A review by monicalaurette
The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide

emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

“When she began to sleep on the sofa - a deep sense of happiness arrived.”

I picked this book up from a flea market on a whim because the concept sounded adorable and also emotional. I wasn’t wrong, it was emotional and cute.

Maybe it’s because I’m already a cat owner and have been since I was born (family has always had cats) but I’ve never had the emotions the couple did when Chibi began to visit them and treat them like a second family. However I know how much cats can change a life because just the small time I was in college without my cats was hard.

“How much we see through colored glasses.”

Now this book didn’t touch me the same way it has touched others, but I did enjoy the story and seeing the couple change in their lives from their feline guest. I am giving this book just 3.5 stars for now. If I read it again later the rating may change but for now it’s going to be this. And it would be a book I would recommend for people to just in general have never had a pet.

Chibi’s real owners were unnecessarily mean to the couple after her death. Like why glare at them in the street? If I knew my neighbors had taken care of my cat during her wanderings I would want to know all the information they had.
I had wished that the couple would have purchased the main house & maybe the guesthouse from the old lady but then again the housing market was rising so that could have been hard and I myself can barely afford my apartment I share with a roommate.
Why didn’t the couple try to take Mrs. Muddy if she didn’t have an owner? What happened to her too? I’d be following that cat around for DAYS trying to get Muddy to live with me
Expand filter menu Content Warnings