bffwnho's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
first 5* read of 2023??? picked this book up on a whim bc i’ve been enjoying japanese literature recently (although this is the first one i’ve actually tracked here 😭) and only later found out it seems to be quite a popular book atm!! i can see why.
if i wasn’t studying in between reading i definitely would’ve finished it within a couple of hours.
the first story was a nice introduction to the setting and the premise, the last three stories had me tear up at least once :( i loved how all the characters were interwoven between the four different stories and we got to understand more of the overarching plot as it went on. i love kazu and kei a lot <3
definitely going to get the next books + check out more from toshikazu kawaguchi.
if i wasn’t studying in between reading i definitely would’ve finished it within a couple of hours.
the first story was a nice introduction to the setting and the premise, the last three stories had me tear up at least once :( i loved how all the characters were interwoven between the four different stories and we got to understand more of the overarching plot as it went on. i love kazu and kei a lot <3
definitely going to get the next books + check out more from toshikazu kawaguchi.
Content Warnings
Minor: Car accident and Death
haleystiles's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
a perfect book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent
theheartisanarrow's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
a cute and cozy setting for 4 stories about love, perspective, purpose and human connection. the writing style is quite simple, which sometimes helps the imagination, other times it comes across a bit clumsy and redundant, though i don't know if that's due to the original text or the translation. also some of the underlying messages are a bit conservative when it comes to the role of women. overall, this was still a lovely enjoyable little read and i'd be curious to see what the play it's based on looks like
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Dementia
Minor: Chronic illness
sluglightning's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Dementia, Death of parent, and Death
saphfics's review
emotional
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Death of parent, Car accident, and Death
juliacarlini's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
arieslofi's review
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
it was sweet but the repetition made it super hard to keep reading cause it felt like it dragged when it really didn't. not just the repetition of the stories, but the constant description of what the characters were wearing and the female characters felt... off? i guess. which isn't too surprising given a man wrote them but y'know. could have tried.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
katilh's review
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
1.75
Spoiler
loved the concept, meh about the executionoften times things just happened and ended and it was too quick for me to get attached or feel what was intended
i also didn't particularly enjoy the writing style.
some tropes felt very cliché like the business women with no time for romance etc.,
and i just have a strong disliking for "women dies during childbirth- written by a man"
i did however like how everything got kind of tied together in the end
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
itszosia's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Pregnancy and Car accident
bronzeageholly's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Death, Grief, Car accident, Abandonment, and Chronic illness
Minor: Alcohol