I'm pretty sure I'm an outlier here and that this is a book that will be loved by many. It was a bit too twee for me. I love cats, but magic cats that can teach me a new life philosophy just aren't my cup of tea.

But lots of folks will LOVE this.

Absolutely loved this! Probably one of my favorite books this year. I just couldn’t stop reading and at a certain point I didn’t even care where the plot went because I was just really engrossed in the characters, the coffee shop, and the world! Bravo!

What a charming and delightful story! I loved the moonlit cafe setting with the delightful cat servers. I enjoyed seeing how the characters were connected and how they found their path through astrology and an unlikely little cafe. Just like the cafe, this book was exactly what I needed right now.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book!

This was so deliciously cozy!! Like a warm cup of coffee held in your hands while you're curled up under a soft blanket next to the fire. :) PLUS having cats read your fate??? Such a unique concept!! The writing was a bit blunt at times, but I've read translated books before, and that sometimes happens so I'm not holding it against the author since the concept and atmosphere the book created were absolutely magical.

Adorable short read, especially for cat lovers. Cozy, slice of life, light fantasy. Would recommend to anyone who needs a heartwarming read.

One of the sweetest, most gentle stories I've ever read. The Full Moon Coffee Shop appears to the characters in our story when they need it the most, and my gut tells me that the book does the same for the reader. This is a short (but fulfilling) collection of connected tales of individuals who are struggling to find their drive and what moves them. The Full Moon Cafe, run by mysterious, giant cats appears to them and serves them something delicious along with a reading of their star chart to help them along their life path. There is nothing tragic or particularly complex about any of the stories, and that is the beauty of the book- a slow-moving river that pulls you along to a quiet, calming conclusion.

If you enjoy cozy Japanese literature (Sweet Bean, Before the Coffee Gets Cold), astrology (even very casually!), cats, space, gorgeous descriptions of food, and a guaranteed cheerful ending, I cannot recommend this enough. I can see myself adding this to my yearly re-read list as a comfort novel.

I requested an ARC and am under no obligation to leave a review.

I’m not quite sure how I felt about this one. The stories were interesting, if a bit disjointed, but I didn’t feel like any of them quite got enough closure. 🫤
The café concept was cool, though. As were the magical cats, though the zodiac stuff confused me, mostly because I’ve never done a deep enough dive into such things to understand what they were talking about.

I didn’t love it, but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it to some extent, so I’ll leave it at a solid “it’s okay but probably not my thing” middle ground.

I received an advance copy from the publisher, all opinions are my own, and a review was not required.

I absolutely love cats and to read about cats in the novel was great.
I really enjoyed the characters and the story. However I did struggle with the translation. I think that the translation was done well but you could tell that the novel was a translation.
Overall I enjoyed this story and I feel like if you like cats then I feel like you would enjoy the story. Would recommend to all cat lovers.

In The Full Moon Coffee Shop, Mochizuki, introduces the reader to Mizuki - a substitute teacher turned professional screenwriter who is now experiencing a loss of popularity and self in Kyoto, Japan. After meeting with a hopeful colleague and being turned down for her newest screenplay, Mizuki finds herself in a coffee shop attended by human-like cats full of the personal wisdom that Mizuki needs in just that moment.

This is the magic of the Full Moon Coffee Shop, from personalized wisdom and inner reflection to knowing exactly what you want to drink and eat without asking. After Mizuki leaves the coffee shop, others seemingly find their way inside. All those who enter realize they are deeply connected in some way to Mizuki and can credit her in some way with their success in life.

In life, some events are fate, some events are left to change, and some are left to the strength and desire of the person living the life. All who visited are left with a life-changing experience in the thought-provoking yet cozy little tale.

This book provides a quick look into a few people's lives and this coffee shop they stumble upon on a, you guessed it, full moon, Each of them are going through a rough/confusing time in their lives. That is how the shop finds them.
Since this was a short book, there was a lot to get through in a small amount of time. I think it was focused more on the astrological aspect rather the lives of the characters after their visit or even their experience in the shop. It also would have been fun to learn how to nurture each of your troublesome planets. Maybe there's a recipe "the characters" could have made at home. It seemed to just teach us about astrology, and I already knew a lot of it, so it was meh to me.
It was a quick read and easy to follow

In Japan, cats are seen as symbols of good luck, and if you’re kind to the right one, you might just find yourself in a mysterious coffee shop under a Kyoto moon—a place that shows up when people need it most.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop is run by talking cats and serves more than just coffee and cake. These wise felines read star charts, share cryptic advice, and guide people back onto the right path. For a struggling screenwriter, a stuck movie director, a hopeful hairstylist, and a lost web designer, the shop’s arrival is no accident.

I was really drawn to the premise and wanted so much to love this story, but I just couldn’t get into it. I tried picking it up multiple times, but it never quite pulled me in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the chance to read this. 🐈‍⬛☕️📚

This was an interesting concept for a book! As a lover of cats and coffee, I thought for certain I would love this story. I thought it was interesting that we got three different stories that sort of intertwined with each other, all involving the individuals coming upon a café that could only be accessed on a full moon and with invitation. Where it got a bit in the weeds for me was the astrology information, which seemed to weigh down the stories a bit. The ending was satisfying though when we got an epilogue to see how all the characters changed after their visit to the Full Moon Coffee Shop. I thought it was interesting and enjoyed it, but it probably isn't one that is going to stick with me for a long time.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Mai Mochizuki for the advanced copy of The Full Moon Coffee Shop in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop is a beautifully written/translated tale about a magical coffee shop run by cats that appears when and where it is needed. Each story follows a separate character, but as the stories progress, we figure out how they are all connected. Astrology is a major factor in the stories and the cats use it to help the characters overcome whatever is holding them back in their life.

I thought this was really cute and I loved the cats and astrology aspects. I’ll be checking out more by Mochizuki in the future!

Mizuki Serikawa was a very successful writer for a TV production when she learned that she was being let go because her writing wasn’t current for the audience. She had no idea this wa coming so she was completely lost as to what to do. As she was wandering and thinking she met a boy who told her to go and visit The Full Moon Coffee Shop. She had never heard of it but she had nothing else to do. The shop was in a little far off lane she didn’t know existed. When she got there she was surprised to see the waiters were CATS, talking cats. She thought she was dreaming until they seemed to know a lot about her. There was one cat who was versed in Astrological “Life Phases”. He had some very interesting ideas about how she should proceed with her life.
This is a book I don’t think I would have picked up on my own. I really don’t like fantasy but this story and the characters were so interesting that I enjoyed it to the end.

A perfect fall read with warm and cozy vibes. The cats and astrological references were very enjoyable to find in the story.

When life gets tough, I often turn to my favorite local coffee spot to get me through the challenges. The one where the baristas know your name and your order and even if you might need an extra shot of espresso when you walk in the door. It seems all too magical that the coffee shop could come to you!

The Full-Moon Coffee Shop is a quaint story of a little pop-up cat cafe that brings its customers exactly what they need, whether it’s a delicious dessert, a beautiful beverage or a reading of their stars. As each character’s story unfolds, you learn a little more about their past, present and future and, if you’re unfamiliar with astrology like me, a little about how signs influence life itself.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC for review!

It would be nice a have restaurant pop up in the middle of the night at a random location when you need it the most. Not because you are hungry, but because you need the support, you need the hope, you need the understanding.

I cannot really guess how I would react seeing man size cats running this restaurant and talk about astrology and astronomy though. Also, who am I to not to accept man size cats when I'm fine with appearing/disappearing restaurants?! These cats loved to return the favor you did to them some time ago. They would figure out when you need them to most and be there for you.

Cats, miracles, food - this is the optimistic, heart warming side of the Japanese literature. You will leave the book feeling warm and fuzzy with a new wave of hopefulness surrounding you. Some days it's all want to read so I'll be happy to see second installment of this book

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 seemingly appears at random to adrift young people at crucial junctions in their lives. It’s also run by talking cats.

This was a lovely and magical storyline. It does dive pretty deep into astrology, which isn't really my thing. And for that reason, it is a solid 3 stars. It was totally adorable and cozy.

Thanks to Ballentine Books and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m going to preface this by saying I’m a sucker for translated books. I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s the culture that’s different than my own. Maybe it’s the writing. I don’t know. But this book didn’t disappoint.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop is about a shop that shows up where people need it, and it’s run by talking cats. I don’t believe in astrology, but I did enjoy this book. Learning about the different people who visited the shop and seeing them change was great. They’re all somehow connected, and the short pages didn’t deter from getting to know them.

I’d read a part 2 of this book. It was so cute while also tackling some heavier topics. I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

5 Stars
Genre - Magical Realism
Human Sized Talking Cats
Astrology
Lots of stars


“This is Astral Milk straight from the Milky Way!”

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki is a beautifully written modern Japanese fable. In Japan, cats are good luck charms, full of wisdom and love. I absolutely loved this book, it filled my heart with hope; just as it does for the three main characters. I don’t hand out 5 stars easily, but this book that has a permanent place in my mind.

The story takes place in current Kyoto, Japan and at a magically appearing and disappearing food truck along a serene river under the full moon. You do not find this coffee shop, it finds you when you need it the most. The gentle glow, inviting atmosphere, and waving adorable 6ft tall star-gazing cats say, “Welcome” as they serve you drinks and treats that you need.

Something about this place makes you speak your entire truth; words and thoughts that you have never admitted to yourself or anyone else blurt out. Feelings that you had shoved down so deep inside of you and so desperately tried to forget arise the moment the cats read you and your birth chart.

There are three believable main characters who have all lost their way; a wounded TV scriptwriter, a ruthless TV executive, and a cheating IT guy. Each chapter is written from their point of view, but their stories begin to intertwine. They all discover the mystical food truck coffee shop and leave with newfound wisdom, lessons learned, and perfectly aligned with their given star path; no longer lost or headed off course.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine/Del Ray for an advance copy of this book for review.