Reviews

Before the Coffee Gets Cold #1 by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, Toshikazu Kawaguchi

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jennabri0913's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

This book is everything I usually don’t like: character driven, short stories, literary fiction. Yet, I absolutely loved it. I thought I’d was extremely well written and had the perfect amount of backstory while holding my attention to the main plot. My favorite story was husband and wife but I enjoyed them all.

ais_sea's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective

4.0

🥹

onegalonelife27's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful relaxing 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

4.5

In the hustle of Tokyo, a little cafe exists where you can go back in time…

I found this story fascinating since there are several rules-simple enough but daunting in practice-that makes one question if it’s even possible. Each chapter stars a traveler of the chapter, wrestling about traveling, overcoming the rules and then being able to to talk to whoever they wanted-before the coffee gets cold.

I do feel like the last chapter was more of a gut punch then it needed to be-like it’s good but man it just hurts so much. Like the author wanted to make sure you cried before you finished the book, I certainly teared up.

We actually meet quite a lot of the cast in the first chapter-made up of various regulars of the cafe and the staff. I think this lends to more telling than showing in the narration, but given the setting is always in the cafe and the characters that often show up, I found the style fitting. It gives enough description to help build on and helps the reader understand each character.

While it does make me curious how the formula is changed for future stories, I’m currently good on the series. Like i said, the last chapter really puts you through the emotional wringer.

Content Warnings

mrssalt22's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-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? Yes

5.0

The characters aren't just loveable, they are tangible. There is something so visceral about hearing the 'normal' lives of the customers of this Cafe that evokes a sense of emotion rarely felt in modern fiction.