I wasn’t expecting Wonderful Half to affect me as much as it did.

This is the kind of story that doesn’t rely on huge plot twists or dramatic events. Instead, it pulls you in through its characters, their emotions, and the quiet moments they share. Every interaction felt natural, every conversation believable, and before I knew it, I was completely invested in Kentaro, Akira, and Naoki.

What I appreciated most was how honestly the book explores loneliness, friendship, identity, and the desire to be understood. The characters are flawed, vulnerable, and wonderfully human. Their struggles never felt exaggerated; they felt real.

The setting also deserves praise. The small-town atmosphere, summer adventures, and everyday moments created a sense of nostalgia that made the story even more immersive. It felt less like reading a book and more like looking back on someone’s memories.

Ari Ryn has a beautiful way of writing emotions. The story handles difficult subjects with care and empathy, allowing the reader to connect deeply with the characters without ever feeling manipulated.

By the end, I wasn’t just attached to the characters—I felt like I had grown alongside them. For a debut novel, this is incredibly impressive, and I’ll definitely be looking forward to whatever Ari Ryn writes next.

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy character-driven stories with heart, depth, and emotional honesty.

[ARC REVIEW 📖]

Wonderful Half
Author : Ari Ryn

This 13-chapter coming-of-age novel talks about protagonist Yamasaki Kentaro w/ his best friend Fujitima Naoki and their encounter w/ Akira Tarkowski, a new boy in the neighbourhood who's half Polish & half Japanese, set in July of 2000 in a humble town just outside of Osaka, Japan.

This was such a deeply emotional read, especially how the characters & their feelings are portrayed. The rawness, vulnerability, openness & honesty making them extremely "human" w/ their flaws & personalities are tackled upon in the novel & I personally was astounded as to how "real" it felt : the feelings of loneliness, depression, building friendship, identity as well as communication struggles --- every single thing that an adolescent experiences at least once in their life.

I must say though, for a debut novel, this was thoroughly thought out. No bombastic drama or plot, just pure authenticity of the quiet moments in life. I'm wondering though with regards to the details of the atmosphere or background in the stories described, how much of it was a part of the author's life because it was mentioned that the author grew out of his/her own complicated years of adolescence. 🤔

Thank you Netgalley, Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op, & author Ari for the opportunity to read! 🥹🫶

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Wonderful Half by Ari Ryn is a contemporary YA fiction set in 2000s Japan. It’s Ari’s debut novel, and I felt I was in for something special the moment I started reading. Received an ARC copy from the author, and this is my review as an absolutely mesmerised reader.

The story is about a lonely fourteen-year-old boy, Kentaro. He has one friend, Naoki, and later befriends a foreigner (half-Japanese, half-Polish). These three boys spend their days wandering, trying to make sense of their lives... while struggling with issues both at home and at school.

I loved how real everything felt. Yeah, even though it’s a work of fiction, everything reads like a real story of three youngsters working out a messy life as they grow.

It was all just ordinary, everyday moments and their little adventures in the neighbourhood. Nothing too dramatic. Nothing too grand. The story was both beautiful and painful. And I was completely engrossed in it... from the beginning to its end.

Wonderful Half is about several things, actually... loneliness, bullying, self-harm, depression, family dysfunction. Harsh realities, you know. The good thing is that everything is revealed gradually.

Although it’s a tad disturbing, Japan has something that makes a story feel cosy. Probably, the slow, small-town setting added some nostalgia. That slow pace was kinda charming. Also, Ari didn’t go into an entire flashback, explaining everything at once. That helped things settle properly, I guess.

And thanks to this book, I now know Japan (or parts of it) has a humid, sweltering summer season. And reading it while suffering in our Indian summers made it all too real.

It’s a wonderful debut. Will recommend it to anyone looking for a slow, contemporary YA fiction. A coming-of-age novel without elements of romance/spice.

Wonderful Half follows fourteen-year-old Kentaro, who spends his days caring for his alcoholic mother while longing to escape his small town for Osaka. His life begins to change when he meets Akira, a boy whose presence initially unsettles him. Over the course of one difficult summer, the two form a fragile friendship shaped by loneliness, distrust, and the burdens they each carry.
The novel focuses closely on the emotional lives of the boys, gradually revealing how trauma and parental loss influence the way they relate to others. Ari Ryn keeps the narrative restrained and intimate, allowing tension to build through quiet interactions and unspoken fears rather than dramatic twists.
The story becomes a thoughtful portrayal of friendship and survival, examining how two isolated teenagers attempt to understand one another while confronting the damage left by their pasts.

This book feels like when you woke up in the right side of the bed and made tea or coffee and watch the sun's glow through the leaves of the trees...calming. I think this is a nice book to read if you just want a peaceful read after a heavy read.