A review by jessi_readss
Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

5.0

Looking for a book with Spirited Away vibes that is absolutely mesmerizing? Look no further besties, get this book. 

This book is an absolute standout for me for the entire year. It was a fantastical tale about love, loss, the past, the present, and the future. The main character of the story, Hana, is a stubborn and headstrong woman who has to go against everything she has ever been told when her father goes missing. But in her world? Not everything is always as it seems. 

And then we have the male main character, an equally stubborn, yet intelligent man named Kei, who wanders in to Hana’s pawnshop just as she awakens to find her father missing. He agrees to join her and help her find her father and together they go on a magical quest to find answers. 

The writing is lyrical and masterful, the world building is immersive and beautiful, the characters are so well developed and complex that you feel for them and are rooting for them the entire journey. 

The ending? Stop, full stop, I didn’t know what to think and had to take a breather before even finishing the book. This book captured my attention and my whole heart throughout every turn. There was never a dull moment for me, I even loved their downtime conversations and the flashback scenes. 

In summary, this book was even more than what I expected. I am a huge Studio Ghibli fan, so I already knew I would like it, but no, I absolutely adore it. πŸ’•

πŸͺ Spirited Away vibes
πŸͺ time jumps 
πŸͺ 3rd person pov
πŸͺ multi person pov
πŸͺ magical setting
πŸͺ romance subplot
πŸͺ slow burn