my transformation, right here is the perfect place for it to start. I lift my face to the sky and fling my arms out, taking in the moment as completely as I can. I can feel myself transforming already. It’s like magic. I feel like I can do anything—be anyone—if I just believe hard enough. Inspired, I open my eyes and scan the ocean with my new, magical vision. Okay, mermaids, I know you’re out there. Show yourselves.
Someone clears their throat next to me, and I realize with horror that I’ve spoken those last words aloud.
I turn to face a girl so strikingly beautiful it takes my breath away. She has high cheekbones, dark, arched eyebrows, soft, pouty lips, and—ohh, her eyes. Kind and just the tiniest bit sad. Like a teenage Gemma Chan. Her hair is in a braid crown, and her face is framed by a few loose tendrils and drop earrings that sparkle in the sunlight. It’s enchanting. Literally, like I can’t look away. In my shock, I half wonder if she’s a mermaid, and I just barely stop myself from looking down to check to make sure she has legs.
“Um. I don’t actually believe in mermaids,” I mumble.
“Me neither. But you never know, right?” The corner of her perfect mouth edges up and her eyebrow twitches and I think my heart stops beating for a second. “They might exist.”
Under the influence of that heart-stopping half smile, a flood of tantalizing possibilities bubbles forth: What if she’s queer? And single? What if she became my summer fling? What if this is the moment my transformation begins?
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Bits and Bobs
- ISBN number: 9780062991256
- Publisher: HarperTeen
- Misa Sugiura Online
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