Love Makes Mochi, Stefany Valentine
Love Makes Mochi, Stefany Valentine
List: $25.00 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.50

Love Makes Mochi

Author: Stefany Valentine

Narrator: Risa Mei

Unabridged: 9 hr 19 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/27/2026

Synopsis

“I felt like I was in Tokyo with Lilyn and Yua, and I never wanted to leave.” —Becky Albertalli, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

A teen goth fashion designer travels to Tokyo, Japan, where she meets a tattoo artist apprentice who may just be the one to change her mind about love—part of the international Love in Translation series of standalone YA romances.

Lilyn Jeong is living her best life—in Tokyo! She gets to learn from the legendary yet notoriously terrifying tailor Mrs. Matsumoto. Getting a glowing recommendation from her could be Lilyn’s ticket into her dream fashion school.

So when Lilyn is tasked with designing an entire collection, panic sets in. She has only weeks to figure out how to mix her goth aesthetic with traditional Japanese style. Thankfully, Mrs. Matsumoto’s rebellious, tattooed, rainbow-haired daughter Yua offers to help. 

But going on cozy dates with this cute girl is way easier than sewing yukatas. Can Lilyn find a path forward in fashion and love? Or will she watch as everything falls apart at the seams?

The swoony Love in Translation romances can be read together or separately:

LOVE REQUIRES CHOCOLATE • LOVE CRAVES CARDAMOM • LOVE MAKES MOCHI

About The Author

Stefany Valentine is an emerging young adult author. Her first publication is featured in the adoptee anthology, When We Became Ours. She is also the author of First Love Language and Love Makes Mochi. She has worked as a social media marketer to promote books. When not writing, Stefany can be found taking pictures for her bookstagram or camping in the wilderness.

Reviews

Goodreads review by SJARR ✨ on October 29, 2025

4.5 mochis out of 5. I can’t believe I have already had the pleasure of reading one of my most anticipated releases of 2026! I found out about this book a few months back, and lets just say, it has been living in my head rent free since then. This is just tooooo cute. Everything from the title, to th......more

Goodreads review by Unpopmary on February 04, 2026

3.25 ⭐......more

Goodreads review by snazzy pen ✰ on January 30, 2026

Current rating: 3.75 stats Just a really cute + sweet story that made me crave dessert! I don't rlly have a review for this one, mostly random/general thoughts. One thing that stood out to me was the communication in this book! Of course, the characters faced a few bumps in the road, but things got cl......more

Goodreads review by Laura on November 26, 2025

This was cute. I really liked the handful of times we zoomed out to see the bigger picture (like mentions of how wasteful the fashion industry is, how traditional cloth-making and other processes that focus on hand-made techniques are fading away in the era of fast fashion) but they’re such small pa......more

Goodreads review by Shannon on February 08, 2026

A charming YA sapphic romance set in Japan that has a Japanese American goth girl trying to pursue a career in fashion going to Tokeyo for the summer to be an apprentice and falling for her teacher's daughter. I loved the fashion world insights and all the fun sightseeing the girls do around Japan.......more

Quotes

★ "Will make readers want to scream with happiness. A fun read that blends fashion, travel, and first love into a charming queer romance.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“A charming queer romance that highlights Asian fashion and cultures.” —Kirkus Reviews

"For those filled with wanderlust, pack your bags and wear something bold in anticipation of this Asian American goth girl and Harajuku girl colliding in love." —The Bulletin

“I felt like I was in Tokyo with Lilyn and Yua, and I never wanted to leave.” —Becky Albertalli, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

“A tender, funny, and sweet-as-mochi story about love, identity, and finding your own way.” —Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of the Sunbearer Trials duology

“I couldn’t stop holding my heart and kicking my feet!” —Sonora Reyes, National Book Award Finalist and bestselling author of The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School

“A sweet exploration of identity, inspiration, and culture.” —Kat Cho, New York Times bestselling author of Gods & Comics

“Queer, colorful, cultural, and so incredibly cute.” —Jonny Garza Villa, Stonewall Award–winning author of Canto Contigo

“These unforgettable characters will be tattooed on your heart.” —Elizabeth Eulberg, international bestselling author of Take a Chance on Me

“Witty and heartwarming.” —Trinity Nguyen, bestselling author of A Bánh Mi for Two

“A cute sapphic romance filled with heart, friendship, and family that kept me smiling from beginning to end.” —Zakiya N. Jamal, author of If We Were a Movie

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