Emiko - by Chieri Uegaki (Paperback)

About the Book

"A fresh and charming YA romance, Emiko is a modern-day, Japanese-Canadian twist on Emma that will have readers giggling, swooning and kicking their feet as our proud yet sweet Austenian heroine discovers there's more to love than meets the eye. Self-declared matchmaking GENIUS Emiko Kimori has already found success by helping her aunt find true love, so when the new girl in town becomes her new BFF, its only natural for Emiko to help set her up for social success with a suitable love match. Emiko lives with her Ojiichan in a small town on BC's Sunshine Coast surrounded by friends and neighbors, including her childhood friend Kenzo Sanada, who wants her to spend less time meddling in every else's love lives. But Emiko can so clearly see who belongs together, even when her targets don't know it themselves. She simply has to meddle -- for the sake of true love! As for her own romantic life though . . . who has time for that? Emiko is far too busy with her matchmaking schemes, volunteering, her bustling social life and making plans for after graduation. Plans she will absolutely decide on soon. Definitely. Maybe? But when Emiko ends up falling for the very last person she expects, she finds herself caught in the tangled web of her own love matches! For the first time, instead of arranging from afar, Emiko has to figure out what it means to be in love herself, and that friendship and romance are more complicated than she ever imagined . . . "--

Book Synopsis

A sweet and savory YA romance, this modern-day Japanese-Canadian twist on Emma is just the recipe for fans of Jenny Han, Jane Austen and Gilmore Girls. A busybody foodie avoids questions of her own future as she meddles in the love lives of those around her. Has this matcha-maker met her match?

Self-declared matchmaking GENIUS Emiko Kimori has already found success by helping her aunt find true love, so when the new girl in town becomes her new BFF, it's only natural for Emiko to help set her up for social success with a suitable love match.

Emiko lives with her Ojiichan in a small town on BC's West Coast surrounded by friends and neighbors, including her childhood friend Kenzo Sanada, who wishes she'd spend less time playing matchmaker. But Emiko can so clearly see who belongs together, even when her targets don't know it themselves. She simply has to meddle -- for the sake of true love!

As for her own romantic life though . . . who has time for that? Emiko is far too busy with her matchmaking schemes, her brunch recipes, volunteering, her bustling social life, keeping up her grades, eating said brunch recipes and making plans for after graduation. Plans she will absolutely decide on soon. Definitely. Maybe? But when Emiko ends up falling for the last person she expects, she finds herself caught in the tangled web of her own love matches. For the first time, instead of arranging from afar, Emiko has to figure out what it means to be in love herself, and that friendship and romance are more complicated than she ever imagined . . .

Review Quotes

A Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Book for Kids and Teens, Fall 2025
Shortlisted for the 2027 Chocolate Lily Award

About the Author

CHIERI UEGAKI is a second-generation Japanese Canadian, award-winning author. Her beloved picture books include Suki's Kimono; Rosie and Buttercup; Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin, which won the Ezra Jack Keats Award and the Governor General's Literary Award for Illustration; and Ojiichan's Gift, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection Award winner. Emiko marks her YA debut. She lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.