Reviews

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

aimesfire's review

emotional lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

ystam's review

medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

3.0

emamoretti03'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

So heartwarming and touching. It'll make you ugly cry. It starts a little bit slow, it almost seems pointless but then it starts hitting. When you are chilling and when you less expect it it starts with these heart wrenching situations that feel like a punch in the gut. 
I don't know how much it'll take to recover from this

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Death of parent, and Death

joliho's review

mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

shelbymarie516's review against another edition

3.0

I think some of the magic was lost in translation. But this concept was really sweet, and enjoyable. I am not normally a magical realism fan (as much as I try) but this was one of the better ones. (This review will be the same for the other two I read btw)

a_fantasy_lover's review

3.0

This book is packed with emotions. It talks about how one small act can change a whole person. It's just that I felt the characters were a little confusing, but the book is worth reading.

eamcmahon3's review

3.0

Not my favorite. I really didn't like the first story "The Lovers". I liked the last story the best. None of the characters really spoke to me and I didn't really connect to the story.

I like the premise and it's a good concept, but it didn't do it for me.

ranee_samaniego's review against another edition

4.0

A sweet, sweet, heart-wrenching and heart-warming little book.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold is set in a coffee shop, hidden in the busy streets in Tokyo, where patrons can travel in time only until their cup of coffee becomes cold. Each chapter follows different characters in their brief journeys in time, exploring their reasons for making the trip and the results.

I have seen many reviews that complain about the writing style. I, personally, did not find that Kawaguchi focused too much on extraneous detail or that the meaning and beauty of the book was lost in translation. I honestly felt that the simple prose and level of detail was perfect for this book.

madisonmila's review against another edition

4.0

Very cozy read

veesmovingcastle's review

4.0

Al inicio me pareció que todo estaba pasando demasiado rápido en este libro, siento que las historias no tenían mucho desarrollo viendo que tenían mucho potencial. Pero después simplemente le cogí gusto y lo disfrute.

Especialmente las últimas 4 páginas te dejan pensando mucho.