In Rosa's New Game, Rosa Kimura is facing a trifecta of crises: a career-threatening injury, a looming layoff, and the reappearance of a man who broke her heart. But beneath these external struggles lies a deeper, more intimate challenge: navigating the complex, loving, and often maddening dynamics of her own family. The Kimuras are a force of nature, and their influence on Rosa's journey highlights how the people who love us most can be both our greatest support and our biggest obstacle.
The Lingering Shadow of a Meddling Father
Denshi Kimura, the family patriarch, has a long history of interference, and though he's softened, his children still navigate the expectations he set. If you’ve been following this series, you’ll remember the major difficulties Suri had with her father. He’s mellowed over the years and become more supportive, but it’s tough to reconcile the old father with the new one. His influence still hangs in the air, a subtle pressure that shapes his children's choices.
This is especially true for Rosa when her life is in turmoil. Denshi’s advice, though likely well-intentioned, comes across as a directive, a reminder of the priorities he has set for her. When he learns of her romantic complications, he doesn't offer comfort; he offers a command: “Your career and your physical health, those are the priorities right now. Romance, complications… they can wait.”
For Rosa, already feeling like she's failing, this isn’t support; it's another expectation she can’t meet. It’s so tough to write evolving characters because the memory of who they were still affects every relationship. Denshi may no longer rule with an iron fist, but the shadow of that fist remains.
A Sister's Protection or Sabotage?
Rosa’s younger sister, Demi, acts out of love, but her protective instincts cross a line, directly impacting Rosa’s romantic life and sense of autonomy. Oh, sibling relationships. They are one of my favorite things to write because the line between helping and hurting can be so incredibly thin. Demi sees Rosa’s hope after her first date with Rhys, hears rumors about his messy past, and decides to take matters into her own hands.
Her confession is one of the most pivotal moments in the book, a staggering reveal that reframes Rosa’s entire history with Rhys. Demi admits she confronted him, telling him: “I told him that if he wasn’t going to be serious about you, he should stay away… if he was playing games, he needed to back off before he broke your heart.” She thought she was protecting Rosa from pain, but in reality, she stole Rosa’s agency, making a choice for her without her consent. This act, born from love, becomes a betrayal that forces Rosa to question not only her relationship with Rhys but her trust in her own sister.
Finding a Lifeline in Quiet Empathy
Amidst the chaos of meddling relatives, Rosa finds a true anchor in her sister Winta, whose quiet support offers a safe harbor without judgment. It’s a powerful reminder that not all support looks the same. While Demi tries to “fix” Rosa’s problems and her father tries to dictate her priorities, Winta simply shows up. When Rosa’s world collapses after being laid off, Winta doesn’t offer advice or platitudes. She offers presence.
She pulls Rosa into a hug, lets her cry, and then says the two words Rosa needs to hear most: “Tell me.” It’s a simple, profound invitation to be heard without being fixed. In a family of strong personalities and even stronger opinions, Winta’s quiet empathy is a lifeline. It shows that sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do for someone we love is to just sit with them in their pain and listen.
Breaking Free and Setting Boundaries
Ultimately, Rosa's growth comes from recognizing these dynamics and drawing her own boundaries, choosing her path despite her family's influence. The climax of Rosa’s emotional journey isn’t just about her knee or her job; it’s about finding her voice within her own family. Faced with Demi’s confession and Rhys’s uncertainty, she finally puts her foot down, not just for them, but for herself.
Her declaration is a powerful moment of self-actualization. She tells Demi, “My life, my choices, my mistakes — they are mine to make… I decide.” This isn’t a rejection of her family’s love, but an assertion of her own adulthood. She learns that she can love her meddling father and her overprotective sister while also demanding the space to live her own life, succeed on her own terms, and fail, if necessary, by her own hand. It's a journey so many of us have to take — learning to define our place within the family we love, not as the person they want us to be, but as the person we are.
In Rosa's New Game, the Kimura family, in all their flawed, loving, and interfering glory, provides the friction Rosa needs to discover her own strength. Her path to healing is as much about setting boundaries with them as it is about mending ligaments and trusting her heart.
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I really liked seeing Rosa find her own way and strength throughout the book. And I really liked how Winta was there for Rosa when she needed it most. I look forward to Demi’s story after seeing how she owned up to her mistake.