Reviews - Before the Coffee Gets Cold

57.6k reviews for:

Before the Coffee Gets Cold

Toshikazu Kawaguchi

3.74 AVERAGE

unofficialcate's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

beebee_3107's review against another edition

3.5

emotional hopeful relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

This was a warm and cozy read. Perfect for fall. I really liked the short story format, and the message behind everything. I just had a hard time with the translation of the book.

courtofsmutandstuff's review against another edition

3.0

In the same vein as the other Japanese magical-realism books I've read. It's cozy despite characters wanting to travel back in time to talk to dead loved ones.

Content Warnings

safflower's review against another edition

3.5

emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

michelleeesaraa's review against another edition

3.75

funny mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: Yes

milliejoyce123's review against another edition

4.0

hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

readsbyjisoo's review against another edition

5.0

the mother and child chapter is so sad and heartbreaking

k1ng_0f_camel0t's review against another edition

4.0

lighthearted reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

chobette's review against another edition

4.25

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I struggled at first with this book - I wasn't a fan of the first story with Fumiko & Goro - it felt like it drug on more than it should have and I originally didn't like Fumiko's personality. It started picking up for me when I got to learn more about Fusagi and Kohtake - Fusagi's Alzheimer's is getting bad and forgets who Kohtake is. In the next story Hirai tells her sister that she will come home to run the inn. Kumi telling Hirai that it was her dream that they ran the inn together really hit me emotionally. It's a great reminder to myself and anyone else to not let things go unsaid as you may never get a chance again to say them. Unless there is a magical cafe that does truly exist.
The last story I foreshadowed, but it didn't make it any less emotional. I am mad that the rule is they can only sit in the seat once as I was hoping there would be a way for Miki to visit her mom often from the future. I have so many questions - who is the woman sitting in that spot? Did Goro ever come back like he said he would? I'm excited to read the next book in this series, "Tales from the Cafe".

Content Warnings

cannonlee's review against another edition

3.5

hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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