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experimentalaudioscene's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Short in page quantity and easy to read, but very repetitive which makes the narrative feel slower. This was more than a cozy sci-fi, it was also philosophical because the cafe can be interpreted figuratively as a thought experiment. The rules, while plentiful and arbitrary, makes the parts of the process accessible to the reader themselves to project into their own past or possible future. I don’t think I read this at the right time for me (I finished it for a book club) and I would have DNFed it under different circumstances but I don’t regret reading it, I don’t plan on re-reading any time soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Dementia, and Grief
Moderate: Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fatphobia, Suicide, and Fire/Fire injury
kyriannaj's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I think a lot was lost in translation when it comes to the emotional pull of this book. The plot beats were emotional, but the writing and words used were very blunt and to the point. The world building around time travel was incredibly well done and drew me in. Although this is commonly talked about like a short story collection, it’s much more a novel with recurring characters, a singular setting, and plot points building on one another throughout. Apparently the author first wrote this as a play, and thinking about it like that makes perfect sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia and Grief
Moderate: Chronic illness, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Minor: Death, Medical content, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
martzi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Interesting and compelling. I liked how the 4 stories were subtly connected and overlapping.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
ninebookishlives's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
4.0
This is another short story collection that I wished I had spread out over a few days. The intro and rules became a bit repetitive when reading them all in one sitting. That being said, I found this collection more impactful and emotional than The Kamogawa Food Detectives. With a little bit of backstory into each tea drinker's history and reasoning for wanting to travel back in time, it really made each character feel real and like actions in the world had consequences. Maybe not in the present, but I think the overall message of each story could be interrupted differently depending on the reader.
I did like that the first story eases you into the concept before the stories start to break your heart. You're introduced into the world and the rules. Following the first characters debat on whether not it would be worth it based on the rules. Again, it really helped flesh out the world/magic, and surprising in less than 300 pages.
The Husband and Wife story was my favourite, followed closely by The Sisters.
If you're in a good mental space and can handle the content covered (see content warnings), then I think this would be a great collection to space over time. I really hope to continue the series soon, but take more time with the book.
I did like that the first story eases you into the concept before the stories start to break your heart. You're introduced into the world and the rules. Following the first characters debat on whether not it would be worth it based on the rules. Again, it really helped flesh out the world/magic, and surprising in less than 300 pages.
The Husband and Wife story was my favourite, followed closely by The Sisters.
If you're in a good mental space and can handle the content covered (see content warnings), then I think this would be a great collection to space over time. I really hope to continue the series soon, but take more time with the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Medical content, Dementia, and Grief
thisgirlreads_yay's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Medical content, and Dementia
eclecticallyreading's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
The concept of this book is really fun, but I wasn't ever really invested in the characters. It makes you think about who you'd want to go back in time to see, but I definitely hated the entire concept of the fourth person I find the prioritization of a child over a mother in a pregnancy situation to be abhorrent
Overall a very mid book for me and I'm not sure if it is because something got lost in translation or if because this just wasn't a book for me.
Overall a very mid book for me and I'm not sure if it is because something got lost in translation or if because this just wasn't a book for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Medical content
cams's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
dazzlingreader_'s review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Achei emocionante e muito fofo, porém em alguns momentos me perdi com algumas descrições que, na minha opinião, confundiram a narrativa.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Medical content, Dementia, and Pregnancy
Minor: Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Death of parent
marimoreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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
5.0
This book is a collection of beautiful and hopeful stories about love, loss and communicating even when it seems futile. The stories about these characters will pull at your heart strings and I cried multiple times. I still tear up just thinking about these characters. They feel like real people who you want only the best for, and you hope for their happiness before and after they travel through time.
I love this book because it teaches us that we may not always be able to change the outcome, but it is important to tell our loved ones how we feel, and only then can we heal or move forward together.
I love this book because it teaches us that we may not always be able to change the outcome, but it is important to tell our loved ones how we feel, and only then can we heal or move forward together.
Highly recommended for readers who love emotional stories about interpersonal relationships, loss, and love, with a touch of magical realism.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content and Pregnancy
Minor: Death and Death of parent