This book felt like watching a Studio Ghibli movie, in all the best ways possible. Just enough whimsy but not so much that you lose track of what you're reading.

A mind-bending adventure that has you questioning the decisions you've made and whether you still carry any regret of choices you've made, one way or the other.

I read this book in two days and I couldn't put it down. The pacing is phenomenal and keeps you hooked.

Wow, this book has been one of my favorites this year. The best part of the story, in my opinion, is the setting. The author takes us through multiple locations that feel both enchanting and immersive. I was captivated by how beautifully the world is painted, creating a whimsical, cozy, and magical atmosphere that made every scene come alive. I’m grateful to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review this book.


This review will be posted on Goodreads on December 23, 2024

This was sooooo close to 4 stars for me! I told a friend that this book felt like the author wrote down all her dreams for like a year and put them in a book ... in the best way. It was dreamy and creative and fantastic. The pure amount of originality and creativity in this book blew my mind. It felt like falling into a dream. The only reason it didn't make it to 5 stars is because I felt a little confused by some of the explanations/plot points, so would have appreciated a bit more easy-to-follow explanation of why things are the way they are. But overall, this is an incredible reading experience.

**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**

DNF @ 37%

Samantha Sotto Yambao presents Water Moon, a dreamlike fantasy inspired by Japanese tradition and culture. Readers follow Hana as she takes over the magical pawnshop that her father has run, purchasing people's life regrets and choices. When her father is mysteriously missing, Hana encounters a charming stranger who offers help finding him.

Full disclosure. I knew there was a potential that this would not be my thing. I also knew that this was an upcoming choice for Illumicrate and Owlcrate. I have studied and enjoyed Japanese cultural traditions and have enjoyed Japanese translated works, but understand that there is more of a tendency toward slower plot development. This was the weakness of this book for me.

The writing in this book is beautiful. Fans of The Night Circus or The Starless Sea or Piranesi will be right at home. Even Strange the Dreamer or Before the Coffee Gets Cold. Unfortunately, I actively dislike this writing style. I pushed through with the other listed books because I had access to the audiobook (or because the short story format allowed for the text to be broken up neatly). As I only have the ebook for Water Moon, I caught myself constantly avoiding picking it up again. As such, I'm going to cut my losses here.

To be clear, I would absolutely recommend this book to people who like the dreamy, lyrical writing style. Wishing the most success for the author and for this book to find its audience.

This was such a delightful read! It transported me back to watching Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland as a kid. I've seen many comparisons to Studio Ghibli, which I can't speak to directly, but they seem pretty spot on! I absolutely loved this book!!

We follow Hana, who has just taken over her father's pawn shop. The twist... their customers are people from our world who stumble upon the shop looking for ramen and end up pawning a choice they made in life. On her first official day after her father retires, she wakes up to find the pawn shop broken into, her father missing, and a choice stolen from the vault. In walks Keishin, a physicist, who comes into the shop looking for ramen.

This story was beautifully written, and I was fully immersed in Hana and Keishin's journey to find her father. It asks the reader to suspend disbelief right from the start regarding the magical pawn shop, and I was completely sold. The mix of Hana's magical world and Keishin's scientific perspective was incredibly engaging. I'm not usually a fan of contemporary elements in fantasy and typically steer clear of cozy stories, but there was a clear purpose behind every step of their magical adventure, and it worked so well for me.

Thank you, NetGalley and Del Rey, for providing an early copy in exchange for this honest review.

Unique, creative premise, engaging characters and alternate reality made this a robust page turner. I loved the unexpected twists, and fantastical world building and the well paced writing style. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for an advanced reader copy.

When I first saw the description of this book, it sounded so beautiful - I ended up really taking my time with this book to best visualize and take in.

This story was such a beautiful and multi-faceted tale told from multiple pov/memories. The world building was so unique and intricate that it was so easy to picture it in my mind as if I were reading a graphic novel. The ideas were fun and new.

The characters were intriguing, but I felt like I didn’t end up knowing them as well as I thought I might by the end. I had so many questions for individuals as well as worlds because I wanted to know more before the book was over. The ending came and went so quickly keeping some lingering thoughts in the back of one’s mind.

All in all, it was a nice story full of fantasy, hopes, regrets, romance and potential. Definitely intrigued to look into other work by Samantha Sotto Yambao now!

Thank you so much to the author Samantha Sotto Yambao, Random House Publishing - Del Rey and NetGalley for this eARC of Water Moon!

Water moon review

The vibe of this book is exactly as promised, right out of a studio ghibli movie. However I’m sad to say that’s all it gives is a vibe. The story pacing is off, the main characters are very flat( 2 dimensional) and the dialogue and interactions between the various characters just felt forced and unauthentic. The world building has a lot of potential, its descriptions are easy to picture and beautiful. I couldn’t get on page with the main characters motive and reasonings which made this read less enjoyable. Again, the premise is actually very clever and thought provoking, It reqlly got me thinking about the choices we make everyday and the consequences they bring, and how one small choice can set your path in a completely different direction. I also felt like the journey the characters went on during this story was excessive. I understand they had to learn and obtain information from each stop, but I was just too much and caused me to loose interest in the path they took. This book took me 156 days to get through simply because I kept loosing interest. The conclusion felt a bit rushed but at least the last page was happy. Again this book is mostly vibes with a lot of thought provoking aspects, making one reflect on life and all the choices we make.

3.75 stars

Whimsical, with beautiful imagery.

Keishin appears at Hana's magical pawn shop door on the day that her father disappears. He insists on helping Hana find her father and is thrust into a world unlike anything he could imagine.

The two main characters are contrasting in that one feels trapped by their fate and wants freedom to decide and the other is hampered by decision, leaving major life decisions up to fate. They are similar in that their lives have been defined by a decision that their mothers made.

One of my favorite things was how decisions were discussed. Sometimes, you don't have a choice and when you do, you may regret your decision no matter which choice you make. How have decisions and mistakes impacted who you are?

The beginning and end of the book are stronger than the middle. As the plot ramps up, there is somewhat of a clue seeking and chase. I think that the chase could have been done in a way that was more logical and less because the author thought it was necessary to ramp up tension right at that moment. Each location visited is a new and vivid world, with new rules to learn. This is fascinating at first, but there are too many places visited. The Shiikuin play a major role in the plot, but their powers, how the Horishi system began, and their relationship with Hana's world doesn't get addressed in a satisfying way. The last chapter is a nice call back, but it wraps everything up too quickly and doesn't address some of the lingering questions.

Water Moon is a spellbinding tale blends mystery and romance into an exploration of love, destiny, and self-discovery. Set against a vividly imagined world inspired by Philippine folklore, the novel tells the story of Luna, a young woman who is drawn into a mystical journey when she discovers a cryptic connection to an ancient legend involving the moon and the sea.

The writing alternates between emotional moments and high-stakes adventure with a perfect balance that keeps the pages turning.

The novel’s themes of resilience, sacrifice, and the power of human connection resonate universally, making it a compelling read for lovers of magical realism and mythic fiction alike.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing an eARC!

This was such a cute read! I loved the concept of a pawnshop where you sell your regrets. Hana and Kei were such interesting characters and I loved how we learned so much about them in a short time. The story really dove into the concepts of how our choices can define our entire lives. How regrets can affect us deeply and make us wish we had made a different decision. The romance was very cute! Even though it happened very quickly I didn’t feel it was rushed. It was written very well. The whole story was also very whimsical and I loved the writing style. Overall very solid read!

A sweet fairy tale heavily inspired by Spirited Away - if you enjoy Miyazaki movies, this could be up your alley. I found the story a bit simplistic and the characters a little flat but I loved the world that was conjured and really enjoyed the adventure.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a n honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this novel, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

So, I got an ARC of this and I try not to DNF ARCs, but I honestly just can't go on with this. I'm bored out of my mind. I think this is supposed to be like that soft healing fiction, but I find that my intrigue is too low to continue. I don't care about the circumstances or the characters enough to continue on. There is one aspect that I am a little intrigued by and I may come back and try again when I'm more in the mood for something slower and with lackluster dialogue, but that is not right now. I'm trying to get my reading back to where I want it to be and not sink it even more into the abyss. So, this is just not for me and I'm DNFing at about 30%. I'm clearly in the minority so if you're interested in magical pawn shops and "other worlds" then this could be a great read for you. Also, if a bit of insta-love doesn't bother you. Or a general lack of characterization. The more I think about it the less this worked for me. The cover is pretty though.

I love the setting of this book - a very uniquely Japanese brand of whimsy (with every fairytale’s hidden weight dragging at the levity and casting shadows) married to a portal fantasy that shows us glimpses of so many dreams and unusual stories. Each setting and the story behind it unravels beautifully and with the utmost care. I could have slipped through puddles into new locations forever.

Unfortunately, in a move that should shock no one who knows me at all, I was not sold on the romance. And particularly not two very distinct moments that happen at the end of- and I think that’s because, despite being the star of the whole book, we don’t ever truly understand Hana. She’s held at such a remove, acting more as Keishin’s guide than as the driving force. It makes her choices a little bewildering. I think this is honestly because we didn’t get to see much of her life before the events of the book kick off - instead we’re told about her parents, the pawn shop, and her role… but we’re not shown Hana herself.

Also I genuinely don’t understand what the point was in having that chapter with the elevator. It’s never mentioned again and it comes at a really weird time in the narrative for a flashback.

Overall, though, if you want to read a book that can transport you into a whimsical if unforgiving magical multiverse, this book is absolute for you.

4.25
What a magical ride! Reading Water Moon is to be swept away on a daydream carried by an origami crane.
An original and fast paced romantacy with minimal spice, from the Japanese influences to the dream-like setting, everything was perfect!
This book comes out January 14th and I will absolutely be purchasing a copy!
Thank you to Del Ray/Penguin Random House for the ARC!

Thank you to the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
I've read a few magic realism books this year but this one was by far the most surprising and best one. Reading it felt like I had been thrown into a Studio Ghibli film and I would honestly love to see it being adapted into an animated film! The whimiscal, cozy and dreamy world in the book was a wonderful and beautiful. This book is absolutely perfect for reading in the winter time while being curled up under the blanket and drinking a warm cup of cocoa or tea.

In terms of characters, I didn't feel too much of a connection to either Kei or Hana, but I did find their relationship and its development interesting and it really added to the story.

Overall, if you're looking for a cozy book with whimiscal feels to read this one is perfect for you!

I loved Water Moon for the world building and whimsical nature of the story. There’s some very cool settings early on that I wasn’t expecting and it kept me reading the whole book just to see more of it. There’s weakness here is the characters, who never really stood out to me or felt special in any way.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Water Moon is by far the most surprising book I’ve read this year. It’s surprised me with how delightful, imaginative and whimsical it was while also offering a grounded and thoughtful story. I DEVOURED this book. I will reread it constantly. An instant new favorite book. Truly exceptional.

In a market full of flashy exciting books that can’t start to overwhelm and underwhelm you this book is like a comforting cup of warm tea you drink by the fire while you watch the rain pour outside. It’s as fond as a memory. Tender. Imaginative. Beautiful.

A truly special book that I’ll never forget.

Someone needs to hand this to Miyazaki STAT, it would make sure a cool adaptation. The worldbuilding here was amazing.

Thank you to the publisher for my arc in exchange for review!

first off if you love Studio Ghibli anything, you need to pick this up ASAP.

The world, the story, the characters it felt like i was reading a studio Ghibli story. the world was both rich and comforting but I also loved how it also shows you that people are just human. They make mistakes. No one is perfect and some go very far to protect the ones they love.