Member Reviews

I’ve been watching the k-drama Hotel Del Luna and I really wanted something similar in book form. I stumbled across this gem and instantly fell in love. The story follows four different characters who travel to the Chibineko Kitchen, which specializes in remembrance meals. When someone visits this restaurant and indulges in a remembrance meal, he or she may have the opportunity to communicate with a deceased loved one. At first, I thought that all of the stories were going to be independent but I really enjoyed that all of the stories are interconnected, which made the story that much more enjoyable. It is a cozy, feel-good read (even though I did cry at one point…which means it really touches your heart). I honestly can’t wait to read more stories by this author!

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A brother and sister, two classmates, a husband and wife, and a mother and son. Kai and Chibi greet guests of the Chibineko Kitchen and help run the remembrance meal restaurant where loved ones can have a meal and might even seen their deceased loved one for one last time.

This novel has a cozy feel while navigating heavier topics like losing loved ones to illness and accidents. For those that enjoyed the time travel element of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and personalized meal stories of The Kamogawa Food Detectives, I think you will likely enjoy this one. Similar to the other novels I've mentioned, chapters tend to center around one character's story with the restaurant as a through line and each chapter ending in a recipe.

Thank you to Penguin Group Viking Penguin for an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book was published on 2/4/25.

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This was the perfect cozy read for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and similar fantasy series set in cafes, restaurants, and bookstores. Thanks to Penguin Books for the opportunity to read this advance digital galley!

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My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for an eARC of this title. A popular series in Japan (it appears this is the first of 9 volumes in the series), in a popular new genre. Pets, food, feel good, problems solved. It feels like it is written for the YA market, and written by IA.
If you want something that is sweet and cute and does not require you to engage your brain in any activity, this is it.
1 of 5.

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Sweet collection of interconnected stories. In a small seaside town in Japan is a restaurant which serves remembrance meals. A special meal to have one last chance to talk to a love who has pasted on. Loved it.

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I like these wholesome stories of going back in time to meet someone you missed. This one is form of a restaurant popping up. I need these stories as a palate cleanser and remind myself that there is still room for hope and dreams.

You will be lured into a restaurant by someone you thought you know only to be served by Chibi, the resident kitten of the restaurant taking you back to your loved ones who passed away. You will be moved into a different timeline to have one more chance. Kotoko was pulled into this restaurant by her deceased brother and she was served the meal he used to prepare for her. Time seemed to stop when she took that first bite and she was somewhere else completely.

If you are into Before Coffee Gets Cold and like whimsical Japanese literature, here is the starter of another series to feed your appetite.

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The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen is a tale on working through grief. Kotoko has recently lost her brother, who died saving her life. After a recommendation to visit the kitchen in order to hopefully talk to her brother one last time, she finds her path crossed with Kai. This is a really heartfelt story that almost made me cry at multiple points. I think this is a perfect example of this type of Japanese literature. It's somehow cozy and hopeful while still talking about very hard to deal with topics.

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This book was so great, i finished it in no time. I found myself going back to read more at every opportunity. Its so cozy, and comfortable, and brings me to a place of serenity and comfort that nothing else but a beautifully written book could. I love how it all ties together in the end. This is going in my five-star, need to own a physical copy folder.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read this book!!!

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(3.75)
i know that the trope of cafe/restaurant and food/coffee helping people heal is a trend that’s very very popular right now, particularly in japanese literature.

however

there’s a reason for that! these cozy books are quiet reminders to me to hold my loved ones close, but also a powerful testament to the ways in which food and sustenance is so deeply intertwined with our memories, people, and both physical and mental well - being.

i really enjoy how this book helped a diverse range of people from various backgrounds and age find closure from sharing their final words and meals with the deceased, but also how they healed their relationships with the living -- themselves, and the people they meet through these safe and restorative encounters at these mysterious restaurants. speaking to the range of experiences, it was really beautiful to see how these occurrences differed due to the differing stages of life each character was in. the beauty of the human experience was showcased in the nostalgiac heightened feelings from an adolescent crush, to a “see you soon” for the person you grew old with.

this book also included recipes at the end of each chapter which i really enjoyed.

i also love how cats are always apart of the story. so wholesome

thank you to penguin group and netgalley for my advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review and opinion! #TheCuriousKittenattheChibinekoKitchen #NetGalley

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This is another of the cozy cat business books translated from Japanese. I wanted something cozy and happy and a little sad like the other books (When the Coffee Gets Cold, The Kamogawa Food Detectives, etc.). So I knew I would end up liking this book. However, I was skeptical that the stories would be compelling because I figured it would be like the others that I have read.
I was wrong. The stories and characters are rather compelling. I was pleasantly surprised with the remembrance meals. I also really liked the way that Kotoko was involved in the various stories.
So if you like Japanese cozy cat books, you will like this one. It does stand out because we focus more on Kotoko who experienced the remembrance meal and then wants to help others instead of the owners of the restaurant.

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There was something powerful about each meal that the characters in the book enjoyed. While it was a short read, we experienced many beautiful emotions as the characters went through their grieving process. It made me wonder what I would do if I got the opportunity to have one last chat with a loved one who had passed away while sharing a meal.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the arc~

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Grief. Fat Greenling. Peanuts. Plums. Beef. Curious kitten. Loved ones passed on. Oh, an ache in my heart. A rare gem of a book. This, this is beautifully written, saying so much in short order. Never wanted to stop reading, though also desired slowing down and savoring each section. How does one grapple with feelings of guilt over a loved one leaving? If you could speak to your loved one again, what would you say? Please, please read this. So incredibly good. And recipes to boot!

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What a touching book! yet still about cafe and cat, idk why j-lit kinda obsessed with these two topics like i am kinda done for it.

Thank you Penguin Books and NetGalley for the ARC as an exchange for honest review.

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This is such a beautiful and heartwarming read. It reminded me a lot of the Before The Coffee Gets Cold series, where characters can visit briefly with loved ones, once, which allows them to heal a part of themselves.
Where I think the Chibineko Kitchen shines, is through the interconnected stories, through featuring adorable cats, and through vivid descriptions of meals with recipes provided to the reader.

I found myself tearing up while reading this book and I was invested in the budding romance between the two main characters. As a vegan, I wasn’t interested in the specific recipes written about and provided, but I could appreciate the addition of them and how including the recipes allows the readers to be able to experience the story through taste as well as sight (or hearing if you’re listening to the book).

I think this is a must-read for translated Japanese fiction readers. My thanks to Viking Books and NetGalley for allowing me an e-copy to review! The book released February 4th and you can get a copy right Meow! 😸

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The Chibineko Kitchen is a seaside restaurant where people can order remembrance meals, and sometimes, the dead may appear.

I keep joking that I am in my Asian lit era, but really, I am. At first, it was the cats on the covers that made me look, but I have fallen in love with these quiet and beautiful tales. As with many of the other books I have read, The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen is episodic in structure focusing on four people who were grieving the loss of a loved one. Each meal was a time for the person to remember their dearly departed, and I got to learn about the person who died and some of the best memories the diner had of them. I also eagerly awaited the meal where the person would have the opportunity to see their loved one again.

These stories were all rather touching, and they were emotional too. The story of the husband and wife and the son and his parents slayed me. They were so moving they had me splashing in a puddle of tears. There is just something really lovely about stories of healing and love that get to me. This book pushed me into a reflective mood while also leaving me quite happy. I found myself overwhelmed with feelings but in a good way.

I loved the concept, too. These meaningful meals (which all sounded amazing) gave the diner an opportunity to remember someone who was important to them, who they loved very much, who they missed. But as separate as this interactions seemed, Taahashi connected them, and I thought that was done well. It added a little something above and beyond, and I suppose, it also set the book up for sequels.

Overall, The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen was a heartwarming book which nourished me in many ways. It filled my heart with warmth and joy while also gently reminding me to be more mindful and find my passion while living life to its fullest.

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In Japan, by the sea, there is a small restaurant where individuals come to grieve. It is peaceful, and the food is delicious. It’s not crowded, but there is a resident kitten who likes to curl up in the rocking chair and take naps as diners eat. And if you call ahead and order the remembrance meal, then the dishes put before you can bring back sweet memories of the person you lost. Sometimes, you can even have one last conversation before the food gets cold. This is the Chibineko Kitchen.

Kotoko felt like she lived her life in her brother’s shadow. Yuito was a good brother to her, teaching her and looking out for her. But he was also the firstborn son, so she felt like their parents loved him better. He had done well at school and gotten into a good university, but he decided to drop out and become an actor. He was good too. He even got a role on a television show. Sometimes Kotoko went to the theater with him, and on occasion she was pulled up on stage to help out.

But when they were out together, a car was racing towards Kotoko, and she couldn’t move. At the last minute, she felt herself shoved out of the way, but Yuito rescuing her meant that he got hit by the car instead. Kotoko was inconsolable for months, feeling like she shouldn’t have been the one to survive. Her parents were also very sad. The entire family got stuck in their grief and couldn’t move forward. That’s when she heard about the Chibineko Kitchen. She called and ordered the remembrance meal, and then she made her way to the coast.

She followed the white shell path to the small restaurant and met Chibi, the kitten who resided there. The cook, Kai, invited her in and sat her at the table while he cooked for her. He made her a fish dish that her brother had made for her in the past. And as she sat in front of the food, taking in the smells and marveling at how perfect it all was, everything started to change. Sounds stopped as a white fog rolled in, and Chibi woke up and wandered to the meow at the door. Kotoko could hardly believe her eyes as her brother walked in. He sat and she got to talk to him one more time, apologizing for being the one who lived. But Yuito wasn’t upset about that. He just asked his sister for one thing, to try acting again. He thought she had a gift, and he wanted her to share it.

Her time with her brother was short, just the few moments until the food cooled, but it was enough for Kotoko to start to heal. And in the weeks and months that followed, she continued her journey and encouraged others to go to the Chibineko Kitchen and try the food. Her journey from grief spurred others to follow and start to make their own peace with loss.

The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen is a lovely, warming journey through grief told in vignettes about food, family, crying, and moving on. The gentleness of the kitten and the warmth of the food help to bring hope to anyone dealing with loss. Each chapter comes with a recipe from the remembrance meal as well as an unburdening of sorrows for those who partake.

This short book packs a lot of emotion in its healing pages. The cats who inhabit these pages seem to know what the humans need, and the food soothes not just the appetite but the soul. While I think most of us could do well to find a place like the Chibineko Kitchen, we can at least bring our grief to the page and find words that feed our souls and bring us hope for tomorrow. At least, that was my experience of The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen. And while it was sad, it was also healing, so I would recommend this book for anyone seeking help. Just keep tissues nearby. And maybe a nice cup of tea.

Egalleys for The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen were provided by Penguin Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

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In the tumult and chaos of my daily life enters the peaceful and wonderfully wrought THE CURIOUS KITTEN AT THE CHIBINEKO KITCHEN by Yuta Takahashi. In this story, guests are offered the chance to revisit their past through favorite meals alongside Chibi, the resident kitten. I was charmed and whisked away like the diners at this out-of-the-ordinary restaurant. Deftly written, this story is the very respite I crave. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

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A quick cozy read!

This book is the perfect mixture of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and The Kamogawa Food Detectives.

Though a quick read, the book allows plenty of breathing room, that makes the story feel airy and soft. I love the seaside setting and the fun additions of the recipes between the chapters. I'm looking forward to reading more from this series!

Thank you Penguin Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

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If I had a nickel for everytime I read a Japanese book that featured a shop with magic and a cat for a mascot, I would have two nickels, which isn't a lot but it's *great* that it's happened twice!

I really love books that share themes of grief and how to process longing. Emotions are high with this story and it's so beautifully written. I really enjoyed my time experiencing this magical read. If you're in the mood for a beautifully crafted story, with themes of high emotions, nostalgia, grief and a dash of magic, this one is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin publishing group for this eARC!

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this was such a good read!! I loved all the 3 chps! 😊💗 thankyou to the author, publisher and netgalley for this arc!! rtc later this month!

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