This story starts in a pawnshop tucked in the inner-dimensional folds of a ramen shop in a parallel Tokyo. We follow Hana, a new proprietor of traded regrets, and Keishin, an unknowing customer, as they search to uncover the mystery of her ransacked pawn shop. It’s a fast paced novel—that while sometimes feels like we flying through (e.i. the romance)—has a great conclusion with that moment of clarity. It’s a fanciful whimsical world of floating markets, magical transportation, and paper cranes described with lyricism along the likes of Erin Morgenstern, Rebecca Ross, and Hayao Miyazaki.

But much like how the true nature of the pawn shop is revealed to a customer, this story has a rich complexity that earns its five stars. 

Water Moon is a tale about the choices we make in life, the selfish and the world-altering. The kind an anxious person turns over until polished smooth, like a river stone. It’s about finding yourself, fate, fear, and the choice to make life your own. It’s about the stories we create for ourselves and about others. Samantha Sotto Yombao creates a world in which we can question ourselves and our humanity.

How Do You Live?

Water Moon is a reflection of my soul, especially at this moment in my life. A 25-year-old who is questioning her career and life choices every day, is afraid of disrupting the stillness of water. Whose fear is seeping into the soles of my shoes and whose therapist echoed the exact themes of this book. I saw myself in the characters and the worlds. Something where I think in future rereads, I’ll continue to find meaning in the nuances of this book. 

Thank you Water Moon for being my “water moon”.

Much appreciation and thanks to Net Galley and Del Rey for providing me with this digital arc for an honest review. All opinions are my own.