Review by kari_f - We'll Prescribe You a Cat

kari_f 's review for:

We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida

4.0

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

“The amount of time you spent together probably matters, but less time doesn’t mean less love. Whether it’s a day or year, human or cat, and even if we may never see them again, there are those who are irreplaceable in our lives.”

I love a quiet Japanese slice of life book, and if there is an element of magic involved, even better! This book fit perfectly into this category, with each chapter focusing on a different person seeking to improve something about their life. We see Kyoto-based vignettes about overworked employees, perfectionistic employers, parents struggling to relate to their kids, and more. Most importantly, we see how cats, with all of their many personalities, are perfectly matched with each skeptical patient and how this brings insight and optimism into each individual’s life.

As with many stories of this kind, the language is simple and direct. You won’t find flowery exposition in this novel, but you really don’t need it. It’s easy to connect and empathize with each character anyway, and I found myself wanting the best for each of them. There is also a bit of mystery about the clinic itself, and I loved putting the little clues from each vignette together as we moved toward the conclusion.

If you love heartwarming stories, quiet slice of life vignettes, and/or reading about the shenanigans of cats, this book might be perfect for you!

Content warnings: Grief, mental health stigma, animal death

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Berkley for this advanced copy of the book!

Content Warnings