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toastyghosty13's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
While her love for her uncle and his book shop grow, Takako meets others that are living and working in the neighborhood. She makes friendships that last a lifetime and has a therapeutic experience, while also helping her uncle through his own similar experience.
I really liked this book as a light read. It is short, but does not lack in content or passion by any means. If anything, it made me want to open up my own used book store. This book was a joy to read, and I will be reading the 2nd book sometime in the future.
Graphic: Infidelity and Gaslighting
Moderate: Abortion, Infertility, Child death, and Cancer
aileron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Abandonment and Infidelity
Moderate: Grief, Miscarriage, and Mental illness
Minor: Infertility and Abortion
peasandpancakes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I read this book in Dutch and I am sure most of my opinions on it are because the translation felt very bad. The sentences just did not flow well at all, which made it jarring to read. Besides that, I wonder if there is just too much of a culture gap here for me to understand this book and its characters.
I disliked the main character, Takako. Sure, she got out of a bad relationship and was feeling depressed, but she was behaving like such a whiny child that I often forgot she was supposed to be 25.
I’m also going to say it, there are some… questionable things in the story and language used. First, the bath scene felt weird. Second, why was Takako asked if she was into girls when she was (in a strange way I agree) trying to hug her aunt? She was asked the same when she looked at a waitress for 3 seconds earlier in the book. To me that is just not something to joke about
So yeah. Me and this book did not vibe, but if I ever get the chance to read it in English, I am willing to try it.
Graphic: Abandonment and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child death, Grief, Infidelity, and Miscarriage
Minor: Abortion, Homophobia, and Infertility
jacquinotjackie's review
3.0
Moderate: Miscarriage, Infertility, and Infidelity
james_burridge's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It’s incredibly cosy and heart warming (I also loved the little romance sub plot) and I feel a great book to start with when it comes to translated novels. I literally felt like this was a studio Ghibli film in a book.(I also binge read the absolute HECK out of it).The story was like reading the life of a nice person and I liked that.
However, I feel like the characters were a bit 1-sided and never really had any development apart from their relationships.(apart from Takako and Momoko)Also, the 2-part story Just felt like two separate story’s not one and they didn’t really link in any way.
Overall,I like the book(btw this is 3.5 stars rounded up)
Moderate: Infertility, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage
Minor: Child death, Alcoholism, and Abortion
elpalmer's review
3.0
Minor: Miscarriage, Infertility, Terminal illness, and Infidelity
navayiota's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Enjoyable and inspiring. It's good to read stories about finding the joy in slow, peaceful life. Now I'm in the mood to check out the authors mentioned in the book!
Graphic: Infidelity, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, and Alcohol
mtnmama19's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Minor: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Cancer, Infertility, and Abortion
misuki's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Child death, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Infertility
Minor: Death of parent and Mental illness
canadianforest's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Minor: Abortion and Infertility