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rainieday's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Chronic illness and Miscarriage
mranger98's review against another edition
emotional
relaxing
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? Yes
3.5
This was a pretty enjoyable read! I picked this up from a bookstore on vacation in Chicago because it was something I didn’t think I could find easily in my small Michigan town, and I thought reading some translated fiction would be a fun challenge. It also sounded like a nice, relaxing, slice of life type story, which it ended up being.
At the beginning of the book, the main character, Takako, loses her boyfriend and job and goes to work at and live at her uncle’s book shop. She is (understandably) somewhat unpleasant at the beginning, but grows a lot as a character throughout the book. I liked her relationship with her uncle and the ways she grew to love reading.
There were a few elements I wish had been developed more, like her relationship with some friends she makes at the coffee shop she frequents. (There is a sequel, so I might read that and hope the author expands on some of these parts of the story.)
There were also some parts where the dialogue was a bit repetitive, although I’m wondering if this may be due to the translation.
This is a good book if you’re looking for something to read curled up on the couch on a rainy day with your favorite coffee or tea. It’s a pretty quick read that I think most people could finish in a few hours.
I picked it up and put it down over the course of a month or so, because I read on my lunch break at work and in other fleeting moments sometimes. All in all, it was something fun to help me get back into reading again.
At the beginning of the book, the main character, Takako, loses her boyfriend and job and goes to work at and live at her uncle’s book shop. She is (understandably) somewhat unpleasant at the beginning, but grows a lot as a character throughout the book. I liked her relationship with her uncle and the ways she grew to love reading.
There were a few elements I wish had been developed more, like her relationship with some friends she makes at the coffee shop she frequents. (There is a sequel, so I might read that and hope the author expands on some of these parts of the story.)
There were also some parts where the dialogue was a bit repetitive, although I’m wondering if this may be due to the translation.
This is a good book if you’re looking for something to read curled up on the couch on a rainy day with your favorite coffee or tea. It’s a pretty quick read that I think most people could finish in a few hours.
I picked it up and put it down over the course of a month or so, because I read on my lunch break at work and in other fleeting moments sometimes. All in all, it was something fun to help me get back into reading again.
Content Warnings
Minor: Chronic illness, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Abortion
booksandfin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
A quick, cozy and enjoyable read. This definitely isn’t the romance it was marketed to me as, but I really loved it. I think that what it does focus on (new beginnings, family, and love in the broadest sense) should be celebrated. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a low stakes read. I just wish some of the sections were longer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Infidelity
Moderate: Chronic illness, Medical content, and Grief
platypussy69's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Very cozy read. Easy to enjoy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Miscarriage, and Abortion
clovetra's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
this was cute!!! i had a good time reading this.
takako was a good protagonist, she was relatable enough to be likeable, yet had her own ambitions. she did feel like she lacked depth and often at times felt flat, but she was nice enough that i didn’t mind too much
satoru was…. fine? he kind of felt like he lacked any depth. and that can almost go for all the other side characters. i mean this isn’t even 200 pages so im not surprised the side characters felt boring.
the setting was honestly the highlight of this book. i mean cmon what reader wouldn’t love to live in a bookshop. part 2’s setting was also quite pleasant, and added to the dream-like feeling of this book.
the plot itself was……. Meh! i mean i liked part 1, as it felt like it had a point, delivered it well, and was structured nicely. but part 2…… i didn’t like as much. like i said the setting was enjoyable, but the actual story felt like i was reading a completely different book. the tone felt like it did a random 180 and suddenly became incredibly depressing????? it wasn’t what was advertised at all. i was promised wholesome book loving not Depression.
i don’t really have much more to say. i mean this book is barely 150 pages. obviously a short book is going to have issues to do with pacing and fleshing out its cast, but everything felt like it was missing something. plus the ending felt like it was purposefully unresolved to set up a sequel, which just left me annoyed. the ending was not satisfying. i mean i know you can only do so much when your setting is just a bookshop and the plot only surrounds that, but i would’ve preferred that! or keep part 2 but actually…. include that in the blurb!!!!!!!
i defo think ill read the sequel, if only to satiate my need to be a completionist. this was a perfectly average book. i am neither in love nor do i hate this. it was Fine
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Abandonment
Moderate: Chronic illness, Miscarriage, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
jmcbayes's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Infertility, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Abortion
Minor: Cancer
storyoflife's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
As I read the book I was able to relax and reflect on my adoration for books and literature, deepen my interest in Japanese literature and yearn for a street full of second hand bookshops.
And I got the impression that that’s the author’s intention. I doubt this was meant to be a great literary statement for me at least Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a love letter to books and their impact on their readers. The emotions, images and humanity they can inspire.
Long story short: I enjoyed reading the book and would recommend it for a slow, relaxing and comfortable reading experience wherever and whenever.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Grief
veliana's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Chronic illness, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, and Abortion
my_weird_bookish_heart's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abortion, and Abandonment
salomecanread's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Death of parent
Minor: Chronic illness, Infertility, Miscarriage, Abortion, Death of parent, and Pregnancy