Riku Can’t Be a Goddess (Novel)

Riku Can’t Be a Goddess (Novel).

From an award-winning author comes this collection of four emotionally gripping stories about high schoolers’ acceptance of themselves…and each other.

High school student Ichika has a secret. She allows Riku, her childhood friend and crush, to explore his interest in cross-dressing by acting as his personal dress-up doll: a canvas upon which he can present his ideal of feminine beauty. One day, an unexpected kiss upends this arrangement, sending Ichika fleeing in a panic. What was she really hoping for in their private meetings–and what does Riku want, deep in his heart?

And they’re not the only students in their class who struggle with love and identity. In this collection of four coming-of-age tales, teenagers grapple with hidden fears and secret desires as they search for themselves in a complicated world.

Biographical Notes:

Kumi Tamaru is an award-winning author best known for Japanese-language novels Boku wa Kiseki Shika Okosenai and Riku Can’t Be a Goddess.

Title Notes:

Kumi Tamaru’s debut novel, Boku wa Kiseki Shika Okosenai, received the top prize at the 10th Japan Love Story Awards in 2015.

Popular genres of LGBT+ topics, coming of age, drama, slice of life.

Perfect for fans of manga exploring LGBT+ topics such as Boy Meets Maria, Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare, and Love Me for Who I Am; heart-tugging coming of age novels such as I Want to Eat Your Pancreas, Summer Ghost, and The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes.

Novels that are often adapted into manga and/or anime. Although usually illustrated, this novel is not.

This title has crossover appeal with YA audiences (rated Teen 13+).

More details on Kumi Tamaru:

More works by Kumi Tamaru

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