Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Samantha Sotto Yambao’s "Water Moon" is a spellbinding tale that seamlessly blends magical realism with profound emotional depth. Set against the backdrop of a mystical Tokyo pawnshop where regrets can be traded, the novel explores the intricate dance between choice, consequence, and the human longing for redemption.

The story follows Hana Ishikawa, the reluctant inheritor of her father’s enigmatic pawnshop, a place that exists on the threshold between bustling Tokyo and the ethereal realm of Isekai. When her father disappears and a precious “choice” is stolen from the shop, Hana embarks on a surreal journey to recover what was lost. Along the way, she is joined by Kei, a brilliant yet restless physicist from the non-magical world. Together, they navigate a series of fantastical landscapes, from rain puddles that serve as portals to a night market suspended in the clouds.

Yambao’s world-building is nothing short of breathtaking. The vivid imagery—paper cranes that carry messages, glowing birds that embody human choices, and the haunting Shiikuin who guard Isekai—creates a universe that feels both otherworldly and deeply resonant. Each setting is imbued with a sense of wonder, inviting readers to lose themselves in the story’s dreamlike quality.

At its heart, "Water Moon" is a meditation on the weight of our decisions and the regrets that shape us. Hana and Kei’s journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about finding Hana’s father. Their evolving relationship, marked by moments of tenderness and tension, adds an emotional richness to the narrative. Yambao’s prose is lyrical and evocative, capturing the fragility and resilience of the human spirit.

While the novel’s fragmented timeline and rapid shifts between past and present may challenge some readers, these elements mirror the disorienting nature of regret and memory. The short chapters, packed with introspection and action, keep the pacing brisk without sacrificing depth.

"Water Moon" is more than a fantasy novel; it’s a poignant exploration of what it means to live with our choices and to find beauty in imperfection. Samantha Sotto Yambao has crafted a story that lingers in the mind long after the final page, a testament to the transformative power of storytelling. For those who crave a narrative that is both enchanting and thought-provoking, "Water Moon" is an unmissable read.

I was so excited to read Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao. The premise is absolutely delightful. Imagine stepping into a ramen shop in Japan, only to find yourself in a pawnshop where you can trade in a regret. Hana has lived in this mysterious shop with her father for as long as she can remember. But on the day she is meant to take over the family business, she wakes up to find the shop ransacked and her father missing, sending her and an unlikely ally on a whimsical adventure to uncover past secrets.

The setup feels like something straight out of a Studio Ghibli film. The setting is magical, atmospheric, and full of wonder. Unfortunately, the execution fell short for me. The story lacked cohesion, with whimsical elements that felt more like scattered ideas than part of a well-structured narrative. The world-building took center stage, but at the expense of character depth. Hana and Keishin’s relationship, in particular, felt rushed and unconvincing, and their dialogue often came across as forced.

I truly wanted to love this book, and while the dreamlike imagery was beautiful, the meandering plot and one-dimensional characters made it hard to stay invested. Water Moon has a fantastic premise and will appeal to fans of whimsical magical realism, but for me, it lacked the heart and cohesion needed to make it truly enchanting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine Group for the eARC copy of “Watermoon” by Samantha Sotto Yambao.

Watermoon was one of my highly anticipated books for 2025, but sadly I’m having to soft DNF it. I read to about 55% and I’m having a tough time connecting with the characters and setting. This opinion has nothing to do with the author's writing style, as they’ve done an amazing job creating this world, and the descriptions of the setting/characters are some of the best I’ve read in a long while. Which is why I’m hoping to give Watermoon another shot when I’m in the headspace to read it, as I am a mood reader which can also affect how I connect with a book.

Everything about this is lyrical and dreamy except the romance. It's insta-love and in my opinion takes away from the story and characters. The places they traveled and people they met were the best part and I wish they had been focused on more. Overall a solid read, I would definitely read more from the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was very charming and whimsical and the world building was very well thought out. I loved it all, the parallel worlds the slow unraveling, the reflection on self and family!

I am at a loss for how to describe this book because it is so unlike anything else that I have read. I truly do not know how to explain the plot. It is a wild ride, but manages to somehow make it seem realistic and possible. The two main characters are fascinating, and you can never guess what will happen next. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and will look for others by this author.

"𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒚, 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌?”

A whimsical, dreamlike fantasy about a magical pawnshop where regrets can be traded, a scientist who stumbles into the unknown, and a young woman searching for her missing father.

Read this for:
🌙 A cozy, Studio Ghibli-esque fantasy set in Tokyo
🕰 A unique, time-bending pawnshop where you can sell your regrets
🪶 Paper cranes, bridges between dreams, and a market in the clouds

Hana Ishikawa has spent her life preparing to inherit the mystical pawnshop where lost souls trade in their regrets—until her first day as the new owner begins with a break-in, a missing father, and a stolen, all-important choice. Enter Keishin, a scientist who was looking for ramen but now finds himself swept into Hana’s surreal journey through dreamlike realms, rain puddles that serve as portals, and encounters with enigmatic figures.

This book should have been my perfect kind of read—lush worldbuilding, whimsical magic, an emotional core about choice and regret—but something about the execution didn’t land for me. The imagery is stunning, but the story itself felt like it was constantly floating away before I could grasp it. The plot meandered, the pacing dragged, and despite the emotional weight the premise promised, I never felt fully invested in Hana and Keishin’s journey.

Things I loved:
✨ The worldbuilding—seriously, this would make a gorgeous animated film
⏳ The exploration of choices and regrets—one of my favorite themes in fiction
🦢 The aesthetic—paper cranes, dream bridges, night markets? Yes, please

Things that didn’t work for me:
🐢 The pacing—it wandered without clear momentum, making the adventure feel aimless
🩷 The romance—it felt more like *it had to happen* rather than something that developed organically
☁️ The dialogue—it sometimes read as overly philosophical or stilted, pulling me out of the immersion

If you love soft, dreamy, folklore-infused fantasy, this might be your next favorite read. But if you need a bit more structure in your magic and plot, Water Moon might feel more like a fever dream you only half-remember when you wake up.

Water Moon captivated me with its profoundly lyrical prose and thought-provoking sentences. The author's writing is truly beautiful, creating a magical atmosphere reminiscent of a Studio Ghibli film. I often found myself pausing to savor the deeper meanings embedded within the text.

However, while the setting and prose were enchanting, the characters and narrative flow presented some challenges. The characters, unfortunately, felt somewhat one-dimensional, and the romantic relationship seemed to materialize abruptly rather than develop organically. Furthermore, the story's transitions were often jarring, with paragraphs shifting abruptly to new locations without sufficient context. This lack of smooth transitions disrupted the overall reading experience. I also yearned for a more immersive exploration of the world's intricate details and inner workings.

Despite these shortcomings, Water Moon's evocative prose and whimsical atmosphere make it a worthwhile read for those who appreciate beautiful language and magical settings. However, those seeking well-developed characters and a seamless narrative may find themselves wanting more.

Pretty and insubstantial as seafoam. There are too many ideas - a pawnshop that buys your regrets! Traveling by puddle, paper crane, or a rumor's spreading! Stars made of hopes that are actually kites or something I have to admit I forgot the second I turned the page! - and they don't hold together well or add up to anything much. There are a lot of gorgeous visuals but no sense of direction or reason or *matter* to them. (And, frankly, the prose isn't good enough to create those visuals in writing beyond the basic ideas of them. Italo Calvino this is not.)

The Studio Ghibli comparisons are apt (and obnoxiously lampshaded within the book), but the whimsical visual designs of a Ghibli film come along with characters who feel like people, a strong sense of pacing, a tightly constructed plot, and the feeling of things mattering. Those pretty ideas and visuals are there to serve the story, not the other way around. In contrast, Water Moon feels like a flimsy story that exists solely to (poorly) support the lovely veneer, not the other way around. There are no bones to Water Moon, just a lot of pretty bubbles of ideas that don't really go anywhere.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Water Moon pulled me in and I stayed to the very end. Lovely, haunting, compelling, it kept my attention even when the path took me places I'd rather not have gone. . .as a reader one gets to know the "likely" path a tale will take, and this one doesn't indulge readers. It goes where it will.

There's atmospheric mythos here, heroes in unexpected places, and mind catching discussions about the questions we all have. Questions about free will, family, sacrifice, accountability and what we deserve. This author offers up an entrancing proposal for all such profound and heartbreaking questions.

It took me weeks to come to my written response. . .had to re-read the favorite bits, and am bumping up to all the stars. Lovely and re-readable, it deserves them, so say I.

*A sincere thank you to Samantha Sotto Yambao, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #WaterMoon #NetGalley

i loved the world of this book and the concept of it, but it got too focused on a romance i couldn't settle into for me to truly love it. i will be reading more from this author in the future, though!

Water Moon is a Japanese-inspired fantasy about a pawnshop in Tokyo where people trade their deepest regrets. When the shop owner, Toshio, goes missing, his daughter Hana teams up with Keishin, a young physicist, to uncover secrets that challenge their understanding of fate and science. Their journey delves into themes of regret, free will, and the power of choices.

The writing is lyrical, with a dreamlike pace that immerses readers in a world where magic and science collide. The narrative alternates between Hana and Keishin’s perspectives, balancing whimsy with deep philosophical themes. Fans of Studio Ghibli and whimsical narratives will find much to enjoy.

The novel explores the weight of regret, the struggle between fate and free will, and the impact of choices. Hana’s emotional growth is inspiring, and the evolving relationship between her and Keishin adds depth to the story. Their slow-burn romance complements the novel’s themes of connection and self-determination.

Final Thoughts: Water Moon is a captivating work of magical realism that combines world-building, emotional depth, and thought-provoking themes. It’s a must-read for fans of fantasy and philosophical fiction, offering a soul-stirring exploration of life, love, and the choices we make.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a great book! A woman inherits her dad’s pawn shop and learns the repercussions of love, loss and what it means to be human.

Very VERY similar to Before the Coffee Gets Cold and a very sweet story! I loved Hana as a main character and was very intriguing. I think that the story telling was lovely and it was a sweet very cute story! I would recommend this to people who love time travelling romances and wanting second chances.

While the premise was nice, the writing was... not what I expected. I wanted more from the characters because I felt that what was on the front cover and the front flap was not what we were given.

More like a 3.75. Very whimsical and imaginative but fell a little flat. The writing style was beautiful and digestible and I thought the Hana and Keishin’s inner monologues were beautifully done, like some of the best I’ve ever read, but I also felt like it was lacking in depth at some points. Or maybe not lacking in depth so much as not eliciting the feelings I was supposed to feel? It felt difficult to connect with Hana and Keishin’s relationship and because that was the thing holding the plot together, especially toward the end, I ended up not really feeling a super deep connection to the book as a whole. The beginning also happened super fast, but I don’t think that was any fault on the author’s behalf. Overall, super mixed feelings (mostly positive) about this one and I’m excited to see what the author writes next!

I did not care for the plot line at all. It felt incredibly rushed making it hard for me to follow along, and I was especially thrown off by the initial characters at the literal beginning of the book being traded off for the actual main characters. The romance was very bland and eh, not leaving me invested. I just had a really hard time reading this and was left feeling like this was such a burden to get through.

Beautiful. Stunning. Underhyped. Obsessed. The whole book is a vibe to the point I bought a physical copy as well. Love love love. I need more books like this in my life

I understand what the author was trying to do with this book and I do think the world was very interesting, sadly, going in with the expectation (and being told) it was Studio Ghibli-esque, I found it very lacking in any type of whimsy. The world and characters were very flat and one dimensional. Not to mention I detest insta-love. The two main characters were already fawning over each other in less than a day and were kissing by day one. No thanks. DNF at 46%. 2 stars simply for the unique world-building.

This book is beautifully written but ultimately I was a little bored by the actual story. I loved the magical realism and concepts of the story: a magical pawnshops where you trade regrets, a father gone missing, a scientist searching for answers and a daughter trying to prove herself. The Japanese culture was beautifully woven throughout and the overall vibes feel like a studio Ghibli film. However, the pacing shifts were difficult to follow, I wasn’t fully convinced of the romance between main characters and there was no real action that took place beyond lots of movement from place to place.

Oooh boy this one is hard. I was very excited about this one because the cover is absolutely stunning and I loved the premise.

This book feels like it was meant to be a movie. The concept and the settings were delightful and whimsy and the writing itself was lyrical. If this was animated a la Studio Ghibli or ATLA, I think it would have achieved what it was trying to do. It was also dialogue heavy which can work, but the dialogue itself felt stilted.

The other thing I had issue with was the way books feel like they are written around tropes, this book felt like it was written around profound quotes to the point where they lost their meaning. I didn't love the romance and thought it detracted from the main character's journey as opposed to added to it. For a book that was less than 400 pages, it felt like it was too short and too long all the same time.