A review by sweetsxrrxw
Before Your Memory Fades by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing 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? Yes

3.75

even though i enjoyed this book, it didn't have the same magic as the other ones. most of the stories felt so familiar to the other eight we've read before so that was lowkey disappointing. the change of setting was okay but i was really sad when i realized miki wasn't one of the characters, as i loved her so much as a kid in the second book :( also, i was expecting to shed a tear while reading because i am an easy crier and i teared up with the earlier books but... that didn't happen.

however, as far as can be expected, it was good! i loved to see nagare being a bit more open about kei and kazu being a mom. although i didn't love sachi as much as i loved miki, she was really cute

when she gave reiji her favorite book </3

and i am still surprised by her smartness. and i don't think i've hated any of the new characters. matter of fact, for some reason, i loved reiji since his first appearances. i thought he was adorable on his own way, lmao. nanako was also lovable

but i am really sad that she died, i was really hoping she would make it

and i enjoyed dr. saki's presence because it gave the book a psychological touch. yukari's presence in every story made me wish we could have met her, she seems like a great person.

and i was SHOCKED to learn she was the author of the one hundred questions book. idk it was such a cool twist and i genuinely loved answering to the questions everytime sachi read them out loud

unlike other readers, i was not expecting an explanation for the ghost, especially since it was described as someone with last century looks which means that no one knew anything about him. 
and regardless of the stories sounding so familiar, i loved each one of them and their moral. hope, faith and grieving were big topics beautifully touched with each of the characters. 
oh and i also liked how this time the author made sure most of the characters who wanted to time travel knew about the rules, so they wouldn't have to be explained over and over again.

i was even a bit surprised and... maybe lowkey pleased that the book explored a character who travelled with the intention of not coming back

summing up; even if it was not as good as the two first books, it was still a comforting read and i am looking forward to read the fourth book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Grief