Love Notes and Sticky Tape

A mesmerising tale of secrets, tradition, and the courage to chart one’s own course.

When Mei returns to her small Japanese fishing island after five years in Tokyo, she discovers mysterious paper boats appearing throughout the harbour — perfectly folded without tape, just as her mother taught her. These vessels contain messages that gradually unveil a fifteen-year-old secret involving her mother who left the island suddenly, widower Yoshida-san, and his daughter Sakura.

As Mei investigates, she uncovers a hidden romance expressed through poetry written in the margins of weather reports, a connection the island elders suppressed to maintain harmony and tradition. Now, as Sakura faces an arranged marriage similar to what was planned for her fifteen years ago, someone is systematically removing tape from old letters and releasing these paper boats to reveal long-buried truths.

“An intriguing, tender tale…” — Kirkus Reviews