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risemini's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, Grief, Terminal illness, Alcohol, and Death of parent
writteninmagic's review
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
2.5
(Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam for providing me with an eARC to review.)
The story was a quick, lighthearted read. I enjoyed reading about the variety of Japanese food that the restaurant made. My favorite parts of the story were where the restaurant owner told the customers how he prepared their meals. It highlighted the effort and care he puts into his cooking.
Unfortunately, there wasn't much substance to the characters. Even with Nagare (the restaurant owner) and Koishi (Nagare's daughter who runs the restaurant with him), we barely know them as characters. It was all surface level. Each chapter focused on a new customer as they sought out the restaurant; it was very repetitive how they found the restaurant through the food magazine ad, remarked that it was hard to find, noticed a photo on the wall in the corridor while heading to the detective office, and reacted to the food that they requested). The way Nagare and Koishi responded to them also felt repetitive. Also, the translation had oddly phrased sentences.
The story was a quick, lighthearted read. I enjoyed reading about the variety of Japanese food that the restaurant made. My favorite parts of the story were where the restaurant owner told the customers how he prepared their meals. It highlighted the effort and care he puts into his cooking.
Unfortunately, there wasn't much substance to the characters. Even with Nagare (the restaurant owner) and Koishi (Nagare's daughter who runs the restaurant with him), we barely know them as characters. It was all surface level. Each chapter focused on a new customer as they sought out the restaurant; it was very repetitive how they found the restaurant through the food magazine ad, remarked that it was hard to find, noticed a photo on the wall in the corridor while heading to the detective office, and reacted to the food that they requested). The way Nagare and Koishi responded to them also felt repetitive. Also, the translation had oddly phrased sentences.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Alcohol, Dementia, Terminal illness, and Grief
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