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Reviews tagging 'Murder'
Tales from the Cafe: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
51 reviews
thestorydoer's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
As a sequel to Before the coffee gets cold, it is a successor which doesn't quite meeting them (due to the quality of the first book). However, it is what is sequel like from this book that is so good, as opposed to it's newer storylines which fall flat.
The first story was quite emotional and I did enjoy it. However, the following 3 stories weren't quite as well executed, often being told with questionable execution. The explanation of the rules somehow becomes more convoluted and old ones are further restated. It felt as if the book was asking to poke holes in its logic which dragged the story out a lot more than it should've.
That being said, the characters who run the cafe, specifically Miki and Kazu bring up this story a lot higher in quality. The characters who were in the previous novel had some very interesting character developments, even with the books tedious execution.
Unfortunately, the book lacks subtextuality which while I don't think subtext is 100% necessary all the time, it does become noticeable once emotional information gets spoon fed.
Overall, a perfectly fine sequel, would recommend if you are a big fan of the first book to remain in its aesthetic, characters, and world. That is, if you felt the first book hadn't fulfilled those desires.
The first story was quite emotional and I did enjoy it. However, the following 3 stories weren't quite as well executed, often being told with questionable execution. The explanation of the rules somehow becomes more convoluted and old ones are further restated. It felt as if the book was asking to poke holes in its logic which dragged the story out a lot more than it should've.
That being said, the characters who run the cafe, specifically Miki and Kazu bring up this story a lot higher in quality. The characters who were in the previous novel had some very interesting character developments, even with the books tedious execution.
Unfortunately, the book lacks subtextuality which while I don't think subtext is 100% necessary all the time, it does become noticeable once emotional information gets spoon fed.
Overall, a perfectly fine sequel, would recommend if you are a big fan of the first book to remain in its aesthetic, characters, and world. That is, if you felt the first book hadn't fulfilled those desires.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Murder
cloud_animals's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Miscarriage and Murder
alliyyamo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Murder, and Cancer
minalinalu's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- 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
Actually never tought I would enjoy a "part 2" book that much but this one was a very light and comfoting read, the book managed to keep me entertainted while not rushing the story giving every character a acceptabel amount of time of devolpment.
The only problem I had with this book was that it never fully gave characters a original and fully writen personality, only their trauma is getting explained so that you can easliy forget the character but not the story.
The only problem I had with this book was that it never fully gave characters a original and fully writen personality, only their trauma is getting explained so that you can easliy forget the character but not the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Violence, Death, Mental illness, and Miscarriage
tarabuxton's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Suicidal thoughts
queergoth_reads's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
3.0
I don't know if this really needed a sequel. It didn't resonate with me the same as the first book. I don't know if it was the novelty of the first book but I felt like I cared for the characters a lot more in that than I did this time round. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, I had a nice time reading it, it was just a bit disappointing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Murder
Moderate: Terminal illness and Suicidal thoughts
likgiltighet_'s review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
thebookishdesigner's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
The second instalment of Before the Coffee Gets Cold is even better than the first. This is still a very slow paced book but I feel like we get less repetition in this book about the rules than we did in the first which I liked because once you have read the first story you really know the rules and how this cafe works.
Where this book excelled in comparison to the first was that we actually got to know the cafe workers characters much better than we did in the first book and by the end you really care about them where as at the end of the first I felt indifferent towards them. When you discover who the woman in the chair is it really does tug on your heart strings.
This book is so full of hope and uplifting lessons I would encourage anyone to read it. I would warn you again that this books deals with some tough subjects so please look into the trigger warnings before you read but I’ll list a few here: murder, miscarriage, cancer and loss of a family member.
Where this book excelled in comparison to the first was that we actually got to know the cafe workers characters much better than we did in the first book and by the end you really care about them where as at the end of the first I felt indifferent towards them. When you discover who the woman in the chair is it really does tug on your heart strings.
This book is so full of hope and uplifting lessons I would encourage anyone to read it. I would warn you again that this books deals with some tough subjects so please look into the trigger warnings before you read but I’ll list a few here: murder, miscarriage, cancer and loss of a family member.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Cancer, Murder, and Death
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? No
5.0
This was such a great sequel. One of the best i’ve read. I absolutely loved the first book and this one gave me the same warm hopeful feeling. We got to learn more about the characters, uncover unfinished ends from the first book, and get some closure on some things. It is such a phenomenal series. It is warm, heartwarming but also sad, and really helps you focus on the good of life and death. I recommend these books to everyone. I think these could be great for anyone with regrets or with loss of a person. I will read these again and again.
Content Warnings
Minor: Abortion, Car accident, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Grief, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Murder, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
navayiota's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Infertility, Miscarriage, Violence, Murder, and Pregnancy