I was interested in reading this book because I used to live in Japan and the title drew me right in. But I think I am just too old for this book. I couldn't really understand the essence of the three sisters and perhaps because of the Britishisms, I simply couldn't get into it. But I am sure that other readers will enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. After all, Japan is a wonderful setting for a book.

Kakigori Summer by Emily Itami is a beautifully written and introspective novel about sisters, transformation and growth. The story follows three sisters who reunite one summer, each bringing their own burdens and finding healing.

Rei, the eldest, lives in London, while Kiki, a single mother, has built her life in Tokyo. Ai, the youngest, is a J-pop idol at the center of a massive scandal. When the three escape to their childhood home on the Japanese coast to support Ai, their reunion becomes more than just an act of solidarity. Their grandmother adds a layer of wisdom and structure, while Kiki’s young son injects a lightness into a story that was more bittersweet.

The novel moved slowly for me. It is character driven and a lot of attention is paid to each characters emotional nuance and struggles. The setting itself is beautiful and felt like another central figure in the story, grounding the sisters as they navigated their personal resets. However, the frequent perspective shifts sometimes disrupted the flow, making transitions feel abrupt.

Despite that, I appreciated the complexity of the relationships, particularly the unflinching portrayal of J-pop idol expectations and the pressures Ai faces which was the catalyst of the story. The ending was satisfying and left me feeling fulfilled.


Thank you NetGalley and Mariner Books for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

After a scandal, three sisters reunite in their remote hometown to heal and rethink their life paths. The characters are terrific.

I love books about sister relationships, like Hello Beautiful and The Blue Sisters. One of my earliest favorites was Little Women. Needless to say, this novel about three sisters coming together to handle difficult issues should have hit the spot.

If you haven't read anything by Itami, now's the time. Her propulsive, lyrical writing pulls you in. I loved her novel Fault Lines.

That said, I had a hard time connecting with these characters which made it super difficult to connect with the story. I might give this one a try again at another time since I loved Fault Lines so much.

Review will go up on @stressiereads on Instagram today.

A lovely meditation on sisterhood, family legacy, and embracing the truth of who you really are and what truly matters. Emily Itami is a wonderful writer; I also read FAULT LINES earlier this year and was completely enamored of her ability to craft a particular atmosphere. While KAKIGORI SUMMER feels slightly less "literary" than her previous, I think her craft still shines through, especially in her descriptions of the Japanese small town where much of the novel is set. An elevated beach read, filled with nostalgic summer scenes, but also populated by complex characters and in=depth discussions of loss, trauma, and rebuilding a life one day at a time.

I have so much to say about this book. First and foremost, you will always hook me with stories about the complex relationships between three sisters — as one of three myself, I know firsthand how complicated, yet deeply loving, that bond can be. With that being said, I struggled to feel any real sibling connection in Kakigori Summer. I tried so hard to find it, but the inside jokes, the tender moments, the unspoken love — it just never really landed for me. Yes, it was wonderful to see all three sisters come together in Japan at their childhood home, but I couldn’t quite feel the depth of their bond. I also wondered if part of my disconnect might be due to cultural differences; I learned while reading that Japanese language and culture sometimes lack the overt expressions of love and affection that I’m used to.

One part of the book I really enjoyed was learning more about Japanese culture overall. I found myself googling words, phrases, and traditions as I read — and honestly, nothing is better than learning while you read. It made the experience feel richer and more immersive, even when the plot itself didn’t fully grab me.

As for the storyline, there were several side plots that didn’t fully connect or build into something larger. For example, when Kiki’s son Hikaru got lost — it took up a whole chapter and then… it was over. There didn’t seem to be a lasting emotional impact or a real reason for including it. Similarly, the death of their grandmother felt surprisingly unemotional. At the end of that chapter, the sisters even reflected that it was “the best summer they ever had,” which could make sense in some ways — but the lack of grief, tears, or even deep reflection threw me for a loop.

Overall, I believe Kakigori Summer had the potential to be an amazing story. For me, though, I’m the kind of reader who needs to feel fully immersed in the characters — to know them, love them, cry with them — and I just didn’t get there with this one.

This novel follows three sisters who reunite after one sister gets caught up in a scandal. I liked that it wasn’t just one POV but each sister’s POV was represented. I believe this novel is about sisterhood but also explores being biracial, suffering with mental illness, and processing grief. I found the pacing to be a bit slow at times but I enjoyed how much we got to learn from each character and their experiences with identity, purpose, and grief. This novel was also immersed with Japanese imagery, culture, and vocabulary which was great to read. Overall a good read and an enjoyable ending.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for this Advanced Readers Copy*

I really wanted to like this book. I had seen the blurb on it and was about to pre-order it right before I received the e-Galley. I'm chalking this up to 'not the right time for me'. I made it 5 chapters in, but couldn't keep going. I think it is the writing. I had to re-read the first sentence about 3 times, and I still think it's bad grammar. "There's an argument that I should have seen it coming." I understand it now, but starting off a book and having to re-read the opening sentence and realizing you don't know what "it" is was not a good introduction to the book.
I'll pick it up and try it again later, but as for now, not for me.

A slice of life novel with complex family dynamics following three sisters, Rei, Kiki, and Ai throughout a summer in Japan. Each sister is vastly different, struggling with the personal problems, but tied together through familial bonds. Itami's prose was lyrical and I enjoyed learning more about the sisters as the novel progressed. It did take me a bit to get through this one, but not for lack of enjoyment, but sometimes it's difficult to read of nostalgia for summer's past when your in the cold of early spring. Then again, that might be the best time to read a book like this.

Kakigori Summer is a beautifully written slice-of-life story that captures the bittersweet feeling of fleeting moments and summer memories. Emily Itami’s prose is both poetic and down-to-earth, making you feel immersed in the vibrant, humid atmosphere of a Tokyo summer. The story follows a young woman navigating love, identity, and a sense of belonging, and it’s filled with those small, quiet moments that resonate long after you’ve finished reading. The way Itami describes the simple pleasure of eating kakigori (shaved ice) on a hot day somehow feels like a metaphor for savoring life’s fleeting joys.

What I really loved about this book is how it blends nostalgia with a sense of growth. The characters feel so relatable, especially in their search for connection and understanding. There’s a quiet melancholy that runs through the story, but it never feels overwhelming – just honest. If you’re looking for a contemplative read that perfectly captures the essence of a summer that changes everything, Kakigori Summer is definitely worth picking up.

Rei, Kiki, and Ai have never been more distant—physically, emotionally, and in the lives they've built for themselves. Rei is a sharp-minded financier in London, Kiki is a single mother working in a Tokyo retirement home, and Ai is a rising J-pop idol whose career implodes after a scandal. But when Ai’s troubles force them back to their childhood home on Japan’s coast, their shared past resurfaces, along with the lingering pain of their mother’s suicide. Their great-grandmother raised them after their mother’s death, their white father long gone, and now, after years apart, the sisters are face-to-face with everything they’ve tried to leave behind.This novel is an exquisite and deeply felt exploration of sisterhood, grief, and the weight of memory, capturing the tension between the past and the present, between deep love and unspoken pain.

The setting is it's own character. The descriptions of their grandmother’s coastal home, the thick summer heat, and the interactions with neighbors pull the reader into a new world. Kakigori Summer is a novel that stays with you long after the final page, lingering like a warm evening breeze.
!#mariner #kakigorisummer #emilyitami

I read this courtesy NetGalley and HarperCollins. In this poignant and bittersweet story, three sisters, half-Japanese and half-Caucasian, go back to their tiny seaside hometown on the Sea of Japan when Ai, the youngest, a member of a popular girl band, suffers a scandal that goes against the tenets of her contract. Rei, the oldest, arrives from London, where she has lives for a number of years, to do what she always does and has since the girls’ mother committed suicide: take charge. With Kiki, the middle sister and the mother of a young son, they hide out from the media frenzy while they get to know each other again and relive their youth, both good and bad, along with their ancient and bad-tempered great-grandmother.
#KakigoriSummer #NetGalley

Went into the book with high hopes but struggled to connect with the sisters or feel engaged by the plot.

I wish there was more depth given to each sister’s story vs jumping between the three. Switching between perspectives every few chapters made it hard for me to feel invested or connected to each sister. As soon as I would start to understand their point of view, another sister would start sharing her perspective and I would lose my footing again. I was also expected more growth from each character. The parts about sisters’ collective grief felt the strongest.

took me a week to finish this because i kept stopping. it felt like a tv show because the story is slowly unravelling. but it is a beautifully written novel that dives deep into the messy, complicated, and unbreakable bond between three sisters. it's set against the nostalgic backdrop of a Japanese summer, it’s a story about love, loss, and the things we leave unsaid—until we can’t anymore.

Rei, Kiki, and Ai couldn’t be more different. Rei is a driven finance professional in London, Kiki is a single mom working in a Tokyo retirement home, and Ai is a rising pop idol whose career is suddenly derailed by scandal. When Ai’s troubles force them to reunite at their childhood home by the sea, old wounds resurface—especially the painful mystery surrounding their mother’s death fifteen years ago.

this story made me cry so hard because you can feel how real the sisters feelings for each other were. their dynamic is full of love but also tension—the kind that only exists between people who know each other too well. they dance around difficult conversations, but their care for each other is always there, shown in quiet moments rather than big declarations. it perfectly captures the way family relationships can be both comforting and frustrating at the same time. the setting adds another layer of depth. the descriptions of their grandmother’s coastal home, the sticky summer heat, and the simple pleasure of eating kakigori (shaved ice) make the story feel immersive and nostalgic. it's the kind of book that makes you want to sit outside on a warm evening and just soak it all in.

despite the themes of grief and family secrets, it never feels too heavy. there are moments of humor and warmth, especially through Kiki’s energetic young son, who brings a refreshing lightness to the story. their no-nonsense grandmother is another standout character, adding both wisdom and sharp commentary in equal measure.

their life story leaves you with that bittersweet feeling—like remembering a childhood summer that changed you in ways you didn’t realize at the time. it's a story about how love endures, even in silence, and how sometimes, going home is the first step toward moving forward.

if you love emotional, character-driven stories with a strong sense of place, this book is a must-read. it's heartfelt, beautifully written, and lingers with you long after you’ve turned the last page. i really felt it all and a good book does that.

thank you Mariner Books. i enjoyed this so much.

A beautiful story that looks at sisterhood and family relationships. I adored the way Itami told this tale. The writing is beautiful and flowed well. I was enthralled by the first few pages of the book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.