WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IS IN THE LIBRARY by Michiko Aoyama (translated by Alison Watts) is an international bestselling novel that profiles five library patrons: a womenswear sales assistant, an accountant with big dreams, a working Mom seeking balance, an underemployed young man and a recently retired one; all are seeking purpose and fulfillment in some form. Sayuri Komachi is the librarian in Tokyo who makes reading recommendations and transforms the life trajectories of her patrons in this gentle story. She answers their requests (e.g., books on the game, Go, or on software coding), but also encourages connections with unrelated titles. This short novel is a joy to read. Aoyama speaks to readers as her characters reflect:

“If you wait for the right time to make connections, it might never happen, but if you show your face around, talk to people and see enough to give you the confidence that things could work out, then 'one day' might turn into 'tomorrow'."

"I'm still searching. Searching for somewhere I can be accepted as I am. Just one place is all I need. Somewhere to be at peace."

"How much had my own thinking limited my opportunities?"

"Is this the secret then? If you throw yourself into doing the things you like, it's possible to live a happy, healthy life..."

"You told me that if you only ever look in front, your view will be quite narrow. So whenever I feel stuck or don't know what to do, I try to broaden my view. Relax my shoulders and walk sideways like a crab."

"My plan is to appreciate every new day. And take a wide view of things."

A great lesson in mindfulness and perspective and different ages and stages in life. It is so true, What You Are Looking For is in The Library. Five different character who enter the library needing something and coming out with books that inspire them. libraries are the best!

This started off slow but I am so glad I kept going. I loved the story of the librarian who could knew exactly what book each character needed. And how their lives were changed for the better by it!

This is my first Michiko Aoyama book, and it was very well done. I did like that the consistent link to all the stories was the librarian. (Librarians are awesome people!). The book is sweet and uplifting.

I love books. I love libraries. I’m a teacher of reading and a passionate supporter of access to literacy for all. And this was not a book for me. Maybe I had too high of expectations given the subject matter? I didn’t connect with the characters and had a hard time motivating myself to engage with the book. Many people loved it though so perhaps it’s just a me thing.

This read more like short stories than a cohesive novel. However it had some really poignant scenes. Five different people but they all seek change. I did like the inside scoop on community involvement.
The needle felted items were a definite cute touch. Worth the read if you have a few moments.

My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Pub/Hanover Square Press for an eARC of this book to read and review and to lirbo.fm and Harlequin Audio of an ALC of this book to listen to and review.

I alternated between listening and reading this book, mostly because there were parts I just couldn't tolerate listening to, so I had to read them first. I get very stressed out/anxious when characters are stressed or going through scenes that cause anxiety. Listening was too hard for me, so I had to take a break from the audio and switch over to the eBook, then back to the audio when I could handle it. That is my weirdness, not the book or audio's fault.

What WAS the book's fault was...the book itself. Don't get it wrong, it wasn't bad, but...certain parts of it were very annoying to me.

The book is broken up into five parts. Each part follows a different character who ends up at the local community library where the librarian magically matches them up with the best book to help them and a little felted item as a "bonus gift" to go along with the book. The stories have continuity, which I appreciated, no quibbles there.

What I also really appreciated is that each character in each section had a different narrator with appropriate accents and I LOVED that. It really worked (other than the one guy who could NOT do the librarian's voice to save his life, but it was only for one part of the book, so it was ok-ish).

I liked the first section, which followed Tomoka, a young woman in her early 20s.

The second section followed Ryo, a man in his mid to late 30s and it wasn't too bad.

Section three followed Natsumi, a mother in her 40s who was demoted at work due to her having her baby and OH MY GOODNESS, I wanted to reach into the book and SMACK some SENSE into her!!! She was all like, "My husband is gone all of the time and he never helps around the house or with our child,", but she never TOLD him she NEEDED help! What, is he a mind reader?? WOMAN USE YOUR VOICE AND SPEAK UP!!! She was also sniveling that because of her kid, she couldn't have the career she wanted, but she loved her kid and she was so torn and I'm like Lady, grow up! All choices have consequences. When you open one door, another one closes. YOU made the decision, it's YOUR bed, you lie down in it!

Section four followed Hiroya a 30 year old man who had no job, not in school and basically freeloading off of his mom because no job he found stuck. I sympathized, but come on dude, man up and find something you love to do and figure out how to get paid for it!

Section five followed a retired man, Masao. He was at least getting out there and trying new things. So I respect that.

Ok, my main issue, other than the 40 year old mom who needed to get her head out of her own behind, was that NONE of these characters communicated effectively, if at all. It took the Magical Librarian (TM) giving them the PERFECT book to help them figure out their needs, how to express them, etc.

Also, the Magical Librarian (TM), was consistently described as HUGE. One character called her The Stay-Pufted Marshmellow Man. In this day and age, are we seriously describing someone as huge and likening them to a marshmellow monster? Docking one star for the fat-phobia alone.

This was just ok. It was recommended to me by a friend who is a librarian (and is TRULY magical as far as I am concerned) and while I appreciate the recommendation, it was a bit of a miss for me.

If you are going to read this one though, I highly recommend the audio, if only for the wonderful narration and narrators they get for it. They all did a great job.

2, I was neither over nor under-whelmed I was just whelmed, stars.

I think this book suffered from, among other things, a marketing problem. It's description makes it sound like a magical book about books and libraries. It's not, really. The comparison to Before the Coffee Gets Cold also does it a disservice, setting it up to be something it's not. For starters, the book just drags on about various characters, less focused on the library aspect than it is on the characters themselves. It also includes some extremely fatphobic passages. That's a big no thanks for me. The premise as described in the description sounded so perfect for me, which is probably why I was even more disappointed that it didn't remotely live up to that.

This book is a tribute to all librarians, their talent and their ability to connect readers with just the right book. I absolutely adored this book

Didn't finish this, was not at all what I expected from the synopsis. Certainly not bad, but don't feel that we need this in our collection.

After reading Before the Coffee Gets Cold, I've definitely been in the mood to read more translated fiction - especially since this one has a similar format to that book. We follow a number of different characters in loosely connecting stories as they all find their way for some reason at the library of a community center. In each of their stories they get help from a librarian who asks them nothing more than what they are looking for. While she often gives them books similar to what they requested, she also recommends something entirely different before sending them on their way. In each case their lives and struggles are different, but they each find a way to work through their inner turmoil or current life struggles with the help of her suggestions. Since it is a translation there are certainly some cultural references that might put off some people but the stories and individuals are charming and very touching reads.

The English translation of the original work "お探し物は図書室まで" is a must read for bibliophile, introverts, and anyone needing a bit of hugs and hope. I had first read the book in its original Japanese version, but the English translation is done sensibly and accurately, not diminishing Aoyama's work. I had started the English version on NetGalley, but ended up purchasing the actual copy to finish. I strongly recommend it for a comfort read for everyone who might be a bit lost...

This is a lovely book with many characters in various stages of life. The author links these characters one to the other, presenting situations that most people will encounter in their own lives. In each case, the perspectives presented provides much to think about and how one's own similar experience may be viewed differently.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This is the first time that I have read a translated to English book! I was really intrigued by the presence. I enjoyed the short stories about the characters using the Hatori Community House Library and visiting Sayuri Komachi.
If you love libraries and books that make you think about the meaning of life you'll love this one!
This is my favourite quote: “In a world where you don’t know what will happen next, I just do what I can right now.”

Strong 4 stars for this book. I'm making an effort to read more of the books-about-books that keep piling up on my TBR. I'm a sucker for a book about a library, a magic book, a magic library book...

What I'm finding is that most of these sorts of books are really about finding some self-confidence and courage to try something new or to follow your dream. This particular book follows six people, all of whom end up at a community library for various reasons. They are eventually directed to an unusual librarian who asks each of them what they are looking for. Then she rattles off a sheet of paper with book recommendations and each of these lists has a book that the person the list is intended for isn't expecting. She also gives each person a felted toy- a globe, a crab, etc- that seems random but makes each person wonder why she selected that particular toy for them.

Each person makes connections between the non-obvious book and something that inspires them to move forward in their lives.

What I liked about this book in the end is that the librarian admits that she selects the toys randomly. There wasn't a greater symbolic meaning except what each person brought to the table themselves. The message I took is that a seeker will find symbols and signs that will encourage them to go in the right direction if they are looking for these signs. Meaning is something that we impose upon the world- there isn't a supernatural librarian deciding what's best for us. But if we decide to move forward we may realize that there have been resources and possibilities all along waiting for when we were ready to discover them.

This was such a cozy read. I love books about books and even better, books about libraries and librarians. The title alone has me gushing, because as a librarian, I know there is always something/information/book/resource for anyone who walks through the doors.

What You Are Looking For is in the Library is a wonderful must-read for anyone who's feeling a little lost in life. A lovely cosy read for book and library lovers.

What a delightful book! I enjoyed entering the lives of the various characters, each of whom was in search of something, but not always sure what they needed. Their situations were so relatable: disappointment in oneself for not achieving as expected, disappointment at a career setback (I found this one particularly pertinent to my own situation), or just general dissatisfaction with one's life and circumstances. The author introduces us to various characters at many stages of life, from just starting out in the professional world, to entering retirement. They wonder whether they are destined to fail to make a mark on the world, whether they are any good at the life they have chosen, or whether they have more to give to society. They wander into the library almost by accident, sometimes thinking they need one thing, and being provided another perspective by the librarian. These characters felt like friends, and I was cheering for all of them. I hope that I find what I'm looking for (whatever that is) in the library.

I enjoyed getting to know the diverse characters highlighted in the individual vignettes. Each comes to the library in search of solace, companionship and knowledge. The librarian magically (a little mysticism here but not enough to bother to me) provides access to what they need even if they came in for something else! A lovely and thoughtful read. I’m a sucker for a book about libraries and books!

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an electronic ARC and the opportunity to review this book.