The sequel to The Book of Firsts is Andrea K. Höst in something approaching Gratuitous Epilogue-mode. Mika is starting university, and she’s sharing a house with Rin, Kyou and Bran, allowing them to keep private about their unconventional relationship(s). The three boys are also on the verge of officially launching their game-creation business and declaring their independence from their wealthy, controlling families.

Aside from some ensuring family drama, this is a very low-key sort of book, about people who have the resources to pursue their passions -- in terms of their academic studies, their artistic ambitions, their work and their personal relationships. Lots of descriptions of the characters’ projects. Sometimes these weren’t so interesting, but mostly I found them enjoyable to read about. Pleasant.

I would have preferred more drama -- not for the drama itself, but because I wanted more scenes in which Mika and her boys help, comfort and encourage each other. Höst’s wish-fulfilment fantasy might be navigating the transition to adulthood with ease, but mine would probably be more along the lines of having an awesome support network around you when you flail about in panic. If one of the boys had discovered they couldn’t juggle their academic and work commitments, or if they needed to drop a project due to financial constraints -- if difficult decisions had needed to be made, that would have been great.

Oddly compelling and not quite satisfying, and yet -- hmm. ( )