mahamreads's Reviews (365)

Lora really got on my nerves

I don't have the words to do  his book justice, but I'll try. Sweet bean paste is a story of love, loss, unlikely friendships and the importance of learning to make your own happiness. Sentaro works in a confectionery shop selling dorayaki (pancakes with a sweet bean paste sandwiched between them), but hes not very good at making the paste. On a whim, he decides to hire an elderly woman named Tokue who makes the best sweet bean paste hes ever tried and from there we see the way their relationship evolves as Tokue's past comes to light and Sentaro tries to be more hopeful towards his future. 

Sukegawa's writing is simple and eloquent, which makes this book all the more enjoyable but equally heartbreaking.

definitely one of the best books I've had the pleasure of reading this year.

I love how every single character in this novel is just so human. Mellors presents the real, nitty gritty aspects of their lives and writes them in such a vulnerable way. Frank and Cleo are both deeply flawed people and it was really interesting to see their relationships with other people, each other, and ultimately themselves.
The only point of contention I have is that I feel as if there were maybe a bit too many POVs because even though I adored reading about Quentin and Anders and Santiago and all the others, it was difficult to become invested in them and their lives because I only saw a short glimpse into them. Overall though, a stellar read.

predictable, dragged out for no reason, and the author, a white woman, using the n word (regardless of whether or not she was writing from a black mc pov) rubbed me the wrong way.