I have never highlighted text in a book as much as I have in this one. How is it possible to write sentences that stir so many feelings? No idea. And don’t even get me started on the world building, I cannot comprehend how it’s possible for a human to come up with this extraordinary adventure.

It's for books like this that fantasy as a genre exists.

In Tokyo, there is a magical pawnshop where people can pawn off their deepest regrets hidden inside of a ramen restaurant. Hana has been trained by her father since she was born to take over the pawnshop when he retires and that day finally comes. When she wakes up on her first day as the new owner, she finds the shop ransacked and her father missing. Her first customer also happens to be the first person who, instead of seeking help, offers help to find her father.

This story was whimsical and Hana’s world is dreamlike and magical. It was fun to imagine riding a rumor, flying on a paper crane, jumping into a puddle and landing in a completely new place. The story starts out as a search for her father, but its also becomes about searching for her own purpose and the things we are willing to do for the ones we love.

A thoughtful, leisurely paced fantasy magical realism read!

The main characters at first seemed very surface level but as the story continued on you can see Yambao intended their characterization to speak over the course of the novel and their choices, with choices being the major theme of the story. I thought the main characters' relationship was rushed at first, but I was pleased with the journey they took and growth over the course of the book. The supporting characters all had interesting backgrounds and professions that could likely be stories of their own.

It's hard to find a fantasy novel that's light and cozy while still being truly fantastical, and I think Yambao does a great job with this story. The world is interesting and unique, but each magical piece doesn't require a ton of world building and back story. It just is. Readers who crave a very fleshed out world with explanations and lore for each magical twist might be a little annoyed at this aspect, but I think it's a refreshing change of pace with the heavy high fantasy that's often popular. The prose is also simple and straightforward, and I was never confused or unable to imagine the delightful world Yambao made.

I really enjoyed this and thought it was thoroughly different from all the other magical realism books I've read. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes whimsical fantasy like Howl's Moving Castle or if you just want to be pleasantly surprised through the course of a short and sweet book.

Thank you, Random House, for the arc!

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao fits beautifully with the Japanese magical realism trend I've been following lately. Yambao's novel is set in a world in which people pawn their regrets like so many old brooches. Hana has inherited both the duty and physical shop that her father has maintained his entire life. The unnamed pawnshop is in an alternate world, but it shares a door with a Tokyo ramen restaurant. Most people open the door to find delicious noodles, but some, like Minatozaki Keishin, find themselves face to face with Hana instead. The novel's magical world is lovingly inspired by Japanese lore and culture. Portals are especially creative, with puddles, convenience store slushies, and origami featuring prominently. The novel, which is about confronting regrets and facing fears in order to move forward and heal, features beautiful writing, with strong character development and a sweet romantic connection, as well. I recommend this to those who like their Japanese magical realism with themes of love, loss, facing hard choices, and growing into the person who has faced those choices.

[Thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an advanced reader copy and share my opinion of this book.]

This was a stunning adventure of family, loss, and magic. Upon inheriting a pawn shop, it's ransacked and the new owner must traverse a magical world in order to find her way.

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao is a story that mixes magical realism with themes of love, loss, and figuring out who you are. At first, it seems like it's just about a pawnshop and the things people leave behind, but those objects actually represent the tough choices people face in life. Even though the book gets into topics like Japanese mythology and science—things I don’t know much about—the author explains them in a way that’s easy to follow.

The world in the story is really vivid and detailed. Even though the book moves slowly, it never feels boring because something is always happening.

Although Water Moon is described as a cozy read, it dives into some deep topics like death and neglect, so it's not exactly a light read. Still, I’d recommend it for how emotional and thought-provoking it is. The way the author describes the settings and the characters' feelings really pulled me in, and the cultural references added a lot of depth to the story.

While I loved how immersive the world felt, some of the characters seemed distant, and the ending left me wanting more closure. But overall, it’s a beautifully written book that I think teens who like deep, emotional stories would really enjoy.

Thank you, Random House and NetGalley , for the ARC of Water Moon! I just finished reading, and wow—I’m absolutely thrilled! It was such an amazing ride from start to finish. I’m so grateful for the chance to experience it early.

Poetic and dream like, Yambao does a great job keeping track of what the reader is supposed to care about while adding more and more accoutrements to a great story.

This IS like a Ghibli movie! I would love to see an adaptation of this.

I really enjoyed the writing. The story is very atmospheric and dreamlike. The characters were great. The setting and the world building are just top notch. Very easy to visualize everything and I loved all of the abstract and fantastical elements.

In this ethereal novel the parallel worlds of Hana and Kei intersect. Hana has just been tasked with taking over for her father in the pawnshop they operate. But this is a unique pawnshop where customers trade in a past choice or regret in exchange for happiness. Kei is a Japanese-American physicist who has traveled to Tokyo for work. On the day Hana is to assume her new duties she discovers that her shop has been ransacked and her father is missing, and then Kei walks through the door. He determines that he must help her in her quest to find her father, who they surmise has gone off to find her mother. The world of their journey is Hana's world, with travel through puddles, being carried along by songs, helped by origami cranes, and always under threat of the shiikuen, zombie-like enforcers of the rules. With lyrical writing, the author treats us to Hana's world, which we may not always understand, but which charms us and seduces us to care about the success of the journey.

I’ve been a fan of Samantha Sotto Yambao’s for quite some time. When I heard she was writing Water Moon, I was so beyond excited. Yambao is one of the most descriptive Authors I’ve ever come across. This book is probably one of her most beautiful yet.

The story follows the life of Hana after she takes over her Father’s pawn shop. But this shop is not like any other shop out there. Only visible to the “chosen” few that are lost, anyone who stumbles into the shop has a choice to sell their regrets. On the eve of Hana’s takeover, her Father wraps up loose ends and prepares for his freedom of the shop. When Hana wakes up the next morning, he’s nowhere to be found. She suspects the worst when she finds the shop ransacked. After a charming Physicist wanders in, so begins Hana’s real journey.

Water Moon is an absolutely stunning book and is like nothing I’ve ever read. I’m not typically a fantasy reader, but it was hard to tear myself away from the gorgeous world Hana finds herself in. Even if you don’t like fantasy, you can’t possibly not appreciate how fantastic this book is. And if you do like fantasy, you will absolutely adore this one.

Samantha Sotto Yambao continues to take my breath away with her beautiful mind. So many thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

A beautiful story with lush, lyrical prose that stays with you long after you finish. The world is full of magic and thoughtful world building that give the book a reflective and haunting feeling. I love the exploration of the choices and the regrets we make throughout our lives and how they impact us and our own identities. It feels like reading a Studio Ghibli movie, and I enjoyed every second of this delightful read.

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

This book has a very magical setup that seems straight out of a Studio Ghibli movie - the imagery was really beautiful and blended nicely with the Japanese mythology. The author did a great job with the world of this novel and her research really shines through. However, the characters were lacking in complexity and came off as bland. The chemistry between Hana and Kei was somewhat lacking. I did find Haruto's character intriguing and I would have loved to see more of him in the book.
The worldbuilding, while beautifully imagined, was also very surface-level. We would be introduced to some huge magical concept, only for it to be thrown away and never mentioned again.
I think the overall premise and plot of this book were great, and it was a perfect read for the fall season. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House/Del Rey/Ballantine for the eARC!

Hi, so this is actually one of the best books I’ve ever read in my life. I’ve literally never read anything like it before and I can’t believe I’ll never be able to read it for the first time again.

A whimsical and cozy book about regrets and choice. This reminded me of, as others have mentioned, Studio Ghibli, with a touch of Before the Coffee Gets Cold. If you like those, I'd definitely recommend this book. It's slow and comforting and the prose can be quite lyrical. The characters felt real and you end up really feeling for them. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the advanced copy for an honest review!

This book is honestly just so beautiful. The elements come together in a way that is poetic and entertaining. I'd love to talk to my district about incorporating this book into our curriculum.

Thank you netgalley and random house publishing for this arc. Wow, where do I even start, what should i say first about Water Moon? This book completely swept me away! Set against the backdrop of Tokyo, it tells the story of Hana Ishikawa, who inherits her family's magical pawnshop. But this isn't your simple everyday pawnshop; here, people sell their regrets, and Hana's journey to find her missing father while navigating her family's complicated past is both enchanting and deeply emotional.

Samantha Soto Yambao has such a beautiful way with words. Her descriptions of the magical elements blend seamlessly with real-life struggles, making the story feel both fantastical and relatable. You can practically feel the atmosphere of Tokyo coming alive through her writing. The exploration of family dynamics and personal growth really hit home for me. It's like a gentle reminder that our past shapes who we are, but we also have the power to choose our paths forward.

I also loved the friendship and romance that blossomed between Hana and Keishin. Their connection is sweet and authentic, highlighting how shared experiences can bring people closer, especially when they're both dealing with their own baggage. As they uncover secrets and confront their traumas, you can't help but root for them.

What really stood out to me was the book's message about healing and the importance of confronting our fears and regrets. It's a beautiful reminder that while we can't change the past, we can choose how it influences our future.

Overall, Water Moon is a must-read for anyone who loves magical realism intertwined with real emotional depth. It's got everything—adventure, love, and a bit of magic that’ll leave you reflecting long after you turn the last page. If you haven't already, make sure to grab a copy when it releases in January 2025. Trust me, you won't regret it!

ps. you might want to stay away from puddles after reading this book.....

Absolutely loved this book! I had the pleasure of reading it as an ARC, and it quickly became one of my favorite reads of the year. The writing was so beautiful, I wanted to highlight the entire thing. I’ve already preordered my copy to add to my shelf. If you’re a fan of Studio Ghibli, you’ll devour this!

Watermoon is an enchanting, whimsical tale that took me on a nonstop adventure from start to finish. The world is so vividly described that it felt like I was watching a movie unfold in my mind. While insta-love isn’t usually something I enjoy, in this story, it worked surprisingly well. The imagery, fantastic settings, and fast-paced plot kept me fully immersed the entire time. If you’re looking for a book that feels like a journey through a dreamscape, I highly recommend Watermoon. Five stars!

Embark on a lovely journey of self-reflection and introspection in a dream-like world.

Hana Ishikawa inherits her father's pawnshop, but it's not your typical pawnshop where you exchange precious things, jewelry, or antiques; instead, you exchange your regrets or certain choices. Hana's father goes missing on the first day she is meant to open the pawnshop, and she embarks on an enchanting trip to find him with a very charming man who enters the shop at the opportune time.

This book is ideal for people who want to read an enchanting and thought-provoking adventure story. I had to underline so many quotes that made me stop reading and question myself. The imagery, atmosphere, and writing are incredibly immersive, creating a cozy yet profound experience.

A special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing an early ARC of this beautiful book.

This was a bot different than I expected but overall it was a good read. A bit slow at times but a nice easy read. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley