The is book is poetically written and definitely has a captivating world building. Reading through this story felt like a whimsical dream. That said, I did not love this book. I feel like this is the type of book that people will absolutely love or simply like; I simply liked the book. The romance included in the story was a. Little rushed for me but I know that’s some people’s cup of tea. I would recommend this book to others who enjoy this genre.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

great book and I loved the action and the romance . I loved seeing the friends and family. I loved that they were able to figure things out. Overall a great book . I loved the imagery and being able to travel to different places

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fine book. It had elements that I really liked, but the way everything was executed just rubbed me the wrong way.

What I liked: the Studio Ghibli-vibes. This definitely had a magical setting, and it was clear that the author put a lot of work and thought into this dreamlike world. It was very creative and whimsical.

What I didn't like: Stilted dialogue, clunky and awkward writing, very messy and inconsistent pacing, one-dimensional characters, and very annoying insta-love romance which was entirely unbelievable.

Overall, this was not my cup of tea, but it might work for others.

This novel is like sipping matcha under a cherry blossom tree while simultaneously questioning every life decision you’ve ever made. The premise? A pawnshop where you can hock your regrets. Imagine rolling up with a suitcase of cringe-worthy moments and trading them for a little peace of mind. Sign me up.

Our protagonist, Hana, inherits this whimsical regret-exchange shop but wakes up on Day One to a missing father, a trashed storefront, and a stolen “precious acquisition.” Classic first-day-on-the-job disasters, right? Enter Keishin, a charming physicist who’s too good-looking to be trustworthy but too helpful to ignore. Together, they embark on a magical scavenger hunt through dreamlike realms, where puddles are portals, paper cranes are Uber drivers, and the night market serves tea with a side of existential dread.

The world-building is lush and atmospheric. You can almost feel the midnight mist and taste the ramen from the shop that’s not really a shop unless you’re lost enough to need it. It’s immersive, enchanting, and occasionally a bit too meandering—like that one friend who insists on telling you every detail of their dream.
Hana is a relatable mess of determination and secret-keeping, and Keishin? He’s a walking contradiction of nerdy brilliance and romantic mystery. Their banter is a highlight, even when you want to scream, “JUST TELL EACH OTHER YOUR SECRETS ALREADY!” But hey, what’s a magical journey without some emotional tension?

Some plot threads dangled a bit too long, and a few moments of clarity hit like a soft whisper instead of a mic drop. But the sheer whimsy and heart more than made up for it.

Overall, Water Moon is a beautifully crafted tale of loss, choice, and the magic hidden in life’s cracks. It’s perfect for fans of The Night Circus or anyone who’s ever wished they could pawn that time they sent a mortifying text to their crush.

Best book I have read in months. What a way to start out 2025. A great experience of Japanese culture through Western language. Hana and Keishin are fleeing through a world on the other side of the moon's reflection in a pond. Hopes, memories, rumors all have an entirely new perspective. This is not a place for a scientist, especially a quantum physicist. Yet that is what we get when Keishin walks through Hana's pawnshop door and become entangled in a quest for family. The mood is broody and sentimental, packed with introspective wisdom. Many times I was close to hoarding the tissue box. The ending is really what did me in, though. A teetering four stars instantly toppled to five.

Water Moon has been labelled, fairly consistently, as having Studio Ghibli vibes. This is an extremely tall order, and could lead to extreme disappointment. Luckily here, the comp is extremely fair and solid! I read this while sick with a slight fever and it truly enhanced the experience.

This book's premise is very similar to a lot of the 'cozy' Japanese fantasy I have read and is popular - a store that people come to without knowing, only when they need it, where they can trade away their regrets. The 'cozy' Japanese light fantasies that I have read have been fairly surface level with their concepts, whereas Water Moon takes this idea and truly runs with it. This book dives into a truly magical world, and while we do have a human to help explain some of the differences to the reader, you do not need to fully understand the world to understand the story.

There is a romance in this story, but this is not a romance-centered story. So you can enjoy this book even if you're not a romance reader.

I really enjoyed this, and it felt like a nice warm cup of tea of an adventure.

Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

**Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Posted to: NetGalley and The StoryGraph 
Posted on: 16 January 2025

3.9 (rounded up to 4) out of 5 stars.

This is another one of those titles that I thought was going to rank lower than it did based on my grading metric. I am nothing if not honest though, and while I had my minor bone to pick here and there, I also can admit that the world building and the overall plot itself saved this read for me. I think the points in these categories really pushed the overall score up, because otherwise I don’t know how well this book would have done with me.
Let’s just jump right in (get it- cause they used puddles to travel in the book… Okay, I’ll see myself out…)

I want to start off by saying that this book snagged me in pretty early on. I had just come out of a different arc read that left me wanting (especially after being my first DNF at hardly 10%) and I was losing traction on this beta read that I had the honor of completing (no reason here, just a mild book slump that had left me struggling to finish reads). So I knew I needed a breath of fresh air, and Water Moon was just what I needed. It had a beautiful world unfolding before me, so vividly enough that I could see it (but the writing style itself wasn’t too flashy and over the top). I hadn’t even gotten to 10% here when I knew that it would be a keeper.
And then the romance came in…
I don’t know why I have such a bone to pick with romance lately! For this story specifically though, I think I know what the issue was. Hana and Keishin falling in love was cute and all, but there was a thread that steadily unraveled and I realized that I just couldn’t forgive this character for it.

So yeah… That and its almost insta-attraction base, it would have been fine. Again, the world and the plot was SUCH a lifesaver for this book. The writing leaned on the simpler side, but it was still able to lend this depth to the story that really gave it the push it needed to keep rolling. There weren’t any snags in the plot that made me stop (from what I can remember) and everything did solve itself pretty nicely while also making sense. Water Moon definitely does carry the vibes of a classic Ghibli film, and that really helped me find the wonder and the want to sit in this world longer and longer. I mean, there’s teahouses you can visit when you dream, paper houses of origami creations, the ability to travel on a song- everything was so unique and beautiful to me that I really did find myself falling in love with this new world! I have never wanted to see something in film more before than this!
There’s also the themes that the book tackles. I think what helped the main characters click with each other was the shared fact that both of their mothers were gone from their life somehow. That fact lended me a sliiiiightly less critical lens against the romance as it did give them a kernel of connection that they were able to nourish. Alongside this though, there’s deeper traumas and regrets that feel more universal and touching. It was all lit in a sort of dim, warm light that you wouldn’t be able to realize its importance until the growing brightness suddenly blinded you.

Water Moon held a lot more beyond its beautiful cover than what met the eye. It told a story that I wasn’t quite expecting set within a lush and lovely world that felt like I was dreaming. Truly, pushing all my issues with the romance subplot aside, I enjoyed this read. It had everything within it that I needed to avoid falling over the cliffside edge of a deep book slump.

Water Moon was written by Samantha Sotto Yambao.

This is the first time reading a book by this author. I will definitely be reading more of this authors work. I love how she makes you a part of the story she is weaving.

Water Moon was just released on January 14, 2025. I was able to get an ARC thanks to Net Galley! Thank you so much for allowing me to read such a fantastic book set in Japan. Even though this book was set in Tokyo, it took me back to the culture that I miss dearly from my time living in Japan.

Water Moon is a lovely story about a woman who just inherited a pawnshop from her father. Hana the new owner has her story laid out before her, but that’s all about to change when her father goes missing and the Kei walks into the pawnshop. Together they go on a journey to find her missing father. This book will turn you upside down and make you think and wish.

This book had heartfelt moments that had me crying, laughing and sitting on the edge of my seat all at the same time. This is a very atmospheric fantasy, when it rained I felt it, When the wind blew i felt it.

Won’t you let this book take you away to another fantastic world. Thank you Samantha Sotto Yambao for writing such a beautiful work of art.

*Water Moon* is a magical and whimsical novel that blends Studio Ghibli vibes with a fantastical, Alice in Wonderland-inspired world. Set in a Tokyo pawnshop that specializes in buying and selling regrets, the story follows Hana, who is set to inherit the shop after her father’s mysterious disappearance. The magical elements—such as birds made of regret, pearls that hold memories, and puddles leading to other worlds—add layers of charm and intrigue to the narrative. Alongside Hana is Keishin, a young physicist who joins her on an extraordinary journey where they both defy the laws of nature and face a cataclysmic choice that will impact their fates. The writing is lyrical and vivid, drawing readers into a world where decisions shape destinies and the smallest choices have profound consequences. The characters’ chemistry is both relatable and heartwarming, especially as they confront their own emotional burdens and desires. While the pacing can feel a bit fast at times, the story’s whimsical and unpredictable nature makes it an enjoyable read. *Water Moon* is a beautifully crafted, emotional tale about self-determination, grief, and the transformative power of our choices—highly recommended for fans of magical adventures and deep emotional journeys.

water moon is a wonderfully imaginative, atmospheric dream-like fantasy world that also leans on the darker side especially as the story progresses. not only is the world wholly unique and intriguing, but the mystery our main characters are trying to solve was so gripping i couldn’t put it down.
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i have to recommend this book mostly because the world was unlike anything i’ve ever read before. however, it’s biggest downfall for me is i found the story to be rather repetitive at times, to the point it was almost exhausting towards the end. but that being said this book also takes an unexpected turn that i didn’t expect and fully restored my faith in this book by the end.
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from characters traveling through puddles, folding time, and night markets on clouds, i cannot express enough how dreamy this world is and what a delight it was to be in it. if you enjoy unique fantasy worlds, a little bit of romance, and compelling mystery, i cannot recommend this book enough!

Water Moon was a delightful ride from start to finish. It follows Hana, who inherits her father’s magical pawn shop. On the day she is supposed to start, she comes down to find the place has been ransacked and her father is missing. From there, she connects with an outsider, and they search through her other world to find him.

The world-building in this was amazing. I don’t normally enjoy fantasy, but this (as others noted) felt like stepping into a Studio Ghibli film, and its fantastical elements were easy to digest. I enjoyed Hana’s journey and truly felt immersed in her world within the pages.

Was the dialogue at some times clunky? Yes, but I found the characters to be lovable and complex, which ultimately made this the first book in a while that I truly loved reading.

a beautiful cozy fantasy with a super fun adventure! (also with a touch of romance). Highly recommend this for all readers! I loved this so much

This book was a nice read. It was my first time dipping my toes into Japanese fiction and I was not let down at all. The fantasy elements were very nice and I think that the world building was developed well and it was a well written book. I would recommend to many friends who want to get into Japanese fiction or who want to read a good fantasy novel.

The beginning and the end were both phenomenal. Very literary and introspective, with an amount of flashbacks that I enjoyed for balance at the start.

My problem came in the meat of the middle portions being a different sort of story. To be fair, it was marketed as a journey through a magical world. I simply had forgotten just how much that was emphasized in the blurb by the time I got to the 30% point when it was clear that was what most of this book was.

I was prepared to leave 3 stars from that shock, then the ending. The reveals of who Kei was, then Hana, recontextualized everything.

One thing that I wished the book had was more of the character’s internal lives in a more personal way. The style was very to the point instead of invoking a feeling in the reader. I appreciate that style anyway, however.

This book was such a fun cozy vibe. It really felt like something Studio Ghibli would create. Samantha Sotto Yambao created such a rich and vibrant world. I loved the journey Hana and Kei went on and the ending did not disappoint. I can’t wait to see what Samantha Sotto Yambao comes out with next!

I’m still so obsessed. This was beautifully written and sucked you inside a hopefully sad and glorious world. It reminded me of studio ghibli and the way the most simple of life can be romanticized and given air. Such cozy mystical read.

I was promised a whimsical, atmospheric and magical story and my gosh did it deliver! From choices being caged birds, boats made from paper cranes and traveling through ponds, this perfectly captured the Studio Ghibli spirit.
This is a double POV story told from the perspectives of Hana, who inherits a mysterious pawnshop in Tokyo where people sell their regrets. When the shop is ransacked and her father disappears, she teams up with a charming physicist, Keishen, to embark on a magical journey through a fantastical world in search for him.
I loved how this story was able to blend the plot and romance into a dreamlike adventure. The characters were very well written and both had a solid background to their personalities.
While I did enjoy the romantic elements of this story, i did think that some of those scenes were sometimes too long/ unnecessary. I think the story would've benefited from slightly less of the romance because some of the scenes did take me out of the reading experience, but all in all, this was a solid 4 star read for me! I recommend it especially for studio ghibli lovers

This book was a wonderful read and a perfect way to start out the year!
The plot ebbs and flows in a way similar to Spirited Away and takes place in a spirit-realm-esque world, where one could accidentally wander into, if they are not paying attention. Similar to the movie, there are beings of the realm who seek to hinder Hana and Kei as they unravel the mystery of her father's disappearance.
This book is amazing and artful with all the different realms and how the author slides back and forth occasionally in time to allow the readers to fully understand all the characters and their actions. I feel like Hana and Kei are flushed out very well as characters and I understand them. I will say this book has a pretty fast pace, but it does a good job at the keeping the readers on their toes.
The only thing holding me back from giving this five stars is the scene jumps. It makes the reader feel like they are losing out on some of the plot.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the ARC!

I can confidently say that I have never read a book like this before! It felt like I was reading a Studio Ghibli movie! While it took me a little while to get into the story I was really invested in the world building. It is beautiful descriptions and would be a lovely read on a rainy day when you don't have to leave the house!

Pretty great book
I was amazed by the cosy vibes even though the stakes are high. Def looking forward to more
4.5 Stars