This one works for me, in the past few months I've been trying out titles from the recent wave of translated Japanese cozy literature, and What You Are Looking for is in the Library is so far the one resonating with me the most. Unlike the previous novels I've tried in this sub-genre, the characters in Michiko Aoyama's story are dimensionally rendered and relatable, rather than cookie-cutter and cartoonish. The positivity message is also delivered with more subtlety and creativity, so instead of feeling like I'm being spoon-fed cloyingly sweet optimism, I'm actually compelled to evaluate whether I'm currently living my life to its fullest.

There are a few technical nitpicks: the English translation is pretty clunky (I notice this has also been translated into Mandarin, the other language I'm fluent in, so would be curious to compare!), and with Japanese literature being a crucial plot device, some of the nuance/relevance might be nontransferable between cultures (reference that meant to bring upon a sense of nostalgia is lost on me).

Still, overall I really enjoyed What You Are Looking for is in the Library, with its ratio of magical realism, uplifting message, and cozy detail more closely resembles what I'm looking for in story like this.