We are getting closer to publication day–October 30! I wanted to share some early reviews that have been rolling in, as well as blurbs from some authors many of you may know.
Just in: Publishers Weekly reviewed Cherry Blossoms yesterday:
“Hooper gives familiar themes of loss and redemption fresh and inviting life in her entertaining second novel… Readers will enjoy riding alongside this vivid protagonist to the end.”
Foreword Reviews sent us an advance proof of the review that will run in their November/December issue:
“Introspective chapters [that are] sometimes darkly comic, sometimes wrenching, consider the nature of long-term love, guilt, and the shaping of memory…In its clearest, most beautiful passages, the book accumulates details of [a] couple’s early joy… Cherry Blossoms interrogates what it means to face uncertainty.”
The Literary Word had this to say:
“A simply stunning read! This novel grabs your attention and won’t let go. It’s fascinating, heartfelt, intense, unforgettable, and there is so much info regarding Japanese culture that really adds something to the reading experience. This was my first time reading a Kim Hooper book and I can’t wait to see what she writes next…”
And I’m so grateful to these fellow authors who took the time to read my book and share their thoughts:
“Kim Hooper’s talent is spirited, at times breathtaking, and at the height of its bloom. Cherry Blossoms is a lovely meditation on loss, renewal and the ephemeral nature of life. I just loved it.”
-Steven Rowley, author of Lily and the Octopus
“Heartfelt, deliciously funny and compulsively readable, Cherry Blossoms is a profound meditation on grief and the crazy beautiful mess of our most intimate relationships. Kim Hooper writes with deep humanity and pitch perfect dialogue, leaving us cheering for her characters as they grapple with their complex pasts and uncertain futures.”
-Tracy Barone, author of Happy Family
“This gorgeous, full-hearted novel skillfully cuts to the heart of love and loss—and what’s left to live for. With her raw insights, sharp dialogue and quick-witted gallows humor, Kim Hooper has quickly become one of my must-read authors.”
-Colleen Oakley, author of Before I Go and Close Enough to Touch
“With compassion and poignancy, Kim Hooper’s engaging new novel follows a depressed copywriter in the months before he plans to end it all. Part mystery, with a dash of travel guide, and a hearty splash of dark humor, Cherry Blossoms is an adventure I won’t soon forget.”
-Shari Goldhagen, author of 100 Days of Cake and Family and Other Accidents
“Cherry Blossoms is a captivating tale concerned with the age-old themes of love and loss. Kim Hooper manages to take us both sky-high, across an ocean, and down into the depths of our most closely-held thoughts and desires. I was hooked the entire way.”
-Kemper Donovan, author of The Decent Proposal
Other news:
- We Heart Writing published a post I wrote about rethinking “women’s fiction”
- I’m organizing a launch event at Laguna Beach Books on November 4
- I will be at the Newport Beach Public Library as part of their Author Lecture series on November 17
If you haven’t preordered Cherry Blossoms yet, do it!
Amazon ~ IndieBound ~ Barnes&Noble