this book is a solid 4 star and i knew from the very first moment i started reading it. but i would have never thought it would take me SO long to finish reading it.

for some reason, after i finished reading the first half of the book i got into a terrible reading slump and i don't want to blame it on the story, since i must admit im super burnt out bc of uni, but i liked the first part better, idk.

anyways, going back to the book, i really loved its main theme, of how books can bring people together and i really loved both takako and her uncle satoru so much <3 specially takako, it was nice following her journey of growth, self-discovery and watch her falling in love with books. and of course, her relationship with her uncle was one of the best parts of the book <3

i did not particularly dislike the second half of the story since it was cool to get to know a bit more of momoko's story. but i do wish i had enjoyed it more :/ let's just blame my reading slump, lmao.

but, overall it's a simple cozy story that can easily become your new comfort book <3

Makes me miss everything I love about Japan. Makes me want to go back. Looking forward to the sequel.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop was the last book I read in 2023. It also happens to be the first book I read after defending my thesis proposal and wrapping up my second to the last semester of university. And perhaps, because of the academic burnout and the uncertainty of my future after graduation, this book deeply resonated with me. 

In the beginning, Takako goes through the motions of everyday, secure about herself, her career, and her relationship. However, the rug gets pulled under her, and one day she wakes up with the startling realization that she’s gone adrift, unmoored, no anchor tethering her to the world. Left with no other choice, she resigns from her job and moves out of her upscale Tokyo apartment to live with her estranged uncle in his bookshop. Here, she discovers a newfound passion for reading and encounters people who not only share her love for books but also help her heal. 

In the end, the Morisaki Bookshop becomes Takako’s harbor, a place of refuge where she could rest and find herself again. For me, it’s books like this. 

This book was such a pleasant surprise, I love it so much😭 idk what else to say but if you're thinking of reading this book and aren't sure just try reading a few pages first, the book will do the rest. And it's a quick read too, even though it's not super quick paced it kept up the suspense and keeps the reader hooked. I wanna own the physical copy😭 and I'm super glad that the author included the names of the books and  authors mentioned in the final part, I was literally gonna go through the whole book again to find the names lmao. Also there are fairly funny bits here and there and the cheerful upbeat vibe was really good to read. I felt like it's a healing book. I'm glad I read it now💗

part one of the book is an easy 5 star. part two fell flat, i just don’t like momoko