Will I love Before the Coffee Gets Cold?

I read the English translation of this while on holiday in Japan, and could almost smell the coffee in the shop. The concept is clever and touching, and well executed by the author.

Unforeseen forces, mystery, and time travel in the confines of a coffee shop, what isn’t to like?

I read this book when I was in the middle of moving countries. The book helped me to slow down amongst all the turbulence of movers and then the dreaded Covid vaccination certificates. But with moving, I had to say goodbye to friends, and there was one close friend who did not like the fact I was leaving and, therefore, refused to see me before I left. There are many reasons why people react in certain ways, but I was hurt during that… show more.

This was one of the most innovative books I’ve read in a long time. The premise of the book is fascinating–you can go back in time, but you can’t change anything, and you have to stay in your seat at the coffee shop until the coffee gets cold.

You’d think that would be so limiting that nothing would change–but you’d be wrong. It’s a bittersweet novel about personal relationships and how much just small gestures can impact us. I liked that it focused on small, interpersonal relationships rather than large, sweeping stories.

This is a beautiful story that captured my heart. I loved how the novel explores the concept of time travel, not with grand adventures, but through quiet, meaningful moments. The setting of the small café, where patrons can travel back in time, felt warm and comforting, and I was moved by the characters’ personal journeys as they sought closure or reconciliation.

The book shows the impact of small decisions and the importance of cherishing the present. You will need a box of tissues to read this one. If only I could visit the cafe to have a coffee with my… show more.

It was just such a unique, thoughtful little book, tightly written with really good pacing. Although it was slow and meditative, it ended up having a very intricately crafted plot that brought together the lives of a whole group of characters in a way I didn't expect. The plot was never predictable, but kept surprising me till the end; it was very simple but beautiful and very good sci-fi, and used the central conceit in a satisfying way.

What a cozy, lovely warm cashmere embrace this book was. I loved the premise, the writing and the characters. This is the first part of a series. Highly recommend.

This book was addictive. A curious café with time travel. But this isn’t science fiction but rather a heartfelt and tender exploration of the self, human relations, and understanding. Yet this is less science fiction and more a heartfelt and tender exploration of the self, human relations, and understanding.

Kawaguchi takes us on a journey of redemption, loss, joy, despair, reconciliation, sorrow, acceptance, grief, and love with his simple and touching story that pulls you into its orbit and reaches deep inside.

This is one of those rare books that is both pleasing and improving and does so before the… show more.

This book is a collection of small, powerful but sentimental stories around serious and personal themes that will tug at your heartstrings. Each story left me wanting more as the characters are forced to wrap up their quick journey into the past before their coffee gets cold. The sense of longing, loss, nostalgia, and community are central themes of this book, and it certainly made me reminisce about people and memories dear to my heart. 

There are some offbeat reasons I picked this book, and one is that if you’re around the Indian Summer age you might have got into a reading rut, and it’s an intriguing rut-breaker, nicely translated but evoking a different world and way of thinking. The main reason, though, is, indirectly, baggage, the releasing of. The premise of the novel allows patrons of the café to go back in time to a previous meeting, and say what they wish they’d said at the time. It won’t change events, and they can stay only until their coffee in real time gets cold.… show more.