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Book club questions for Mika in Real Life by Emiko Jean explore the themes of authenticity, identity, motherhood, and the intricate tapestry of relationships, as characters navigate the delicate balance between truth and deception, love and loss, in a journey of self-discovery and connection.
This book gave me a lot of feelings. I ended up really enjoying it. Mika is a flawed character. But she has enough baggage that her flaws are understandable. The exploration of her relationships were so well done. While it was a departure from the author’s previous YA novels, her roots in that genre did show and made this a lighter read than it could have been given the topics.
What were your impressions of this novel? ✨
Mika in Real Life by Emiko Jean
This blog post contains thoughtfully crafted book club questions tailored for “Mika in Real Life.” You can also access a downloadable PDF version designed for your book clubs (available at the bottom of the post), along with supplementary suggestions for books that share similar themes and narratives. I hope you find these book club questions useful!
I’m excited to hear your unique perspectives during your book club discussions.
Let me know your thoughts in the comment section!
Book Club Questions | Additional Recommendations | Printable List
About the Story
Mika in Real Life follows the story of Mika Suzuki, whose world takes an unexpected turn when she receives a life-altering phone call from the daughter she placed for adoption sixteen years ago.
Struggling with her own shortcomings, Mika weaves an intricate web of white lies, crafting a seemingly perfect life to connect with her daughter Penny. Amidst a blossoming friendship with Penny’s adoptive father Thomas Calvin, Mika’s façade collides with her desire for a genuine connection.
This wonderful and heartwarming story delves into the complexities of love, family, and identity, as Mika grapples with her past and confronts the question of who she truly is in real life.
About the Author
Emiko Jean, a versatile author, finds inspiration in life’s quirks and adventures. From her past as an entomologist to crafting candles and teaching, she infuses her diverse experiences into captivating stories.
With published works like “Tokyo Ever After,” “Empress of All Seasons,” and “We’ll Never Be Apart, Emiko Jean has firmly established herself as a captivating storyteller.
Her narratives, influenced by her entomological background, her artistic flair, and her daring spirit, resonate deeply with readers.
Book Club Questions for Mika in Real Life
1. Reflecting on the title “Mika in Real Life,” do you believe Mika’s previous experiences can be considered a genuine representation of living an authentic life? Why or why not?
2. The novel embraces both digital communication and traditional letters as vehicles for emotional connection, evident in interactions between characters like Caroline and Mika, and Mika and Penny. What significance do these letters hold, and how do they deepen the bonds between the characters?
3. The narrative of “Mika in Real Life” explores the complexities of relationships and the consequences of personal choices. How do the diverse characters, each with their own flaws and struggles, contribute to the overall themes of the novel? Which character’s journey resonated with you the most and why?
4. Mika’s relationship with her mother, Hiromi, is fraught with challenges. In what ways could Mika cultivate a more empathetic understanding of her mother’s perspective? Is there value in attempting to bridge this emotional divide?
5. Hiromi seems to form a unique connection with Penny, her grandchild whom she has never met. Why do you think Hiromi finds it easier to connect with Penny compared to her relationship with Mika?
6. How did the revelation of Penny’s birth father’s identity impact your perception of the characters and the story’s dynamics?
7. Among the secondary characters, such as Hana, Leif, and Charlie, who resonated with you the most, and why did they stand out?
8. Were there instances where you found Thomas’s actions or decisions to be overly cautious or unreasonable? What factors may have influenced his perspective?
9. Envisioning a scenario five years into the future, how do you envision the lives of Penny, Mika, and Thomas unfolding? Speculate on the paths they might take and the developments they might experience.
10. The novel has received both praise and criticism for its portrayal of Mika’s decisions and the subsequent consequences. How do you perceive Mika’s choices throughout the story? Do you believe her motivations justify her actions, or do you find her actions ethically questionable?
11. Did you find the plot to be predictable? If so, did this impact your enjoyment of the novel, or did you appreciate the predictability as a narrative choice? How do elements of predictability and familiarity contribute to the overall tone and atmosphere of the book?
12. Many reviewers have drawn parallels between Emiko Jean’s background as a YA author and her transition to adult fiction with this novel. How do you perceive the influence of her YA roots on “Mika in Real Life”? Do you find elements of YA storytelling and themes present in the narrative, and if so, how do they contribute to the overall reading experience?
Selected Reviews
“Jean (Tokyo Ever After, 2021) sets her novel within the Asian American community of Portland, Oregon. Her characters are modern and honest, and the romance is realistic. Smart, funny, and affecting.” — Booklist (starred review)
“Mika In Real Life is a poignant and compelling exploration of identity, love, and what it means to be a mother. Mika and Penny swept me along on their emotional and unforgettable journey… By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, this is a total joy of a read.” — Holly Miller
“Tender and profound, Emiko Jean’s writing had me laughing, crying, and cheering for Mika in Real Life.” — Lauren Kate
Additional Recommendations
Hope you enjoyed the book club discussion questions and reading guide for Mika in Real Life by Emiko Jean!
Here are some more of my book club recommendations related to this book:
More Than You’ll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez
An evocative drama about a woman caught leading a double life after one husband murders the other, and the true-crime writer who becomes obsessed with telling her story—this masterful work of literary suspense marks the debut of an extraordinary new writer
The dance becomes an affair, which becomes a marriage, which becomes a murder…
In 1985, Lore Rivera marries Andres Russo in Mexico City, even though she is already married to Fabian Rivera in Laredo, Texas, and they share twin sons. Through her career as an international banker, Lore splits her time between two countries and two families—until the truth is revealed and one husband is arrested for murdering the other.
In 2017, while trawling the internet for the latest, most sensational news reports, struggling true-crime writer Cassie Bowman encounters an article detailing that tragic final act. Cassie is immediately enticed by what is not explored: Why would a woman—a mother—risk everything for a secret double marriage?
Cassie sees an opportunity—she’ll track Lore down and capture the full picture, the choices, the deceptions that led to disaster. But the more time she spends with Lore, the more Cassie questions the facts surrounding the murder itself. Soon, her determination to uncover the truth could threaten to derail Lore’s now quiet life—and expose the many secrets both women are hiding.
Told through alternating timelines, More Than You’ll Ever Know is both a gripping mystery and a wrenching family drama. Presenting a window into the hearts of two very different women, it explores the many conflicting demands of marriage and motherhood, and the impossibility of ever truly knowing someone—especially those we love.
Marrying the Ketchups by Jennifer Close
Here are the three things the Sullivan family knows to be true: the Chicago Cubs will always be the underdogs; historical progress is inevitable; and their grandfather, Bud, founder of JP Sullivan’s, will always make the best burgers in Oak Park.
But when, over the course of three strange months, the Cubs win the World Series, Trump is elected president, and Bud drops dead, suddenly everyone in the family finds themselves doubting all they hold dear.
Take Gretchen for example, lead singer for a ’90s cover band who has been flirting with fame for a decade but is beginning to wonder if she’s too old to be chasing a childish dream. Or Jane, Gretchen’s older sister, who is starting to suspect that her fitness-obsessed husband who hides the screen of his phone isn’t always “working late.”
And then there’s Teddy, their steadfast, unfailingly good cousin, nursing heartbreak and confusion because the guy who dumped him keeps showing up for lunch at JP Sullivan’s where Teddy is the manager. How can any of them be expected to make the right decisions when the world feels sideways—and the bartender at JP Sullivan’s makes such strong cocktails?
Outrageously funny and wickedly astute, Marrying the Ketchups is a delicious confection by one of our most beloved authors.
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
New York Times bestselling author Gillian McAllister has created a thriller unlike any other in this endlessly clever, twisty story of a mother who must move backward through time to prevent tragedy from striking at the heart of her family.
Can you stop a murder after it’s already happened?
It is midnight on the morning of Halloween, and Jen anxiously waits up for her 18-year-old son, Todd, to return home. But worries about his broken curfew transform into something much more dangerous when Todd finally emerges from the darkness. As Jen watches through the window, she sees her funny, seemingly happy teenage son stab a total stranger.
She doesn’t know who the victim is, or why Todd has committed such a devastating act of violence. All she knows is that her life, and Todd’s, have been shattered.
After her son is taken into custody, Jen falls asleep in despair. But when she wakes up…it is yesterday. The murder has not happened yet—and there may be a chance to stop it. Each morning, when Jen wakes, she is further back in the past, first weeks, then years, before the murder. And Jen realizes that somewhere in the past lies the trigger for Todd’s terrible crime…and it is her mission to find it, and prevent it from taking place.
Both the story of a mother’s love and the sacrifices she will make for her child, and a thriller with a brilliant twist, Wrong Place Wrong Time is a one-of-a-kind novel that begs to be read in one sitting.
Printable PDF
Feel free to distribute these discussion questions to your book club members before your meeting. Simply click the link below to download and print the PDF file.
Happy reading! ❤️