This was a lovely and sad follow up to Days at the Morisaki Bookshop.

I enjoyed this cozy little read. I enjoyed seeing how Takako’s life progressed. Her relationship with her boyfriend; her relationship with her friends; and her relationship with her uncle.

There are moments when I felt like some of the story got a little lost in translation. But I reminded myself that everything is culturally appropriate and I just moved forward.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Set in the charming Morisaki Bookshop and its neighboring coffee shop in the Jimbochi neighborhood of Tokyo, Yagisawa invites readers back into the lives of Takako, her uncle Satoru, and the eclectic cast of characters who frequent the shop. From the old man in the worn mouse-colored sweater to the book collector obsessed with author stamps, each character brings their own unique story and perspective to the narrative. Yagisawa's prose is gentle yet poignant, painting a vivid portrait of the everyday relationships forged and nurtured within the walls of the bookshop. As Takako and Satoru navigate the challenges of life and love, they are faced with the pivotal decision of whether to keep the bookshop open or close its doors forever—a decision that leads them on an emotional journey back to their family's roots. "More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop" is not just a story about books; it's a celebration of the profound impact that bookstores can have on individuals, neighborhoods, and entire cultures. Through Yagisawa's eloquent storytelling, readers are reminded of the power of literature to unite us, heal us, and ultimately, help us find our way home.

More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop was a good read. This one is pretty different from the first one, being one long story and significantly more solemn throughout the whole book. Fans of the first book will appreciate the continuation, though I wish the tone were more similar to the first one.

Full review to be posted here one month before release date and posted on socials 2 weeks before release date.

As a bookworm, I hoped to enjoy it more but felt it was dull and had a hard time getting through it. Just not a book for me.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this arc.

More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is my most anticipated release of the year. Thank you, Harper Perennial, for the ARC!! This book still tells about Takako life surrounding the Morisaki Bookshop. Takako returns to office job and sometimes helps Uncle Satoru run the Morisaki Bookshop in Jimbocho. Takako's relationship with Uncle Satoru, Momoko, and other characters from the previous book is explored in a warm way.

More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop successfully made my eyes wet. The storyline is somewhat mundane but not boring. The novel has a calm vibes. More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop feels relatable since it includes some struggles from our own life. There are references to other Japanese literature tucked into the narrative and dialogue between characters too.

- When you’re sad, don’t try to hold it in. It’s okay to cry a lot. The tears are there because you’ve got to go on living. You’re going on living, which means there’ll be more things to cry about. They’ll come at you from all sides. So don’t ever try to hide from the sadness. When it comes, cry it out. It’s better to keep moving forward with that sadness; that’s what it means to live.

It's no surprise that readers have an affinity for bookstores so stories that center around bookshops are almost automatically appealing and I feel there seems to be an increase in books about or set in bookish environments. Having listened to Days at the Morisaki Bookshop earlier this year, I was excited to see that the translated sequel (More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop) will be out this year.

More Days brings us back to the Jimbocho neighborhood in Tokyo known of its endless number of bookstores and the Morisaki Bookshop where we're reunited with Takako and her aunt (Momoko) and uncle (Satoru) as well as many other characters from Days at the Morisaki Bookshop. Having just finished back-to-back, fast-paced action/thriller books, More Days was initially.a bit slow to start for me. But the novel is much more about character development and growth so I was able to sit with Takako as she navigated her relationship with her friends, family and romantic interest. Some of the language and descriptions of Takako's thought processes and emotions felt a bit simplified (not sure if this was the translation or cultural differences or the writer's style), but as the story progressed, I appreciated Takako's growth and change.

This isn't a flashy story with an over-the-top protagonist; this is a story that quietly and subtly moves forward. In that way, it's probably a more realistic portrayal of human nature and adaptation and maturity than what we see on tv or in the movies. This was a pleasant way to spend several evenings and I hope there will be even more days at the Morisaki Bookshop.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the e-ARC and a chance to return to Jimbocho.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial for an eARC of this book.

I enjoyed Morisaki Bookshop #1, which I read earlier this year. It was a light and cozy read that didn't leave a big impression on me, but I was still interested in revisiting these characters. I am glad I did. More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop made me laugh, cry, and fall in love with mundanity. Book 2 stays in the contained world of the bookshop in Jimbocho and builds upon the cozy life set up in book 1.

What surprised me the most was how I warmed up to Momoko. From book 1, I was wary of this character because I felt like she did not have the best intentions and was using Satoru. But her relationship with Takako made me cry in the latter half of this book. While the writing can come off as saccharine, Yagisawa is so genuine in celebrating life that I teared up instead of rolling my eyes.

The book has less interesting moments that didn't entirely work for me. Tomo and Takano's conflict was funny but didn't add to much to the entire story. If anything, I think the author missed a chance to include a queer character (but I think that about a lot of books). Takako's relationship with Wada was more interesting and ultimately had the same message about communication and love, in my opinion. The less interesting chapters do not take away from the emotional impact of the story.

If you like stories about small communities and cozy slice-of-life fiction, please check out this series. I think you could get away with not reading book 1 in the series, but you will miss out on some important information. I will definitely save this book for when I am going through a hard time.

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @harperperennial for an early copy of More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa; Translated by Eric Ozawa. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Release date: July 2nd, 2024

Blurb: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199295788-more-days-at-the-morisaki-bookshop?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=xljGo7KZUv&rank=1

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is the sequel to the heartwarming novel Days at the Morisaki Bookshop. It follows Takako as she navigates her new life with her found family, the people of Jimbocho. It was a delightful follow-up to the first novel as we see how all the characters are doing from Takako’s point of view. There was lots of emphasis on relationships, mending and cherishing them, reliving them, and grieving them. It also highlights the importance of Satoru’s Morisaki Bookshop, which isn’t just a secondhand bookshop. It holds a lot of memories, especially for Satoru and Momoko. It has become a refuge for regular customers and even for those who just visit and browse books. The bookshop has also become Takako’s second home as it brought her solace.

Almost halfway through reading this sequel, I initially found it confusing as I didn’t see where the story was headed. While the first novel overall felt like a warm and loving hug, More Days at The Morisaki Bookshop gave lots of emotional punches, especially with Momoko and her impact to the Jimbocho community, and especially on Satoru and Takako. One quote from Momoko made me especially emotional – “When you’re sad, don’t try to hold it in. It’s okay to cry a lot. The tears are there because you’ve got to go on living. You’re going on living, which means there’ll be more things to cry about. They’ll come at you from all sides. So don’t ever try to hide from all the sadness. When it comes, cry it out. It’s better to keep moving forward with that sadness; That’s what it means to live.”

This is an overall emotional follow-up to the events in Days at the Morisaki Bookshop that will surely make you cherish the people around you, family or not.

This one didn't quite click for me as much as the first (which stole my whole heart), but still easily a 4 star read. These little stories about humans and live fill me with so much joy.

I love bookshops and stories of bookshops and if you do as well then you are sure to enjoy More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop! I did not read Days at the Morisaki Bookshop first but I don’t think it is a must to enjoy this one. At its core More Days…. is a heartfelt simple story about the everyday lives of a Japanese family centered around a small neighborhood bookshop that Uncle Satoru owns and operates with the help of his wife Momoko and his niece Takako. It expands on the lives of characters introduced in the first book and how they are dealing with challenges faced in the past and also how they are meeting new challenges in the present. Their story is told with warmth and I enjoyed the opportunity to get a glimpse of life in a Japanese neighborhood and the culture of that country. It was a satisfying story and I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the chance to read the advanced copy.

I really enjoyed how much deeper we get into the characters and their relationships with each other. Some big developments but mostly very small character choices that make up the bigger picture. Not quite the same level of coziness as the first book but definitely the same heart. A balm for the soul type of book, I really enjoyed reading it.

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

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

A lovely, heartfelt story that covers one of my favorite topics and places, a bookstore! I unknowingly picked this up before I read the first book in the series, so I need to go back and get some context to give it a full review. But the characters are heartfelt, interesting and lovely.

I had loved the 1st in the series and was so excited to see there was a 2nd book. This book definitely lived up to my high expectations! It was beautifully written. I laughed, cried and swooned.

“More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop” by Satoshi Yagisawa and translated into English by Eric Ozawa is the sequel to “Days at the Morisaki Bookshop.” Here, we meet the bookshop’s owner’s niece and the cast of previously introduced characters again. This is a story about love and heartache and how many people find solace in books. The Morisaki Bookshop specializes in modern Japanese literature, and I loved all the references to novels and writers from the 20th century. I could practically smell the books. I’ve been living in Japan for more than four decades, but as I was reading this novel I realized that it had been several decades since I’ve ventured to the used book district in Jimbocho. I am planning to remedy that situation as quickly as possible and go within the next week or so. I know I won’t be able to find the Morisaki Bookshop while wandering the streets there, but I can certainly dream that it is somewhere, tucked into the neighborhood.

Thank you very much to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I recommend reading the first book before this one. As it is due to be published next summer, there is plenty of time to catch up and meet these colorful characters.

This is a warm hug. If you're ever having a crap day, this is the books to read. It's so touching and philosophical.

The sequel to Satoshi Yagisawa’s Days At The Morisaki Bookshop honestly snuck up on me. I loved the first one for its cozy lighthearted slice of life feel and loved getting to continue to follow these characters from the first book. I found myself less engaged with the first quarter of this sequel as it is a lot of reintroduction to returning characters but the end was a whirlwind of emotion that pulled it all together. Highly recommended for fans of translated fiction, cozy quick reads, slice of life and the Before The Coffee Gets Cold series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the e-ARC!

3.5/5 | A delightful and easy read. The second volume of Takako and her uncles' journey at Morisaki bookstore brings more depth to the characters, The storytelling is great, the pages go by really fast and overall it's a nice simple read,

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I absolutely loved this book and wanted to live inside of this book. This is a heartwarming book about friendship, family, love, and the power of books. It left me both nostalgic and hopeful. The book will transport you into the world of the Morisaki Bookshop. As a book lover I found myself feeling a deep connection to the book and the sense of kinship that comes from being surrounded by books and book lovers. The author does an amazing job of capturing the essence of the bookstore and the impact it has on the characters. He makes it easy for you to fall in love with the setting and the characters. This is a book I'll forever be recommending.

More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa is the story of Takako, the niece of the owner of the Morisaki Bookshop. While this book is a quick read, I found it to be boring. The book is largely descriptive with very few major events. I found the description of the events in the book to be understated and not very interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good sequel to Days at the Morisaki Bookshop. Although many of the original characters come back, I think the sequel loses something a but by not having Takako still working at the bookstore. A bit of the charm of the first book was Takako interacting and learning about the bookstore and the book discussions she has with patrons. This book mainly focuses on the relationships between the characters rather than the bookstore itself. Definitely worth a read still if you enjoyed the original.