A review by jencolumb0
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A restrained meditation on making peace with a growing through loss. I find myself gravitating toward time travel themes and it was interesting to explore that with a Japanese lens. I am doubtful that I will need to continue the meditation on these characters and themes through the other books in this series but I see why this one has gained popularity and buzz. It does include some emotional punches but is, generally, pretty restrained and low-drama, which can either be a feature or a bug, depending on what you are looking to read. 

For those who may need some content guidance around loss, the four vignettes deal with
an unexpected breakup, memory loss of a spouse, family estrangement and the death of a younger sibling (off page), and maternal loss.
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