This was the right book at the right time for me. I had trouble finding and sticking with a book- my mind was craving something light and optimistic. The Full Moon Coffee Shop book summary intrigued me and it turned out to be just what I was looking for.

Magical cats help (seemingly) unrelated humans. The characters are woven together to tell a larger story about community, highlighting the implications of our choices. Karma that extends to our good deeds and doesn't get too deep. Cause and effect. Do good and the universe will respond.

It was not originally written in English, but I didn't feel like I lost much in translation. When I closed the book at the end, I felt like hugging it and thanked the universe for giving me what I needed at the right time.

This was a very cute, heartwarming story about different but intertwined lives. The cats seem to be symbolic for Venus and Mercury and they touch on astrological reasons for why things are the way they are. In doing so, they (probably inadvertently) give advice/plant ideas on how things can be improved.

I loved that it showed characters accepting their circumstances but changing things within their controls. It shows conviction and motivation, an important lesson for all of us.

3.5 stars. I had a good time with this! A quick, cozy read, just a little heavier on the astrology that I anticipated, and I would have appreciated more of the cozy coffee shop vibes. Some sweet moments and good life lessons in here.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop is translated from its original Japanese. I found the story and writing to be charming and calming. Run by cats, the lovely Coffee Shop appears to certain people in need of a little life course adjustment. The story pulls from the myth that if you are kind to cats, they will eventually return the favor to you. Following the lives of four different people, we learn of their struggles and how they end up at the Coffee Shop. With some magical intervention, the customers gain insight into their path and how to get their lives back on track. All of the characters have a vague connection to each other, and it is this connection that is the reason the cats are helping them. The story is a quick read and very sweet.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a cute short read. I absolutely loved how whimsical the writing was. I enjoyed going on the self reflecting journey with the characters and I actually did some self reflecting of my own. This was a good read and a nice break from my usual genre of romance and thrillers.

If you want similar vibes to the cozy Before the Coffee Gets Cold, pick up this book.
However for me it was a little bit too similar in the vibes of the story, and I don't think the astrology aspect did much for me in terms of impacting the story. I did really enjoy how this story intertwined the characters we met throughout the book, so we really got to know more and care more about them. The most important message of the book though is that <spoiler>if you treat cats well, they'll help you out in return.</spoiler>

Thank you @netgalley for my advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was a quick (240 pages), imaginative read about a coffee shop that only appears at midnight to those who need it. It has no fixed location and could pop up anywhere. I enjoyed the intertwined stories and the various struggles each character was going through with career, love, and family. This book was cute, but definitely gets a bit “out there” with cat/human waiters at the coffee shop who read each person’s astrological chart in order to provide them with more insight into the path their life has taken.

Overall, this was a fast, fun read, but I think the concept wasn’t executed as well as it could have been. It felt a bit jarring going back and forth between “realism” and the magic of the coffee shop. Unique premise, but not my favorite overall.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
This book is set in Japan and I have to admit that I haven't read many books set in Japan. If you like cat cafes or astrology, then you might be more interested in reading this book. It's a bit of a magical fairy tale with a pop-up cafe that appears out of nowhere (even in your dreams) and guides you into better decision-making based on your star sign. The characters in the book are well-written and the food sounds amazing. It is a quick read.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki is such a magical, beautiful book! I adored the interweaving of each characters story. The astrology elements were captivating and I especially enjoyed the cats and their names and characteristics. The mystical cafe is beautifully described and the drinks and treats sound delicious. This is a cozy short story that I enjoyed immensely.

Just another adorable J-cat book with a magical coffee shop. The premise is simple and cute and could be. largely expanded upon. I love that it was set in Kyoto, because it is the perfect setting for things you can't imagine happening that do. Anyone who has enjoyed other cat books out of Japan will find this one fun and with a new twist to it.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. So cute!

Definitely a fun and whimsical book. There's a pop-up coffee shop, talking cats, and a whole lot of astrology in this quick read. The book follows several characters that are connected in some way, all having their unique life problems. What was missing here was depth, sadly. We didn't see most of the hurdles that the characters were facing. Instead, we were told about it...and then the problems melted away/were realized once they framed the issues by using astrology. However, I did love the cozy atmosphere that was created in the story. Overall, it's a 3.5 star read rounded up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for the advanced reader copy.

This could have been cute if it wasn't 100% tell and not show, and basically a primer on astrology, which is ridiculous garbage that is often harmful to its believers. The novel follows a set of characters who are all connected, if even tenuously, as they encounter a magical pop-up cafe run by talking cats who dispense astrological charts and advice. The characters are boring and their individual stories are not compelling. The fact that there are talking cats doesn't make it charming--it's just cats behaving exactly like people, so why are they cats? This feels like a marketing tie-in more than an original novel.

This was NOT what I thought this book would be about, but I still really enjoyed it! I did not expect it to be about astrology, but the takes on how one experiences the strengths and struggles during the time was a twist on the stories that I was not expecting. It was lighthearted and one of those where the characters tended to know one another and we got to see some of them in each other's stories.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

Thank you to Ballentine for the opportunity to read for a honest review.


😅😬 forgive me because I am going to be honest though. It was a very quick read despite not being that good.
It did have a whimsical nature to it which is the reason I even gave this book a glance.
There was quite a bit of drama in this little book about a pop up cafe that only appeared in the full moon and was ran by talking cats. A woman struggling with her career , another with her love life due to being outed that she’d had an affair with a married man…. And another woman who they made it seem like she was originally a he ……? Idk they weren’t clear on that and frankly I don’t care to know.

It was whimsical and some parts were cute but I wouldn’t read any other books by this author, but that’s just my opinion.

What a fun and interesting novel. I find myself still thinking about parts of the book even days after finishing it. I just really feel like anything I say would spoil this magical book but I just want everyone to read it and enjoy it as mischief as I do.

I appreciate the ARC of The Full Moon Coffee Shop, received from Net Galley.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop is a short and charming story about a magical coffee shop which serves each person exactly what they need. The book follows a cast of interconnected characters all on journeys of self-improvement, showing just how small the world is and how the smallest actions can have an impact on others, and on oneself. As each character faces dilemmas in their life, it becomes apparent that just by examining and learning about yourself, changes can be enacted for the better. The book might be best suited for people who enjoy, or are at least open to the idea, of astrology and zodiac signs. I certainly felt a curiosity to learn more about my personal zodiac houses after finishing. But at the very least, anyone who loves cats can find some joy in reading…although the cats can get a bit long-winded at time. The story is overall sweet and feel-good. It provides a basis for understanding astrology presented in an easy to comprehend manner, and doesn’t delve too deep into it. I’d recommend the book to anybody who is stuck in a rut, or anybody who feels like their life just has something missing from it, because I think the characters can inspire people to take their own chances and make their own changes in life.

This book was great for a short story! I love Japanese literature and story-telling because there is always such a diverse, yet close-knit world showcased to the reader. That being said, this is a translated version and I don’t think it exactly captured what was written in the original text (or what I would think was original). The cozy feel of this short story is something that I would recommend to many, especially if they want to branch out into more intellectual and thought-provoking reading.

This was a really quick insightful read! All about how knowing astrology can change the course of your life. I love that it's a pop up coffee shop run by cats. Everybody questions it at first and then just seems to completely let go and go with it. I really enjoyed this one more than I thought I would!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House publishing for my digital ARC!

Have you ever noticed a cat wandering alone? Did you stop and pet it? According to Japanese legend, if you are nice to a cat, the cat will someday return the favor. In this story, being nice to a cat gets you an invitation to the Full Moon Coffee Shop. A screenwriter found her life unsatisfactory. She was once the hottest screenwriter in Japan and now writes character scripts for a video game company. Why did her life take her here? A director with a failed relationship wonders how she could have lost her way. A hairstylist returns home after being disillusioned by her job at a big city salon. Is home where she should be? A website developer wonders how to return to website design. Each of these people finds their way to The Full Moon Coffee Shop. Each person is served the beverage and pastry determined by the cats. As they enjoy their refreshments, the cats consult with them and gently work to help them find their true path in life.

There is magic under the Kyoto moon. Talking cats, mysterious beverages, and pop-up locations soothe the lost souls. This is an endearing story that appeals to your whimsical side. Finding this cafe would be wonderful! Each person's story has a beautiful reset after they visit the cafe and since this appears to be the first book of a series, it will be exciting to read the next book.

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. A coffee shop is where you would normally see an eclectic group of individuals socializing with one another. This particular one is like one you've never seen. You may see a clever cat or two. A quick read.