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ranee_samaniego's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
It took me some time to think about how I would rate and review this book.
<<Spoilers Below>>
The first half of this short book followed Takako, a young woman whose life sudden hits rock bottom. With no where to go, she has to move into the apartment above her uncle's second-hand bookshop. She soon falls in love with reading and, through the kind support and love from her uncle, Satoru, is able to slowly regain her footing in life.
The second half of the book suddenly takes a turn. Satoru's long-lost wife suddenly reappears after over a decade and just... moves back in as if she had never left. Takako and Satoru are utterly confused but don't ask questions or demand answers. I cannot fathom this. I was so frustrated at everyone - Takako and Satoru for not honoring themselves enough to demand truth, the long-lost wife for just trying to come back without providing any explanation.
And... then she leaves again at the end of the book. She has a lot of trauma and needs to heal, but I was so frustrated with her.
And that's how the book ended.
I enjoyed the first half of the book, but was frustrated with the characters in the second half.
<<Spoilers Below>>
The first half of this short book followed Takako, a young woman whose life sudden hits rock bottom. With no where to go, she has to move into the apartment above her uncle's second-hand bookshop. She soon falls in love with reading and, through the kind support and love from her uncle, Satoru, is able to slowly regain her footing in life.
The second half of the book suddenly takes a turn. Satoru's long-lost wife suddenly reappears after over a decade and just... moves back in as if she had never left. Takako and Satoru are utterly confused but don't ask questions or demand answers. I cannot fathom this. I was so frustrated at everyone - Takako and Satoru for not honoring themselves enough to demand truth, the long-lost wife for just trying to come back without providing any explanation.
And... then she leaves again at the end of the book. She has a lot of trauma and needs to heal, but I was so frustrated with her.
And that's how the book ended.
I enjoyed the first half of the book, but was frustrated with the characters in the second half.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Child death
my_weird_bookish_heart's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abortion, and Abandonment
erynlasbelin's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
I really enjoyed the first part of the book, which was set in the bookstore and focused on Takako's relationship with her uncle and her burgeoning love of reading. The second half had some bright spots, particularly her interactions with Wada; but it was much weaker overall. I really disliked the aunt. I have sympathy for her, and I realize there are probably some cultural differences at play here, but I found literally all of her behavior unacceptable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Child death, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
alicewolfe's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Abandonment
Moderate: Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Abortion
Minor: Cancer, Infertility, and Pregnancy
ericispublius's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Yagisawa creates a safe & warm atmosphere in the bookshop — I couldn't help living there a little myself. The story felt predictable in one moment but would sidestep in the last second, particularly concerning romance. Traditional misogyny & LGBT+ erasure permeated the text; I made many notes in the margins saying, "Why not consider this more fitting romance?" or "Why wouldn't this person receive an inheritance?" All that aside, it was a cute read that redeems itself in the very end
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death and Infidelity
Minor: Terminal illness and Abortion
shaleen64's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A book that focuses on the love of books, the love of people and second chances. In less than 200 pages it will having you laughing, tearing up but mostly it will leave you hopeful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
aileron's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Abandonment
Moderate: Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Grief
Minor: Infertility and Abortion
thursdd4y's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Abandonment
Moderate: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Abortion
biobeetle's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death and Miscarriage
Minor: Cancer
peasandpancakes's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
First of all: Why has every version of the cover art a cat on it when there are a grand total of 0 cats in the book?
I read this book in Dutch and I am sure most of my opinions on it are because the translation felt very bad. The sentences just did not flow well at all, which made it jarring to read. Besides that, I wonder if there is just too much of a culture gap here for me to understand this book and its characters.
I disliked the main character, Takako. Sure, she got out of a bad relationship and was feeling depressed, but she was behaving like such a whiny child that I often forgot she was supposed to be 25.
The whole storyline with the aunt that came back after rudely disappearing for 5 years, was so weird. Were we supposed to feel for her? Because I kinda didn’t. Sure, she was still processing the loss of their child, but it still felt flat.
I’m also going to say it, there are some… questionable things in the story and language used. First, the bath scene felt weird. Second, why was Takako asked if she was into girls when she was (in a strange way I agree) trying to hug her aunt? She was asked the same when she looked at a waitress for 3 seconds earlier in the book. To me that is just not something to joke about
So yeah. Me and this book did not vibe, but if I ever get the chance to read it in English, I am willing to try it.
I read this book in Dutch and I am sure most of my opinions on it are because the translation felt very bad. The sentences just did not flow well at all, which made it jarring to read. Besides that, I wonder if there is just too much of a culture gap here for me to understand this book and its characters.
I disliked the main character, Takako. Sure, she got out of a bad relationship and was feeling depressed, but she was behaving like such a whiny child that I often forgot she was supposed to be 25.
I’m also going to say it, there are some… questionable things in the story and language used. First, the bath scene felt weird. Second, why was Takako asked if she was into girls when she was (in a strange way I agree) trying to hug her aunt? She was asked the same when she looked at a waitress for 3 seconds earlier in the book. To me that is just not something to joke about
So yeah. Me and this book did not vibe, but if I ever get the chance to read it in English, I am willing to try it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Grief
Minor: Homophobia, Infertility, and Abortion