A Massive Thank You to the Author, the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book prior to its release date.

What a wonderful, sweet, inspiring book! Four loosely connected stories of people searching for something. They all end up at the library where the reference librarian points them in unexpected directions, and they discover the answers they are looking for.

Japanese culture is a critical piece of these stories, but they will be instantly relatable to anyone of any cultural background. A mother struggling with trying to be a career woman and a mother, a young woman with a career going nowhere, a young man with a promising career who does not feel fulfilled, a retiree feeling lost without his job. They are all tangentially connected, but the real thread is the librarian who gives them book recommendations and a "bonus gift". I loved this story and could not put it down. There are messages here for everyone, but it somehow avoids the trap of being overly didactic or saccharin. The perfect book for someone looking for something endearing, uplifting and inspiring, but with a believable storyline about following your dreams. I loved it!

This was such a thought-provoking, moving series of vignettes—I loved the central metaphor of the library, with the different lessons to be found in every book, and each story resonated with me in a different way. Elegant and resonant—I'll be thinking about this for a long time to come.

What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama was an enjoyable read. 5 people are questioning their lives and where they're going next. Are they on the right track? Could they be happier and more fulfilled? They all stumble into a community library where they meet an unexpected librarian who helps them find more than they realized the were originally looking for. I appreciate NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced review copy.

A library where a mysterious librarian offers enigmatic and life changing materials? Sign me up! This was a sweet novel, each chapter dedicated to an individual who is struggling – a newly retired company man, an unhappily demoted working mother, a restless young man- to find their way. Each person finds themselves at the community center interacting with the inscrutable Sayuri Komachi who greets each patron with a brusque, “What are you looking for?” Each interaction results in the patron leaving with a list of the books they actually asked for, an appealing but not requested item, and a felted creature Komachi gifts them. Each questioner leaves a bit bewildered by the interaction, but are set on a path to find meaning in the librarian’s choices for them. The small world of the community center leads to a few interconnections, as the changes in one character’s path affects another. Set in Toyko, this Japanese novel also serves as a reminder how alike we all are as these characters search for the same kind of personal fulfillment we all desire. My one quibble is that it felt like it ended somewhat abruptly. However, perhaps that’s the rule- leave the reader wanting more.

I do enjoy books about bookshops, librarians and books. Although it was sweet and charming, it fell somewhat flat to me. I could be something was lost in translation. However, it is an ode to the power of books and to all intuitive librarians.

A librarian making seemingly odd recommendations that turn out to have an important transformative impact on the reader. What's not to love. Set in a Tokyo neighborhood, the library is part of the community center. In these interrelated stories, different residents come to the library for the first time, where they get, in addition to their actual request, an extra book. Reading the books brings different things to the different readers, but it is a positive experience which helps the people grow and flourish. This book is sweet and touching. It reminds you how connecting to others helps you when you are stuck. It reminds you to try new things and accept new opportunities when they arrive. While different in premise, I left with the same feeling as when I read the "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" series.

When I got approved for this one on Netgalley, I was so excited. Between it looking to be the coziest slice-of-life and having a cat on the cover, I thought I would love it. Sadly, that wasn't the case.

While most of the book didn't bother me, one particular element did. The descriptions of the librarian. She was humongous. She was gruesome. Her weight and size was constantly talked about. And this may be a small thing, but it made me super uncomfortable. In a book that spent so much of its time challenging us to think beyond appearances, to have the pivotal character described only by her size was disturbing.

Even if you ignore that rather large element, I still didn't enjoy this one. It just felt so empty. I was able to read it fast, but it doesn't feel like I read anything of substance. It was fluff, and not particularly good fluff. Turns out I will be continuing my search for the perfect slice-of-life read.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book felt like a warm hug. I don't know if it's that I'm a librarian and identified so much with the main character, but I absolutely loved this. It's in my top five. Quiet without being forgotten, impactful without bludgeoning you over the head, this was the exact read I didn't know I needed until I read it.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of What you Are Looking For is in the Library.

I feel so much guilt about this, and I almost never say this about a book, but I was SO bored. It moved so slowly and was way too traveloguey without really going anywhere. I couldn't go on.

We love a book about an intuitive librarian, because as librarians our job is to help our patrons find what they want and need. Loved this collection of short stories.

Maybe things have gotten lost some in translation, or I’m not familiar with Japanese writing habits, but What You are Looking For is in the Library just seems really simplistic to me. If I didn’t know better, I’d think it was geared to a younger audience. The book is actually five different, but interconnected stories, tied together by a local community library. The thought of a local library giving people a new perspective on life is certainly an appealing one. But the characters in the library felt like formless sages meant to direct and provide wisdom to people who are struggling. The paths the struggling characters go on to find new purpose in life feel random to me-driven by something that inspires them in a book recommended to them by the librarian. A book that may have nothing to do with their enlightenment, but serves as the spark plug. I think I would like it better if it was a single story with more character development, that better allows the reader to see the transformation and why the workers in the library are there. The readers see some of that, but the focus seems to be more on directing people to the value of a library and the people that work there than connecting the reader with the people in THIS story and why THEY ended up there. This may be just fine for others, but I was hoping for a more well rounded story. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Michiko Aoyama’s gentle, contemplative, and hopeful read follows a group of interconnected characters in Tokyo. The Hatori Community House boasts meeting rooms, classes for adults and a well-stocked library with a particularly special librarian. Ms. Sayuri Komachi gives each person a reading recommendation, a small felted object and the gift of new perspective. Each person uses her good advice to find the strength within themselves to move forward and realize their full potential. SO comforting and lovely.

A lovely series of connected short stories translated from Japanese, Set in a library with the librarian as the unifying character, each story features a different character who receives book recommendations and a special something from the library. Full of hope, this story is sure to be popular.

Found this book fascinating for the first three quarters or so but was disappointed by the ending. Feels zen-like in its different use of the novel…revealing of the personalities of another country’s culture. But ultimately, it becomes tiresome.

This is a charming book. In a community center in Tokyo there is a library with a remarkable reference librarian. When people ask her for the information they think they need she provides a list a titles plus a little more. Each of the chapters in this book is about the little more and how it changes the questioner's life. It is like a collection of connected short stories. I really enjoyed it and was left feeling assured that the right book can help with life's challenges.
This is a review of an eGalley provided by NetGalley.

“Library. What a nice-sounding word. So comforting. I feel like I’m a student again.” This book is truly a love letter to libraries and books. The story of five people and librarian, Sayuri Komachi, who helps them along their path with one simple phrase, “What are you looking for?” A book for all those who love libraries and understand their value. Releases September 5. @netgalley #firstreview #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #netgallery #netgalleryreviewer #reader #booknerd #booklover #whatthelibrarianread

I wish I knew Japanese so I could read this in its original form, but this was such a whimsical, cozy tale. Heartwarming. Perfect for book lovers and library lovers. Highly recommend!

A cute set of stories, linked together by a library in a Tokyo Community House. The librarian is a massive (large, not fat) woman with a mysterious air and an uncanny knack for recommending exactly what each patron needs, in addition to what they actually ask for. In each story, a person who is unhappy with some aspect of his or her life, finds inspiration and insight through the recommendations of the librarian. The stories are poignant and meaningful and for me, were interesting peeks into a very different culture from my own. Of course I have no idea how this reads in the original Japanese, but I like the style of the translation.

This collection of five stories connected by a wise librarian was fun and uplifting. I enjoyed the messages of it's never too late to start over and it's never too late to try to live your dream. It was a quick, entertaining read.

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.