The cover of Swimming to Tokyo really does not do this hidden gem justice. This new adult contemporary begins in the United States but, quickly transitions full time into Japan. Zosia just graduated high school when her father reveal that his job is moving him to Tokyo. Sudden that is where she will be spending her summer before she leaves for university. And in an unexpected surprise the boy she had a major crush on in school is also in Tokyo and he's her dads girlfriends son.

Zosia's mother died three years ago and she thinks about her constantly. She had already been struggling with the idea of moving away from home for college because that is where all her memories are. So when she finds out about Tokyo it is a whiplash kind of sensation. Then to find out her dad has a girlfriend - whose son is someone she knows - double whiplash. But it turns out to be just the right amount of whiplash to push her in the right direction.

Zosia and Finn are like the perfect combination of hard and soft. They balance each other really well. On the surface, Finn appears to be the typical bad boy but, there is so much more going on underneath. The boy has demons and is trying his best to come to terms with them. Both characters seem to know exactly how to break down each others boundaries. They're also so snarky with each other but its like sweet. The two of them have such good chemistry together.

Brenda St. John Brown does such a good job at creating an easy flowing environment. The pacing is well done especially in terms of how Finn and Zosia break down each other boundaries. There is a good balance between funny, sweet, sexy scenes and more heartfelt emotional scenes. The characters are struggling and have things to work through including the parental units. All of this is so well done and wrapped up within the pages of Swimming to Tokyo.

I did not finish this book, and will not be writing an official review. It just did not grab my interest, and felt kind of empty.

WOW!!

Brown got it exactly right! like absolutely exactly right, for me anyway...
I adore the setting the romance and the characters.
Beautiful story telling

I didn't get a chance to read this before it expired on my nook. I'm sorry! I do hope to one day buy and read this!