A decent little novel. Wasn't particularly good or memorable in my opinion, just okay. A pleasant enough way to pass time, similar to the coffee shop itself.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mochizuke Mai is a multi-POV Japanese cozy contemporary fantasy following five people in Kyoto as they enter a cafe that only shows up on the night of the full moon. We start with Mizuki, a former hitmaker who wrote scripts for TV but now freelances by writing scripts for dating sims. When her latest TV script is rejected by executives, Mizuki finds herself at the Full Moon Coffee Shop where cats are the servers and there is no ordering from a menu.

The illustrations were very cute and helped to evoke the cozy atmosphere along with the names of the dishes. For instance, the aquarius trifle, a trifle served in a cup similar to the ones associated with the star sign Aquarius. The astrology aspect is not only present in the dishes, but plays a large part in how the cats assist each human character. From discussing which planet rules the love or career sections to a beautiful night sky, we see the cats talk to their customers in a less judgemental way and more of a gentle, guiding way.

The novella deals with some modern topics, from the treatment of celebrities in the media to dating to what happens when you stop being on top. The inclusion of dating sims helped the book feel current as dating sims are becoming more and more mainstream while the hints of humor ground the reader when complicated topics come up. One thing I really liked was how Mizuki used to be a substitute elementary school teacher before focusing on writing scripts and how that connects to the larger story.

I would recommend this to fans of cozy fantasy, readers looking for books focusing on astrology, and those who love books about coffee shops.

A quick read with a cute premise, but the writing felt really wooden (I'm not sure how much of that was the translation and how much was the original style) and each character's overall arc felt so overly simplistic.

This is a cute and cozy book, I think it will be a perfect and very popular Fall read!! I love books where each of the characters’ stories tie together in the end, and I enjoyed how the epilogue tied everything up neatly. I almost just wish the book was longer so I could have seen more of the characters’ lives unfold after they received the advice from the cafe! Perhaps a sequel could do so :)

This was a fast easy read with relatable characters. The Full Moon Cafe and the food and drink it served were described light and whimsically.
Although the characters were likable, they were only there to convey astrological principles. If you like cats and astrology, this is the book for you!

BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki, Jesse Kirkwood (Translator) from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine|Ballantine Books /NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.

This book has me feeling like I just swallowed several packets of Sweet'n Low all at once and will never get the sicky-sweet taste out of my mouth. Just entirely too juvenile (in the pejorative sense of the word) in style for me.

Although I did enjoy the epilogue, which is why I’m not rounding down to 1 star. Also, to be honest, I’m afraid my own three cats might slaughter me in my sleep if I did that.

Of course I’m gonna be firmly in the minority camp with this one once it’s more widely released to a North American audience. Call me a book snob, I guess.

Oh, well. At least it was very short.

DESCRIPTION
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 . . .

This is a cute, short story about finding yourself. The Full Moon Coffee Shop is a cozy fantasy that has talking cats who run a coffee shop.
It includes a lot of astrology, and a reminder to be kind to cats 😉 A fun, easy read.
The writing was fairly simplistic, but it was also translated.

Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine books for an e-copy for review.

Very enjoyable cozy fantasy. I have no doubt that if cats could talk they would expound the wisdom and advice these do. And of course serve coffee and dessert too. The lives of the people in each excerpt wind and flourish around each other unaware for years until they arrive at the coffee shop. Great storytelling.

When I first heard about this book, I thought "a book with talking cats. Should be funny in a snarky kind of way." Much to my surprise this was much different, deeper and more philosophical book than I thought I was going to read, and not in a bad way. I liked the author's writing style and appreciated the message of the book. I guess my only real "criticism" is that some of the astrological stuff went over my head, because it was a little hard to fully absorb all of the detailed information about moon phases and houses and planets being in retrograde. With that said, I did enjoy the book and would recommend it to my friends.

This was a really interesting premise with a coffee shop runs by cars. What I enjoyed far lass was all the astrology as it’s not something I relate to.. and I was hoping it would read a bit more cozy fantasy and a little less astrology. That said I think the writing and story were fabulous, I just had to skim to astrology sections.

Wow. This was so much fun to read. As someone deeply attuned to the astrological world, I found it refreshing to read a book I could relate to so much. Not only was this a joy to read, but after each turn of the page I found myself realizing more and more information about myself and my decisions in life.

What an unexpected fun story! Thank you Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Very much cozy reading. I felt like author did a great job putting me right there with the main character, when she discovers the cat for the first time I like could see him vividly. It was short, but good. Fun read.

I really loved the premise of this novel and was drawn in by the description. I enjoyed the first story within the book, but was turned off by all of the astrological information and references. in some cases, it felt like nonfiction because of this. I love the imaginative aspect of a coffee shop run by cats that only opens on the full moon and give the author a credit for allowing that coffee shop to be a place where it struggling humans could find connection and answers to their life challenges.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"The Full Moon Coffee Shop" by Mai Mochizuki is a charming and heartwarming novel that brews together friendship, romance, and a touch of magic in the cozy setting of a quaint coffee shop. Mochizuki's evocative writing transports readers to the bustling streets of Tokyo, where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the enchanting allure of the full moon. Through the eyes of the protagonist, we are introduced to a colorful cast of characters, each with their own dreams and desires, who find solace and connection within the walls of the titular coffee shop. The novel's gentle pace and endearing characters create a warm and inviting atmosphere that envelops readers like a comforting hug. As friendships blossom and love blossoms under the glow of the moon, Mochizuki reminds us of the transformative power of community and the simple joys of human connection. "The Full Moon Coffee Shop" is a delightful read that will leave you craving both caffeine and companionship, long after the final page is turned.

This is a sweet, cozy story that also manages to be thought-provoking and inspiring.

A substitute teacher and the group of students she would walk home at the end of the school day once showed great kindness to some cats. Now, years later, the Full Moon Coffee Shop shows up for each of them. The coffee shop is run by speaking cats who can change into human form, and who are each named after a different astrological body. They choose specific food and drink tailored to each customer, and offer to read their star charts. In this way, the cats of the coffee shop are able to help each of these former schoolmates understand what is holding them back in life, and how to get back on course. There are lessons on being less hard on oneself and others, improving one's state of mind and focus by making one's surroundings more pleasant, admitting one's true desires to oneself, and more. It's a very nice story!

I am not 100% sure about the English translation of this book, as there were some idioms that miss the mark - although I suppose it's possible these are expressions used in the UK and not the US and so I'm just not familiar with them (just as the book uses the British English term "anticlockwise" rather than the American English "counterclockwise"). Things like "plumping for a suit" , "looking pretty flash", "splashing out on" the fancy dishes, and referring to singles (as in romantically unattached people) as singletons. I was a bit worried when the book opens with a male tortoiseshell cat, which, while not impossible, is unlikely (1 in 3000 tortoiseshell cats are male, and that's because they are born with an extra X chromosome). Although I suppose it's certainly not less likely that the cat will also be the physical form of a heavenly body come to bestow wisdom on people who have earned favors by being good to cats!

This is not the kind of book that will keep me thinking about it for a long time to come, but it IS the kind of book that gave me warm fuzzy feelings while also offering opportunities for introspection.

As I flipped through the pages of this delightful short story, I found myself wishing for a magical cat café of my own to help guide my thoughts. The narrative is straightforward and to the point, making it an easy and enjoyable read. The idea of a mystical place where one could receive advice over delicious treats is enchanting, and I couldn't help but yearn for such a spot in my own life.

The story is filled with nuggets of wisdom that left me with plenty to ponder, served with a side of astrology for those who enjoy a celestial touch. While I'm not particularly into astrology, I found that the advice offered in the story was both sound and practical. It’s the kind of guidance that resonates, regardless of the stars.

Overall, this story is a charming escape, providing food for thought in a whimsical setting. If you’re looking for a brief but meaningful read, this one might just point you in the right direction.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh how I loved this. I just wished it had been longer. It was one of those books that you didn't want to end, and CATS. So happy to have found this.

Many heartfelt thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc!

I enjoyed thiz unexpected magical story of a 40-year old woman who re-finds herself. Her friends too. The cars, magic system, astrology, mythology and lore, combined with a wonderful prose and way of storytelling, all make me want to recommend this book to others to also enjoy. If the blurb interests you, please don’t hesitate to read the book.

I loved this little story of connection. Every character was connected, knew about the others.
I really liked the simple writing.

The only downside to this book, was I wanted more.

This could have added over 100 pages to bring forth a more rich experience for the reader, but on the whole, it is a complete work.

I absolutely adored how it all came together at the end, from the old man, to the cats, to primary school.

This is an absolute cozy read, this is for anyone who just wants a great story with a happy ending/beginning.