This book gave Studio Ghibli, cozy vibes. I loved the fantasy/magical realism and the world building was everything. It felt very different and unique in the best way to anything I’ve read. I really enjoyed the authors writing.

The only thing I would say is I wish there would have been a little more description on certain characters as it was a little hard to picture them sometimes.

The cover of this book is also so cute! Can’t wait to add this book to my shelves.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for allowing me to read this eARC

Book Review Water Moon
Everyone comes to a book with a different understanding of the world. For me, I wasn't able to finish this book because many of the 'references' to Japanese culture were very on-the-nose. That's just it, they felt like references to give a japanese flair. Dialogue that had just one romanji of a Japanese word/phrase felt like the wrong choice. I think the whole line should commit to Japanese or English but not half and half--unless it is established early on that they are speaking English in the story and using Japanese titles intermittently. (But they are not as is established by Keishin's arrival)
She should have said "Arigato, Otou-san" not "Thank you, Otou-san" or just full English. Things like that felt unnatural. That is my main reason for not finishing at 25%.
It is hard to needle a book like this because I do love Japanese culture and the intentions behind the book...but ooing and aahing over "gyokuro tea" had me feeling like I was reading from a tourist perspective. Japanese culture is much deeper than otou-san, okaa-san, gyokurou tea and ramen shops. For this the story was not believable.

Although I liked the weaving aspect, it often wasn't clear when characters were falling into a past scene/memory. I had to go back a reread three different times. I would like to finish by complimenting the author's efforts. They write in lovely metaphors and the mood of this book is very dreamy. If you aren't picky about the things I mentioned before, this book could be for readers of cozy fiction and romantasy and stories inspired by Japanese mythology.

This book ended up blowing my mind. It started out slow – I thought it was going to be contemplation of regrets. It’s so much more fun. There is romance, a quest, adventure, origami, alternate realities and physics. There was lots of rooting for the characters and mind-bending thoughts to explore.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this DRC.
#WaterMoon #NetGalley

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao is the gorgeously designed and thoughtful hero's journey you need on your reading list. The story takes you on a journey through solving a mystery, with some of the most beautiful writing and magical world building I've read of late.

The book is fast paced, and action packed. It is totally immersive and feels almost like watching The NeverEnding Story or The Labyrinth for the first time - it's an instant classic!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC.

5/5

Holy shit??? I don't really have words to make y'all understand how much I loved this book but I just need everyone to stop doing what they're doing and read this when it comes out in Jan 2025. One of the best fantasy/speculative fiction novels I've ever read with a healthy dose of yearning and romance, sprinkled with familial angst. This book has everything. It's extremely well written with very compelling characters and plot twists that will turn your head. My only complaint is that I wish this had been longer.

Such a fun and entertaining story. I love the setting of the story and the characters felt very fleshed out.

The concept of Water Moon was intriguing — it’s a story about choices, told in another world that can be entered through the door of a ramen/pawn shop. I thought the modes of transportation in this world (rumors, puddles, folded paper), some of the occupations/roles (Horishi/tattooers, Shiikuin), and the tie into physics were particularly creative and thought-provoking.

While this book had an interesting concept, the execution was slightly lacking. The characters and dialogue felt flat, which limited the impact of the relationships and main themes. The romance was not convincing to me, which made the characters’ motives feel weak for most of the book. It also seemed like most of the concepts that were borrowed from Japanese culture (other than the time-space origami, which I think was done well) were used a bit superficially, like they were there to embellish the plot rather than substantially enhance it. However, in general the fascinating setting made Water Moon an engaging book.

I would recommend this book to people looking for a cozy read!

I really enjoyed this book so much, it was so descriptive and I loved that. At times I had a difficult time with it because it felt like it was just a lot to absorb. The plot seems like it got a bit lost, or just slowed down a lot and wasn’t really progressing. There was sometimes more talking than describing what was going on. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I would highly recommend it because the magic system was very different and fun to read about.

The setting and plot of this book was fantastic! I loved all the setting and different forms of travel. However, the characters fell al little flat for me. I did not get overly invested in any of the characters and the insta-love aspect was not my favorite. The beginning and end of the books were fast paced, but the middle dragged on a bit. I feel like this would make a great movie.

Thank you to Netgally for providing this ARC.

♾️⭐️s. I truly can’t give this five stars. It’s not enough. This book was so whimsical and will take you on a journey of such wonderful imagery. I love Studio Ghibli movies, and Water Moon gave me all those feels. The world building is very well done, and kept my attention without being overwhelming. Japanese terms are well explained. I was shocked, awed, and entranced by this story. You can be on the lookout for Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yamboa releasing January 14th, 2025. I promise it’s worth the wait.

We follow Hana as she is taking over the family pawnshop. However, unlike the pawnshops we all know. This one deals with unique treasures. Found by going through the door of a ramen shop, you won’t find it if you’re looking. No, it’s for those with regret and are willing to make a choice for happiness.

On the day Hana is to officially take over, she find the pawnshop destroyed and her father missing. Being the worst possible time, in walks Keishin. He is a handsome physicist, and Hana’s first client. But her father is missing; and she is bound to find him. Especially when so much around her isn’t as it seems. Keishin to Hana surprise willingly offers to help. She tries to warn him. This is not the world he knows, and many won’t take kindly to his presence. But Keishin’s whole life’s work is asking questions and finding answers. Hana and her world is the most intriguing question he’s ever had.

Hana and Keishin begin an adventure through her world full of amazing ways to travel as they both seek to find the truth.

Thank you so much to @netgalley @delreybooks and @samanthasottoyambao for allowing me to the great pleasure of reading what is my favorite book so far this year and likely several years. #watermoon #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #bookstagram #books #delrey

Water Moon was a cozy read about family, love, fate, and the role we play in our own futures.

The Positives:
1. I enjoyed the characters in this story. I felt like they were well fleshed out and had distinct voices. The author did a great job showing not just how the characters think but why they think that way.
2. The setting was whimsical and magical in the best way, including everything from worlds made of paper to outdoor markets set on top of clouds. I found myself eagerly looking forward to the next location in the story. The author even made real world locations, like a convenience store, seem whimsical.
3. I thought the theme of fate vs. choice was quite intriguing. The story spent a lot of time exploring how freedom of choice impacts our lives and the world around us, both on a small scale and a large one.
4. The cover art is absolutely stunning!

The Negatives:
1. I thought the magic of the world was underdeveloped at times. For example, we are told how a type of magical being came into existence due to a pretty tragic cycle of choices. However, the author never explains how this tragedy was able to take place to start the cycle. This pulled me out of the story in a slightly jarring way.
2. I felt certain plot points changed back and forth to make the story more convenient. The biggest example of this is how the main character's father describes the shiikuin as overall unwilling to listen to excuses but later makes a choice because he believes it will give his daughter an excuse of innocence. It made him feel unreliable in a way I'm not sure he was supposed to.

Who I Think Should Read This Book:
fans of magical realism, lovers of whimsical and unique worlds, and anyone who feels trapped in their lives

Good lord was this book beautiful. With such simple imagery I was able to paint exactly the scene in my mind, and the magical realism was perfect. This isn't the kind of book I normally read but I will absolutely be seeking out more like this in the future. What a lovely, magical story.

I picked this book because it had an interesting premise and while it mostly delivered I was underwhelmed at the end.

The character of Hana didn’t really get must personality beside her desire to find her father. Keishin also was interesting but he really could have been more.

The ending seemed rushed as if the author didn’t really know how to end it and just wanted to slap some ideas together and tie it all in to one chapter from the middle.

Overall, it had some interesting ideas but wasn’t really for me.

5 stars is not enough for Water Moon. This is such an incredible story and so many times after reading a paragraph or even one line so deep, left me wondering “who is Samantha Sotto??” How does she write like this and create these beautiful, terrifying, yet self-exposing parallels of mystery, betrayal, and love?
I am in love with this story and her storytelling. I will be reading this again and cannot wait for a hardcover copy that I can highlight and make notes in.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This felt like a fever dream while being incredibly unique and creative. The 'other world' was just SO interesting that even the little romance that was happening almost felt boring in comparison. My imagination ate up every little detail and place our characters traveled to. I'm not even sure what my favorite scene was. Perhaps it was jumping into the scroll or all the origami. And I love this cover! This is a perfect book for those that really want to escape into the story and world. I would happily read another by this author.

Add this one to your TBR!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, Del Rey and Samantha Sotto Yambao for the digital ARC!

I've shared a short review on this on my Bookstagram story (which I also keep in a highlight), as well as posted a Goodreads review. Since the publishing date is fairly far off, I'll plan to talk about this book again on my Bookstagram closer to the date. Perhaps I can snag a physical copy between now and then to really show off this amazing cover!

5 ⭐️

THIS BOOK MANNNNNN. What a ride. I typically am not a cozy whimsical fantasy reader but this story proved me SO wrong!

The prose was so eloquent, I highlighted so many quotable phrases. Kei is amazing. I had so many emotions throughout this read-I giggled, I had my jaw to the floor, I was anxious, I teared up. I felt this underlying sense of nostalgia-melancholy throughout. But the ending was perfect for what I needed in the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the e-ARC. All opinions are honest and my own!

3.75 stars

This book was an oddly endearing read. The writing style had an allegorical quality to it - which lent itself to the bookmarking of several quotations, but also left the pacing feeling a bit stilted, making for a choppy reading experience.

And while I liked Hana & Keishin well enough, I never truly found myself invested in any of the characters, probably because they hardly ever felt like they were invested in themselves. The entire cast of characters felt more like archetypal suggestions than actual people, and thus the story as a whole also felt much the same way. More of a moral dialogue braided through with hints of magic than an actual cohesive tale.

As for the romance, some of it was okay, but much of it felt forced an unnecessary. In fact, a story of this sort might've been better served with less of an insistent physicality to the romance (which made it feel like the romantic moments were being shoved down our throats) and more an overarching implication of it...

I picked this up because I thought the cover was stunning, but when I read through the book I found the story to be even better.

The writing in Water Moon is truly exquisite. It's poetic, yet incredibly funny at times. There were scenes that I could vividly picture in my mind because the descriptions were so detailed. It really felt like a Studio Ghibli movie in my head. Very whimsical and enchanting. I had something to highlight on nearly every page, so when this book comes out, I anticipate on getting a physical copy to reread.

Though this story has a bit of romance, I wished the romantic tension had more time to build between the two main characters. I just didn't feel the chemistry. It needed the depth to match their actions for each other, and that just fell flat.

As for the plot, the beginning definitely reminded me of Before the Coffee Gets Cold with the magical realism aspects surrounding the existence of the shop. I don't read a lot of Japanese literature, but I deeply enjoyed the philosophical elements that tie into how the clients who enter have to make the choice to let go of the object that symbolizes their biggest regrets. I found the concept to be quite unique. It makes for a beautifully told story with moments or heartache, emotional relief, and the joy that comes with finally being able to move on. Though, as a reader, sometimes I'd look on feeling a bit conflicted. Thinking about the what if's and trying not to push blame on things that happened in the past or the characters involved.

At one point I got confused about the dad's situation and how we discovered he was missing. Either way, the two main characters have to go out and search for him, while figuring out the mystery of his disappearance. The author takes us on an adventure with each clue they uncover and it's truly an addictive read. It's one of those books where you get to the end of a chapter and immediately need to start the next. I look forward to reading anything else this author writes.

Whimsical and beautifully written. I highly recommend this for any fan of Studio Ghibli. You will feel like you stepped right into one of their films.

I would love to be able to give this 5 stars but, unfortunately, the "insta love" was not for me. I wish the author had put as much care into the build up and the development of their love as she did with the rest of the story. And as you reach the end you begin to see why the author made this choice (Spoiler: Hana and Kei are both choices and I believe they sensed this when they first saw each other, so then "insta love") but I feel it cheapend their story.

Also, a minor complaint, I felt as if almost every chapter ended with Hana saying something completely wacky. It got repetitive.

Other than that, I loved the world and the wisdom dished out by these characters. I wanted to highlight every other sentence because so much of it resonated with me. It makes you really reflect about your own life and the choices that have led you to the life you liv now. I recommend having some tissues on stand by!

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao is a dreamlike and enchanting fantasy novel that immerses readers in a mystical journey filled with magic, love, and self-discovery. Set in the vibrant, hidden corners of Tokyo, the story introduces a pawnshop unlike any other—one where you can trade your regrets and life choices for a chance at something new.

The protagonist, Hana Ishikawa, inherits this unique pawnshop from her father. On her first morning as the new owner, she wakes to find the shop ransacked, its most precious item stolen, and her father missing. Into this chaos stumbles Keishin, a charming young physicist who offers his help. Together, Hana and Keishin embark on a magical quest through a world where time folds backwards, rain puddles lead to other dimensions, and journeys can be taken on paper cranes.

The novel's strongest suit is its richly imaginative world-building. Each scene is imbued with a sense of wonder and magic, from the cozy yet mysterious pawnshop to the ethereal night market in the clouds. The author’s writing style is exquisitely lyrical, perfectly matching the book’s dreamlike quality. The narrative's slow and detailed pacing allows readers to fully immerse themselves in Hana's fantastical realm, making it a truly mesmerizing read.

However, the book does have its flaws. The romance between Hana and Keishin feels rushed, with an instant attraction that lacks the depth and development that some readers might prefer. The ending, while satisfying in its own right, feels hurried and somewhat disjointed, leaving some questions about the magical mechanics of the pawnshop’s choices and their real-world consequences unanswered.

Despite these minor shortcomings, Water Moon remains a delightful and enchanting tale. It beautifully explores themes of love, loss, and the power of choices. Fans of magical fantasy, especially those who appreciate the whimsical charm of Studio Ghibli films or the narrative depth of Spirited Away and The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, will find much to love in this book.

Overall, Water Moon is a captivating standalone fantasy that offers a unique blend of magic and mystery. It's perfect for those looking for a lighter, fast-paced read that’s both imaginative and emotionally resonant. Samantha Sotto Yambao’s creative storytelling and vivid imagination make this a novel worth diving into!

**Review is scheduled to post on my blog on January 13th, 2025!**