This was really cute! Who doesn't love cats and who doesn't enjoy some astrology from time to time? Combine the two and you have this enjoyable read. Definitely worth picking up!

This was not what I was expecting, but I liked it...

The Full Moon Coffee Shop follows a different character in each chapter, all of them going through a difficult moment in their lives, and the way this book resorts to helping them is through astrology. It is generally based on the myth that if you're kind to cats, they'll one day return the favour, and they do it in a very unique way in this novel. Each character in one way or another finds themselves in a sort of pop-up café run by talking cats (bear with me). Each cat represents one of the governing planets that influence your horoscope, like Pluto, Venus, and so on. They explain to each character how their natal chart influences how they are as people, and how they behave and respond to others. This knowledge can help them learn more about themselves and try to figure out a way out of the uncomfortable situation they're in at the moment.

This Japanese novel is part of the "healing fiction" sub-genre that's been trending nowadays, which I love, but, even though I liked the book, it wasn't my favourite out of the bunch. The talking cats were a bit too much for me, but I loved the descriptions of the food and drinks they served each character. It all sounded delicious! I also quite liked the connection between the characters (which you only find out towards the end of the novel).

All in all, this was a quick and cosy read, so if you're looking for that kind of vibe and you love cats, this might be the book for you.

Thank you very much to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for my e-ARC!

I picked this up for two reasons - it seemed cozy and I love cats. I couldn’t possibly resist a book about a coffee shop run by talking cats who also read star charts for the needy humans who are invited. I mean, it just sounds so damn cute!
What I got was not actually all that cute and leaned into the human troubles a bit too much for me to find it truly cozy. There are multiple sections divided into chapters and each section follows a different patron of the Full Moon Coffee Shop. One is a script writer who’s talent and desirability has waned, one is a producer who has fallen in love with someone she doesn’t think would love her back, one is an actress caught in a recent cheating scandal, and one is a web developer. Each character is invited to the coffee shop and completely amazed at the talking cats.
*I thought these were going to be cute, four-legged talking cats magically pouring coffee and offering desserts. Some of them are. Some of them, most disturbingly, are described like the creatures in the live action Cats movie. Not cute at all, especially since I don’t remember them wearing any clothes.*
The cats read the star charts for each of the characters and provide astrological wisdom to help them make the right choice for themselves so they might find happiness. I learned way more about astrology than I ever thought to know and it was fascinating! This was by far one of the better explanations of how all that works and surprise - it was in a fantasy book.
The human characters were interesting and I was rooting for them to have a happy ending, but I would say that their situations made this magical book lean too far into the realm of the depressingly real. I was happy that each was given a pleasant ending, though this was definitely not something that left me feeling aglow with happiness myself. Overall, I appreciated the story for what it offered but I didn’t love it as much as I had expected to and I could have done with less star chart explanations and more emotional character scenes.
*Review scheduled to post August 18, 2024.

I loved this short, feel-good read. I appreciated the characters and the way the story wove them into a tapestry of love, generosity and kindness. I was captivated by the astrological aspect and how it also brought the plot and themes together into a cohesive whole. If all that wasn't enough, it had a happy ending. My only complaint was that I wanted to keep reading [even though it wrapped up nicely!].

4.5 stars for a cute, quick, and easy read featuring cats and astrology.

This book isn't anything that I would normally pick up, but I couldn't be happier that it was sent to me. I'm one of the biggest cat people I know, so imagine my happiness when I found out this book is filled with talking cats.

It also centers around astrology and what planets are in which houses for the main characters. I'm someone who knows little about astrology but is super interested in it, and I thought this book did a wonderful job explaining the concepts to newbies in the astrology game.

This book is a quick way to learn important life lessons, and I wish more than anything that I could go to the Full Moon Coffee Shop and have my star chart read by a talking cat.

This quirky, short Japanese novel is perfect if you're into magical realism, astrology, and cats.

I struggled with this one, and I'm not sure if it's this specific title or perhaps a cultural difference with the genre that I'm not a fan of. There was a LOT of astrology talk, which I was able to follow only because my mom is an astrologer and I grew up with it. If I didn't have that background, I'm not sure I would have finished this book.

The book consists of three (you could argue four) stories, woven together with a common thread that you don't learn about until the end. I actually enjoyed that part the best, and wish we had gotten more of the storyline that came last instead of the ones before.

Overall, it wasn't my favorite book but I could definitely see someone loving it if they're fans of this genre. Giving it three stars because the writing was solid, and the last part held my interest.

Thank you to Random House/Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the ARC!

A short cozy read with magic.. you can't beat that.. it definitely had that japanese anime feel for me ..

Thank you to Random House/Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the ARC!

Welcome to the Coffee Shop that appears. There are no set times, places, or menus from which to order.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop consists of three main stories surrounding various characters finding their way through life as they struggle with various problems, concerns, and troubles. As they find the coffee shop (or rather, it finds them), they are approached by talking cats to allow them the place and time to speak about their concerns, using the natal charts and planet phases.

The illustrations accompanying this story are cute. The characters are also part of each other's lives, and we can follow their journey. By the end, we see them all reflecting on themselves, and moving on was nice.

Perhaps the only thing I wished for was more cat illustrations- it's about the cafe run by cats!/j In addition, I would have appreciated deeper thoughts and reflection on each character as they seemed a little shallow, in my opinion. The natal charts and planet phases were interesting to learn more about, but they became repetitive. However, someone who is deeply interested and invested in astrology may enjoy this book much more than I did.

Overall, it is a lovely short book that casts moonlight on human thoughts, actions, and reflections and how we move forward to continue growing. 3.5 stars

**Thank you for the ARC!! All opinions are completely my own.** 4.5-4.75 stars. Dreamy, soothing, and cozy. Recommended for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and the Kamogawa Food Detectives.

Cozy, cute and charming—exactly the type of book you want when you just want to hunker down and watch the rain. I really enjoy these shorter books that just make you feel good.

Just finished "The Full Moon Coffee Shop" and it was a delightful and short book.
The book follows 4 characters, who end up being connected to each other in an unexpected way.
They all somehow end up at a coffee shop that only appears under the full moon.
The workers of the shop are all giant talking cats who each represent a planet. (Venus, Mercury, etc)
I think fans of Sailor Moon would like this very much.
There are some excellent life lessons in this book, taught in a very subtle way.
-make your home a sanctuary, and surround yourself with things that bring you joy.
-try your hardest at everything you do, and if something is sub-par ask "how can I improve this"
-be kind to animals
-do the right thing
A very enjoyable book- I'm sure in a print edition the illustrations will be lovely.
Thanks to NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book, my opinions are my own.

I don't know why, but this book was so fascinating to me. It was such a quick read, but I was so enthralled by this concept of the café and even just how they explain astrology. And the story was so sweet and heart-warming. Now, I do recognize that a lot of people will think it's too preachy or teachy with how much astrology is in it, but I really liked it. And I know that this book was translated, so I can't fully speak to the original intent in the original language, but I found the story easy to follow and grasp the concept of. The story didn't feel like I was missing anything.

Thank you netgalley for letting me read this book. If you liked the Ghibli movie the cat returns or astrology you’ll enjoy this book. It’s whimsical but also discusses a lot of deeper topics in a gentle way. The translation at times feels a little stiff but is still really enjoyable to read. It’s very short and could be read in a day so i definitely recommend

The Full Moon Coffee Shop
By Mai Mochizuki
Translated by Jesse Kirkwood

If you, like me, can’t get enough of short Japanese novels, add this one to your list.

We follow a few characters that seem to have some kind of connection. Each are struggling with something and stumble onto the Full Moon Coffee Shop where they are helped by cats representing parts of astrology. While I’m not really an astrology kind of person, the underlying theme that knowing yourself better will help you in life I absolutely agree with.

It’s atmospheric, uplifting, cozy, and the food descriptions are wonderful.

Thanks to @netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Quick and light, this little story is full of cats, exotic drinks, interconnectedness, and hope. Just lovely!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! This was such a cozy and wholesome story. I loved figuring out how the characters are connected to one another and the ending made me cry happy tears. Astrology, talking cats, Japanese fiction = lovely!

Every full moon a coffee shop appears in Japan. Perhaps in the middle of a busy crosswalk, sometimes just when you fall asleep and start to dream. The story follows several people interconnected through their elementary school substitute teacher, who provides our first point of view. We see her as a former substitute teacher, former tv screenwriter, and current video game writer. Down on her luck, she sends a pitch to a former colleague, gets shot down, and finds herself at a cafe where anthropomorphic cats read her star chart. The former colleague who received her script is dealing with a work crisis where her star actress is embroiled in an affair with a married man. She and said actress find themselves in a park at night and similarly find themselves at the cafe. Then there are two more characters who have totally separate encounter with the cafe and their horoscope readings.

This book is so cute. My one critique is that there are three “chapters” rather than three “parts” with chapters within them. This book is like “crazy stupid love” with the way the character’s stories intersect and I love it. About a third of the way in I was telling all my friends they needed to read it and by the end my enthusiasm had only grown. It’s totally clean, it’s incredibly creative, and it ties itself in a nice little bow at the end. 10/10 would recommend

An endearing and whimsical read about a magical Japanese coffee shop run by astrology-minded talking cats who know precisely what drink to serve each person. No order necessary. No need for directions, either, because it'll find you!

The story is divided into three parts, following three different characters - a screenwriter, a director, and a hairstylist - who are feeling lost, confused, and stagnated in their own lives, with an underlying thread of connection that entwines them all together. There's an emphasis on natal star charts and life lessons that gives this an air of wisdom. Of hope. Of coziness, too. It's the type of story you can curl up with on an oversized armchair and finish in an afternoon, letting it warm you like a steaming cuppa of seasonal tea.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Mai Mochizuki for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Full Moon Coffee Shop coming out August 20, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I received it directly from NetGalley. I love Japanese stories and I’m excited this was translated into English. It’s definitely a short story and a fast read. I thought the story was whimsical and fun. The characters were interesting, but could have had a little more depth if it was a longer book. I’m allergic to cats, haha, but I thought the cats in the story were cute. I think this would’ve been a fun manga.

a cozy cosmic cats cafe, magical and liberating • rating [4] 🐱🐱🐱🐱

Imagine, a magical coffee shop run by wise cat baristas and they’re not “kitten” around! They’re here to guide you on your journey while serving delightful meow-tinis and cat-puccinos (not what it’s called in the book, just my endless play on this pun.) I found this short work to be very refreshing - great for fans of cozy life, astrology, and/ or cats. Without giving away too much of the plot, I appreciated how the individuals stories came together, an illustration of karma entwining with life. A great Japanese litter-ary work that was also liberating, would recommend to check out.