Thanks to Hanover Square Press for the ARC. It was a delightful collection of stories with an enigmatic librarian at the center. The characters are all at a crossroads of some type,; the librarian has the insight to help the, transition to a new and better stage of life. And each new story harkens back to an earlier one through the reappearance of one of the characters.
Delightful!

What a treat of a book. These little stories were so heartwarming and interesting. I deeply enjoyed experiencing small glimpses into life in Tokyo. I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did and I'm glad I read it.

Very cute, cozy book. Patrons are always looking for feel-good stories so I'm glad I read this and have another go-to recommendation.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the advanced reading copy.

I wanted to like this book, as I really enjoyed Midnight Library, which was referred to in the description, and love a library setting novel. However, this book just felt so simplistic and preachy. Someone has a problem, they get a book from the library, they discover the solution to all their problems is to do x, y, or z. Of course someone can be dissatisfied at their job because it just sucks as a job, not just because they have a messy apartment or eat fast food. To reduce people and emotions to such simplicity is to eliminate any possibility of actual dissatisfaction or self-contemplation, or to dismiss an actual mental health issue or boundary that's not being met. It seems to me that simplifying this way would just do more to make anyone still feeling this way to feel worse because the "good thing" they do didn't fix their whole lives. Anyway, rant over, did not enjoy this book.

What You are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama (translated by Alison Watts) has books, plants, and a window seat on the cover. It has "library" in the title. The title promises that all can be found at the library. I am sold before I even start! This book is very much a love to letter to books, libraries, librarians, and readers. In a world drowning in conflict and negativity, this uplifting book is a beautiful and sweet interlude.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/11/what-you-are-looking-for-is-in-library.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

***Actual rating: 4.5/5 Realistic Stars***

What You Are Looking For Is in the Library is originally a Japanese bestseller consisted of several essays and short stories about people from all walks of life. Each story was told in the first POV of said protagonists, making it easier for the readers to put themselves in the characters’ shoes. To my surprise, despite the book being translated from Japanese, I still have no problem finding every short story quite relatable and enjoyable to read. Perhaps the main reason is because Taiwanese culture is pretty similar to that of Japan on so many levels, and thus, experiencing the struggles, pain, helplessness, and joy in the mundane life vicariously through the characters has become quite an addictive yet satisfying feeling while reading this book.

For example, in the first chapter featuring Tokoma, a 21-year-old womenswear sales assistant, it’s common in Japanese culture to take full responsibility of their jobs, so unlike the Western culture, most people tend to work overtime on a daily basis just to make sure they’ve done their best at work. Hence, many people in Japan (or as far as I know, in China/Taiwan/Korea) usually take the career paths and development extremely seriously, resulting in unhealthy lifestyle and numerous health red flags in the long run. Sadly, I can personally attest to such a statement and that’s why I feel resonant with Tokoma and her colleagues through and through. Call me a masochistic workaholic, I thrive on the overwhelming stress from work and sometimes, I’d skip lunch or dinner just to get a little more work done. After constantly working under that kind of circumstances for a few years, the exhaustion has inevitably taken its toll on me and there’ve been more and more warnings in my medical examination report. :/

Aside from that, what Tokoma and her co-workers experience such as the dilemma between continuing their boring job or changing to something completely new yet challenging, and how they need to deal with “an incompetent boss and an assistant with an attitude” on a daily basis…all of which sort of sums up the majority of what Asian working culture is like. Interestingly, even though each of the short stories told from different main characters is utterly unique, what all of the protagonists have in common is that they all encounter some type of obstacles in life and further lead them all to the one and only, incredibly enigmatic librarian, Ms. Komachi. Ms. Komachi never fails to provide these solution seekers with a list of her book recommendations; what’s more, other than including the most related books regarding every single question these people from all walks of life are looking for, she tends to add another seemingly unrelated title to the list (along with a stress squeeze as a “bonus gift”), successfully confusing everyone.

Needless to say, in the process of searching for the answers, everybody gets to grasp a more profound meaning from that extra book recommendation (which is usually something pre-loved or well-known by the mass public), feeling wiser and being capable of making peace with themselves afterwards. Honestly, I think this book serves as a great demonstration of a guide to find our inner peace considering that to some extent, I believe Ms. Komachi’s trying to tell everyone that not only will everything (every difficulty, every hardship, and every tough time) be alright when time comes—I mean, there are BOOKS for literally all of the problems and situations—it’s also imperative to think outside the box. In short, sometimes seeing is not necessarily believing, particularly when we’re so sure about something only to realize later in life that whatever we used to believe in is not what it seems. You’ve had this feeling occasionally, haven’t you?

All in all, What You Are Looking For Is in the Library is undoubtedly an intriguing and thought-provoking read. I’m sure you’ll be able to rethink about many choices you’ve made as well as experiences you’ve had throughout your entire life with the “help” of Ms. Komachi. That being said, please feel free to pick this book up and get your ideas storming! As Jorge Luis Borges once remarked, “I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.” So perhaps next time, when you don’t know what to do, what to think, or what to…eat, maybe just go pay your local library a visit so you can get rid of any bugging feelings and problematic thoughts!

***Thanks to Harper Collins Publishers and the author/translator for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***

This book feels like a warm hug.

I love Magic Realism and Japanese Lit., so this was just a hit after hit after hit.

Please add it to your TBR. I promise it will become one of those books you needed to read, but you didn't know it.

What a charming little gem! I will admit that it took me a bit to get into this- I wasn't sold at first. My initial thoughts centered around a worry of the possible corny-ness of it all. I was WRONG. Aoyama does a beautiful job of weaving together the stories of a cast of characters who are living their everyday lives, many dismayed by the banality of it all. Each ends up crossing paths with a small community library and its seemingly intuitive, extremely eccentric librarian, Sayuri Komachi. What plays out again and again is the densely loaded question,
"What are you looking for?"

The answer is not always what is seems.

4 stars!

I thought the description was great and thinks lot of people will love this. Unfortunately I could not finish this because I didn’t like the story structure. But this definitely measures up to books like Midnight Library and could even compete with Before the Coffee gets Cold

This was a delightful collection of stories! Very glad I had the opportunity to read What You Are Looking For Is In The Library.

I absolutely loved this series of stories set in a Japanese town. There are 5 different stories that are seemingly unconnected, aside from the fact that each protagonist visits the same branch of the public library. You'll notice the characters popping into each other's stories throughout the book.

In each chapter the protagonist is at a bit of a crossroads. A visit to the library and the mysterious librarian helps them find exactly the book they want, which helps them decide which direction their life should take next. It's a delightful, quick read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and have recommended it many times.

Running a book club with this title this month. I liked parts of it a lot, the messages of the ways libraries and library workers can inspire folks in various ways in their lives. My issue was the repeated fatshaming references about the librarian as big, huge, Michelin man, Baymax, took up a lot of space, shirt so tight buttons were strained, etc. I think every single vignette had a comment about her weight/size that was very unnecessary.

The librarian, Sayure Komache, is the connecting thread in this story of five people ranging from 21-65 years of age. They all seem to be unsure with their lives. the librarian gives them a booklist based on what they request but she always adds on one more book plus a bonus. These five are not sure why she has selected that particular book, but as they read it, they become intrigued.
This is a definite read for all ages as one makes decisions about their journey in life.

This delightful little book has, at its core, a librarian who offers a unique reader’s advisory service. Five individuals, unhappy with the state of their lives, end up in the library and receive recommendations from the librarian. Her recommendations change their lives.

Free ebook, review is my own.

Everyone at the library is greeted by the same question. They are all looking for something unique to them and do not always know what to ask. The librarian though manages to meet all their needs. Each story is interconnected with each subject finding their way through life, human connection and personal growth. Absolutely loved the first two stories.

I really really enjoy this one.
A cozy easy-to-read slice-of-life kinda book, there are five short stories that interconnected about five people in a community center with magical library and wonderful unique librarian that recommend books that you might thing weird but life changing for people who asked that recommendation. Each story is heartwarming and what happen to these people is pretty much happen in real life, so I feel so related. This book bring smile on face and lots of quotes that got me thinking.
It's a comfort read and definitely recommended if you're looking for a cozy read.

Everyone who walks through the doors of the small community library in Japan, has a desire to somehow change their lives. From a sales attendant who feels stuck in her job, to a struggling working mother who longs for the career she lost, to an artist who feels like no one will ever care about his drawings - they all get led to Sayuri Komachi, the reference librarian who loves needle felting. After having a conversation with them, Sayuri Komachi gives them a book list, all with a surprising book at the end, and a bonus gift. What they don’t realize is how much of a life changing conversation that would be.

I’m going to be honest, I kind of went into this a little blind. I saw it was for fans of The Midnight Library and Before the Coffee Gets Cold and registered it’s about a library. I’m a librarian and I’m always interested in books about either libraries or books so I asked for an ARC on NetGalley without really looking too much into it. Because of this, I didn’t realize how the set up would be for the story going into it. The first story’s voice threw me off just a little bit because of how young she was. I didn't know if I wanted to read a whole story with that voice - but obviously it changes with each chapter.

This novel is such an ode to libraries and librarians and how they can help transform people’s growth, no matter what stage in life they are in. This novel is so heartwarming and touching that I feel like everyone would be able to connect to it on some level. I’ve said this before in my reviews, but Japanese literature just has a way of capturing the human experience in a way that never disappoints.

I’ll be highly recommending this novel to so many people. I can’t give this enough wonderful praise.

*Thank you Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I really liked this book because it had similar themes to Before the Coffee Gets Cold, you never know what each story will hold and how much you root for the characters.

The book was overall cute but the stories felt very similar. They were all career-focused, and I think I would have enjoyed this book more if the librarian had helped with a variety of different needs. I did like the way the stories were intertwined and we got to see glimpses of characters in other stories.

This book had such potential and as a librarian myself I had high hopes for it! Unfortunately, this one fell a little flat for me. Told as a series of interconnected short stories, this Japanese translation follows one talented librarian who has the ability to find the perfect book for people (loved this premise!). We get to see how her picks affect a number of people's lives in each of the stories. Some were more interesting than others for me though and overall I wasn't as invested as I had hoped to be. Okay on audio and recommended for fans of books like Before the coffee gets cold. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!