Book Review: Mika in Real Life by Emiko Jean
(c) Sarah Zonio, 2023
It’s been ages since I last felt everything in a book. I was sad, frustrated, angry, in love, and happy. Literally had tears of joy and sadness in my eyes reading all 462 pages.
Mika in Real Life isn’t just a story of a mother giving her daughter up for adoption; it isn’t just a story of how life has beaten everything out of Mika.
In fact, Mika in Real Life is a story of no matter how much we try our best for everyone around us, and ourselves, often times, we still feel like nothing’s ever going to be enough - for our parents, our children, our friends, our partners, and even for ourselves.
It’s a story about how, despite our immense love for someone, we must learn to surrender and let them go, and hopefully, let them find their way back.
It’s a story of learning to silence everyone’s voice in your head, forgiving the past and loving yourself nonetheless of who, what and when.
Truth be told, expectations and control strain relationships - big time. It causes separation, creates gap and divides people. Sometimes, intentionally or unintentionally, we expect people to be faultless and to respond according to how we want them to respond.
But love isn’t like that.
Love graciously talks through & doesn’t account mistakes, allows space for growth and individuality, keeps a healthy room for disagreements, and most of all encourages freedom to choose and be accountable.
Mika didn’t have a healthy relationship with her mom.
But Mika chose to not repeat her mom’s mistakes and decided to love Penny, her daughter, the right way. Though hard, Mika understood that Penny isn’t Mika and she will never be Mika. Mika understood that she loves Penny and will give up everything for her, but that Penny is also free to spread her wings and choose her own path. Nonetheless, Mika would be Penny’s safe space.
We learn that is a mother’s true love for her child.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
