Listen to a sample
My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life
- Author
- Rachel Cohn
- Narrator
- Adenrele Ojo
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date
- 18 December 2018
- Run Time
- 8 hours 7 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
“I’m here to take you to live with your father. In Tokyo, Japan! Happy birthday!”
In the Land of the Rising Sun, where high culture meets high kitsch, and fashion and technology are at the forefront of the First World’s future, the foreign-born teen elite attend ICS—the International Collegiate School of Tokyo. Their accents are fluid. Their homes are ridiculously posh. Their sports games often involve a (private) plane trip to another country. They miss school because of jet lag and visa issues. When they get in trouble, they seek diplomatic immunity.
Enter foster-kid-out-of-water Elle Zoellner, who, on her sixteenth birthday discovers that her long-lost father, Kenji Takahara, is actually a Japanese hotel mogul and wants her to come live with him. Um, yes, please! Elle jets off first class from Washington, DC, to Tokyo, which seems like a dream come true. Until she meets her enigmatic father, her way-too-fab aunt, and her hypercritical grandmother, who seems to wish Elle didn’t exist. In an effort to please her new family, Elle falls in with the Ex-Brats, a troupe of übercool international kids who spend money like it’s air. But when she starts to crush on a boy named Ryuu, who’s frozen out by the Brats and despised by her new family, her already tenuous living situation just might implode.
My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life is about learning what it is to be a family, and finding the inner strength to be yourself, even in the most extreme circumstances.
Critics Review
-
“Elle’s narration sparkles with wit and insight…Cohn’s descriptions of Tokyo are fresh and vivid, focusing on details interesting to teen readers…One of those rare books that combines an authentic teen voice with a confident plunge into a fascinating culture.”
Booklist (starred review)
-
“A relatable fish-out-of-water story with a lively heroine.”
Publishers Weekly
-
“Ojo is delightful in this wish-fulfillment romp. She easily captures Elle’s optimism even when it’s muddied by her dire circumstances. Her Japanese accents are of two varieties: high pitched for teen girls, and a gruff and deeper tone for male and elderly Japanese characters. Overall, a worthy purchase that will brighten up your YA collection.”
Booklist (audio review)
-
“Fans of misery and romance will lose themselves in this modern Cinderella story.”
School Library Journal
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
“A fun, well-paced novel about family, friendship, and romance…A fun and enjoyable look into the drama of lives of privilege and power.”
Kirkus Reviews
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Rachel Cohn
- Narrator
- Adenrele Ojo
- Duration
- 8 hours 7 minutes
- Release Date
- 18 December 2018
- ISBN
- 9781982530211
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Genre
- Children’s / Teenage fiction: School stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Family and home stories, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Families and family members, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Places and peoples
Synopsis
“I’m here to take you to live with your father. In Tokyo, Japan! Happy birthday!”In the Land of the Rising Sun, where high culture meets high kitsch, and fashion and technology are at the forefront of the First World’s future, the foreign-born teen elite attend ICS—the International Collegiate School of Tokyo. Their accents are fluid. Their homes are ridiculously posh. Their sports games often involve a (private) plane trip to another country. They miss school because of jet lag and visa issues. When they get in trouble, they seek diplomatic immunity.Enter foster-kid-out-of-water Elle Zoellner, who, on her sixteenth birthday discovers that her long-lost father, Kenji Takahara, is actually a Japanese hotel mogul and wants her to come live with him. Um, yes, please! Elle jets off first class from Washington, DC, to Tokyo, which seems like a dream come true. Until she meets her enigmatic father, her way-too-fab aunt, and her hypercritical grandmother, who seems to wish Elle didn’t exist. In an effort to please her new family, Elle falls in with the Ex-Brats, a troupe of übercool international kids who spend money like it’s air. But when she starts to crush on a boy named Ryuu, who’s frozen out by the Brats and despised by her new family, her already tenuous living situation just might implode.My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life is about learning what it is to be a family, and finding the inner strength to be yourself, even in the most extreme circumstances.
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.