I wanted to love this one ... it looks like it'd be a super cute, warm, feel-good, cozy story. But it just didn't deliver those feelings for me. It really didn't work for me. I never connected with it and the astrology was too much.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop is a charming novel about a mystical pop-up cafe that only appears during a full moon, and only to those in need. Told in a series of interconnected chapters, this story focuses on several young people who are feeling stuck or adrift in their lives. When they stumble upon the Full Moon Coffee Shop, they find they are finally able to examine their lives after receiving advice from the cafe’s mysterious proprietors (who happen to be talking cats).

I quite enjoyed this, more than I was expecting to. It’s a very mellow sort of read and served as a great palate cleanser for me personally. It’s also short and could be read in one sitting.

I really enjoyed the premise and the focus on self-discovery and second chances, and the descriptions of the cafe, food, and Kyoto were delightful. I didn’t expect this to lean so much on astrology, but it did fit the story and served as a way for the characters to reflect on their lives. I also liked how the stories were connected and how everything came together in the end. It was so sweet and heartwarming, and I hope to see other stories in this series translated!

Thanks to NetGalley and the Random House publishing group - Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I wanted to love this book so much more than I did. I love the cozy fantasy genre and as someone who speaks Korean and knowing this book was translated into English from Japanese I wonder if some concepts were lost in translation. I think I expected the cats to be more mystical but they were huge cats with aprons working in a trendy pop up shop and I was like ooo ok hahaha. Overall it was pretty good.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki is a short and humorous tale surrounding a group of students and their teacher who assumed responsibility for a bunch of cats when an old man was taken to the hospital, never to return. It is the cosmos paying for that good deed years later in a strange and unusual way. It is a fun book to read; short and full of astrology and philosophy. I recommend it as a reset for someone who is feeling their life is not moving forward. For a translation, it was entirely readable. Kudos to Jesse Kirkwood for the translation. I enjoyed it.

I was invited to read The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantine #MaiMochizuki #JesseKirkwood #TheFullMoonCoffeShop

In Japan, legend has it that cats are good luck, and if you are kind to them, they will repay your kindness. Mochizuki has some fun with this legend in the lighthearted tale, The Full Moon Coffee Shop. Rest assured that this cafe is not your typical corner coffee shop. For one, it materializes at unexpected times and places. Two, it is run by talking cats with sophisticated tastes, and who know exactly what you need. We meet a few characters who are at a crossroads in their lives; failing careers, messy romances and plain bad luck. But have no fear! The merry and wise band of cats of The Full Moon Coffee Shop know it is a challenging time, and are there to nourish the spirit, read astral charts, dole out advise and help these lost souls correct course.

I enjoyed this charming tale about reconnecting with old friends, second chances and reaching for the stars. I was particularly enchanted by the magical concoctions served up by our feline friends, and would be happy to be served an Aquarius Trifle, a Planetary Affogato made with Venus Ice Cream, or a Lunar Chocolate Fondant. If you are looking for a magical treat featuring some very clever cats who listen to Beethoven, reach for The Full Moon Coffee Shop.


Many thanks to the author Mai Mochizuk, Ballantine Books/ @RandomHouse and @NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

🌕Set in Japan, the story is about a group of people who are connected to each other through various life experiences and how they one day discover a mysterious and magical coffee shop. They all are going through some challenge in their lives as well.

The specialty of this coffee shop is that it only appears on a full moon and the drinks and desserts are chosen for you by cats. These cats are no ordinary cats but they are talking cats who give you advice by analyzing your star chart. The food and drinks they serve you, are also connected to what you are experiencing in your life now.

This book was beautifully written! The description of the coffee shop drinks and food made me crave for them. Absolutely loved how astrology was woven into the story and how the cats are actually the planets giving life insights to the customers. The cat who is Saturn is so adorable and was my favorite. The premise was so unique and I really wished it was real.

How the characters connected and how a good deed they did together in the past being the reason why they find the coffee shop were well written. A warm and cozy read that’s perfect for your fall reading list. Really looking forward to more stories about this coffee shop. The cats reminded me a lot of my late girl Cathy cause she’d give perfect life advice. The smartest cat I ever knew 🥹.

You’d love this book if you love,
Cats
Warm and cozy vibes
Magical realism
Coffee and desserts
Self discovery

Thank you Random House for my ARC. All thoughts are my own.

English translation of a Japanese novel. It was a bit quirky but that made it more interesting to me because I had to see how the stories ended. Thanks to #Netgalley and #TheFullMoinCoffeeShop for advanced digital copy.

This is such a cozy and heartwarming story; I think fans of Before The Coffee Gets Cold and What You are Looking for is in the Library will adore this book because it’s a similar premise but with its own unique twist.
I absolutely loved the idea that the cats in the story who are taken care of by the children come back to return the favor when the now grown children need them most.
And this book has me so curious about astrology! I wish there was an explanation included as to how to read those charts - even just as an extra in the back of the book.

I absolutely love Japanese fiction; I’m so glad to see this is going to be a series! I’d like to say thank you so much to Random House and NetGalley for my e-copy!

Love the cat aspect but unfortunately not enough magical cats to make me continue reading this one. Had to dnf It had its whimsy and charm and I normally enjoy translated copies but this one just wasn’t for me.

I thought this was a charming story and a great way to remind the reader to be yourself. The characters were all connected in some way and the lessons they got at the cafe all helped them. The cafe itself was the star of the book. I would love to stumble on such a place! It was magical.

The cats in the book were whimsical, insightful and clever. It was not what I expected and worked well for this story.

Whether you are into astrology or not, the addition of astrology to the book was easy to follow and believe. I enjoyed how music, cats and food were all woven into the story. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to review this book.

I completely adore this book! I loved the mix of astrology and magical realism. I haven’t come across many books that centered on astrology like this. It was interesting to learn more about natal charts and how it may affect a person. The Full Moon Coffee Shop is a novel of entertainment and education.

3.5🌟 this was such a fun and unique book. I really enjoyed the way the author took each characters story, and weaved them into each others. Each new character revealing more information on how they are connected. This was a simple and quick read, but enjoyable, and a great reminder to trust yourself and to fully be you, always.

A fun, quick read perfect for readers who enjoy astrology. If you are looking for a single session read I highly recommend The Full Moon Coffee Shop.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop is a charming and whimsical tale that draws readers into a world where talking cats, astrology, and the magic of Kyoto nights come together to guide lost souls back to their fated paths. The novel weaves together the lives of a down-on-her-luck screenwriter, a romantically stuck movie director, a hopeful hairstylist, and a technologically challenged website designer—all of whom find themselves at crucial crossroads when they stumble upon the mysterious, ever-shifting coffee shop.

Mai Mochizuki's novel bears a striking resemblance to Before the Coffee Gets Cold in its cozy, character-driven narrative, but it sets itself apart with a delightful twist: the coffee shop is run by cats named after planets, each with their own unique personality and wisdom. These feline guides read star charts and offer cryptic yet insightful advice to the customers, nudging them toward self-discovery and helping them realign their lives with the stars.

The story is steeped in the gentle, reflective atmosphere typical of Japanese literature, making it a perfect read for those seeking solace in the simple pleasures of life—like a warm cup of tea, a slice of cake, and a quiet moment of introspection. Mochizuki’s focus on the characters’ personal journeys and the soothing presence of the mischievous, star-savvy cats creates a narrative that is both heartwarming and thought-provoking.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

-Honest review in exchange for early access on Netgalley-

This book is a very short read, only about 100 pages. I don’t mind that it’s short, sometimes you’re looking for something like that! I found the concept very interesting. The book mentions a lot of astrology and I enjoyed hearing about the natal chart meanings and things like that. I did have trouble connecting to the characters though. I couldn’t find myself really caring about them or what they had going on. Despite that, I did enjoy it for its theme.

I know some people believe that it has too much astrology and that it takes away from the book. I personally did not mind it as I knew what I was getting into and expected it to be astrology-heavy. However, if you do not find it interesting to hear a lot about astrology and natal charts and what each part of different charts represents then I would not recommend the read as it is brought up a lot.

I love this book!
Cats, Coffee, Astrology the easiest cozy read so far this year
The self discovery and character development was also super good!
If you want a cozy self discovery read with a lot of astrology this is your read!

The Full Moon Coffee Shop
by Mai Mochizuki
Pub Date: Aug 20 2024

The Full Moon Coffee Shop in my opinion is more of a book about astrological charts than it is about cats. The story is told in the first-person POV of Mizuki Serikawa and Akari Nayakama and the third-person POV of Takashi, each divided into neat sections. The story is about second chances, understanding ourselves, and hoping for a better and happier future. It's the first book in a series, I'm looking forward to the 2nd book coming in the future.

Synopsis: Translated from the Japanese bestseller, this charming and magical novel, inspired by the myth of cats returning favors to those who care for them, reminds us that it’s never too late to follow our stars.

Many thanks to #TheFullMoonCoffeeShop #NetGalley and #RandomHousePublishing for providing me with an E-ARC of this book.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop is deliciously cozy and magically sweet. Following four timelines (which all intertwine in the best way), each character goes through their ups and downs, only to end up at the Full Moon Coffee Shop, where cats read your fate in the stars and serve you without taking your order. I think this will be the perfect bite-sized fall read!

I will say, the writing was a bit blunt and simple for me. It's impossible to tell if this was due to the translation, or if this was just how the writing was to begin with, but sometimes it felt clunky in a way. That's pretty nitpicky, and I know most people don't care about things like that, but if you're looking for whimsical, flowery prose, this will probably not deliver on that.

Overall, fun and fast!

I enjoyed readingThe Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

The Full Moon Coffee Shop is a charming story told from the multiple perspectives of seemingly loosely connected people. It’s full of whimsy and lessons in astrology. I loved this books for the rich character development & vivid visual descriptions. Each person and place in this book feels real and relatable to the reader. The astrology material in the book reads as both scientific and magical, making for an engaging reading experience. Without giving too much away, I recommend this book to anyone who believes in fate but also in the power we have to make our own destiny.