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

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

As I was reading this at the start I felt almost disappointed as I had heard so many great things about this book that I wanted it to create some kind of intense revelation and that just wasn't the case half way through. I read a much heavier novel directly before this so the sharp contrast in content definitely influenced this. As a whole, I loved it and I'm so glad that I read it all (in one sitting). I think it was a beautiful telling of time and how as much as we want to be able to shape our lives (particularly events that are heart wrenching), the reality is you cannot change anything. When thinking of time travel portrayal (whether from writing or on-screen movies/tv shows) the main aim is often to change or shape an event, whereas 'Before the coffee gets cold' approaches time travel with a structured list of rules with a strong emphasis on that it won't change the present/future. I personally loved this take on it and found it refreshingly reflective as it offered the characters a new perspective on their individual reasons for taking the seat. There are some incredible takeaways from this piece of writing and though it initially presents itself as the telling of very individual events, the book shows the beauty in friendships & relationships through the time spent in the cafe. I'd recommend this to anyone (and I will rave about it to whoever will listen) and is an easy read that could help those stuck in a reading slump - I read this in one sitting and it only took me a few hours.