Reviews

Before Your Memory Fades by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

p_b_23's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

itsme_bianca's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death

kris_hayward's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

plz stop killing everyone

divinedemireader's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

djwang1994's review

hopeful lighthearted reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

ghostsversion's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Godammit Kawaguchi why did you break my heart with that ending? Like sure I guess I should’ve known that it wasn’t possible but like I never thought that

Nanako would actually die! Also she fought from dying because Reiji told her she would be his wife! Why Kawaguchi why? 😭

Anyhow, as always, the stories are really good at both breaking your heart and warming the leftover pieces. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Death

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Car accident

clocphx's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

These stories are good and the narratives cleverly woven together. But by the third book in the series, I become impatient in the story development and confused by the Japanese names.

eloisesal's review

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

I was disappointed by this one, I was looking forward to going back to the cosy time travelling cafe again, but I found the writing style too repetitive. I didn't mind if some things were re-explained from the previous books (in fact I definitely needed that) but even the stories within this book were recapped multiple times. It's like each chapter was stand-alone and therefore had to catch the reader up every time with important information and characters. 

The stories were nice, they all had a theme of early death, and how to go on living without the person you love the most. I liked the setting (different from the previous two books) and the way it described each season changing. And of course the cafe just has a lovely cosy feel.

totallynotkara's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

i loved this series sm!! they’re so simple yet so intricate, just like real life. the series maintained its quality throughout and i really loved it. 

maddiekelley's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad

4.25