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Seven Days of You
Sophia has seven days left in Tokyo before she moves back to the States. Seven days to say good-bye to the electric city, her wild best friend, and the boy she’s harbored a semi-secret crush on for years. Seven perfect days…until Jamie Foster-Collins moves back to Japan and ruins everything.
Jamie and Sophia have a history of heartbreak, and the last thing Sophia wants is for him to steal her leaving thunder with his stupid arriving thunder. Yet as the week counts down, the relationships she thought were stable begin to explode around her. And Jamie is the one who helps her pick up the pieces. Sophia is forced to admit she may have misjudged Jamie, but can their seven short days of Tokyo adventures end in anything but good-bye?
Jamie and Sophia have a history of heartbreak, and the last thing Sophia wants is for him to steal her leaving thunder with his stupid arriving thunder. Yet as the week counts down, the relationships she thought were stable begin to explode around her. And Jamie is the one who helps her pick up the pieces. Sophia is forced to admit she may have misjudged Jamie, but can their seven short days of Tokyo adventures end in anything but good-bye?
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 7, 2017
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November 13, 2023
I had a lot of issues with Seven Days of You. When I received this book at BEA and read the synopsis I thought this was going to be a contemporary unicorn. Though it sounded so good, unique, and oddly right up my alley. If you know me you know I'm picky about my contemporary books. Picking maybe 3 up a year, and this one had to be one of them. Sigh, regret.
Our main character is Sophia or "Sofa", as her friends like to call her... Yep, you probably read that sentence and knew this was my first problem with the book. If they just called her Sofa once and awhile it probably would have been cute, but no they have to whine it every two sentences. After about 6 chapters of her friends calling her Sofa I was over it. It also didn't help her case that it took me forever to figure out how old she was. She dressed like she was 7 and talked like she was 10. This made me connecting with her almost impossible. She's clearly one of the love interest in a kind of love triangle. The love triangle was another issue of mine. Sophia's had school girl attitude with how handle relationships. Hearing her explain things was like listening to one of my nieces explain their elementary school crush playground fake boyfriends. Sophia is overall a selfish, clingy, and immature character.
“God,” I said. “I am actually a horrible person.”
You said it Sofa Super Store, not us.
Not only are her "relationships" poor with her potential boos they are also poor with her best friend Mika. All Mika and her do are talk down on each other and other people. Struggled so much with understand Mika's character as well. Sophia would say that Mika would never do something, and then Mika would do it like it was second nature. It could be something as simple as "Mika never wears eyeshadow", then would cut to the next paragraph and it would say "Mika applies silver eyeshadow". Now onto the other sides of the triangle David and Jamie. Lord, I don't know how one would choose between complete dick bag or a guy who you stood up for hours. Here an idea, neither. They both kind of suck. Some will probably read this book and say I was hard on Jamie, because he is kind of sweet. Mainly picking on him because he is an exact replica of every ya contemp boy ever written.
Here is my last major issue with the book. The setting. 7 Days takes place in Tokyo, and this might be what shoved it so high on my tbr list. It's not often you get YA contemporaries set in Tokyo so this was supposed to be a nice added bonus... However, the setting is so poorly used. She could have easily have made the setting New York or Jersey and no one would be the wiser. She could have seriously ctrl f'd the whole book and changed the word Tokyo to New York and if you weren't told you'd never find out. You tell us you're going to give us this amazing, colorful, and culture filled landscape..... and then that's all you do; tell us. This was probably the biggest letdown, because I was truly excited for this setting. Also, she would overuse Japanese words and expect us to be okay with it. "Hey look I'm just throwing in a bunch of Japanese words, look over here and not notice how I'm ignoring the setting completely!". If that didn't have me wanting to set this book down the rest of the plot did. Nothing happens. I felt like this book wanted to be a book with all these fun sub stories with a lesson in self growth, but missed the mark. If you can think of a clique high school event that happens in any ya contemporary then you probably already know the plot of 7 Days.
Sadly Seven Days of You had the set up to be a summer fav but had a failure to execute properly. This book could have been good, but ended up wasting all its opportunities.
Our main character is Sophia or "Sofa", as her friends like to call her... Yep, you probably read that sentence and knew this was my first problem with the book. If they just called her Sofa once and awhile it probably would have been cute, but no they have to whine it every two sentences. After about 6 chapters of her friends calling her Sofa I was over it. It also didn't help her case that it took me forever to figure out how old she was. She dressed like she was 7 and talked like she was 10. This made me connecting with her almost impossible. She's clearly one of the love interest in a kind of love triangle. The love triangle was another issue of mine. Sophia's had school girl attitude with how handle relationships. Hearing her explain things was like listening to one of my nieces explain their elementary school crush playground fake boyfriends. Sophia is overall a selfish, clingy, and immature character.
“God,” I said. “I am actually a horrible person.”
You said it Sofa Super Store, not us.
Not only are her "relationships" poor with her potential boos they are also poor with her best friend Mika. All Mika and her do are talk down on each other and other people. Struggled so much with understand Mika's character as well. Sophia would say that Mika would never do something, and then Mika would do it like it was second nature. It could be something as simple as "Mika never wears eyeshadow", then would cut to the next paragraph and it would say "Mika applies silver eyeshadow". Now onto the other sides of the triangle David and Jamie. Lord, I don't know how one would choose between complete dick bag or a guy who you stood up for hours. Here an idea, neither. They both kind of suck. Some will probably read this book and say I was hard on Jamie, because he is kind of sweet. Mainly picking on him because he is an exact replica of every ya contemp boy ever written.
Here is my last major issue with the book. The setting. 7 Days takes place in Tokyo, and this might be what shoved it so high on my tbr list. It's not often you get YA contemporaries set in Tokyo so this was supposed to be a nice added bonus... However, the setting is so poorly used. She could have easily have made the setting New York or Jersey and no one would be the wiser. She could have seriously ctrl f'd the whole book and changed the word Tokyo to New York and if you weren't told you'd never find out. You tell us you're going to give us this amazing, colorful, and culture filled landscape..... and then that's all you do; tell us. This was probably the biggest letdown, because I was truly excited for this setting. Also, she would overuse Japanese words and expect us to be okay with it. "Hey look I'm just throwing in a bunch of Japanese words, look over here and not notice how I'm ignoring the setting completely!". If that didn't have me wanting to set this book down the rest of the plot did. Nothing happens. I felt like this book wanted to be a book with all these fun sub stories with a lesson in self growth, but missed the mark. If you can think of a clique high school event that happens in any ya contemporary then you probably already know the plot of 7 Days.
Sadly Seven Days of You had the set up to be a summer fav but had a failure to execute properly. This book could have been good, but ended up wasting all its opportunities.
June 16, 2020
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Okay, so the idea of a bunch of white kids in Japan (well, one of them is Japanese) had me rolling my eyes a bit. But I'm a sucker for books set abroad, and since I went on a trip to Japan myself a few years ago, I was excited to relive my trip vicariously since, you know, with quarantine happening, I ain't going nowhere.
I read in another review that this is a very loose retelling of PERSUASION by Jane Austen and I can kind of see that. Heads up that the storyline is very dramatic and confusing, so there are going to be lots of spoilers, not just so you can keep everything straight, but so I can too, because there is a LOT going on.
So, Sophia's parents are both teachers but split when she was young. Now her dad lives in Paris with his new family and her mom teaches as a professor in Japan but is about to move back to the states to teach at Rutgers. This is Sophia's last week in Japan and she's kicking it with her Japanese friend Mika, and their friend, David, who is the son of the Australian ambassador.
But plans sour when Sophia finds out that her childhood friend Jamie is returning. Jamie, who she stopped being friends with when he accidentally sent her a cruel text intended for Mika that was making fun of her for having a crush on David, who's kind of a playboy with a cruel streak. Sophia told him off and never wanted to have anything to do with him again after that so why is he HERE?
As they club it up and go to karaoke bars, alcohol makes the truth come out. David and his girlfriend, Caroline, seem to be on the rocks, which gives Sophia hope (she hates Caroline). But Jamie is way cuter than he was when he left and no longer seems to be as awkward or mean. Mika, on the other hand, seems to be hiding something, and David has actually gotten indiscriminately crueler (or maybe she's just never taken the time to notice his character). So it turns out that David and Mika have actually been hooking up, despite David having a girlfriend and despite Mika (and David) knowing how Sophia feels about David, and then Sophia finds out that her dad doesn't really want her to move with him to Paris, and when Jamie makes his move, he gets totally caught in the crossfire.
This book was OH MY GOD, SO MUCH DRAMA but I actually enjoyed it a lot. Unlike ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS, which made me want to slap all the bitches, Sophia is respectful of Japanese culture (for the most part) and Tokyo exists more than just as a backdrop. I've been to the exact two-story Starbucks in Shibuya that they went to, I've seen the Hachiko statue, and I've definitely made late-night runs to konbini, which, if you've ever been to one of the Japanese ones, will make you cry in shame when you compare them to what convenience stores are like here.
So, part of my review is definitely biased by the fact that huge swaths of this book were a big old nostalgia rush. But I also felt like all the drama felt realistic. Teens are d r a m a t i c. And one of my quotes is that I'm down with stupid decisions if it's a character flaw and not an author flaw. I think people sometimes forget how stupid they were as teenagers, and how incestuous friend groups can be when it comes to dating. I was in band, and there was always so much drama when couples broke up. I remember on one of our trips, people were sending envoys in one of our hotel to deliver messages to each other because they were too mad to talk in person post-breakup. #drama
And also, this book really captures what it's like to be on the cusp of adulthood, wanting change, but fearing it; feeling nostalgic for childhood while anxious to leave it; making mistakes just to feel the rush. It's a tumultuous time, and I feel like SEVEN DAYS OF YOU really captures the yearning feeling that so many teens have, even if they're not quite sure what they're yearning for.
I read this fully expecting to hate it and it ended up being exactly what I needed. Even if you're side-eying the white kid cultural tourism angle, I feel like it's done pretty well and the author seems to have a passion for all elements of Japanese culture beyond the anime ones. The descriptions of the food, the shrines, the karaoke parlors, and even the convenience stores, are all so lovingly done, it makes me want to go back there asap, even though the summers are hell (and this book portrayed that quite well, too-- and God help you if your AC craps out). Definitely recommend this for anyone who wants to go to Japan, has been and is feeling nostalgic, or enjoys YA with older characters.
4 stars
March 7, 2020
Full Review on The Candid Cover
Seven Days of You is a cute contemporary about moving away. I loved the Japanese setting and all the culture in the book. I did find the main character to be annoying, but I still really enjoyed the book and would recommend it.
This book has a really intriguing concept! Basically, it tells the story of a girl who has seven days left before she leaves Tokyo. When an old friend moves to Japan just as she is about to leave, their relationship develops at the most inconvenient time. I found this idea to be so sweet, as Jamie and Sophia try to spend as much time as possible together before Sophia has to go. Her departure is so much harder because she is moving to a different continent, so there is more to lose. There is so much drama and fluff in Seven Days of You, which created a nice balance and made this book so enjoyable.
I absolutely adored the Japanese setting in Seven Days of You! Japan has always been somewhere I want to visit, and I feel like Cecilia Vinesse did a nice job transporting the reader there. The descriptions of the attractions and the food seemed so real and made me want to go to Tokyo even more. I haven’t read too many books set in Japan, and I would definitely like to see more of them.
One of my only issues with this book was the main character. Sophia is not the ideal main character, as she is selfish and doesn’t treat her friends with very much respect. She is also annoyingly clueless and struggles with choosing between the boy who is actually nice to her and the boy who lied to her. She does have some redeeming qualities, but her immaturity and rudeness sort of overpowers them.
Seven Days of You is a cute contemporary about a girl with seven days left before she moves away. I loved the setting and the concept, but the main character didn’t do it for me. However, the book is remains enjoyable, and I would still recommend it.
Seven Days of You is a cute contemporary about moving away. I loved the Japanese setting and all the culture in the book. I did find the main character to be annoying, but I still really enjoyed the book and would recommend it.
This book has a really intriguing concept! Basically, it tells the story of a girl who has seven days left before she leaves Tokyo. When an old friend moves to Japan just as she is about to leave, their relationship develops at the most inconvenient time. I found this idea to be so sweet, as Jamie and Sophia try to spend as much time as possible together before Sophia has to go. Her departure is so much harder because she is moving to a different continent, so there is more to lose. There is so much drama and fluff in Seven Days of You, which created a nice balance and made this book so enjoyable.
I absolutely adored the Japanese setting in Seven Days of You! Japan has always been somewhere I want to visit, and I feel like Cecilia Vinesse did a nice job transporting the reader there. The descriptions of the attractions and the food seemed so real and made me want to go to Tokyo even more. I haven’t read too many books set in Japan, and I would definitely like to see more of them.
One of my only issues with this book was the main character. Sophia is not the ideal main character, as she is selfish and doesn’t treat her friends with very much respect. She is also annoyingly clueless and struggles with choosing between the boy who is actually nice to her and the boy who lied to her. She does have some redeeming qualities, but her immaturity and rudeness sort of overpowers them.
Seven Days of You is a cute contemporary about a girl with seven days left before she moves away. I loved the setting and the concept, but the main character didn’t do it for me. However, the book is remains enjoyable, and I would still recommend it.
March 10, 2017
(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley.)
This was a YA contemporary romance about a relationship that develops over a week.
Sophia was an okay character, and I felt quite sorry for her that she was being forced to leave her home, and the way her father treated her wasn’t very nice either.
The storyline was about a whirlwind romance between Sophia and a boy called Jamie who she originally claimed to dislike. We got a couple of revelations from friend which were surprising, but I did lose interest a bit as the book went on.
The ending to this was okay, although it wasn’t exactly a happily ever after.
6 out of 10
This was a YA contemporary romance about a relationship that develops over a week.
Sophia was an okay character, and I felt quite sorry for her that she was being forced to leave her home, and the way her father treated her wasn’t very nice either.
The storyline was about a whirlwind romance between Sophia and a boy called Jamie who she originally claimed to dislike. We got a couple of revelations from friend which were surprising, but I did lose interest a bit as the book went on.
The ending to this was okay, although it wasn’t exactly a happily ever after.
6 out of 10
May 9, 2017
This story was such an utterly charming and adorable read. The adoration between Sophia and her boy-crush unfurled slowly, as the plot progressed, and, despite the short time-frame of the story, felt like a realistic and resonant romance. The discovery of their shared attraction made this such a sweet tale that transported me back to my own teenage days, and the angst and agitation that is paired with the discovery of first love.
Each and every character had a reason for existing within the story, and all their quirky characteristics combined to make this small group feel like a family. One that invited the reader to join their tight ranks.
Perhaps the biggest character to leave an impression on me, wasn't actually a character at all and yet was presented as one. The doors to Tokyo city were opened to the reader, and the everyday wonders of life there were exhibited in a way that made the setting part of the magic of this story. The culture and the society were vividly recreated within the confines of this book and I truly felt I got an authentic glimpse of a life lived in this vibrant place. Had this been set elsewhere, the book would have lost much of its charm. Vinesse's affinity with the place shines through her writing, and it is easy to see where her own love lies, in this story.
Each and every character had a reason for existing within the story, and all their quirky characteristics combined to make this small group feel like a family. One that invited the reader to join their tight ranks.
Perhaps the biggest character to leave an impression on me, wasn't actually a character at all and yet was presented as one. The doors to Tokyo city were opened to the reader, and the everyday wonders of life there were exhibited in a way that made the setting part of the magic of this story. The culture and the society were vividly recreated within the confines of this book and I truly felt I got an authentic glimpse of a life lived in this vibrant place. Had this been set elsewhere, the book would have lost much of its charm. Vinesse's affinity with the place shines through her writing, and it is easy to see where her own love lies, in this story.
May 4, 2019
oh maaaaaaan okay listen, the setting??? awesome. The sisterly sibling relationship???? awesome. the own voices side character who was in a f/f relationship??? awesome. the constant drama and how the main character just kept doing shitty things and hurting everyone?????? REALLY NOT AWESOME.
November 30, 2017
El mejor libro que he leído en 2017.
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February 23, 2017
Seven Days of You sounded like a super cute book and I was so excited to read it. However, this book was a hot mess.
My biggest problem with this book is the main character. She's in high school but she acts like she's seven years old. Everything from the way she talks to how she handles situations is shockingly immature. Not to mention how her name is Sophia but her friends call her Sofa. I found that incredibly annoying and just weird. Her relationship with her best friend was messed up and very shallow. The guys in this book are all awful and I couldn't stand them. To be honest, I couldn't stand any of the characters.
I was so excited that this book took place in Tokyo but nothing about Seven Days of You said Tokyo. This book could have taken place anywhere in the world because it brought nothing Tokyo to the table. It was just another YA with a boring setting. I was expecting Japanese culture but I got none.
I wish I had loved this book, I really do, but I didn't like it at all. It was poorly written with awful characters and a disappointing setting.
My biggest problem with this book is the main character. She's in high school but she acts like she's seven years old. Everything from the way she talks to how she handles situations is shockingly immature. Not to mention how her name is Sophia but her friends call her Sofa. I found that incredibly annoying and just weird. Her relationship with her best friend was messed up and very shallow. The guys in this book are all awful and I couldn't stand them. To be honest, I couldn't stand any of the characters.
I was so excited that this book took place in Tokyo but nothing about Seven Days of You said Tokyo. This book could have taken place anywhere in the world because it brought nothing Tokyo to the table. It was just another YA with a boring setting. I was expecting Japanese culture but I got none.
I wish I had loved this book, I really do, but I didn't like it at all. It was poorly written with awful characters and a disappointing setting.
March 19, 2017
About: Seven Days of You is a fiction novel written by Cecilia Vinesse. It was published on 3/7/17 by Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 336 pages. The genres are young adult, contemporary, romance, Japan, etc. This book is intended for ages 15 and up, grades high school sophomore to college level. This novel is the author’s debut!
My Experience: I started reading Seven Days of You on 3/5/17 and finished it on 3/19/17. This book shouldn’t take me that long to read but there are so many books I want to read that the decision to stick one is really tough. Anyway, this book is an interesting read. In this book, readers will follow the point of view of Sophia aka Sofa Wachowski, a junior at T-Cad, an English speaking international school in Tokyo, Japan. She is one of among many classmates at the school where they often relocate to different countries due to their parent’s career. Sofa has lived in United States, Japan, and France, but was born in Japan. It’s definitely interesting to read about people living in different places.
“I think you choose where you belong, and those places will always be there to remind you of who you are. You just have to choose them.” 55%
Seven Days of You revolves around Sofa having only 7 days left in Japan before having to move back to USA because of her mother’s job. She has 3 best friends to have fun with, Mika, Caroline, and David. She crushes on David for many years. Then Jamie, who used to hang out with the group leave Japan to attend boarding school in USA announces his return. Sofa has some ugly history with Jamie before he left so she’s not too happy to know that he’s back. One of the ugly history was Jamie’s crush on Sofa, got jealous witnessing Sofa flirting with David, and sent a hurtful text about Sofa meant for Mika but Sofa received it instead. Ouch. I know.. But when Jamie comes back, he’s less geeky and more noticeably attractive. In the meantime, Sofa also has other issues to deal with, besides her overwhelm crushing life, she has to come to terms with her long distance father, leaving Japan for good, and the drama with her friends. This book is packed with emotions and drama and figuring out where home is.
“And now that I’d noticed it, I couldn’t un-notice it. I couldn’t imagine paying attention to anyone else if he was in the room.” 64%
I enjoy reading this book. I like how all the different characters from many different countries come together due to their parent’s job. It’s interesting when Sofa couldn’t say she’s Japanese even though she’s born in Japan but how her dad was born in France and her mom was born in Poland, but her mom moved to New Jersey when she was a baby so that makes her American and Sofa has relocated to America for a number of years as well. This technicality is actually interesting to me. I like that the author brings out the experiences of Tokyo in this book. I was born in Vietnam and Karaoke is huge there too. I have been to Karaoke rooms in Vietnam so reading this part of the book brings back memories for me. I like that the author have a mixture of relationships in this book, many of it might be more broken than happy, but it’s what many teens deal with. This book might be too much drama and moody for me, but I still highly recommend the read because this realistic contemporary is closely resemble to real life.
Pro: Karaoke, friendship, romance, language barriers, international school, diverse, easy to read, fast pace, Tokyo Japan
Con: teen drama, teen moodiness,
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to the author Cecilia Vinesse, publisher Little Brown Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. Please assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com
My Experience: I started reading Seven Days of You on 3/5/17 and finished it on 3/19/17. This book shouldn’t take me that long to read but there are so many books I want to read that the decision to stick one is really tough. Anyway, this book is an interesting read. In this book, readers will follow the point of view of Sophia aka Sofa Wachowski, a junior at T-Cad, an English speaking international school in Tokyo, Japan. She is one of among many classmates at the school where they often relocate to different countries due to their parent’s career. Sofa has lived in United States, Japan, and France, but was born in Japan. It’s definitely interesting to read about people living in different places.
“I think you choose where you belong, and those places will always be there to remind you of who you are. You just have to choose them.” 55%
Seven Days of You revolves around Sofa having only 7 days left in Japan before having to move back to USA because of her mother’s job. She has 3 best friends to have fun with, Mika, Caroline, and David. She crushes on David for many years. Then Jamie, who used to hang out with the group leave Japan to attend boarding school in USA announces his return. Sofa has some ugly history with Jamie before he left so she’s not too happy to know that he’s back. One of the ugly history was Jamie’s crush on Sofa, got jealous witnessing Sofa flirting with David, and sent a hurtful text about Sofa meant for Mika but Sofa received it instead. Ouch. I know.. But when Jamie comes back, he’s less geeky and more noticeably attractive. In the meantime, Sofa also has other issues to deal with, besides her overwhelm crushing life, she has to come to terms with her long distance father, leaving Japan for good, and the drama with her friends. This book is packed with emotions and drama and figuring out where home is.
“And now that I’d noticed it, I couldn’t un-notice it. I couldn’t imagine paying attention to anyone else if he was in the room.” 64%
I enjoy reading this book. I like how all the different characters from many different countries come together due to their parent’s job. It’s interesting when Sofa couldn’t say she’s Japanese even though she’s born in Japan but how her dad was born in France and her mom was born in Poland, but her mom moved to New Jersey when she was a baby so that makes her American and Sofa has relocated to America for a number of years as well. This technicality is actually interesting to me. I like that the author brings out the experiences of Tokyo in this book. I was born in Vietnam and Karaoke is huge there too. I have been to Karaoke rooms in Vietnam so reading this part of the book brings back memories for me. I like that the author have a mixture of relationships in this book, many of it might be more broken than happy, but it’s what many teens deal with. This book might be too much drama and moody for me, but I still highly recommend the read because this realistic contemporary is closely resemble to real life.
Pro: Karaoke, friendship, romance, language barriers, international school, diverse, easy to read, fast pace, Tokyo Japan
Con: teen drama, teen moodiness,
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to the author Cecilia Vinesse, publisher Little Brown Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. Please assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com
February 23, 2017
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I liked this story. I found it to be a really quick read and while it wasn't the perfect story, it did have a lot of things going for it. I thought that the range of emotions that Sophia goes through in this story really rang true. The book was a little different than I had expected from the description and while there was a romance featured in the story this book was about so much more than that.
Sophia is moving to the United States with her mom and sister in just one week. She has spent the past few years of her life living in Tokyo and that is where all of her friends and her life is. Moving is never easy but moving so far away where the possibility of seeing your friends is incredibly tough. Jamie is moving back to Tokyo after spending a couple of years at a boarding school in the United States. Jamie and Sophia didn't part on good terms when they last saw each other. Sophia really wishes that he had waited until she left to come back.
Sophia soon feels a connection to Jamie like she hadn't felt before. He seems to be there when she needs him and he somehow finds the right words for the situation. It was fun to watch this pair open up to each other and make a connection. It is really too bad that the time that they have together is so limited due to Sophia's upcoming move.
This book takes place in Tokyo and I was really looking forward to experiencing a bit of this area. Unfortunately, I didn't really get a feel for Tokyo from this story. Sophia attends an English speaking school and her friends are largely like her. There were some food items mentioned but other than that this story felt like it could have taken place anywhere.
In addition to moving and sorting out her feelings toward Jamie, Sophia is also saying goodbye to her friends in this story. I felt like some of the drama between Sophia and her friends was unnecessary. Another thing that Sophia has to figure out is her relationship with her father. This was really one of the strong points of the book. I felt really bad for Sophia and thought that the emotions portrayed were realistic.
I would recommend this book to others. I think that the author was able to create an interesting story around a very realistic teen. I am impressed by Cecilia Vinesse's debut novel and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Little Brown Books for Young Readers via NetGalley and TheNovl.com.
Initial Thoughts
This was an interesting read. The characters seemed a bit overly dramatic at times but teenagers seem to act that way at times. Sophia learns a lot about who she is during her last seven days in Tokyo.
I liked this story. I found it to be a really quick read and while it wasn't the perfect story, it did have a lot of things going for it. I thought that the range of emotions that Sophia goes through in this story really rang true. The book was a little different than I had expected from the description and while there was a romance featured in the story this book was about so much more than that.
Sophia is moving to the United States with her mom and sister in just one week. She has spent the past few years of her life living in Tokyo and that is where all of her friends and her life is. Moving is never easy but moving so far away where the possibility of seeing your friends is incredibly tough. Jamie is moving back to Tokyo after spending a couple of years at a boarding school in the United States. Jamie and Sophia didn't part on good terms when they last saw each other. Sophia really wishes that he had waited until she left to come back.
Sophia soon feels a connection to Jamie like she hadn't felt before. He seems to be there when she needs him and he somehow finds the right words for the situation. It was fun to watch this pair open up to each other and make a connection. It is really too bad that the time that they have together is so limited due to Sophia's upcoming move.
This book takes place in Tokyo and I was really looking forward to experiencing a bit of this area. Unfortunately, I didn't really get a feel for Tokyo from this story. Sophia attends an English speaking school and her friends are largely like her. There were some food items mentioned but other than that this story felt like it could have taken place anywhere.
In addition to moving and sorting out her feelings toward Jamie, Sophia is also saying goodbye to her friends in this story. I felt like some of the drama between Sophia and her friends was unnecessary. Another thing that Sophia has to figure out is her relationship with her father. This was really one of the strong points of the book. I felt really bad for Sophia and thought that the emotions portrayed were realistic.
I would recommend this book to others. I think that the author was able to create an interesting story around a very realistic teen. I am impressed by Cecilia Vinesse's debut novel and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Little Brown Books for Young Readers via NetGalley and TheNovl.com.
Initial Thoughts
This was an interesting read. The characters seemed a bit overly dramatic at times but teenagers seem to act that way at times. Sophia learns a lot about who she is during her last seven days in Tokyo.
November 16, 2020
I was hoping to get a quick YA romance fix from Seven Days of You and that's exactly what I got. It's got one of my favorite tropes-friends to lovers although it's a bittersweet story because Sophia is bound to move out of Tokyo to New Jersey and is about to leave her friends and her potential more than a friend behind.
I enjoyed the tour around Tokyo, the descriptions of notable places around the City, including the food although I honestly think the author could have exhausted the setting better to make it really feel like Tokyo. It's not like I know better but I just feel like there's more to the city than just the popular places, most I already know of.
The narrative is playful and emotional at the same time, a bit dramatic to be honest at times but it's still quite entertaining. Sophia is a sympathetic character and her personal struggles are quite relatable. The rest of the characters are also memorable. The conclusion although is indefinite makes the reader hope that there's a possibility for Sophia and her possibly more than friend.
I enjoyed the tour around Tokyo, the descriptions of notable places around the City, including the food although I honestly think the author could have exhausted the setting better to make it really feel like Tokyo. It's not like I know better but I just feel like there's more to the city than just the popular places, most I already know of.
The narrative is playful and emotional at the same time, a bit dramatic to be honest at times but it's still quite entertaining. Sophia is a sympathetic character and her personal struggles are quite relatable. The rest of the characters are also memorable. The conclusion although is indefinite makes the reader hope that there's a possibility for Sophia and her possibly more than friend.
May 25, 2020
*3.5/5
May 18, 2016
I absolutely loved this book - it was so hopeful and heart rending and real, and I fell head over heels for Sophia and Jamie. Fans of Stephanie Perkins will adore this!
August 15, 2017
This book and I connected deeply. It also passed my "authentic Japan" test. Go forth and read!
This book is very much an expat story. It's not about a girl moving to Japan and learning about it and sharing her learned experiences. It's about a teen that lives in a foreign country not but her own choice. She didn't go to Japan to discover and explore. I see a lot of reviews saying that the Japanese setting wasn't used well but I thought it was used realistically. Sophia doesn't spend her time being wowed by Japan because it's not a new amazing thing for her. It's her home, it's normal. Books set in the USA with American characters aren't full of them discovering things about America.
I think we also need to remember that Sophia didn't choose Japan because she wanted to learn the culture/language. She's there because of her mother. She has zero motivation to make friends with Japanese natives or even really learn Japanese. She's a teen, going to an International school, hanging out with international people.
I loved the way that Japan was portrayed in this book. It felt real. It was just Sophia's every day. She would eat common foods and do common activities that anyone in her age range would. She depended on her mother to do a lot of the actual leg work that it takes to live in Japan.
This book hit me hard because I ended up reading it right around the time that I left Japan. I lived there for 7 years and it was (and still is) my home. I miss it all of the time.
I really loved this book and I really hope that people will enjoy it too and see it for what it is. Please don't go into it thinking it's going to be a "discover Japan/ learn about Japanese culture!" book because it isn't a story about that.
This book is very much an expat story. It's not about a girl moving to Japan and learning about it and sharing her learned experiences. It's about a teen that lives in a foreign country not but her own choice. She didn't go to Japan to discover and explore. I see a lot of reviews saying that the Japanese setting wasn't used well but I thought it was used realistically. Sophia doesn't spend her time being wowed by Japan because it's not a new amazing thing for her. It's her home, it's normal. Books set in the USA with American characters aren't full of them discovering things about America.
I think we also need to remember that Sophia didn't choose Japan because she wanted to learn the culture/language. She's there because of her mother. She has zero motivation to make friends with Japanese natives or even really learn Japanese. She's a teen, going to an International school, hanging out with international people.
I loved the way that Japan was portrayed in this book. It felt real. It was just Sophia's every day. She would eat common foods and do common activities that anyone in her age range would. She depended on her mother to do a lot of the actual leg work that it takes to live in Japan.
This book hit me hard because I ended up reading it right around the time that I left Japan. I lived there for 7 years and it was (and still is) my home. I miss it all of the time.
I really loved this book and I really hope that people will enjoy it too and see it for what it is. Please don't go into it thinking it's going to be a "discover Japan/ learn about Japanese culture!" book because it isn't a story about that.
February 7, 2017
I've been struggling a bit with this genre and wanted something different, something that would pull me out of my YA funk and so I went into this maybe with slightly high expectations. Anna and the French Kiss is one of my all time favorites in this genre and having that compared to this story out those expectations higher than I should have let them go.
This wasn't a bad read, in fact, I adored the setting. It isn't often we see a setting take place in Japan with so much life around it in this genre. In fact, it was my most favorite part of the story. I wish I could say I adored the rest but the fact is, I just could't connect with the rest of the storyline or the characters.
That isn't to say that someone else won't absolutely adore this, it just wasn't exactly my read at the moment, in fact if I picked this up at any other time, I might have even liked it more, who's to say.
Overall, I do think a lot of people will really like this and even love it.
*ARC copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
This wasn't a bad read, in fact, I adored the setting. It isn't often we see a setting take place in Japan with so much life around it in this genre. In fact, it was my most favorite part of the story. I wish I could say I adored the rest but the fact is, I just could't connect with the rest of the storyline or the characters.
That isn't to say that someone else won't absolutely adore this, it just wasn't exactly my read at the moment, in fact if I picked this up at any other time, I might have even liked it more, who's to say.
Overall, I do think a lot of people will really like this and even love it.
*ARC copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
February 10, 2017
Originally posted on Super Space Chick:
Personal Thoughts: After finishing and loving P.S. I Like You by Kasie West, I decided I was on a contemporary kick and jumped right into one of my most anticipated of 2017. Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse is a book that I got an ARC of at BEA and I’d been meaning to read it before it’s March release date so I could review it here on the blog. What initially peaked my interest in Seven Days of You is the fact that it’s set in Tokyo. I love all things Japan so my heart felt ready to dive in and run around Tokyo in my head while ignoring the Nor’easter weather conditions here in NYC.
Plot Summary: Seven Days of You is the story of a girl named Sophia who has only one week left in Tokyo. She’s lived there with her mother and her sister for more combined years than any other location and she’s not ready to leave her best friends, her school and everything familiar in her life behind and head to New Jersey right before she begins her senior year of high school. As Sophia is getting ready to leave, Jamie, the boy she’s harbored a huge grudge against for the past couple of years, arrives back in Tokyo and their relationship dynamic begins to change when he helps her pick up the pieces of everything falling apart around her. But despite the change of heart, Sophia and Jamie are dealing with an impending deadline of Sophia’s inevitable departure.
Critique: I’m sad to say that Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse did not live up to my expectations. My initial interest in the Tokyo setting ended up being the only thing that kept me going throughout the whole story. I loved anytime the characters would meet up at a tourist destination in Tokyo, would go to karaoke, or would indulge in Japanese snacks. It was really fun to pick out some favorites and wish I were there eating with them! There was also a mention in the beginning of the book that reminded me of one of my favorite manga series (Nana by Ai Yazawa) so I was very hyped. Unfortunately, my love of the book ended there. I didn’t completely dislike the book but none of the characters were very memorable, and I struggled with the plot. Sophia and her friends Mika and David are immature. David treats Sophia horribly yet she spends a good portion of the story harboring a crush on him anyway. I really disliked the way the situation between the three of them was handled from beginning to end. Then there’s the love interest Jamie who seemed like such a good guy. He’s way too good for everything that Sophia puts him through and it was sad to see him hang around her. Mika seemed like she had potential to be an interesting character but it was difficult to ever fully understand her or the motivation behind her actions and David is just awful. Another thing I found strange is that Japanese words would be in italics the first time they were used. I’m unsure if this is because I read an ARC version or if it was an intentional way to show readers that an object is Japanese. I’ll be very curious to see if that’s the same in the finished version. One thing I did like is that each chapter has a countdown in the chapter header showing us how many more days, hours, minutes and seconds Sophia has left before she leaves Tokyo. Seven Days of You is an enjoyable read for the Japanese references but it’s not something I would re-read and I know the story isn’t one that will stick with me.
Do I Recommend?: Sadly, I can’t say that I do. If you love Japan and Japanese culture, you might find it worth the read just for the references but don’t expect much out of the story or characters.
Personal Thoughts: After finishing and loving P.S. I Like You by Kasie West, I decided I was on a contemporary kick and jumped right into one of my most anticipated of 2017. Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse is a book that I got an ARC of at BEA and I’d been meaning to read it before it’s March release date so I could review it here on the blog. What initially peaked my interest in Seven Days of You is the fact that it’s set in Tokyo. I love all things Japan so my heart felt ready to dive in and run around Tokyo in my head while ignoring the Nor’easter weather conditions here in NYC.
Plot Summary: Seven Days of You is the story of a girl named Sophia who has only one week left in Tokyo. She’s lived there with her mother and her sister for more combined years than any other location and she’s not ready to leave her best friends, her school and everything familiar in her life behind and head to New Jersey right before she begins her senior year of high school. As Sophia is getting ready to leave, Jamie, the boy she’s harbored a huge grudge against for the past couple of years, arrives back in Tokyo and their relationship dynamic begins to change when he helps her pick up the pieces of everything falling apart around her. But despite the change of heart, Sophia and Jamie are dealing with an impending deadline of Sophia’s inevitable departure.
Critique: I’m sad to say that Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse did not live up to my expectations. My initial interest in the Tokyo setting ended up being the only thing that kept me going throughout the whole story. I loved anytime the characters would meet up at a tourist destination in Tokyo, would go to karaoke, or would indulge in Japanese snacks. It was really fun to pick out some favorites and wish I were there eating with them! There was also a mention in the beginning of the book that reminded me of one of my favorite manga series (Nana by Ai Yazawa) so I was very hyped. Unfortunately, my love of the book ended there. I didn’t completely dislike the book but none of the characters were very memorable, and I struggled with the plot. Sophia and her friends Mika and David are immature. David treats Sophia horribly yet she spends a good portion of the story harboring a crush on him anyway. I really disliked the way the situation between the three of them was handled from beginning to end. Then there’s the love interest Jamie who seemed like such a good guy. He’s way too good for everything that Sophia puts him through and it was sad to see him hang around her. Mika seemed like she had potential to be an interesting character but it was difficult to ever fully understand her or the motivation behind her actions and David is just awful. Another thing I found strange is that Japanese words would be in italics the first time they were used. I’m unsure if this is because I read an ARC version or if it was an intentional way to show readers that an object is Japanese. I’ll be very curious to see if that’s the same in the finished version. One thing I did like is that each chapter has a countdown in the chapter header showing us how many more days, hours, minutes and seconds Sophia has left before she leaves Tokyo. Seven Days of You is an enjoyable read for the Japanese references but it’s not something I would re-read and I know the story isn’t one that will stick with me.
Do I Recommend?: Sadly, I can’t say that I do. If you love Japan and Japanese culture, you might find it worth the read just for the references but don’t expect much out of the story or characters.
March 3, 2017
Review
This cover screams cute right?? I mean the cute couple under an umbrella, the various tones of pink, the city as their background all indicate a cute story on the inside. And it was!!
Sophia has just seven days left in Tokyo until her and her mom and sister move to New Jersey for her mom's job. That is only seven days to say goodbye to her best friend, her crush and the city that she loves. Nothing will ruin these perfect days until Jamie Foster-Collins moves back and messes up all of her plans. As everything unravels around Sophia, Jamie seems to be the only one there to help. But with her leaving so soon can it lead to anything but goodbye?
I am just going to get this out of the way and say my favorite thing about this book was Tokyo. I have never read a book set there and this one did such an amazing job of giving me a real visual and feel to life there. I loved all the talk about their stores, the food, how they got around. I also loved the idea of their school and lots of different people being there and the division between those who had money and those who really didn't.
Sophia and her friends were fun. They went out a lot for high school but maybe i was just lame or maybe it is the Tokyo way. Still, that made their outings fun. There was conflict between them all at various points for various reasons and I could buy it all. I thought it all resolved organically too. Sophia and Jamie were cute. They definitely suited each other. I was rooting for them but with a seven day count down I wasn't sure how they would end up.
There was also interesting family dynamics between Sohpia and her mom, her sister and her dad. They didn't go super deep with any of it but I like what it added to the story.
Overall, this was really a cute story with an adorable romance and some interesting friend and family dynamics. The real star here for me was Tokyo though. If you want a quick read to takes you out of the normal setting (US or Europe is mainly what I see in these books) I would recommend this one easily.This review was originally posted on Rebel Mommy Book Blog
This cover screams cute right?? I mean the cute couple under an umbrella, the various tones of pink, the city as their background all indicate a cute story on the inside. And it was!!
Sophia has just seven days left in Tokyo until her and her mom and sister move to New Jersey for her mom's job. That is only seven days to say goodbye to her best friend, her crush and the city that she loves. Nothing will ruin these perfect days until Jamie Foster-Collins moves back and messes up all of her plans. As everything unravels around Sophia, Jamie seems to be the only one there to help. But with her leaving so soon can it lead to anything but goodbye?
I am just going to get this out of the way and say my favorite thing about this book was Tokyo. I have never read a book set there and this one did such an amazing job of giving me a real visual and feel to life there. I loved all the talk about their stores, the food, how they got around. I also loved the idea of their school and lots of different people being there and the division between those who had money and those who really didn't.
Sophia and her friends were fun. They went out a lot for high school but maybe i was just lame or maybe it is the Tokyo way. Still, that made their outings fun. There was conflict between them all at various points for various reasons and I could buy it all. I thought it all resolved organically too. Sophia and Jamie were cute. They definitely suited each other. I was rooting for them but with a seven day count down I wasn't sure how they would end up.
There was also interesting family dynamics between Sohpia and her mom, her sister and her dad. They didn't go super deep with any of it but I like what it added to the story.
Overall, this was really a cute story with an adorable romance and some interesting friend and family dynamics. The real star here for me was Tokyo though. If you want a quick read to takes you out of the normal setting (US or Europe is mainly what I see in these books) I would recommend this one easily.This review was originally posted on Rebel Mommy Book Blog
Want to read
March 15, 2016i literally want to preorder this RIGHT NOW.
April 27, 2018
*2.5
I did not enjoy this book and I just didn’t like any of the characters in this book. I really did want to like this new contemporary novel but it just fell flat for me.
I did not enjoy this book and I just didn’t like any of the characters in this book. I really did want to like this new contemporary novel but it just fell flat for me.
March 7, 2017
Post reading thoughts: Absolute perfection!
I’ve come across a handful of books this year which have completely taken me by surprise, I’m pleased to say Seven Days of You was one of those books. I remember reading the blurb a few months ago, thinking it would be the sort of book that I would enjoy and although it did take me a while to get into initially, on my train back home I was completely hooked. Vinesse goes above and beyond in creating a gorgeous read in the wonderful backdrop of Tokyo. I’m one of those readers that love to read books set in different cities; it makes the wanderlust within me want to come out in full force. And Tokyo really is one of the least expected places that I would have thought I’d want to go visit. But reading Seven Days of You really changed all that, it was clear to me that Vinesse really went all out with her research into Tokyo, the places she describes that our MC Sophia and her friends visit, the modes of travel and even the food, made me feel as if I was right there with these characters and I enjoyed every single moment of finding myself lost in Tokyo.
It’s sometimes hard to believe that this book is only set over seven days, as Vinesse packs in so much into this great book, it focuses on friendship, yearning, young love and having fun and adventures. Our characters Sophia, Jamie, David, Caroline and Mika had a lot going on, Sophia was moving back to the States, something she really didn’t want to do, having made such great friends over here and Jamie was on his back to Tokyo, having spent the last three years studying abroad. There was an underlying tension between Jamie and Sophia that we didn’t know a lot about, we didn’t know why Sophia wanted to avoid Jamie and it also seemed like there were a lot more secrets amongst this group of friends too. I really liked this mystery aspect of the story, of course I wanted to know what had happened between Jamie and Sophia all those years ago, because it was clear that there was something between them now and they only had seven days left together and so I really just wanted them to make the most of it. I loved the build up of discovering what had happened between Jamie and Sophia, and watching the way the group dynamics quickly changed in the last few days that Sophia had left here. Some of the secrets that emerged along the way I also weren’t expecting, but they contributed to the heartache along the way and making Seven Days of You more of an emotional read for me, which I enjoyed rather a lot. I enjoyed the carefree attitudes that Vinesse gave us in our characters, how Sophia although making some mistakes along the way, which I understood, really tried to make the most of her last week in Tokyo. It was about discovering yourself, having fun and making the most out of life. Sophia was a character who I adored, she had a lot to deal with, but I appreciated the little nudges she got along the way, how her family played a pivotal role in her life and the development of this story. She was a character that I could easily relate to having moved around quite a bit myself when I was younger, but she was also a character that you couldn’t but help want to do well and get the most of life. So you could say that I was a big fan of the turn of events in this book. The rest of the characters also bought so much to this beautiful story, Jamie and his curly hair definitely bought all the swoons, he quickly became one of my favourite characters. David, Mika and Caroline were also a complicated bunch, but were just so unexpected in their actions, that I loved having them pop up as I never knew what could happen next. I also need to mention Sophia’s family, every family has their ups and downs and so I really appreciated that despite some of the misunderstandings, they were there for Sophia.
Seven Days of You had everything that I love when it comes to reading, it had a wonderful setting in Tokyo, characters that had such complicated friendships, but withstood no matter what and the development of one of my favourite relationships to date. Vinesse’s writing and story building was wonderfully done that I really didn’t want this book to end at times, I would totally be up for a sequel too (pretty please) for me there could more development to come from the ending that we’re given. Seven Days of You has quite easily become one of my favourite reads of the year, I highly recommend everyone giving this book a go, you will not regret falling in love with these characters and gorgeous story.
I’ve come across a handful of books this year which have completely taken me by surprise, I’m pleased to say Seven Days of You was one of those books. I remember reading the blurb a few months ago, thinking it would be the sort of book that I would enjoy and although it did take me a while to get into initially, on my train back home I was completely hooked. Vinesse goes above and beyond in creating a gorgeous read in the wonderful backdrop of Tokyo. I’m one of those readers that love to read books set in different cities; it makes the wanderlust within me want to come out in full force. And Tokyo really is one of the least expected places that I would have thought I’d want to go visit. But reading Seven Days of You really changed all that, it was clear to me that Vinesse really went all out with her research into Tokyo, the places she describes that our MC Sophia and her friends visit, the modes of travel and even the food, made me feel as if I was right there with these characters and I enjoyed every single moment of finding myself lost in Tokyo.
It’s sometimes hard to believe that this book is only set over seven days, as Vinesse packs in so much into this great book, it focuses on friendship, yearning, young love and having fun and adventures. Our characters Sophia, Jamie, David, Caroline and Mika had a lot going on, Sophia was moving back to the States, something she really didn’t want to do, having made such great friends over here and Jamie was on his back to Tokyo, having spent the last three years studying abroad. There was an underlying tension between Jamie and Sophia that we didn’t know a lot about, we didn’t know why Sophia wanted to avoid Jamie and it also seemed like there were a lot more secrets amongst this group of friends too. I really liked this mystery aspect of the story, of course I wanted to know what had happened between Jamie and Sophia all those years ago, because it was clear that there was something between them now and they only had seven days left together and so I really just wanted them to make the most of it. I loved the build up of discovering what had happened between Jamie and Sophia, and watching the way the group dynamics quickly changed in the last few days that Sophia had left here. Some of the secrets that emerged along the way I also weren’t expecting, but they contributed to the heartache along the way and making Seven Days of You more of an emotional read for me, which I enjoyed rather a lot. I enjoyed the carefree attitudes that Vinesse gave us in our characters, how Sophia although making some mistakes along the way, which I understood, really tried to make the most of her last week in Tokyo. It was about discovering yourself, having fun and making the most out of life. Sophia was a character who I adored, she had a lot to deal with, but I appreciated the little nudges she got along the way, how her family played a pivotal role in her life and the development of this story. She was a character that I could easily relate to having moved around quite a bit myself when I was younger, but she was also a character that you couldn’t but help want to do well and get the most of life. So you could say that I was a big fan of the turn of events in this book. The rest of the characters also bought so much to this beautiful story, Jamie and his curly hair definitely bought all the swoons, he quickly became one of my favourite characters. David, Mika and Caroline were also a complicated bunch, but were just so unexpected in their actions, that I loved having them pop up as I never knew what could happen next. I also need to mention Sophia’s family, every family has their ups and downs and so I really appreciated that despite some of the misunderstandings, they were there for Sophia.
Seven Days of You had everything that I love when it comes to reading, it had a wonderful setting in Tokyo, characters that had such complicated friendships, but withstood no matter what and the development of one of my favourite relationships to date. Vinesse’s writing and story building was wonderfully done that I really didn’t want this book to end at times, I would totally be up for a sequel too (pretty please) for me there could more development to come from the ending that we’re given. Seven Days of You has quite easily become one of my favourite reads of the year, I highly recommend everyone giving this book a go, you will not regret falling in love with these characters and gorgeous story.
March 30, 2017
Before I tell you why I loved this book so much you should know some things about me. I studied Japanese for several years & then advanced my studying at The Japan Institute in Kansai. So, although I say that I completely adored this book, it also broke my heart because I miss Japan so very much, and I cannot wait to go back. With that being said, my review maybe biased since I just love it there. **To see a few additional pictures of my own time spent in Japan visit my blog at scrillreviews.blogspot
Now, as far as a YA contemporary romance novel this book hits all the major points.
-coming of age protagonist
-love interest, bonus points for a love triangle
-miscommunication with best friend or either counterpart to love triangle
-drama w/ family
-life altering/emotional moments that makes our protagonist be less of a selfish a-hole
Check, check, and check them all. Seven Days of You is about a girl, Sophia ("Sofa") who is moving from Tokyo to the states due to her mom's work. Within this last week everything about her life and what she actually thinks she knows gets turned upside down - from the boy she thought she hated, the boy she thought she liked, the best friend she thought she knew everything about, the dad who lives in Paris, to what 'home' really means. It's a coming of age story about a girl who acts like the world revolves around her, and slowly comes to realize that she isn't the only one with problems, broken hearts, and how to generally accept what is coming next.
Plot-As far as the plot goes, I couldn't really as for more. YA contemporaries are mostly about a teenager who is discovering themselves or concurring some fear of what they have to do. In this case, we get to experience Sofia basically getting over herself over and over as she has to struggle with forgiveness with her friends with how they unintentionally hurt each other. We're too young to hold grudges, and are we really going to leave things the way they are the rest of our lives?
Characters-So our main character is Sofia, she's your typical inexperienced teenager who is all swoony over the typical popular guy, David-despite how much of a D-Bag he is. Her best friend is Mika, a Japanese bad ass who makes up for the spunk and experience that Sofia lacks. Jamie-the sweet gangly kid who liked Sofia before he previously moved away from Japan in middle school with a huge misunderstanding.
The characters themselves were typical as far as YA contemporary goes. But, I mean, it's cliché for a reason. I loved that no one was perfect, especially Jamie who is still dorky and awkward that you can't help but adore him.
Setting-now this was obviously my favorite part. The entire time I was reading this I wanted to close my eyes and just revel in the memories of Japan that the book brought up. That would of course have been counter productive since I wouldn't be able to continue reading.
Okay, so part of the setting was this school Tokyo International Academy, or T-Cad. This is basically a school where English speakers can get an education for ex-pats or just people that live there. These schools are real, believe it or not, in fact I have a friend who went to one in Tokyo. After discussing the little details the book gives that is based on a school called American School in Japan, ASIJ - I know can it be any more straight forward? This school meets the recipe-about an hour from the city center, has a large cemetery near it, and obviously primarily for foreigners who speak English.
Here's the part that really got me though. Cecilia Vinesse did an amazing job describing the sounds and feels of Tokyo. From the sudden down pours of rain when the previous day was hot (the book is set right after Tsuyu, which is the rainy season of mid June/July). The idea of the air conditioning going out and how hot and humid it can get. The sounds of cicadas chirping in the distance and trains rushing by, hearing the announcements on the train. The red lights of tall buildings blinking in the night time, rows of vending machines, the unique flavored drinks-especially the obscure ones at Starbucks that you can only get in Japan.
“Tsugi wa, shibuya. Shibuya desu.”
Even just the simple sights like this,
“We got off behind a group of women wearing yukata and walking slowly toward the ticket barriers. Their tightly bound robes were dark blue with undulating patterns on them like moving water. They had jeweled kanzashi pinned in their hair and wooden geta on their feet.”
This is a completely normal sight to see there. Especially in the summer months when there are tons of masturi/festivals going on. Other details such as the famous Shibuya crossing make it easy for many people to visualize. Not to mention other minor details snuck in here or there. For once in a foreign book I didn't have to Google every word. Words like genkan, purikura, hanabi, koen, kokeshi, temizuya, suica card, onigiri, etc
Anyway, I can go on and on about these setting development in the book, but let me just say it was spectacularly done. It really fills my heart with joy remembering all the unique things that make up Japan's culture. I don't know what it would have read for someone who doesn't know much about Japan, but for me it was full of reminiscence. I want to go home and watch Lost in Translation now.
August 26, 2016
„Ich will wirklich nicht, dass das aufhört. Ich will wirklich, wirklich nicht, dass sich alles ändert.“ (Seite 56)
Das Zitat oben steht exemplarisch für die Stimmung im gesamten Buch. Dieses beklemmende Gefühl, dass sich etwas massiv und endgültig ändern wird und man nichts dagegen tun kann. Die damit einhergehende Unsicherheit und die Hilflosigkeit, manchmal auch die Verzweiflung, das alles empfindet die Protagonistin Sophia. Und das war es, was mich von Anfang an so für das Buch einnahm, da ich derlei Erfahrungen selbst gemacht habe und sie mich sehr geprägt haben. Zwar kam ich nicht so gut wie erwartet in die Geschichte rein, doch die Gefühle, die mit einem nahenden Umzug einhergehen, waren so gut auf den Punkt gebracht und einfühlsam beschrieben, dass sie den etwas beschwerlichen Einstieg mehr als ausglichen.
Anfangs fühlte ich mich in der Geschichte noch etwas fremd. Das lag an Startschwierigkeiten mit den Charakteren Sophia, Mika und David und an Tokio. Alles ist dort so anders als in Deutschland: das Essen und Trinken – zum Beispiel heißer Kaffee aus der Dose -, die Gepflogenheiten, die Zeitvertreibe. Ich wurde jedoch rasch vertrauter mit den Charakteren und der Stadt und so konnte ich mich schlussendlich sehr gut auf das Buch einlassen. Und spätestens mit der Ankunft von Jamie war ich dann richtig „drin“.
Zudem punktete Cecilia Vinesse mit einem für mich persönlich wunderbaren Serienbezug – Sophia und Mika schauen nämlich am liebsten „Willkommen im Leben“. Eine Serie aus den 90er Jahren, die zufälligerweise eine meiner absoluten Lieblingsserien ist. Vinesse fängt – finde ich – eine ganz ähnliche melancholisch-tragisch-verliebte Stimmung ein. Das gefiel mir sehr gut.
Das ständige Gefühl des Abschiednehmens hat mich sehr berührt. Alles in Tokio wird wie gewohnt weitergehen, nur Sophia selbst verschwindet, als wäre sie nie dagewesen. Wie ein kleiner Tod. Alles wirkt vor diesem Hintergrund sehr fokussiert und intensiv. „Sieben Nächte in Tokio“ zeigt, wie weitreichend sich ein Umzug auf das Leben der jugendlichen Sophia auswirkt, wie schwer es für sie ist – aber auch, wie schwer es für alle ist, die zurückbleiben. Dabei ist diese Coming-of-Age Geschichte zu jeder Zeit sehr realistisch.
Schreibstil
Ich fühlte mich, als schwebte ich, verloren zwischen dieser Sekunde und der nächsten, zwischen all diesen verschiedenen Versionen meiner selbst, die auf dem Globus verstreut waren. (Seite 106)
Der Faktor Zeit ist ständig präsent: genaue Zeitangaben und ein Countdown sind wesentliche Bestandteile der Geschichte. Anstelle von Kapitelüberschriften wird die noch verbleibende Zeit in Tokio aufgezeigt. So wird im Bewusstsein des Lesers verankert, wie schnell Sophia die Zeit durch die Finger rinnt. Die Endgültigkeit gerät nie in Vergessenheit, so wie es auch in Sophias Gedanken der Fall ist.
Was ich stellenweise, vor allem zu Anfang, nicht ganz so gut fand war, dass Sophias Gefühle gegenüber Jamie etwas willkürlich schienen. Die Entwicklung war nicht immer gut hergeleitet. Das lässt sich aber sicherlich auch darauf zurückführen, dass sie sich selbst sehr über ihre Gefühle im unklaren ist.
Charaktere
Es hätte mich davor bewahrt, all diese … Gefühle zu haben, die dazu führten, dass ich am liebsten die ganze Nacht mit ihm unterwegs gewesen wäre. Hier, in dieser Nacht, in der die Zeit den Atem anhielt. (Seite 153)
Endlich mal ein Buch, in dem die Protagonisten nicht in irgendeiner Weise außergewöhnlich sind! Das war eine echte Wohltat. Sophia ist tatsächlich ein ganz normales Mädchen, das weder besonders hübsch, talentiert oder sonstwie auffällig ist. Sie trägt einige Unsicherheiten mit sich, die ich als sehr typisch für ihr Alter empfand. Sie ist eine angenehme Mischung aus verantwortungsbewusst und abenteuerlustig. Ich mochte Sophia sehr gerne.
Für Jamie gilt das gleiche: auch er entspricht nicht dem Bild des so häufig in Jugendbüchern gewählten Bild eines Schönlings. Er ist gutherzig, klug und zurückhaltend. Trotz allem setzt er sich aber auch durch und weiß, was er will. Vor allem aber stimmte die Chemie zwischen Sophia und Jamie. Die anfängliche Scheu, die spätere Anziehungskraft, alles wirkt sehr echt.
Fazit
Eine ganz bezaubernde, süße und traurige Geschichte und eine Liebeserklärung an die Stadt Tokio. Ein wundervolles Buch, dass mich in der Zeit zurückreisen ließ und mich sehr berührt hat. Für mich ein kleines Juwel.
Das Zitat oben steht exemplarisch für die Stimmung im gesamten Buch. Dieses beklemmende Gefühl, dass sich etwas massiv und endgültig ändern wird und man nichts dagegen tun kann. Die damit einhergehende Unsicherheit und die Hilflosigkeit, manchmal auch die Verzweiflung, das alles empfindet die Protagonistin Sophia. Und das war es, was mich von Anfang an so für das Buch einnahm, da ich derlei Erfahrungen selbst gemacht habe und sie mich sehr geprägt haben. Zwar kam ich nicht so gut wie erwartet in die Geschichte rein, doch die Gefühle, die mit einem nahenden Umzug einhergehen, waren so gut auf den Punkt gebracht und einfühlsam beschrieben, dass sie den etwas beschwerlichen Einstieg mehr als ausglichen.
Anfangs fühlte ich mich in der Geschichte noch etwas fremd. Das lag an Startschwierigkeiten mit den Charakteren Sophia, Mika und David und an Tokio. Alles ist dort so anders als in Deutschland: das Essen und Trinken – zum Beispiel heißer Kaffee aus der Dose -, die Gepflogenheiten, die Zeitvertreibe. Ich wurde jedoch rasch vertrauter mit den Charakteren und der Stadt und so konnte ich mich schlussendlich sehr gut auf das Buch einlassen. Und spätestens mit der Ankunft von Jamie war ich dann richtig „drin“.
Zudem punktete Cecilia Vinesse mit einem für mich persönlich wunderbaren Serienbezug – Sophia und Mika schauen nämlich am liebsten „Willkommen im Leben“. Eine Serie aus den 90er Jahren, die zufälligerweise eine meiner absoluten Lieblingsserien ist. Vinesse fängt – finde ich – eine ganz ähnliche melancholisch-tragisch-verliebte Stimmung ein. Das gefiel mir sehr gut.
Das ständige Gefühl des Abschiednehmens hat mich sehr berührt. Alles in Tokio wird wie gewohnt weitergehen, nur Sophia selbst verschwindet, als wäre sie nie dagewesen. Wie ein kleiner Tod. Alles wirkt vor diesem Hintergrund sehr fokussiert und intensiv. „Sieben Nächte in Tokio“ zeigt, wie weitreichend sich ein Umzug auf das Leben der jugendlichen Sophia auswirkt, wie schwer es für sie ist – aber auch, wie schwer es für alle ist, die zurückbleiben. Dabei ist diese Coming-of-Age Geschichte zu jeder Zeit sehr realistisch.
Schreibstil
Ich fühlte mich, als schwebte ich, verloren zwischen dieser Sekunde und der nächsten, zwischen all diesen verschiedenen Versionen meiner selbst, die auf dem Globus verstreut waren. (Seite 106)
Der Faktor Zeit ist ständig präsent: genaue Zeitangaben und ein Countdown sind wesentliche Bestandteile der Geschichte. Anstelle von Kapitelüberschriften wird die noch verbleibende Zeit in Tokio aufgezeigt. So wird im Bewusstsein des Lesers verankert, wie schnell Sophia die Zeit durch die Finger rinnt. Die Endgültigkeit gerät nie in Vergessenheit, so wie es auch in Sophias Gedanken der Fall ist.
Was ich stellenweise, vor allem zu Anfang, nicht ganz so gut fand war, dass Sophias Gefühle gegenüber Jamie etwas willkürlich schienen. Die Entwicklung war nicht immer gut hergeleitet. Das lässt sich aber sicherlich auch darauf zurückführen, dass sie sich selbst sehr über ihre Gefühle im unklaren ist.
Charaktere
Es hätte mich davor bewahrt, all diese … Gefühle zu haben, die dazu führten, dass ich am liebsten die ganze Nacht mit ihm unterwegs gewesen wäre. Hier, in dieser Nacht, in der die Zeit den Atem anhielt. (Seite 153)
Endlich mal ein Buch, in dem die Protagonisten nicht in irgendeiner Weise außergewöhnlich sind! Das war eine echte Wohltat. Sophia ist tatsächlich ein ganz normales Mädchen, das weder besonders hübsch, talentiert oder sonstwie auffällig ist. Sie trägt einige Unsicherheiten mit sich, die ich als sehr typisch für ihr Alter empfand. Sie ist eine angenehme Mischung aus verantwortungsbewusst und abenteuerlustig. Ich mochte Sophia sehr gerne.
Für Jamie gilt das gleiche: auch er entspricht nicht dem Bild des so häufig in Jugendbüchern gewählten Bild eines Schönlings. Er ist gutherzig, klug und zurückhaltend. Trotz allem setzt er sich aber auch durch und weiß, was er will. Vor allem aber stimmte die Chemie zwischen Sophia und Jamie. Die anfängliche Scheu, die spätere Anziehungskraft, alles wirkt sehr echt.
Fazit
Eine ganz bezaubernde, süße und traurige Geschichte und eine Liebeserklärung an die Stadt Tokio. Ein wundervolles Buch, dass mich in der Zeit zurückreisen ließ und mich sehr berührt hat. Für mich ein kleines Juwel.
January 9, 2019
Es un libro ideal para estás épocas de verano. Una historia de una adolescente que tiene que dejar su hogar de hace 4 años para volver a EEUU con su madre y su hermana.
Sophie tiene una semana para despedirse de Tokio, una semana en la que todo puede cambiar, una semana que tiene que aprovechar al máximo antes de decir adiós a sus amigos y a su amor.
Una lectura muy ligera, que te dan ganas de visitar y conocer todo acerca de Tokio y sus rincones. Con un final perfecto.
Reseña completa próximamente en el blog.
Sophie tiene una semana para despedirse de Tokio, una semana en la que todo puede cambiar, una semana que tiene que aprovechar al máximo antes de decir adiós a sus amigos y a su amor.
Una lectura muy ligera, que te dan ganas de visitar y conocer todo acerca de Tokio y sus rincones. Con un final perfecto.
Reseña completa próximamente en el blog.
March 19, 2017
Sooooo the main character was annoying, the love triangle was annoying and there was little plot beyond it. Add to that a backdrop of Japan where 99% of the characters are white and you've got a whitewashed Japan without any of its culture. The main character Sophia (called Sofa by her friends...but let's not get into that) doesn't even know any Japanese, which strikes me as just the most arrogant white thing ever. I mean, she lives there. Surely if you lived in another country you'd make an effort to try to learn its language? The effort wasn't even there.
Ugh. Such a disappointment.
Ugh. Such a disappointment.
Read
March 3, 2017DNF at: 60%, because of the slut-shaming, the melodrama and the immature outlook on relationships.
(Also, this is my first DNF, are you proud of me for actually sticking to a reading resolution for this year?)
(Also, this is my first DNF, are you proud of me for actually sticking to a reading resolution for this year?)
Want to read
August 29, 2016Cutesy romance set in Japan? Count me in.
September 27, 2016
If you like Stephanie Perkins, you will like this book. Full of flawed characters, complex relationships and lots of feels.
August 9, 2016
So many feels!
March 1, 2018
3,5 ⭐
March 21, 2017
Traveling, living, and leaving, are three very different and distinct states of being. But they overlap. There's a sense of urgency in each, but also a wish that time will slow down.
I'm always beyond thankful when a publisher sends me a surprise ARC in the mail, but this one is particularly special to me. Seven Days of You arrived on my doorstep about a month before I was leaving my last quarter of college, and I started reading it two weeks before that before finally finishing it now, on the eve of my departure.
And there's something so real about it. That ache of leaving behind a city that you know and love is woven all throughout Sophia's narrative in this and resonated so clearly with me (though her story is tied up with a bit more romance than mine). There were quite a few times I wasn't sure if I wanted to walk into the page to see Tokyo through her eyes, or to drag her and all her friends into my real world where we could bond over the shared experience of leaving.
Seven Days of You reminded me a lot of a Jennifer E. Smith book. Short and sweet, right to the point, and something I never really wanted to let go of. It left me nostalgic for things I had experienced (and those I hadn't) and is a book that I want to share with people over and over. Because when you share a book you're somewhat subtly saying, "hey, this is important to me and you are also important to me. Read this. Let's share what we can't put into words." It's magical.
I'm always beyond thankful when a publisher sends me a surprise ARC in the mail, but this one is particularly special to me. Seven Days of You arrived on my doorstep about a month before I was leaving my last quarter of college, and I started reading it two weeks before that before finally finishing it now, on the eve of my departure.
And there's something so real about it. That ache of leaving behind a city that you know and love is woven all throughout Sophia's narrative in this and resonated so clearly with me (though her story is tied up with a bit more romance than mine). There were quite a few times I wasn't sure if I wanted to walk into the page to see Tokyo through her eyes, or to drag her and all her friends into my real world where we could bond over the shared experience of leaving.
Seven Days of You reminded me a lot of a Jennifer E. Smith book. Short and sweet, right to the point, and something I never really wanted to let go of. It left me nostalgic for things I had experienced (and those I hadn't) and is a book that I want to share with people over and over. Because when you share a book you're somewhat subtly saying, "hey, this is important to me and you are also important to me. Read this. Let's share what we can't put into words." It's magical.
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