If "right where you left me" was a happy song, *Before the Coffee Gets Cold* would be its melancholic, wiser older sister. Toshikazu Kawaguchi crafts a story that’s less about time travel and more about the weight of unspoken words and the bittersweet ache of second chances. This isn't a plot-driven thrill ride; it's a character study, a quiet meditation on regret and the courage it takes to confront the past. Reading *Before the Coffee Gets Cold* felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a r...

BookTok said "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" wasn't sad, but I was still sobbing at the end. Yeah, I'd cry too if I had to read a 200-page book about women losing "everything.""Everything" as in each woman Toshikazu Kawaguchi wrote only has one purpose in their life. Should've done my research and seen that this book was written by a man.First story: A smart, career woman crying over a man who chose his career over her. Be fucking for real.Second story: A woman devoting her life to care for her hu...

This was a beautiful and profound story… so why do I feel like I’m carrying a twenty-pound weight of crushing, paralyzing sadness on my chest?! If you're looking for emotional book reviews, be warned: Toshikazu Kawaguchi's *Before the Coffee Gets Cold* will wreck you.

People who can go back in time in a coffee shop? Count me in!There are some pretty strict rules, but the character-driven stories were definitely interesting. I'm not entirely sure how to rate Toshikazu Kawaguchi's *Before the Coffee Gets Cold*, so this might change, but... 3.5 stars?Looking for a good book review? Here's my take.The only story I didn't care for in *Before the Coffee Gets Cold* was the last one. I absolutely hate the trope of "woman keeps pregnancy knowing it will kill her becau...

This was quite lovely.At times, it was *very* lovely. My favorite things are lovely things, and simple, wonderful magical realism is my favorite genre when it's done well, which is rare. For a while, it seemed like \"Before the Coffee Gets Cold\" by Toshikazu Kawaguchi could qualify as being both of those things.But then... a major buzzkill arrives. My parade gets rained on. Storm clouds are gathering. Insert more rain metaphors here.Unfortunately, I have to tuck away the thing that threatened t...

Summary This is a beautifully written novel set inside a retro cafe where time travel is possible. It weaves together four distinct stories, each featuring characters with their own unique lives, yet they all perfectly complement each other. What I learned from this book 1) The effect of Alzheimer’s disease in marital and family life In Alzheimer’s disease, the subtle and sporadic decline of a patient's brain function can be an incredibly difficult period for their partners and fa...

Despite a tantalizing premise, the execution of time travel, with ever-added new rules, feels sloppy. And the underlying morale of the four stories is, in my opinion, quite conservative.The underlying messaging that grated on meTo elaborate on my last sentence, here's what I mean:The first story feels so old-fashioned, with a girl crying over being left by a guy, and this just continues. I mean, the geeky boyfriend of a stunningly beautiful girl gets a job in the US (with a game studio, of all t...

This book reminds me of an old Italian car, maybe an Alfa Romeo, or a Ferrari from the 70s.On the surface, it looks fantastic, but when you fire it up… oh dear. At best, the poor thing limps along well under the speed limit, an ominous cacophony of clunking and grinding noises issuing from under the hood.I was expecting much more, especially since *Before the Coffee Gets Cold* has so many fans.I can see why – the central concept is a nice one, and the stories are cute, in a charmingly Japanese w...

5/5 starsNo doubt about it, *Before the Coffee Gets Cold* by Toshikazu Kawaguchi lives up to the hype. The writing is beautifully simple, and the concept is incredibly unique, especially considering how overdone time travel stories are. It's profoundly tragic, yet also incredibly uplifting, tackling tough subjects that almost everyone can relate to. Honestly, it's one of the few books I can genuinely call INSPIRING. Absolutely loved this – wow! If you're looking for heartwarming book reviews, lo...

Despite the intriguing premise, the writing really spoiled "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" for me. It reads more like a stage play than a novel, with all the setup and characters feeling very… staged. Everything is spelled out, and the entire story unfolds within the walls of the coffee shop. The blurb is spot-on, so I won't rehash the details. However, nothing grabbed my attention. The characters felt like puppets on strings, their dialogue stilted, and their actions unnatural. The time travel ...