This book is a cozy fantasy that follows main character, Hana, who recently inherited a mysterious pawn shop, on an adventure through an alternative version of Tokyo, with Kei, a physicist who happened to wander through the pawn shop doors.

The journey through the different parts of this strange and interesting world was the most entertaining part of this story for me. I love being thrown into a different place by jumping into a puddle or being folded into paper. These whimsical worlds were of the Studio Ghibli variety.

Unfortunately for me the main characters fell flat and weren’t fleshed out enough. I wished that they had been given more to their individual personalities. On top of them reading as boring people, the romance was rushed and forced. They had this instant connection and it was never believable that these two strangers had strong romantic feelings after knowing each other for a few days. I believe that this story would have been stronger if it was written as a solo journey for Hana. If we had followed Hana while she went through self discovery and learning about her family’s past, we would’ve gotten a more thorough character development.

While this story wasn’t quite the one for me, I do believe that readers who enjoy a cozy, slower pace fantasy will enjoy this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC.

i went into this expecting a "before the coffee gets cold" vibe with the pawnshop for regrets, and was ultimately given so much more in exchange. there were so many phrases i underlined, whether it was for the beauty of the prose or the wisdom contained within. the metaphors were poetic, and it's difficult to do them justice in this description.

the world building is vivid and atmospheric, and i really enjoyed the contrast of the two main characters viewpoints and experiences. i don't read a lot of romance, but i found their chemistry very believable despite their flaws, and ultimately, i was rooting for their relationship the entire time.
this book is full of wonder, family, betrayal, secrets, hope, fear, and the classic dichotomy between blindly accepting fate or challenging the roles in which you've been assigned.

while i enjoyed the creativity of the story and it's layered twists and turns, my main critique of the book is the incredibly redundant chapter structure and dialogue. it got to the point where i could predict how each chapter would end and how things would be revealed, which was mildly distracting.

Water Moon is an exuberant, imaginative adventure that bursts with magic at every turn! From the very first page, Yambao’s creativity shines: imagine splashing into a pond to hop between parallel universes, resting your head on a pillow only to awaken in a dreamy land connected by a mystical bridge, or even listening to candles that softly whisper the prayers of those recently spoken to them. Each delightful discovery makes you want to turn the page and see what enchanting surprise awaits next!

Set in a quirky pawnshop hidden in the backstreets of Tokyo—a place that magically appears to those who stray from their everyday plans, like stopping for ramen but ending up trading their deepest regrets and life choices for something uniquely theirs—the story sparkles with whimsy. Here, regrets transform into charming little birds, tucked away in vaults and shared with mysterious, masked beings known as shiikuins!

Hana Ishikawa, raised among these marvels by her loving and enigmatic father, Ishikawa Toshio, is about to step into a world even more enchanting than she ever imagined. On her very first day on the job (despite waking up with a hangover and a bit of chaos—a ransacked store, a missing magical acquisition, and a door to the real world left wide open!), Hana discovers that her father has mysteriously vanished. With clues scattered like confetti, she’s thrust into a whirlwind of questions and fantastical challenges! Enter the irresistibly charming Minatozaki Keishin—a mysterious stranger with a spark of curiosity and a passion for solving puzzles from another realm. Though Hana initially tries to handle things on her own, she soon realizes that the journey to find her father (and perhaps even her long-lost mother) will be a delightful duet of daring adventure and surprising revelations. Together, they wander through a world where markets float in the clouds, trains are powered by dewdrops, and origami cranes soar like dreams. It’s a vibrant tapestry that feels as heartwarming as a Studio Ghibli masterpiece like Spirited Away, but with its own playful, romantic twist!

Yambao’s lyrical, bubbly prose brings this magical universe to life, effortlessly mixing tender, heartfelt moments with an energy that makes every page sparkle. Even when the plot takes unexpected, twisty turns that seem to defy logic, everything comes together in a burst of delightful wonder that makes you smile, laugh, and gasp in surprise.

If you adore stories that explore the magic of choices, the beauty of overcoming regrets, and the joy of discovering hidden truths, Water Moon is the perfect escape. Sure, the whirlwind of vibrant locales might sometimes feel like a fun roller coaster ride you just can’t get off, but that’s all part of its irresistible charm! In a nutshell, Water Moon is pure wonder made real—a fantastical celebration of parallel worlds, tender emotions, and endless mystery. It’s the kind of book that invites you to dive back in again and again, finding new bursts of magic with every read!

Beautiful book, beautiful cover, beautiful story. I’ve been in such a big reading slump that it took me awhile to read this but it was still really good. This book felt magical and whimsical.

Whimsical in all the right ways. I think this felt strangely nostalgic for me, in the sense that it felt familiar. Like a movie I watched growing up or a book I read or a dream I had. It’s a comfortable kind of whimsy and familiarity that I want to see more in modern publishing. Truly think this is a standout of the genre and can’t wait to read more from this author.

Thank you so much NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this copy and apologies for my late review!

What a whimsical, creative story unlike anything else I’ve ever read! I don’t even know how to describe it except that it felt like a dream. I had to let go of trying to make sense of everything and just go with the flow, which helped me enjoy it. The vibes a a mix of weird and lovely and sometimes sad but sweet - and always magical.

Thank you to Del Rey for the ARC!

Water Moon
Samantha Sotto Yambao
5⭐️

Pub Date: 1/14/2025

This was such a beautiful and breathtaking book!

This speculative fiction book was so immersive and memorable. Set in Japan, there's pawnshop where you can trade your hard choices for expensive tea. It's mystical as it is but it doesn't stop there. The intricate "other world" and the secrets within were so dreamy, but it also gave a lot of life lessons- about the choices we make, fate, love, free will. The writing style just drove it home and made room in my heart. I'm not too familiar with Japanese culture but it seems to take from Japanese mythology. As the story goes on, the mysteries slowly unfold (pun intended) in the best way possible. I am completely left in awe with how this book started, ended and everything else in between.

The atmosphere of this book is whimsical. It gave off a studio Ghibli vibe with its own interesting spin. The way I pictured it in my head is like a faded watercolor kind of sceneries. With the smell of rain and nature. And the writing style, oh! It was beautifully narrated, and gave off a nostalgic, gentle and calm feeling even when the plot takes a more tense turn.

I don't think I can ever do this book any justice with my review. It was just perfect, and something that I know will stay up in my favorite reads (and recommendations).

Thank you @netgalley and Ballantine Publishing for a gifted e-ARC of this book!

DNF at 26% (~ 100 pages)

I'll admit that I mostly picked this one up because I'd heard it was going to get special editions with some spectacular artists and I got bit by FOMO despite knowing from the synopsis that there was a very slim chance that this would be a book for me. Yet again, my intuition was spot on.

I managed to make it through the first part in the book only through sheer stubbornness that it would somehow fit into the category of Ghibli film that I really enjoy. Even with those I've had mixed success and in a lot of ways, Water Moon makes me think of the more whimsical ones like Ponyo. At no point in the first part does Water Moon try to explain the magical realism or make any sense out of it, it just is. I'm not typically someone who needs hard magic but this was way too soft for me. It made me think also of Before the Coffee Gets Cold where the themes and the writing are the dominant pull of the story. And as someone who's not overly fond of poetic writing, that just didn't work for me.

I also found myself getting really frustrated with the characters. At the very beginning, the female main character Hana felt sympathetic as it navigated her complicated relationship with her father. But once Keishin entered the picture, it was all instalove with Hana being grumpy and not wanting him along and him being the stereotypical scientist who struggles with how to place his scientific knowledge against the magical realism. Not helped by how many times neutrinos are brought up as a way of showing how science focused he was, which just really started to feel like nonsense the more it happened.

By the time I got to the end of part one, I was just over all of it. I was actively annoyed by the writing style, didn't care about either of the characters and had no interest in this very whimsical, magical journey. However, if you love cozy stories that are high on the whimsy and the themes, it's worth trying. The special editions are gorgeous and I'm a little sad I didn't get along with this book at all.

It was wonderful to have one of the first few books I read this year be a five-star!

The world here is so inventive, with the living origami creatures and the Midnight Market and the mythology behind who does what there. Hana's pawnshop and the tea are only the start of things, and then the addition of a human from our world who could express how wondrous things were while doing his best to help Hana? Great choice.

The water pools was means of transportation at first felt a little Narnia-esque, but they weren't leading to or from a way station, and the inventiveness that Hana shows when she tosses a glass of water on the ground and uses that the transport showed that the pools weren't an easy way out of creating something new. I loved her growing sense that her work, her place in her world was not good, and that the flaw was (possibly) fixable. No spoilers, but the ending was just lovely.

if you look up whimsical in the dictionary, it's this book right here.
The writing was so lyrical and well crafted, while still being easy to follow. The plot was dreamlike and whimsical, while still grounded in raw and authentic human emotions.
This was super fast paced and easy to fly through. Filled with tender emotions, adventure, love, grief, and everything in between, I enjoyed this.

In the vein of other recent hits, Water Moon opens with a premise that the world as we know it isn't everything we think it is. There are opportunities to change the world around us, to see something different. In this case, it is a pawnshop that lets visitors sell their regrets to live with no memory of the choice they made. But that is where the comparison to magical realism and "cozy" books end.

Hana is the daughter of the pawnshop owner and her father has retired. The first morning on the job, she wakes up to the pawnshop ransacked and a choice missing from the vault. We are given a sense of dread that something terrible will befall Hana if she does not recover the choice, but she is primarily concerned with finding her father, who is also missing. Joining her in her search is Kei, a human from our world who happened to stumble into the pawnshop. Together they hop (literally, by jumping into water they can teleport to other realms) from location to location in Hana's magical world looking for clues as to what happened to her father.

I wanted to like this book so much. I immediately fell in love with the world, the setting, and the world building. I wanted to live in the world, explore it, and drink it in. The story in essence was one that, if I read this book a decade earlier in my life I would have been absolutely obsessed. The story itself was great and the conclusion of the storyline was rewarding and satisfying. But I feel like the reader I am today wanted a little bit more. I wanted the story to move slower instead of progressing at break-neck speed. I wanted to get to know and become connected with the characters. I feel like the characters were the greatest weakness in the story as I had no emotional connection with them and they fell a little flat.

I guess this was the type of book I wish I felt emotionally wrecked after reading. But I had no emotion whatsoever. If that doesn't bother you, and you like settings and worlds like those of Studio Ghibli films, you will probably devour this book. But for me, personally, I'm still reeling with disappointment that I didn't like this more.

*I would like to thank the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I started this book on December 26th. I put it down and picked it up three times in the month of January. It is now February 1st and I am only 30% of the way in. I have to DNF.

Typically, when I DNF, it is because there is something about the writing/plot/characterization that irritates me to the nth degree. Since all of my ARCs are on the kindle, I metaphorically slam the book closed with gusto and race to Goodreads to one star it. All of my DNFs get a one star…no exceptions. Well, except for this one.

Water Moon gets three stars. The reason being is that there is nothing wrong with this novel. The writing is beautiful. Hana and Keishin are well-rounded characters. The world building feels well thought out. But I just can’t connect with the content. So, I have metaphorically gently closed the cover, and wish a hearty “happy reading” to anyone interested in this novel. I hope this novel is the one for you!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

A stunning book that I couldn’t put down. This was just really done so well. The writing the plot. Everything. I cried within the first chapter but maybe that’s just the grieving girl in me and I felt so connected right off the bat.

I recently finished reading Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao, and I have to say, what a delightful journey it was! This novel weaves a tapestry of emotion, adventure, and a hint of magic that kept me hooked from the very first page. I rarely come across a book that combines such rich storytelling with vibrant characters, and Sotto Yambao has genuinely outdone herself here. I felt an instant connection from the moment I was introduced to the protagonist. Her struggles and triumphs are so relatable; it's almost as if I was experiencing her life alongside her. The way Sotto Yambao fleshes out her characters is simply beautiful; each one feels like a friend by the time you turn the last page. The friendships and relationships in the book are realistic and poignant, adding depth to the overall narrative. One of the standout elements of this book is its stunning setting. The author has an incredible ability to paint a picture with her words. I found myself lost in the rich landscapes and vibrant cultures she describes, feeling like I was traveling alongside the characters. Sotto Yambao's attention to detail makes the world come alive, and I could almost hear the sounds and smell the scents she vividly portrays. Now, let's talk about the plot! Without giving away too much, it's a rollercoaster of emotions. Just when you think you know where the story is heading, the author adds a twist that leaves you gasping. The pacing is spot-on, keeping me engaged and eager to see what would happen next. I found myself sneaking in a few extra reading sessions during my busy day to uncover the next chapter. That said, some parts of the story could have been explored more. Some moments flew by, leaving me wanting more depth and exploration. However, this didn't take away too much from my overall enjoyment. The book still delivered an engaging read that left me feeling fulfilled.

TLDR: Water Moon is a fantastic read that deserves a solid 4-star rating! Samantha Sotto Yambao has crafted a beautiful story that will resonate with anyone who appreciates a blend of magic, emotion, and adventure. If you're looking for a book that takes you on a journey while tugging at your heartstrings, I highly recommend giving this book a shot. Grab a cozy blanket and a cup of tea, and prepare to be swept away into a world you won't want to leave!

You're whole life can be change in the course of seconds. One decision can have a ripple effect that you can't even comprehend. This was a deeply moving read. Develing into the topic of the choices we make (or don't make ) while following along with the main character Hana try to find out what happened to her parents. She is joined by this mysterious stranger that wants nothing more to.help her get to the bottom of what happened to her dad and find him. I did not know what I was getting into when I started this story but there were twists and reveals that kept me on the edge of my seat. The gems of life advice that were dropped and the writing was so elegant. The descriptions had this book playing out like a movie in my head. I just loved everything about the discord on choices and the relationships that were explored. Without giving too much away the ending had me oddly emotional and I would love to read more by this author.

I really enjoyed this fantastical, surreal book. The writing has a dream-like quality that is extremely compelling. Although the timeline back-and-forth in the beginning chapters was a little disorienting, the clues they give to the eventual reveal are worth it. The first read will certainly be different from any subsequent re-reads because of the intricacy of the characters and their motivations. At first, I wasn't convinced by the development of the main characters' relationship, but the payoff at the end is absolutely worth it. I also enjoyed how dialogue-heavy many sections of the book were. I didn't see the huge plot twist coming, and I wasn't sure what kind of ending the story would have until the last chapter, which wrapped everything up beautifully. The story had so many whimsical, magical elements that were delightful to discover. It also has several quotable lines about happiness, regret, and the choices we make in our lives. The message of the story is delivered in an unforgettable, impactful punch, and I know it will stay with me for a long time. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a mind-bending fantasy about how our choices shape our lives.

This book was so intriguing. I thought the plot was unquie and the description of the world felt so immersive and highly detailed. I loved discovering new elements of the world and felt like I could picture each so clearly in my head, which was a fun experience.

While the book was very descriptive, I did not find it overly so or what some might call flowery. In fact, I found the book easy to read. However, while the book kept a good pace with the plot, I found I was never on the edge of my seat to find out what happened next. This lead to the book always being enjoyable, but not one I had trouble putting down.

This book is a fantasy first and foremost with a small romance subplot.

I was disappointed in the ending. There is so much build up to describe the world and the way it works and I found the ending just to say essentially that after some time it could work differently without truly grappling with how.

A beautifully crafted fantasy with beautiful worldbuilding and a compelling narrative, it is an enjoyable read.
A mysterious pawn shop that appears to predestined clients while they think they are waiting in line for a Ramen restaurant on an obscure ally in Tokyo. The shop is not your typical pawn shop, it trades for regrets. The client is guided to reveal their greatest regret in exchange for a special box of tea. Hana's father is retiring and Hana is taking over the duties of the shop but when she wakes she finds the shop ransacked and her father missing along with a pawned item. As she is reeling with what has happened ,she opens the door to a young man. He sees the mess and notices she is bleeding and offers to help. Once he is in the shop the two begin a bizarre quest to find her father before the proprietors of the shop discover what has happened. What follows is a thrilling suspenseful chase through a magical world.

WOW!!! This was one of the most magical and whimsical stories I’ve ever read!! It reminded me so much of Studio Ghibli movies, which are my ultimate comfort movies. I loved everything about this book. The plot was unique and refreshing, and it was developed extremely well. The author did a great job with the world building, and I often found myself yearning to live in it. There were so many beautiful life lessons weaved into this story, I think I highlighted half of the book!!

I absolutely loved the characters! Hana’s determination and love for her family was something I related to heavily. In her place, I would’ve done the EXACT same thing and went to the ends of the earth to find my parents. And Keishin!!!! Your honor I love him!!! From the very start he knew he wanted to follow Hana anywhere, and I loved him immediately. The romance was subtle and endearing and so, so tender I couldn’t take it!!!

I did not see the plot twist at the end coming AT ALL!! I love when a book can surprise me and with this one, I was SHOOK! It made me want to reread from the beginning to catch subtle foreshadowing, and I think books that can accomplish that deserve ALL the awards!

Infinite stars for this one, I am utterly obsessed and I am BEGGING for an animated movie adaptation!!!! Thank you Del Rey and Netgalley for an ARC of this book!

"Broken things have a unique kind of beauty, don't you think?"
"Some things wear their damage better than others."

Things are NEVER as they seem.

This was an amazing "water jump" [IYKYK] of Japanese literature, filled with gorgeous world building, a heart-breaking story, and some of the best fantasy writing I've read in a long time.

I went into this totally blind [simply because I'm currently in love with anything Japanese, especially in books right now] and I highly recommend this to everyone who wants to read this [and if you love great fantasy and gorgeous stories, you absolutely SHOULD be reading this] - it was wonderful to watch this beautiful world/story unfold in front of me and I cannot imagine experiencing this book any other way.

Absolutely fabulous.

Thank you to NetGalley, Samantha Sotto Yambao, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Del Ray for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.