Magical coffee shop, talking cats, astrology, piano music, people having to rethink their life choices- I thought this was so fun. And I’m not even that interested in astrology! I loved how it took a cutsey idea like cats serving coffee, and then used it to kind of drag the characters into recognizing the changes they need to make in their lives. And I really liked all the characters we meet in this book, even though we only get to see quick snippets of their lives.

This was a quick and charming story. I truly felt for all the characters and how their lives were going. I love the visits and advice each person received from the Full Moon Coffee Shop not to mention the delightful treats that they received.

The moral of this book, I believe is to truly know yourself. When you know who you are and how you function, you are capable of happiness.

I loved that each of these characters were connected in some way. And I loved how the story came full circle. It was truly a heartwarming wonderful tale.

I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballentine Books for the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a cute short story.. I enjoyed that the stories were interconnected and the reveal of how they were all related at the end. I think those who are big on astrology and horoscopes would especially enjoy. Maybe because it was short I didn't feel any strong connection to the story or the characters.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing / Ballantine Books for the ARC of the translated copy of this book!

Gentle is the best word to describe this book. And what a fun idea. I’m usually a dog person but having mystical cats reading your charts is such a great and fun way to experience the occult. lol.

“The Full Moon Coffee Shop” is a book to read with no expectations. Not in a way that is doubtful, it in a way that you are left marveling at the author’s careful weaving of each storyline together in a magnificent braid. And then, once it’s concluded, go back and watch the pieces fall into place. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and how the events in our lives affect and shape us in so many different ways.

This is not a long novel, and if you are looking to savor that jumps straight into a story filled with magical realism, this is one for you!

"Translated from the Japanese bestseller, a charming and magical novel that reminds us it's never too late to follow our stars.

In Japan, cats are a symbol of good luck. As the myth goes, if you are kind to them, they'll one day return the favor. And if you are kind to the right cat, you might just find yourself invited to a mysterious coffee shop under a glittering Kyoto moon.

This particular coffee shop is like no other. It has no fixed location, no fixed hours, and it seemingly appears at random.

It's also run by talking cats.

While customers at the Full Moon Coffee Shop partake in cakes and coffees and teas, the cats also consult their star charts, offering cryptic wisdom, and letting them know where their lives veered off course.

Every person who visits the shop has been feeling more than a little lost. For a down-on-her-luck screenwriter, a romantically stuck movie director, a hopeful hairstylist, and a technologically challenged website designer, the coffee shop's feline guides will set them back on their fated paths. For there is a very special reason the shop appeared to each of them..."

I want to go to there.

Although I enjoyed this I can see where this would not be for everyone. I can see where if someone is really into astrology this would be a top read for them.
It seems to be marketed as cozy, cat, cafe vibes and I felt like that was very lacking.
Overall an interesting premise and a quick read.

This story of a magical cat cafe was not what I expected from the description. While it was very cute and magical, reminiscent of a Miyazaki movie, it didn’t move quite as I imagined it would. The story follows several characters in three sections, blending them together for the finale so you can see how they are connected. Quite a large section of the book covered astrological chart reading, which was both interesting and a little “teachy.” I’m not well versed in astrology beyond my zodiac sign, so it was a lot of information at a time. It most definitely pertained to the story and how it flowed, so it wasn’t for nothing.
Overall I really enjoyed the book, and I already have a few people in mind to purchase this for as a gift!

Thanks to Mia Mochizuki, Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley for the advance readers copy!

5 stars / This review will be posted on BookwormishMe.com and goodreads.com today.

I cannot even describe how much I loved this little book. So inspirational and uplifting! Such an amazing premise. Worth every minute of reading!!

In The Full Moon Coffee Shop, there are several stories of people struggling in their lives. It might be a big struggle, it might be a small challenge, but regardless, there is some reason they are called to the Coffee Shop.

This is no ordinary coffee shop, though. It is run by cats. Talking cats. Intelligent cats. Cats that represent the planets and the zodiac. And their explanations about how the planets and stars affect us is a revelation to those invited to visit.

The story comes full circle at the end, with an ending that made me cry. I am not often completely touched by a story, but this one got me to my soul. Every action has a reaction, which is no more evident in this novel. It reminded me a lot of Aesop’s Fables, but in a more modern tone.

Really can’t recommend this enough!!!

A poetic story of love, changing your life, and what we all have the capability to do, The Full Moon Coffee Shop is perfect for lovers of heartwarming stories. I love how you couldn't tell how all the stories truly connected until the end, when everything ties together. While I enjoyed The Full Moon Coffee Shop, I felt it was very short and yet still had moments where it felt as though it dragged. I honestly don't feel strongly about this book one way or the other but I know there is definitely a large audience for this story out there, as I picked it up and did moderately enjoy it. So while for me, this was a three star read, I would still recommend it for those who enjoy more flowery prose, as well as heartwarming stories. In all honesty, I think this is a book for poetry lovers more than any other audience due to the structure and function, so poetry readers may need to pick up this piece of beautiful prose. Would 100% recommend though!

This was such a cozy book. It features 5 people who interact with The Full Moon Coffee Shop. It’s not the usual cafe. First it is run by cats, and second you cannot order, they give you what you need.

The 5 individuals who visit the shop all are in need of some advice and guidance. The cats explain what they need using astrology.

It was interesting to see how everything is explained. How the different planets in different houses have an impact on each character.

I really enjoyed seeing how these characters connected. And how why they came to coffee shop.

I really enjoyed it and would recommend for fans of translated fiction.

Thanks Ballantine Books for the eARC.

I was expecting whimsical and fun, and I ended up mostly just bored. I liked how things tied together at the end, but for most of the book I just felt adrift and not particularly interested. 2.5

2.5

The writing style in this is very similar to most Japanese translations, which definitely does not work for everybody.

There was no real reason for the workers at the coffee shop to be cats. They could have been literally anything.

It was very frustrating, though maybe realistic, that Satsuki was blamed for seducing a married man instead of that man being blamed for cheating on his wife.

Astrology plays a very heavy hand in this. I do not like astrology. I do not believe in astrology. I do not have super high opinions of people who do. I am not the target audience for this series.

I didn't hate this, but I didn't particularly like it either. It was just fine. I'll probably forget it very quickly.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

A charming story about people interacting with a mysterious coffee shop & cats. It wasn’t what I expected, but enjoyable too. I like how the characters connected to each other and the food and drink descriptions were spot on. Interesting concept, the epilogue felt like it should have been part of the actual story and not separate (or just the very last part with the older gentleman should be the epilogue). A short cozy read.

This lovely little novel was a Japanese bestseller before being translated for English publication, and now I understand why. The book follows a handful of modern-day protagonists whose lives intersect in more than one unexpected way. As each encounters a magical, pop-up coffee shop in the alleys of Kyoto run by talking cats who are more than they seem, they also find the wisdom and guidance they need to set their lives back on course. Dipping a paw out of fantasy and solidly into the realm of magical realism, The Full Moon Coffee Shop is a series of interconnected vignettes full of kindness, empathy, lots of astrology–and, naturally, cats.

This is a delightful book from Japan. I have never been there but I have heard a lot about the Cat Cafes that are everywhere. I love cats and I loved this story of the Japanese culture and the premise of a Coffee Shop suddenly appearing with talking cats giving astrological advice to the customers. I thought the idea and the writing was simply charming and I sighed a big sigh to suddenly find myself at the end of the story. The characters were charming and the fantasy well woven into the story. It makes me want to go to Japan and search for such places.

I wish to thank Net Galley and the publishers Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An absolutely charming novella! I thought this was so whimsical and fun and, c'mon, CATS IN A COFFEE SHOP?!? My cup of...coffee ;) Definitely a fun little cozy read. Highly recommend reading in a coffee shop with some ambiance to make it even more fun!

such a cute and whimsical read. if only the full moon coffee shop existed, that would be my go to every full moon. i loved how all the stories and characters are intertwined together. the astrology aspect of it, i wasn’t expecting, but thoroughly enjoyed! everything about this made me reflect on my own life and had me really thinking. absolutely loved this!

This book is so cute! Translated from its original Japanese, the story is about a coffee shop run by talking cats. If you help just the right cat, you just might find yourself there, getting life advice from a feline friend. A quick and sweet read, full of whimsy. Sometimes the star chart stuff could get a little dull, but otherwise, I adored this.

Thanks to #netgalley for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review.

I DNF's halfway through. Some positives were the creativity of the shapeshifting cats and magical pop up coffee shop.

I generally really enjoy similar stories. A novella made up of various somewhat intersecting vignettes that focus on the character's internal struggles, life changes, etc. However, this book's pacing felt clunky and slow. I couldn't find any connection and struggled to be interested throughout.