Reviews with content warning for Grief - Before the Coffee Gets Cold

I love the concept of a time traveling cafe - what would you say if you could meet someone from the past (or future!), if your visit only lasted before your coffee got cold? It's a wonderfully intriguing concept that's definitely the the main hook of this story.

While we don't find out much else about the cafe, the story itself is propelled by the characters' personal grapples and the decisions they make influenced by this magical encounter. The writing begins in a voice that feels too rigid for the emotional quality of what we're being invited into - this might be an aftereffect of the translation. And I agree with other readers that the character names get confusing as they sound/look very similar to each other (in their English transliteration forms at least). However, the narrative flow does get better and we get to know each character for the distinct voice they have - so that it becomes easier to identify them just from the style of dialogue, which I thought was quite impressive.

Overall a poignant and playfully reflective read that touches on big relational themes without getting too heavy. A great accompaninent for quiet time with tea, coffee, or your choice of warm drink - perhaps in between journaling or to unwind after a long day. This book is the first in a series which I'm very much looking forward to dipping into ☕

Content Warnings

rucha_s's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

3.0

It's a cute concept sprinkled with an assortment of quirky characters. The stereotypes really rankled my nerves but more than that, I found the repetitive nature of the book quite tedious. It is likely the main reason I couldn't really 'connect' with the stories on an emotional level. An easy breezy summer read, but unfortunately not one of those books that I can say left a lasting impression on me .

Content Warnings

rieriereads's review

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emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective sad medium-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

5.0

𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮

𝙱𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚎 𝙶𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚍, written by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and translated to English by Geoffrey Trousselot, was a heartwarming and equally heartbreaking novel.

In a back alley in Tokyo, there's a cafe called Funiculi Funicula that has served coffee for more than a century. What makes this little cafe special, though, is the urban legend that it is known for. The cafe is believed to offer its customers a chance to travel back in time.

The short novel was divided into four chapters. Each part was magical, quirky, and mysterious. And by the first chapter, I had fallen in love with the book.

There are many different reasons why I loved this book. First and foremost, there is the plot. Simple and maybe not so special to some, I found it perfect. To me, it was perfectly paced, and it makes you keep wondering what will happen next. How the book was narrated is another reason. Some reviews say that the writing felt repetitive, and I quite agree. But what makes it tolerable is how Arina Ii executed the narration of the audiobook version.

Additionally, I loved the characters and the little details each one had. Their characteristics and individual descriptions made them who they were. And the final reason is rather simple: I loved that it made me cry. I empathize with the characters' regrets and shortcomings. I also felt their love for their partners, sister, and child. And right after finishing, I wanted to hug them all.

Overall, this was such a great book. I regret not reading this sooner. For those who are looking for a heartwarming book that could be read this weekend and that will also squeeze your heart and make you think someone is cutting onions, I highly recommend checking this out.

📚 | 42
⭐ | 5

•••

My Rating System

5 🌟 - Life changing, a new favorite read
4 ⭐ - I loved it
3 ⭐ - I liked it
2 ⭐ - It was okay
1 ⭐ - I hated it but decided to not dnf

Content Warnings

nick_thebucket's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

I'm sure everyone hates the rule about not being able to change the future, but I think it's actually what makes this such a good depiction of grief.

I'm grieving someone right now; and it's hard. There is so much I would give to go back and to be able to at least say a proper goodbye, to let them know once more how much they meant to me, even if I never get to see them again. I think a lot of people forget how important closure is because they're so focused on what they lost. Like yes, I would much rather have them back in my life, but that's not how the world works, so at the very least I want to be able to make peace with my goodbye.

The book is really just a reminder to tell your loved ones how you feel, even if it's difficult or awkward and to say what you really mean, before it's too late.

I think the way so many of the people who time travel get choked up is pretty annoying and frustrating, but it's accurate. When the moment finally arrives, when you can finally let the words you've been dying to say out, your emotions clog your throat.

Content Warnings

passionatereader78's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

Would you time travel if you couldn't change your present situation? That's the main question in this story. There are four people that visit a café in Tokyo to travel in time to right their regrets. It's well written. It was a quick read for me. I enjoyed the different story lines.

Content Warnings

nerdomanythings's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

Content Warnings

booknerdz28's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective 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

meganoakes_7's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This is the perfect quick read when we need something feel-good, emotional, and so cozy. It is filled with relatable characters whose stories are interwoven ever so lightly. It's the perfect book for someone obsessed with the idea that what you do could have an effect on the lives of others, even in the slightest way.

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