Ah this was a disappointing read. I just didn’t connect to it at all and was disinterested. Not for me!

(⭐1.5)

sigh... finally dragged myself out of my slump to finish up this one...

1. Anticipation
I was so excited to begin this book! The premise was everything to me - I was expecting drama, heartbreak, soul-crushing yearning, longing for what once was...

And all I got was meh. 🤷‍♀️

I suppose it is also some fault of mine - I let myself get caught up in the possibilities and anticipation, rather than letting myself experience the book with no prior expectations.

The idea was everything! The execution, however... 😬

I just felt myself getting so bored and feeling it drag on and on... the last 5% really annoyed me especially. And the climax of the entire book being in the literal last 2 pages? I was hoping for some more!!

I get that it's all about the journey, not the destination, but girl the journey was so boring 😭

2. The Stakes?
It wasn't that the stakes weren't high... it was just that I didn't really care? I felt that there was definitely a lack of building character and emotion before just throwing us into the main conflict of the book.

Rising Sun Falling Rain grabbed my attention, cruelly, at about 50%, when things were just starting to get interesting. It just failed to hold it for the rest of the book, having me hoping for something else interesting to happen and preventing me from DNFing.

3. The Writing
I feel like the writing style was definitely not for me. It would be good for someone who reads the slower, more relaxed and often annoyingly detailed style. But for me, it really made me struggle to stay interested.

I felt like we were taking so much time to explain the littlest things, like what Karina and Sarah ate for breakfast, and subtracting from the emotionally charged moments. I didn't really feel anything at the very end, just because I was so ready for this to be over 😢

4. End Notes
All in all, I'm glad I read it, very glad I got accepted for the ARC, but it's really just not for me. And that's a huge part of reading - finding out what works for you and what doesn't!


🍁pre-read (31st March):

Thank you so so much to Netgalley and the author, Trish Devine, for providing me with the e-ARC of <i>Rising Sun Falling Rain</i> in exchange for an honest review!

I have been anticipating the reply to my request for this one, and OMG the way I cheered when I saw it got accepted!!! Aghhh I’ve been so eager to dive into this, making time in my schedule to start reading it as we speak 😋

In short its a lovely pastime novel that take place after WW2 in Japan after the bombing of Hiroshima
theres's no climax, no tension, everything is predictable - a good read if you are just looking to pass the time really (For me it was a good book to read before bedtime )

However I felt that there was just a bit too much easy solutions or things that didn't make sense to me and weren't explained.

So not hating on it, not overly recommending it

This was a sweet story about a girl who falls in love with while stationed in japan. It had some sadness, and the story didnt feel finished completely.

Captivated from the first page! Just started this and I am immersed in this world! I will be updating my review as I go along! But I couldn't hold back from sending the publishers my initial impression!

Wow what a book!
I feel so lucky to have been given chance to read it. It was just beautiful and really quite captivating.
I haven't stopped thinking about it since I finished.
Definitely a 5 star read.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Rising Sun, Falling Rain by Trish Devine is an absolute 5-star read for me. From the first page, I felt completely transported. The writing is so immersive, that I truly felt like I was right there alongside Mick, Emiko, Kazu, Karina, and the family. These characters felt alive, their emotions deeply authentic, their arcs beautifully believable.

Set in the post-war period, with the Kiwis working in Japan to help rebuild, the story brings to life a part of history I hadn’t known much about — and I learned so much without ever feeling like I was being taught. The historical details are rich and seamlessly woven into the narrative, making the world feel fully formed and lived in.

Trish Devine does an incredible job exploring themes of healing, generational trauma, and the quiet resilience of the human spirit. The romance is tender and genuine, the kind that feels earned and stays with you long after you finish the book. Nothing felt forced or unbelievable — the events and emotions unfolded so naturally, as though this story truly lived and breathed beyond the page.

Her writing is superb. I could easily imagine a follow-up focusing on the future — there’s so much depth in these characters that I would gladly return to their world.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Olympia Publishers for allowing me to read this pre-release edition. Rising Sun, Falling Rain was released January 30, 2025, and I can’t recommend it enough.

I'm crying right now 😭😭

listen!.. at first It was difficult to read because of the writing but As I progressed and reached the middle of the book, I couldn't be more delighted....This story, set after the bombing of Hiroshima, speaks of love that crosses borders, forbidden love, something that wasn't meant to be, but fate brought it together...It is narrated from 4 different perspectives and is divided into 4 parts...Through various misfortunes, everyone's lives take a turn, there is crying, pain, little lies, and reunions that squeeze your heart. It's a great story and really, despite having a kind of slow start, it's completely worth it.

I loved this story! It really touched my heart and I felt the gamut of emotions while reading it.

Mick, a serviceman from New Zealand, is based in the Hiroshima area soon after the world war is over. He meets several Japanese locals while doing his job as a driver and one in particular catches his eye. He wishes to get to know Emiko better. She is the daughter of a very wealthy businessman.

Mick tries to make life easier for the people he drives to work at the hospital by fixing up his truck to make them more comfortable. Friendships are made along the way and the townspeople appreciate his care and thoughtfulness. I really enjoyed the stories of his experiences with the local residents. Mick manages to get to know Emiko secretly and their love blossoms. There is danger that follows the pair and gut-wrenching moments to come.

I highly recommend this if you like heartfelt historical fiction and reading about Japanese culture. I felt like I was inside the places described in Japan and I even learned some Japanese words! I also loved the beautiful proverbs chosen at the beginning of each chapter.
I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

😊 Rising Sun Falling Rain* is a beautifully written, emotional journey that blends history, love, and resilience. Trish Devine's debut novel captures the heartache and hope of post-war Japan through vivid storytelling and unforgettable characters. Mick and Emiko's love story feels raw and real, set against the powerful backdrop of cultural transformation and recovery. I was especially moved by Emiko’s fight for justice and her strength in challenging societal norms. The twists, heartbreak, and buried secrets kept me hooked from beginning to end. This novel isn’t just a love story—it’s a tribute to the courage it takes to chase change in a broken world.

Wow! This is unputdownable!

Rising sun Falling Rain is a historical fiction that set in Japan. It’s beautifully written one with the themes of romance and the tension between tradition and war. This also vividly portrays the struggles of not only the mc’s but also the whole Japanese people.
Therefore, Rising Sun Falling Rain is more than just a love story.

The author’s writing is so vivid it felt like I’m in the book and living it. Maybe I love this book this much because I LOVE Japan and their culture.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Olympia Publishers for the opportunity to read this novel. Unfortunately, I couldn't get through it but due to my own issues just getting into the story. I will recommend it to others, and am sure other readers will enjoy but for some reason, I just couldn't immerse myself fully in the story and was unable to make it past the 25% mark.

The beautiful cover and title of this book caught my attention and I knew I had to read it. Rising Sun Falling Rain is a post-WWII historical novel. Serviceman Mick Mitchell leaves his home in New Zealand and heads to Japan to help in the recovery efforts of the bombing of Hiroshima. There doesn't seem to be much in the story about those efforts, it's mainly about the love story between Mick and Emiko. This was a slow-moving book for the first half, but the ending made up for that and made it hard to put down. This was an emotional read dealing with family drama and secrets. I enjoyed reading this book. Thanks to the author Trish Devine, Olympia Publishers, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I loved this story set in a small village in Japan near Hiroshima after the war, and then in New Zealand in the 1960’s. Mick joined the New Zealand military to help Japan rebuild, and as he drives a truck to ferry locals to volunteer at a hospital, he meets Emiko. Emiko is struggling with breaking traditional roles and finding her way in the Japan that emerges after the war, with women redefining their roles. As their relationship deepens, many roadblocks will form. I highly recommend this beautifully told work of historical fiction. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A sweeping family saga taking in 3 generations: we have Mick & Emiko in 1947 then Mick's parents, siblings, wider family in 1965. There's a big twist mid-way through the book that I didn't see coming, and I'll say no more as I don't want to spoiler the story for anyone who's not read it. I cheered, I cried, I celebrated. The character I found hardest to empathise with was Emiko - she's clearly rich yet didn't seem to mind one iota that she'd given up her status, wealth, home and family for Mick. Nevertheless, an enjoyable read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Wow. What a debut! If you like Kristin Hannah, then add this to your TBR! This is a very similar historical fiction style of story telling, full of generational plots of romance and family, and finding a place to belong. With multiple POV, this book had me gasping aloud, wiping tears from my eyes, broke my heart and then pieced it back together again. My grandmother was Japanese, my mother half Japanese, and this story gave me a new window for reflecting on their lived experiences and what life coming to America may have been like for them. I felt as though I was back in Japan reading these descriptions of people and places - very well done!

I truly enjoyed this book! It’s beautifuly written the first half was a little slow than the second half really is when it started to pick up! I love historical fiction I’m not big into romance but I thought the romance of forbidden love was pretty cute 🥰 the cover is stunning! I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

Thanks to NetGalley and Olympia Publishers for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

In a historical romance set in post-WWII Japan, a soldier from New Zealand meets a young Japanese woman. Their love is mutual and passionate, but not all those around them are supportive and many decisions are made that will have consequences for decades.

I struggled with this one, and it almost became my first "do not finish" of 2025. However, I am glad that I stuck with it because the second half of the book's plot was good. It wasn't enough to make me fall in love with the story.







#risingsunfallingrain #NetGalley.
Publication Date 30/01/25
Goodreads Review 22/02/25

A very enjoyable book about a young man from New Zealand who ends up in Japan , in the military, directly after the war. He comes to love the place and a beautiful young woman there. We follow their story.
I enjoyed the characters and the descriptions of Japan and its people. The pace really picked up as the story progressed. A very heartwarming story!