I really loved this book, it was very cozy. I liked the interactions between the characters and would love to visit a place like this in real life!

A bestseller in Japan, winner of a literary prize, and made into a movie, I was not moved by this novel. Perhaps it was the translation, but I did not find it particularly endearing. A 25 year old woman quits her job and her life after being dumped by her boyfriend, with whom she worked, is depressed and takes to sleeping all day. Her uncle, with whom she was once close as a child, but has neither seen nor talked to in years, invites her to stay at his used-book bookshop and she does. Alas, for me, nothing about this novel was deep enough. I found it simplistic and superficial. What was interesting was to learn about this part of Japan filled with bookstores and I would have loved to know about those stores, those booksellers, to be in those shops, rather than with the whiny girl.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Perennial for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book, though I had no expectations, except this is about a bookshop. This is a translation to English so the text is more straightforward and mostly lacking ornamentation but that doesn't make it bad whatsoever.

This is the story of the Morisaki Bookshop from Takako's point of view, or maybe more accurately, how the bookshop changed her. Takako is living in Japan, Tokyo in fact, and has a job, and a boyfriend but that comes crashing down on her unexpectedly. Her boyfriend has another girlfriend and they're getting married soon, but Takako didn't know she was the 'other woman' or that there was someone else, plus they all work at the same company but this isn't some drama about that; it is a catalyst.

Takako really loved him and is distraught which leads her to quit her job as she just can't continue on with having to see this guy every day who broke her heart. She spirals into depression and her uncle Satoru calls her out of the blue, telling her to come stay with him. Takako knows her mom put him up to it but folds and decides she can't be unemployed and still pay her bills forever so sets off for Jinbocho where there are dozens on used bookshops-including her uncle Satoru's Morisaki Bookstore.

It takes months, and her uncle Satoru, to get Takako out of her depression. She was not a reader in the days before the bookshop but discovers a hunger as well as plenty of books, much to Satoru's delight. She becomes close with some of the regular customers, the owner of the local coffeehouse makes a few friends her age, and becomes closer to Satoru. The bonds with others is portrayed so earnestly, making it a lovely read.

3.5/5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and Satoshi Yagisawa for allowing me to read and review this book.

This is such a cute book. It is about finding the love of reading, making new friends, family ties, and moving forward in life. This book is short and easy to read, but packs so much in so few pages.

I would recommend this book to everyone. You will be able to sit down and read it in one sitting, and you will want to.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought the writing style was a bit too blunt, but this may have simply been because of the translation. Uncle Satoru was a whole mood- I absolutely loved him. Also, can I please move to this magical street of bookshops? Sign me up. Takako starts out as a stuck up and judgmental person, but it was great to see how she grew throughout the story. The bond between Takako and Satoru was great and I enjoyed seeing them become closer. I loved to see Takako's relationship with Momoko develop as well. I was a bit bored at times, wishing there was more action and substance to the plot; more going on, more at stake. I wasn't a fan of the ambiguous ending. But overall, it was a short and enjoyable read.