Grateful to Putnam, who provided ARCs to attendees at the #bookhuddle retreat at Victoria, Canada!

The Tenderness Convenience Store in Mojiko is at the heart of the community. This charming novel portrays slice of life interactions among the workers and patrons of the convenience store and its dine-in area. This novel is literally the definition of a cozy, feel-good read - each chapter focuses on a different character and how interactions within Tenderness help them find the things they didn't know they were missing. Azusa and Nayuta - two school age girls both dealing with social pressures from their classmates - had a particularly touching vignette.

I really enjoyed this novel and highly recommend for anyone looking for a sweet and relaxing step away from reality.

Many thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons for the digital review copy via NetGalley.

The Convenience Store by the Sea Synopsis

This book features a series of chapters that read a lot like interlinked short stories. Each chapter focuses on a different character and the way their connection to a specific branch of the Tenderness Convenience Store impacts their lives.

The store is sort of the central hub that all stories touch on, and many characters re-appear across multiple chapters even as the focus shifts to someone new. The people that go to and work at Tenderness are all different ages, genders, and life stages, so each chapter shows a different personal struggle or challenge and how the community helps them navigate it.

The Convenience Store by the Sea Review

I wasn't sure how much weird versus cozy to expect from this book, as the store is described as "a bit odd" in the description. Some translated works like Convenience Store Woman have taught me this can be code for unsettling. But in this case, the oddity is charming, quirky strangeness.

Yes, things are a bit unusual, but each chapter offers an insightful look at different facets of being human. From the father who feels puzzled about his retired life to the young man experiencing his first crush, each person navigates some significant realization or moment in their life. And part of that navigation is the community around the Tenderness convenience store and neighboring retirement community.

I really liked how well each chapter's unique story was connected to the others while still standing as its own deep dive into a specific person. Seeing the different characters show up in each other's stories gave us different perspectives on them, which I enjoyed. And the stories are incredibly heartwarming and impactful. I couldn't relate as strongly to some of them as others, but every single chapter felt like it tapped into some essential element of being human in the world.

The convenience store element also means we got some truly lovely descriptions of food, which I always enjoy as part of a cozier read. I will say, some of the chapters were more emotional than I expected, and I cried a couple of times.

In all, this was truly a wonderful variety of human stories all centered on an inviting community space. I absolutely adored The Convenience Store by the Sea, and think I'll be thinking about some of these characters and their journies for quite some time.

Sonoko Machida's 'The Convenience Story by the Sea' is a tender, quietly powerful novel that builds a full world from the humble aisles of a seaside konbini. Told through a constellation of loosely connected vignettes, the novel orbits around a 24-hour store called Tenderness - where bentos, bandages, soft serve, and subtle acts of compassion coexist. Here, routine becomes ritual, and even the most ordinary night shift can alter a life's course.

Rather than following a single protagonist, the novel introduces a range of characters whose lives intersect in unexpected and touching ways. There's Mitsuri, a part-timer and secret manga artist; Azusa, a lonely middle schooler with pastry-shop dreams; and a burnt out tutor who rediscovers creativity under flickering fluorescent lights. At the heart of it all is Shiba, the store's unfailingly kind manager, who anchors the narrative with quiet resilience and emotional generosity.

The structure is episodic, but each chapter is crafted with care and depth, creating a sense of emotional accumulation. Machida's prose - beautifully translated by Bruno Navasky - is spare, graceful, and often deeply moving. Without sentimentality, the books explores themes of loneliness, burnout, grief, and renewal. What binds it all together is a belief in small kindnesses and the unlikely sanctuaries we find in routine.

Fans of 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold', 'Convenience Store Woman', or 'The Kamogawa Food Detectives' will feel at home here. This novel trades on quiet transformation, on the dignity of labor, and on the idea that even a place designed for transactions can become a site of deep connection.

If there's one minor critique, it's that a few storylines end just as they begin to unfold - but in a way, that's true to the book's spirit. Life doesn't always offer neat resolutions. Sometimes, it just offers a well-timed snack, a warm light on a cold night, or a stranger who remembers your name.

This delightful collection of stories taking place in a convenience store is such a balm to the soul. Some stories are sweeter than others but they all involve the customers and staff, their quirks and customs, and they bring you into the minutiae that makes life interesting. I enjoyed this a lot.

The Convenience Store by the Sea by Sonoko Machida is a charming and heartfelt entry into the "healing fiction" genre, offering readers a quiet escape to a 24/7 convenience store in the peaceful seaside town of Mijiko, Kitakyushu. Though the title might suggest an ordinary, even mundane setting, the novel is anything but. The narrative is rich with warmth, and the characters are deeply endearing, drawing readers into their lives with ease.

At the heart of the story is the "Tenderness" convenience store, a place where healing happens, not just through its snacks and daily offerings, but through its caring atmosphere and the interactions between its eclectic cast. Machida expertly blends elements of introspection and community, creating a world where small acts of kindness and personal connections leave lasting impacts. It’s a gentle reminder of the beauty of human relationships and the comfort found in the simplest places.

The book leaves readers longing for a place like Tenderness in their own lives, where even the most mundane moments are touched with meaning. I highly recommend reading this book!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy 🙏🏼

I loved this book so much! It’s a very cosy read. It really shows how imperative a convenience store is and how important convenience store employees are.

This book was so beautifully written. I loved the format!

It was a lighter read but still highlighted a lot of issues most people face and wonderfully showed how we can be better people, for ourselves and others.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I cannot wait for the other books in this series to be translated to English.

A novel in the same vein as other recent cozy Japanese novels. However, this is not a best in show. A little too slow and not quite as engaging as others in this genre.

Sweet but not sickly sweet. Perfectly cozy and loved the convenience store setting. Very cute slice of life kind of novel

This book was not for me. I have tried reading this many times in the past month or so, and cannot get past page 60.

Things that don't work for me:
- The pacing is very slow.
- There is not much plot, but I can see some threads that might overlap towards the end of the story.
- I do not think this should be recommended to fans of "Convenience Store Woman."
- I had a difficult time connecting to any of the characters.

Things that might work for other people:
- This is a very cozy, very low stakes books.
- The writing is very atmospheric and descriptive.
- Getting to learn about a slice of life in Japan might be fun for some readers.

I was really looking forward to this book, so I'm bummed that it was not for me. However, reading is subjective and I do think that this book will find it's audience.

Each chapter is a different story, but all about the same connivence store by the sea, called Tenderness. Their motto is “Caring for People, Caring For You! Each story you learn more about this special store!

These stories are fun, entertaining and heartfelt! It shows the impact of human connection! A great book to read for book clubs as it will lead to interesting discussions!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This took me a while to get through but I did not want to dnf since I did not really have a good reason for it.
This book fell short to me and unfortunately I was not able to connect with the story which makes me extremely sad. It kind of felt like a Fredrick Beckham book in a way, an author who l've also struggled to connect with regardless of the good writing. If you like that kind of style I 100% recommend this cute and heartwarming book where you learn about the different struggles that every day people can go through as well as the joy.

Just seems to be a series of events happening one after the other with no connection between them or reason to be invested. Information is also needlessly repeated and it feels like padding.

I usually really enjoy slice-of-life Japanese literature, so I was hopeful going into The Convenience Store by the Sea. It had the quiet, reflective tone I tend to love, but for some reason, it just didn’t click with me this time.

I gave it a try but found myself struggling to stay engaged, and after two chapters, I realized I wasn’t connecting with the story the way I’d hoped. I ended up setting it aside, though I can see how it might appeal to other readers who enjoy this kind of slow, atmospheric storytelling.

Maybe it just wasn’t the right book for me at the moment.

This book was so sweet! I am finding that I really enjoy this genre of Japanese literature. It definitely came along to me at the right time! I found it very comparable to the Kamogawa Food Detectives or even a lighter version of Before the Coffee Gets Cold. This was very light and I loved the slightly connected stories!

This was a cozy, comforting read. I enjoyed reading about the descriptions of the convenience store food and meeting all the interesting characters.

Books like these have become so popular and I thought I knew exactly what to expect with this one, but I was wrong. Short, sweet, East Asian novels that features libraries or cats or convenience stores aren't hard to come by and tend to follow the same or similar styles. They are formulaic and comfortable. The Convenience Store by the Sea, while also comfy and soothing, is not as predictable as others. The strings that tie the various characters together aren't as tight. There is a bit more variation. I liked the balance that it struck between smoothness and digestibility with a bit of quirkiness and novelty.

I think I’ll always have a soft spot for books like this, the kind that move so slowly, it almost doesn’t feel like you’re reading at all. Slice-of-life stories can be hit or miss for me, but this one was definitely a hit… with a gentle miss, only because I picked the wrong time to read it (my bad!)

Still, the book is delicate and utterly charming. The writing is kinda simple, the atmosphere is warm and soothing, and everything just feels right.

There’s just something so endlessly comforting to me about this slice of life genre. A collection of loosely connected stories centering around a convenience store, with food at the heart of it all. I love it. If you’ve read The Kamogawa Food Detectives or The Curios Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen, this one will feel right at home. Probably with a steaming bowl of something delicious in hand, if you’re anything like me.

I always want to live inside books like this. Where the stakes are low, the people are kind, and the food always sounds delicious. They always leave me with such peace of mind, and a cozy feel. I would give anything to live near a convenience store like this. Mine just sells mediocre hot dogs and lottery tickets.

I will say, the writing does feel a little basic at times, almost overly simple. But I also understand that this is a translation, and that might be part of the reason. Still, there’s a charm in not having to think too hard while reading. Sometimes the simplicity works in the book’s favor. Letting the cozy atmosphere and gentle emotions take center stage without distraction. Sometimes it’s nice taking a break from deciphering metaphors or wading through existential dread—though I do love a good spiral into philosophical angst now and then.

Overall, I found this to be a soothing, slow paced read. Like literary comfort food.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putman for the ARC!

I really enjoy so-called "healing fiction," and I love convenience store culture, so I immediately requested this ARC when I saw that it was available on NetGalley. Like many books in this genre, it consists of a series of interconnected stories with recurring characters and themes of people dealing with life's problems -- rejection, love, career, etc. I was expecting a little magical realism (common in these books), but this book didn't go there.

Overall, the stories were an interesting collection, some great, some less interesting. I particularly loved the ones about bullying and retirement, and I liked the world created by the author around this community of senior citizens. It's not the best I've read, as I didn't feel like the ending really brought things together, but I'd recommend it to anyone who's into this kind of book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin/Putnam for the opportunity to read this ARC and provide honest feedback!

There were so many great stories in this book, all leading to a heartwarming ending. I can barely even call it an ending because the characters continue on. My favorite is the the girl students. That one had me in its grasp. This is such a cute and cozy book that I will want to continue reading for a long time