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A review by woodsybookworm
The Restaurant of Lost Recipes by Hisashi Kashiwai
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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? No
3.0
These stories were little dramas: A woman who has fallen out of contact with her father tries to connect with her son, a couple who lost their son need to decide whether they "adopt" an apprentice, a woman must decide how to answer a marriage proposal, and more! They're all looking for that one meal from their past that will help them overcome some hurdle in their life. But no matter how hard they try they can't replicate that nostalgia - until they reach out to the Kamogawa Food Detectives!
My favorite arc of the book was "Christmas Cake" where a couple, who own a traditional Japanese bakery, ask for the father-daughter food detectives to recreate the cake that was made for them as an offering after their son's death. The story was heartbreaking, even with how short it was, and of all the arcs this one seemed to have the most depth and development.
I wanted one more chapter for each arc (each character's story arc only lasted two chapters), but there is no third chapter with a final resolution. Every story's character had an issue they needed to resolve and their meal was the stepping stone to reach their final decision but then we never got to see their decision!
While you don't get to learn the final choices of these characters you can still find enjoyment in the descriptions of food and the vibes of each story but if you're someone who needs a definitive resolution then this book is not going to satisfy you 😋
My favorite arc of the book was "Christmas Cake" where a couple, who own a traditional Japanese bakery, ask for the father-daughter food detectives to recreate the cake that was made for them as an offering after their son's death. The story was heartbreaking, even with how short it was, and of all the arcs this one seemed to have the most depth and development.
I wanted one more chapter for each arc (each character's story arc only lasted two chapters), but there is no third chapter with a final resolution. Every story's character had an issue they needed to resolve and their meal was the stepping stone to reach their final decision but then we never got to see their decision!
While you don't get to learn the final choices of these characters you can still find enjoyment in the descriptions of food and the vibes of each story but if you're someone who needs a definitive resolution then this book is not going to satisfy you 😋
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death