The Full Moon Coffee Shop is such a clever story any cat lover will it! Imagine a world where cats can give back to people who are kind to them…my cats would owe me big time. In Japan cats are a sign of good luck so I think all the cat ladies of the world need to move there. I’m not usually a reader of fantasy but I do love cats and coffee so I have it a try, and I liked it!
The story is about a magical coffee shop run by cats that appears during the Kyoto moon. When a selected few arrive they are treated to a beautiful meal created just for them and some guidance from the wise cats who work there. The customers will enter lost but will leave with a full belly and even fuller heart.

I absolutely love Japanese slice of life books with a little bit of magical realism in them. The Full Moon Coffee Shop definitely fit the bill. I loved how each of the characters were connected and you got to see each one in the other’s points of view. The coffee shop itself was so whimsical and the cats were written so well! If you’re a cat lover, you’ll enjoy this part of the story! Also, I thought the way astrology was used in this book was so interesting! I’ve never been big into astrology apart from knowing I’m a Pisces, but I found myself wanting to learn more after reading this book. The whole thing ties together even more at the end and it was such a sweet surprise. This book was just so charming and I enjoyed it so much.
Mini spoiler: nothing bad happens to any of the cats!
CW: death, infidelity

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

Full Moon Coffee Shop is a delightful story that weaves together interconnected points of view with a sprinkle of magic. While some moments felt a bit dry, possibly due to the Japanese to English translation, the charming magic café setting and the talking cat characters kept the story engaging. The discussions on astrology, though not personally captivating, were informative and added an interesting layer to the narrative. The heartwarming ending ties everything together beautifully, making this book a satisfying and enchanting read.

The full moon cafe doesn’t have set hours or locations but it will certainly pop up when you need it. The cafe is run by cats who serve you the type of coffee, meal and or dessert that you will need while they tell you about your Natal chart. That’s right the cats talk and they’re very blunt and honest and give you advice. I certainly need a cafe like this in the city. It was very cute whimsical definitely think of you love astrology this will be the book for you.

I really didn't know what to expect with this book. The synopsis sounding enchanting and totally whimsy with a bit of culture tied in.

This was such a fast, easy sweet read.

This is broken into parts, and each story intertwines with one another....all circling around this mystical coffee shop with cats! But not just any cat. These cats are talking cats who also are sometimes human. (That's how they lure them to the coffee shop) The way the cats interact with the humans and how they know how the things and the ties with astrology is just all so good.

The deliverance of the (magic) food is so fun! The cats know exactly what each customer needs and how it will help them with their current situation they are going through.

I love that the pop-up cafe only takes place during the full moon. It is just all such magic.

This book is for anyone who is looking to escape a little, loves magical moments and quaint, cozy vibes.

This is a 3 star review from me because I did struggle a little with connecting to the characters but also wanted to be them with the enchanting foods!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!! :)

I was drawn to this book because the premise was so darn cute. Who could resist a transient coffee shop staffed by human sized cats?

The Full Moon Coffee Shop appears for people who are on the cusp of change in their lives or in need of change. The cats who staff the cafe don't take orders but rather know what you need and bring you something unique to help inspire you in the ways you may need to go to find the right path towards a better future.

The cats also have another secret; they have a hidden tie to the people who wander into their cafe. However you'll have to find that out for yourself.

I wish we had more story developing the lives of the people the cats help. I think it would have made the story feel a bit more complete. I do feel as though I was missing some pieces by the end but it was really I just wanted more. I also wish the story hadn't focused so heavily on building out the star charts and natal charts of the various people. It took me out of the magical whimsy and into a realm of trying to understand star charts. I was a bit confused and kind of wish it hadn't focused so heavily on it in the middle of the stories.

Overall, I thought it was really cute and I would love to see it translated into an anime or the like. I love slice of life like this.

I really enjoyed this book & the multiple stories that it tells. Highly recommend this book.
I rated it 4 stars as there were a few slow spots but overall a very enjoyable story!

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballentine Books for this ARC. This was a short read that was mainly about a coffee shop where cats serve food and drinks to people who need decisions on their futures. It was a whimsical, fantasy read that had fun and well developed characters . I really enjoyed how the author used astrology throughout the story and how the stars could help guide us to become better versions of ourselves. I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed the series “before the coffee gets cold”, Asian Literature and short, cozy fantasy novellas. even though I had a difficult time connecting with the book, Ii still thought it was a good read and gave it 3.5 stars..

What I liked: The backstories of the people receiving advice from magical cats in the pop-up cafe.

What I disliked: This book would be better suited for persons who are into astrology, which I’m not.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the eARC of this title!!**

I loved the concept of this one and was drawn in by the popularity of this book in other languages. While this one was cute and did hook me from the beginning (I mean - talking cats?! C'mon!) I found myself losing steam with this one really quickly.

I wish there had been a but more plot to this book to keep me hooked. Once I got through the first couple of perspectives, the story began to feel a little formulaic and predictable which just didn't hold my interest as much as I would have liked. To be fair, this book is really cute and cozy and maybe just a bit too far from my preferred genres.

I am giving this an easy 3 stars and will consider rounding up to 4 stars for GR and Amazon since I took a swing on this one. The writing was really well done and I have to assume the translator absolutely nailed it. This is probably my first book that I have read that was translated from a language other than Spanish or Portuguese which is really cool!

I would recommend this book for fans of coffee, cozy adventures, and great world-building. While the plot didn't drive my reading too much - the setting was absolutely serene and I felt immersed in the world of The Full Moon Coffee Shop.

The summary sounded interesting - Kyoto, cats and helping people find their way. Inspiring message and an interesting approach - follow one’s dreams - the premise exhorted by cats returning favors to those who were kind to them. Well, this was a quick read and the execution a bit disappointing, especially since I’m a big fan of translated works by Japanese authors. While the concept was intriguing I think the book was too short to fully develop the storyline and the characters. I gave this book 2.5 stars rounded up to 3. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a cute concept short novel that is riding the whimsical wave of "healing coffee shops." I wasn't particularly drawn into the world that was explored, but I did like the character exposition. The writing was pleasant enough but a little too preachy.

This was definitely different from what I typically read but being that I love coffee and books I thought I would give it a go. Although admittedly I’m not a “cat lover” the idea of cats running a coffee shop intrigued me. There was a lot of astrology in this book which I also admittedly am generally unfamiliar with. I will say that I did take away the theme of “it’s never too late for second chances”

Cute concept and a quick read

This was a super easy and quick read. I really enjoy magical realism, and I was excited to read this book of a magical cafe run by cats.

I wasn’t expecting the large amount of astrology in here, which really isn’t for me. The cats seemed like caricatures, which was also unexpected.

All in all, this was cute and if you’re more into astrology you’d probably love it.

On a full moon, if you need the help, The Full Moon Cafe may appear to you, & the staff of cats will give you the advice you need.

There is something about these Japanese fabulist stories that have me completely obsessed. In this collection on interconnected short stories, there’s a mysterious cafe run by cats. In addition to a truly heavenly sounding menu, the cats also provide astrological insight and advice.

The stories are brief and charming. The characters are all dealing with difficult times in their lives, and they come to the cafe to get just what they need. But in addition to each story, there’s also a mysterious thread connecting all of our main characters. I would quite happily read another full novel about different people experiencing this cafe.

Many thanks to both NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC!

DNF at 25%

This was not what I was expecting. This is way more focused on the astrology side of things. I was expecting cute and cozy with magical realism. But giant talking cats seems a bit much.
And I cannot get over the prose. I don’t know if it’s the translation, but the prose is very simplistic and straightforward. It just doesn’t flow well.
Very sorry to say this was a miss for me.

I am always hesitant to read a book translated from another language because I feel like things get lost in the translation. I don't mean the translator is doing a bad job, I just mean some nuances and other details don't translate well from another language to English. I thought the premise of this book was cute but I just couldn't get past all the astrology stuff. It didn't do much for me and I got bored.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC! The Full Moon Coffee Shop is a novel composed of interconnecting stories following an elementary class and their former teacher. The story's focus ends up discovering the Full Moon Coffee Shop where cats serves drinks and food that each person needs as they reflect on their lives and make decisions for their futures. Perfect for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and similiar emotional tales, The Full Moon Coffee Shop offers a quick but impactful read.

Okay, this book is so cozy and adorable! Lots of cats and interwoven stories. If you like astrology then you will most certainly like this book! It’s also actually quite a short read!

“At home, she decided, everything she set her eyes on should bring her joy. Just making that little effort every day was enough to gradually brighten her spirits.”

One of my biggest criticisms is that it wasn’t long enough. I do happen to like astrology, but I thought it was pretty heavy on it. Not a bad thing but it would have been nice to mix it up a bit. It was still such a cute story and I very much enjoyed all of the characters and especially the cats. They had me teary eyed at some parts!

“The tea starts out as water, but experience transforms it entirely.”
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ʏᴏᴜʟʟ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
•Cats
•Cozy fiction
•Magical Realism
•Astrology
•Asian Lit

The Full Moon Coffee Shop was a delightful read. The stories were short and cozy, and I was pleasantly surprised by how they all connected in unexpected ways. Each tale was charming, showing how a simple action could lead to something beautiful. I enjoyed how the book conveyed the idea that guidance from the stars can inspire us to strive to be better.