Reviews

Tales from the Café by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

jadiejane's review against another edition

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3.0

I’d liked to think that I would cover the coffee with a saucer or my hands. But when I read, “Even if you find some way to retain the coffee’s heat, it will have no effect and will get cold anyway,” I think my thoughts remained in that moment. Because if I choose to travel to the past, I would want to spend as much time as possible with the person I went back to meet.

ameamesakura's review

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emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

veka's review against another edition

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relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

ninamtx's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad fast-paced
  • 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? It's complicated

5.0

estock36's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

belarna's review against another edition

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emotional reflective

3.0

Overall: 3⭐️
The Four Stories (individual ratings):
I: The Best Friend - 4⭐️
II: Mother and Son - 3.25⭐️
III: The Lovers - 2.5-2.75⭐️
IV: The Married Couple - 3.75⭐️

I did a hybrid read with the physical book and the audio - loved the narrator. Will likely read more of these if Shen is the narrator of the other books!

nicolemctye's review against another edition

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It should never have been printed. 

literarycryptid's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • 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

4.75

lexythebookworm_'s review against another edition

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5.0

4.5 ⭐️

It's rare to find a sequel to a book (that was already good) that lives up to the reader's expectations. But I must say that, in this case, I enjoyed this second part even more than the first one.
These beautiful four tales, or short stories, that take place at this Café, are completely heart moving and beautiful. I would even dare to use the expression "hauntingly beautiful", since it really made me shed a couple of tears and feel happy, despite the portion of sadness that they generated inside of me.

I truly recommend the "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" books to anyone, not only to readers. The stories are truly delightful, easy to read and completely heart warming.

Warning: the ending did actually make me shed a couple of tears. So proceed with caution while wearing mascara :P

siobhannil's review against another edition

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adventurous inspiring reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes

5.0