This was an incredibly cute book. I loved how well, yet simply the concepts of death, grief, and moving on are executed. I loved how emotional the writing was, and the translation was beautiful.

In a remote seaside town outside of Tokyo, Kotoko makes her way along a seashell path, lured by whispers of an enigmatic restaurant whose kagezen, or traditional meals offered in remembrance of loved ones, promise a reunion with the departed. When a gust of wind lifts off her hat, she sees running after it a young man who looks like her recently deceased brother. But it’s not her brother; it’s Kai, the restaurant’s young chef, who returns her hat and brings her to the tiny establishment, where he introduces her to Chibi, the resident kitten, and serves her steaming bowls of simmered fish, rice, and miso soup—the exact meal her brother used to cook for her. As she takes her first delicious bite, the gulls outside fall silent, the air grows hazy, and Kotoko begins a magical journey of last chances and new beginnings.

So cute, comforting, and just an adorable read all together. I love love love love stories like this and I am so happy I got to read this early.

3.5 stars

“The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen” was a delightful treat of a novella. At the restaurant by the sea (which has a cat), patrons can request a remembrance meal in honor of someone they’ve lost. The twist: as long as steam still rises from the food, they are able to speak to the loved one they miss the most. This book reads like a cluster of interconnected sort stories, centered abound Kai, the chef at the kitchen, and Kotoko, the first patron we meet. Kotoko is grieving the sudden loss of her brother in a traffic accident and blames herself for his death; when Kai prepares the meal her brother used to cook for her, she is able to speak to him again and get closure for his loss. We met several more patrons: a young schoolboy grieving his first love, an elderly man mourning his departed wife, and more. Throughout the story the kitten is present for the remembrances.
This book was a lovely read and very quick. I appreciated the inclusion of recipes to separate the different stories from one another, it was a really nice touch. A lot of thought about grief and carrying on after loss went into this book, but it didn’t feel sad; rather, this book is about acceptance of loss. Very well written and enjoyable.

I picked this one out because I thought the style may be similar to Until the Coffee Runs Cold. I did enjoy the first book of that series, but then it felt repetitive. This story is basically the same exact thing, but I couldn’t connect with the characters. I didn’t feel the same emotions.

If you haven’t read Until the Coffee Runs Cold, you may enjoy it, but it feels too familiar.

En la cocina de Chibineko preparan Kagezen, una comida conmemorativa que, al probarla, permite escuchar la voz de un ser querido y, en algunos casos, incluso verlo.

La historia se centra en cuatro personas que han perdido a alguien importante en sus vidas y buscan encontrar un cierre:

- Kotoko quiere comunicarse con su hermano Yuito, quien murió muy joven en un accidente del cual ella se siente culpable.
- Taiji desea escuchar a Fumika, su primer amor, quien falleció hace algunos meses, y él nunca supo que estaba gravemente enferma.
- Yoshio, por su parte, quiere realizar una especie de funeral para él mismo, y al mismo tiempo busca algo que le recuerde a su esposa, Setsu. Esta historia me pareció la más triste, aunque no estoy completamente segura de por qué, ya que en realidad tuvieron una vida plena.
- Finalmente, está Kai, el hijo de Nanami, la fundadora de Chibineko, quien falleció recientemente. Kai desea cerrar el negocio, pues no encuentra sentido en seguir con el trabajo de su madre.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While reading the synopsis, I thought this book would be about a romantic relationship in the setting of a restaurant’s kitchen. It may not have been the book I thought it was, but it may be a book that I needed. I do not want to give away any spoilers, so I shall be short and sweet with this emotional tale. It tells of multiple characters that are dealing with the loss of a loved one and how they deal with that unending grief. The various main characters are in different stages of their life and all deal with the circumstances of the death differently. In a tale that connects food with grief, it is worth a read.

The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen is a book about love and loss. It is broken up into four chapters that focus on different people who are grieving a loss. I enjoyed seeing how all the characters were connected and loved reading how each one sought solace in a different way. The way food and recipes were incorporated was well done, too.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for an advanced copy of this book.

The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen by Yuta Takahashi tells four stories that take place around the concept of kagezen, or remembrance meals that people prepare in memory of loved ones who have passed away. Kotoko travels to the Chibineko kitchen to have a meal with her brother. She is able to redirect her life and forgive herself by having one last conversation with him. The descriptions of the food are mouthwatering, you will want a table at the restaurant if only to enjoy the food! Chibi, the cat, curls up in the restaurant where the magic takes place and adds considerably to the ambience of a cozy place. The other stories take you on a journey through people’s lives and their regrets that lead them to having a meal with their loved ones.

I would recommend this books for all readers, it’s a quick and heartwarming read. The book leaves you feeling better about the world and wanting Japanese food in a quaint kitchen with a cat at your feet. Recipes are included in the text if you want to experience the food featured in the book.

Thank you Penguin Group Viking Putnam and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Loved reading this so much, it was hard not to devour it in one sitting on a rainy day! It was such a cozy and comforting read about a restaurant serving remembrance meals that can summon your dead loved ones to talk to you for a short time while you eat (and has a tiny kitten, of course). I loved how the stories connected and I can't WAIT for the sequel!
Sincere thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Viking for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review!

Summary: Kotoko is in search of peace after her brother dies. When she hears about a restaurant that offers reunion through kagezen (a rememberance meal), she is inclined to try it. During this journey, she uncovers the truths of those she loves and those she recently met.

Review: This book was short yet efficient in delivering the plot. The characters felt well-developed even though the narrative was sparse. However, I could not help comparing it to “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” since the concepts are so similar. While this books reunites people with those lost, it didn’t feel that unique in its magical realism. However, I still enjoyed the story and the characters!

Themes: magical realism, death, grief, reconciliation

Cats and food are essential components of comfy Japanese novels. While this novel contained both, it didn't quite capture me. The author tried to make the characters stories overlap, but there was something clunky about it that didn't convince me.

Something about me is that Haruki Murakami is my favorite author, so I am always game to try translated fiction from Japan, constantly chasing that high. The quiet meditativeness, the introverted introspection, the way the prose luxuriates on mundanity of ordinary life to turn it into something special. Also, a touch of fantasy and always at least one cat.

And in that, I was not disappointed. This book spends time on descriptions of lived emotional experiences, and fixates particularly on the experience of food, and grief and loss. The chapter structure is centered on it. And of course you have the cat.

It’s a bit of a tearjerker, particularly the third chapter (at least for me). It really hits the emotional heights a book like this should. Each chapter shares a story of someone who’s lost a loved one and what their last conversation with that person would be if they could see them one more time.

It’s a quick read at under 100 pages, perfect to spend a bit of time with over a weekend and get sentimental over. 4/5 stars, well-enjoyed, check it out.

*An uncorrected proof of this book was provided by the publisher at the reviewer’s request in exchange for a fair and uncompromising review.

I don’t think I’ve cried so much from the first few pages it had me. Going on with life can be incredibly difficult after loosing someone you care about, though it’s not easy or quick. The book gives insight with the help of the characters how we can go about moving on. Acknowledging the moments you had together, though we miss them people don’t leave us. I enjoyed how the story was set up, the explanations and the way you were able to go into the characters and learn a bit about who they are. Great writing and an amazing story. I really enjoyed this book and if you want a short but meaningful story this is for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher I received a ARC for an honest review !

a beautiful work within the japanese healing fiction genre!

we arrive at the chibineko kitchen, a restaurant that specializes in remembrance meals. it just so happens that these meals enable you to see a loved one that has passed on, and enjoy a final meal and conversation together. oh, and the restaurant has a cat. that's important.

the book started out strong in its description of characters, but it began to feel disjointed as more characters were introduced, but we were simultaneously circling back to older characters, too. there wasn't a strong enough connection between new and previous characters to make a meaningful, inclusive narrative with everyone. i think the story would have been more effective only focusing on kai and kotoko. their friendship/(possible) relationship would have been interesting to explore and aid in creating a more cohesive storyline.

this genre never fails to make me feel safe and warm and this work definitely did that, it just also made me sad. there was a lot of dying, which makes sense due to the premise, but unfortunately that made it a less favorable work in my eyes. death and dying is a topic that often sends me down an existential rabbit hole, so i tend to stay away from it in my stories, especially in this comforting genre.

great translation, though. it's nice to feel zero disconnect when reading a translated work.

special thanks to netgalley and penguin books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest thoughts! you truly cannot go wrong in this genre, so read your heart out! you won't regret it!

I will never get sick of a good story about a cafe and a cat that heal hurting people bit by bit. This one was so cute and comfy, but has so much heart as well.

I intentionally went into this book not knowing much about it but I’m glad I did. I was expecting cozy, food-driven literary fiction. And while the story certainly had that it was also, at its heart, a beautiful and raw exploration of grief, survivor’s guilt, loss, and love, woven through the four stories. It may be a short book but it packed a heavy impact that was healing to read.

Very similar to Before the Coffee gets Cold. Cozy, quick stories about loss and grief. I would have enjoyed a more depth dive into each story and each character.

This is such a lovely group of interwoven stories. Four short stories, separate and yet joined. I was pulled in immediately and touched by the beautiful messages of the special remembrance meals of the Chibinenko Kitchen.

A heartwarming book about loss, grief, and moving on. The Chibineko Kitchen serves remembrance meals that gives you the opportunity to see a loved one that has passed. I enjoyed getting to know the characters of Kai, the cook and owner of the restaurant, and Kotokura, the first patron we meet in the story. Each chapter ends with a recipe for the meal that was served and shows the connections we make through food with loved ones. Each meal and meeting is healing for the characters and helps them with acceptance and moving forward with their lives.