This was not a favorite for me. I thought the premise was interesting and loved the idea of the setting being based in a coffee shop - how cute and quaint. But the story itself was a bit too based in astrological signs and I really just wanted more of the characters. I am much more of a character driven girlie than plot, so if the plot falls flat but the characters are well fleshed out I’m still happy.

Overall, I don’t want to say too much because I don’t think this was a bad book or one I wouldn’t recommend, it just wasn’t in my wheelhouse of what I prefer to read.

If you’re into astrology and like some musical, cozy coffee shop vibes this could really work for you!

I continue to find Japanese stories fascinating in their method of weaving timelines and connections between people. This story did not disappoint, rising to my hopes and expectations. It was another charming story of choices and how they can be influenced by what has occurred in the past. My only issue with the story involved the astrology pieces, which seemed a bit daunting to understand. However, I feel it is more my lack of knowledge about the intricacies of horoscopes that was the problem rather than the text itself. Overall, it was a fun read and a good reminder why I continue to pick up translations from Japan.

This book was cozy, cute, and lighthearted, but honestly became a little boring over time. That being said, it was still a nice fun read if you're looking for something easy!

thank you to netgalley for a free arc of this story in exchange for an honest review
this was a cute and cozy fantasy story! an overall heartwarming story about discovering yourself and finding the strength to change. i'm a sucker for astrology so i enjoyed the astrological/fate aspect of this but i liked that there was also a sense of personal responsibility involved, how the stars guide us but don't define us. plus i'm also a sucker for interconnected stories. unfortunately the writing could've been a little better but that could be a translation thing

This is a cozy read- a coffee shop magically pops up right when people are experiencing some distress in their lives and the waiters (who happen to be talking cats) offer advice based on the person's astrological sign. They also are given a customized drink (though the drink doesn't have any magical powers). This is a fun, lighthearted story about listening to yourself and making changes when needed.

"𝒜𝓉 𝓉𝒽ℯ ℱ𝓊𝓁𝓁 ℳℴℴ𝓃 𝒞ℴ𝒻𝒻ℯℯ 𝒮𝒽ℴ𝓅, 𝓌ℯ 𝒹ℴ𝓃'𝓉 𝓉𝒶𝓀ℯ 𝓎ℴ𝓊𝓇 ℴ𝓇𝒹ℯ𝓇; 𝒾𝓃𝓈𝓉ℯ𝒶𝒹 𝓌ℯ 𝒷𝓇𝒾𝓃ℊ 𝓎ℴ𝓊 𝒹ℯ𝓈𝓈ℯ𝓇𝓉𝓈, 𝓂ℯ𝒶𝓁𝓈, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒹𝓇𝒾𝓃𝓀𝓈- 𝓈ℯ𝓁ℯ𝒸𝓉ℯ𝒹 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝒻ℴ𝓇 𝓎ℴ𝓊."

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕚𝕤𝕥:
In Japan, cats symbolize good luck, and kindness to them may lead to an invitation to a magical coffee shop under a glittering Kyoto moon.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop, run by talking cats, appears randomly to young people at crucial life moments. While enjoying cakes and coffees, customers receive star chart consultations and cryptic wisdom from the feline hosts, guiding them back on track.

For a struggling screenwriter, a romantically stuck director, an aspiring hairstylist, and a tech-challenged designer, the coffee shop's mystical appearance holds a special purpose, helping them find their fated paths.

𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤:
💫 Zodiac & star charts
💪🏼 Self-discovery
☕️ Cozy magical realism
🐱 Wise cats
🫶🏼 Kindness

𝕊𝕚𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕒𝕣 𝕍𝕚𝕓𝕖𝕤:
📚 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝗧𝗝 𝗞𝗹𝘂𝗻𝗲
⇢ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴛᴇᴀ sʜᴏᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀɴ ᴏᴡɴᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇʟᴘs ᴘᴀᴛʀᴏɴs ᴍᴏᴠᴇ ғᴏʀᴡᴀʀᴅ
⇢ ᴡʜɪᴍsɪᴄᴀʟ, ᴍᴀɢɪᴄᴀʟ ʀᴇᴀʟɪsᴍ
📚 𝗟𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗞𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻
⇢ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴢᴏᴅɪᴀᴄ ᴛᴡɪsᴛ
⇢ ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ ᴇᴍᴘʜᴀsɪs ᴏɴ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘs ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs

𝕄𝕪 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for reaching out and gifting me an advanced copy of Mai Mochizuki’s 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽!

This was a cozy read with a magical realism twist (which I love) and a heavy emphasis on Japanese culture and astrology. I loved the premise of the story— a peculiar coffee shop run by talking cats that only appears during a full moon. Patrons are served personalized menu items that deliver exactly what they need- to fulfill their appetites and their lives.

If this story had a *smidge* more character interactions and plot development, and a *smidge* less star charts and astrology info dumping, it would have been perfect. Don’t get me wrong, I loved learning more about how star charts work and the impact they have on our lives, but the multi-page explanations and diagrams often took me out of the plot.

Overall, I liked how everything wrapped up and I found it to be a unique and heartwarming story. Make sure to check it out when it releases on 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰!

𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘:
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (𝟯/𝟱)

𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘:
🫑 (𝟬/𝟱)

This book was really difficult for me to get into because of the setting. I couldn’t relate to it and I couldn’t follow what was going on. The story didn’t grab me as much as I needed it to.

Thank you to Netgalley & Random House Publishing- Ballantine for the arc!

I thought this was really cozy and lovely. If you were a fan of “Before the Coffee Gets Cold”, I think you’ll be happy with this too!

The Full Moon Coffee Shop is a creative and lighthearted read. This is the story of a magical coffee shop that only appears under a full moon. I enjoyed the personalities of the cats and the inclusion of star charts. This book would be perfect for readers who enjoy cozy stories with interesting characters. Very cute!

Thank you to Mai Mochizuki, Ballantine Books, and Netgalley for a free sampler in exchange for honest feedback.

Thanks to Netgalley & Random House Publishing- Ballantine for the E-ARC! Perfect cozy read. Loved all the vibes of this & the characters. Will definitely read more from this author.

"The Full Moon Coffee Shop" tells a charming tale about kindness. Sometimes when you do something for a person in need, you may someday receive a kindness when you most need it.

The story also has cats. These are not the furry little guys that sit in your lap. These cats operate a pop-up restaurant and they are really into astrology. They offer profound bits of pertinent wisdom from time to time.

Mai Mochizuki has written a touching book that will appeal to many people. I enjoyed reading "The Full Moon Coffee Shop" and hope she will write a sequel.

Readers who enjoyed "Before the Coffee Gets Cold," "The Traveling Cat Chronicles," and "The Cat Who Saved Books" will probably be enthusiastic about "The Full Moon Coffee Shop" as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader's copy. This is an honest review.

A very quick read set in Japan. This book focuses on three different characters who are all connected although we don't find out how until the end. The first story is about a woman who used to be a substitute teacher but left it all behind to be a screen writer. She had success but then things came crashing down. She finds out about the coffee shop but it is not any ordinary cafe. The owners are cats who dispense wise wisdom. The story unfolds from there as the cats set to help others. I liked the magical cat aspect but the book was almost too short as I was invested in one character and then the story switched to another. This was only ok in my book and had so much potential for more.

Thank you to Ballantine Books for this ARC.

Good stories about how sometimes the smallest act can have the biggest impact. And sometimes our dreams need to change as they are more for society and not ourselves.

this didn't feel anything special to me. maybe it was a result of the short length, or perhaps basic writing style, but i felt no connection to any of the characters. i was excited for this, too, because the title, cover, and concept are all SO cute! unfortunately, it ended up feeling juvenile in its handling of plot and theme... i wish there was more complexity!

The Full Moon Coffee Shop is a charming and thought provoking book based on astrology and the Japanese cat myth. We are introduced to a few main characters who are all connected from their walk to school group many years prior. Each is struggling with problems mostly revolving around the workplace and relationships. Each has a dreamlike experience at a cafe that seemingly pops out of nowhere on full moon nights and is staffed by none other than cats! Through astrology the cats help our characters on a path that will bring them more fulfillment and stability. It is only near the end of the story that we learn these people were chosen by more than just fate but as a thank you for something in their shared past!

I honestly did not know the Japanese myth about cats! I love the idea that if you are kind to them they may repay you. I think it’s a great way to love our lives in general, not just with cats but with all things.

To be honest this story was not as magical as I expected it to be which is why my rating is 3 stars. I did enjoy it, I liked the astrology, I liked the talking cats (who wouldn’t) and I liked the fleshed out characters. I just wished there was more than one instance of each character at the coffee shop. They made huge life changes after just the slightest magical experience. I wish I could’ve seen each get to experience the magic more and slowly change.

Overall a charming story but I wish there was more! Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review

Thank you to Random House-Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the arc!!

As a cat person, without a cat, I absolutely LOVED this! The magical realism and how astrology was weaved into everyone’s lives hooked me. I loved how the author talked about phases of our lives as astrological events. It really resinated with me.

Each chapter follows a different character and the cats are there to teach them life lessons. Sprinkled with magical food and drinks! Which happens to be one of my favorite things!!

The Full Moon Coffee Shop is a quick read that is perfect if you are in need of a palette cleanser. I just want Random House to know that if they find themselves with an extra copy, I know a fan who would enjoy a copy…me, I’m the fan!

Can I ask where my cat café is? This book is just lovely with its mystical life changing café. It does a lovely job of highlighting how choices, no matter how small can truly change your life, and that life stories are more entwined then we might realize. I think that this is a lovely quick read that would be a great vacation read, or a lovely book club book. The discussions that would come out reading this book would be incredibly rich.
Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group for translating this book and making it more accessible for other languages to read and enjoy. Also thank you for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title and for Netgalley helping me acquire it.

I didn’t know what to expect from this book but it sucked me in. It’s more like three stories connected through the cafe in an unexpected way. You’ll finish this story with a smile.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher.

3/5.The Full Moon Coffee Shop depicts the story of a quaint pop-up cafe that manifests around town every night there is a full moon. This quaint and cozy story combines themes of Japanese folklore and astrology through the lens of divine, planetary inspired talking cats. The stories within are charming and read a bit like a fairy tale. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I’m only in the sun phase of my life and still have so much more ahead of me. I would recommend this book for those who are fans of cozy, hope-core narratives, astrology, cats, and Japanese themes. If you’re looking for a quick and cozy read, then this might be the book for you. Thank you Penguin House - Ballantine, Mai Mochizuki, Jesse Kirkwood, and NetGalley for providing an e-ARC for review!

Muzuki, a washed up screenwriter, is making ends meet by writing video game characters. On the day her new screenplay is rejected, a mysterious man hands her a card for a pop up coffee shop. When she finds it, she is welcomed by waiters, who are rabbits. There is no menu, you are served what the waiters think you need. They also offer you insights, based on the stars, as to what hidden traits you need to find in yourself to become a more successful person.
Askari, Mizuki ‘s former boss, also finds the FULL MOON COFFEE SHOP. Her realization is that she needs to become a more compassionate person. Satsuki, who works for Askari, is a disgraced actress, who becomes aware she must take responsibility for her misbehavior.
As we find the intertwining threads in these stories, we realize, like the stars, we are all connected in our universe.