The Making of Us - by Diane Hawley Nagatomo (Paperback)

About the Book

Small-town Nebraska girl, Rose Millstone, moves to Tokyo after being scandalously jilted by her cheating fiancé a few days before their wedding. Will this merely be a temporary interlude in her life, or will she decide to stay?

Book Synopsis

"A warm and tender story about love in Japan that leaps over seemingly insurmountable obstacles and crosses cultures. A+" -Suzanne Kamata, author of Cinnamon Beach and River of Dolls

After her cheating fiancé dumps her a few days before their wedding, Rose Millstone applies for an English teaching job in Japan, taking her as far away from the scandal as possible.

Urban Tokyo in the 1980s couldn't be any more different from rural Nebraska, and there, an exciting new life begins. Still, Rose knows these adventures are temporary, and after two years, she starts making plans to go home.

But then, she's assigned a new adult class to teach, having no idea how much this group of students will come to mean to her-in particular, Akira Kato, a young widower. Despite Rose's growing feelings for Akira, there's no denying the fact that his life is sticky-the super glue kind of sticky. Not only does he have two young daughters, but his dead wife's mother lives with them! And a commitment to Akira would also mean a commitment to Japan. Rose isn't sure if she's prepared to do that, to stay in Japan forever. When a catastrophe occurs, however, Rose must decide what's most important and what she really wants in life, especially when it comes to friends, family, and most of all, love.

Review Quotes

"A warm and tender story about love in Japan that leaps over seemingly insurmountable obstacles and crosses cultures. A+" -Suzanne Kamata, author of Cinnamon Beach and River of Dolls

"Perfectly paced, romantic to the core, and culturally authentic, The Making of Us will make you laugh, bring you to tears, and tug your heart!" -Cam Torrens, bestselling author of the Tyler Zahn suspense mystery series

"A tale of the twists and turns of fate that bring both love and disaster, happiness and despair, to the characters so ably described and whose lives enthrall us in this page-turner." -Lea O'Harra, author of Sayonara, My Sweet and Dead Reckoning

"A beautiful family saga mingled with love, respect, and hopefulness that transcends all boundaries." -Lucille Guarino, award-winning author of Elizabeth's Mountain

"Nagatomo's story of unconventional family, friendship, and love in unexpected places has all the feels." -Lena Gibson, award-winning author of the Train Hoppers Trilogy and the Love and Survival series

"A warm, gently compelling story of self-discovery and belonging in 1980s Tokyo, where life's unexpected turns feel real and unforgettable." -Anna Daugherty, award-winning author of the Grace Church series

"Diane Nagatomo brings Japan to life through rich detail, humor, and deep emotional insight. A quiet but powerful novel about building a life between worlds." -Julia Sherman, author of Lucky Number 6

"The Making of Us is one of those books you'll want to read more than once." -LeeAnne James, award-winning author of The Thin Blue Line Series

"This book felt like a journey to Japan with close friends. Rose is a loveable and courageous character who had me rooting for her from page one. An absolutely delightful read!" -Kim McCollum, author of What Happens in Montana