Julia

This has to be one of my very favourite genres when it comes to fiction. These stories all in their own ways are heart-warming, and a guarantee to bring the reader joy.

One of my favourite things about reading is falling into a whole new magical & adventurous world.

Kohei Fujiwara has never seen a giant dragon in real life. The big ryū all disappeared from Japan after World War II, and twenty years later, they've become the stuff of legend. Their smaller cousins, who can fit in your palm, are all that remain. And Kohei loves his ryū, Yuharu, but he has a memory of the big ryū. He knows that's impossible. In his mind, he can see his grandpa - Ojiisan - gazing up at the big ryū with what looks like total and absolute wonder. When Kohei was little, he dreamed he'd go on a grand quest to bring the big ryū back, to get Ojiisan to smile again.

But now, Ojiisan is really, really sick. And Kohei is running out of time.

Kohei needs to find the big ryū now, before it's too late. With the help of Isolde, his new half-Jewish, half-Japanese neighbour, and Isolde's Yiddish-speaking dragon, Cheshire, he thinks he can do it. Maybe.

From debut author Emi Watanabe Cohen comes a story of magic, a mysterious family legacy and the lengths to which we'll go to protect the people we love.

I absolutely adore this engaging and emotional debut. This was one that I devoured and couldn't get enough of. It's incredibly thought-provoking and heart-wrenching at times while still being hopeful. A really fantastic book to read in the evening or over the weekend.

5 STARS!

I love escaping into a lighthearted romance to make me feel cozy. What makes these wonderful books even better are the diverse characters that come from all walks of life.