The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki
Translated by Jesse Kirkwood
Published: July 2020
Summary from Goodreads:
Translated from the Japanese bestseller, this charming and magical novel, inspired by the myth of cats returning favors to those who care for them, reminds us that it’s never too late to follow our stars.
In Japan cats are a symbol of good luck. As the myth goes, if you are kind to them, they’ll one day return the favor. And if you are kind to the right cat, you might just find yourself invited to a mysterious coffee shop under a glittering Kyoto moon. This particular coffee shop is like no other. It has no fixed location, no fixed hours, and seemingly appears at random to adrift young people at crucial junctions in their lives.
It’s also run by talking cats.
While customers at the Full Moon Coffee Shop partake in cakes, coffees, and teas, the cats also consult them on their star charts, offer cryptic wisdom, and let them know where their lives have veered off course—because every person who visits the shop has been feeling more than a little lost. And for a down-on-her-luck screenwriter, a romantically stuck movie director, a hopeful hairstylist, and a technologically challenged website designer, the feline guides will set them back on their fated paths. After all, there is a reason the shop appeared to each of them…
Confession:
This was a very sweet and cozy read. I really enjoyed the characters and their stories as well as the talking cats that run the cafe. The writing and the setting were also charming and helped to tell the story.
There are three separate stories that are all interconnected. The first story is about a down on her luck screenwriter, Mizuki. I enjoyed her story and really felt sorry about how her life went from being at the top of her field in TV, to now writing stories for video game characters. I was so hoping things would change for her. Her time with the cats in the cafe was also an introduction to astrology and how the planets and stars guided her in her life choices.
The next two stories followed a similar path. We follow the characters and learn about their different lives and how they are at a crossroads when they discover the Full Moon Coffee Shop. But these are not totally random stories, but sort of a continuation of one story. Each character is connected to an event that happened when they were all younger. This event isn’t totally revealed until close to the end of the book, but it really tied the stories together.
Each story has some of the same cats running the cafe, but there are a few that drop in and out of the stories. I really enjoyed the cats and their banter. I’m not sure how they were able to carry trays of food and drink, but you know, just go with it. The cats are all wise of course, but sweet and gentle as they help the humans learn about themselves and their choices in life.
The tone of the story is very gentle and comforting. The astrology parts were well explained, but occasionally slowed the story down a bit. I loved the descriptions of the drinks and food that everyone was served at the coffee shop and also how the characters were left with a dream like vision at the end of how they could change their lives for the better.
If you are in need of a quiet and comforting story about characters looking for a change in their lives, this is one you should give a chance. Especially if you like cats. The cats totally make this story shine.
Confessions of a Serial Reader 