Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

424 reviews

lostinthelibrary's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? No

4.5

I've been hearing great things about this book for a long time so I figured it was a good opportunity to recommend it to my book club and it didn't disappoint. I loved the tender storytelling with intriguing vignettes that all drew closer together by the end. The themes of loss and regret make this a very emotional book at times but it is handled with a gentleness and hope that were really refreshing. Very deserving of it's devoted fans!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Pregnancy

matcha_cat's review against another edition

emotional 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Death

Minor: Car accident and Pregnancy

erikalynny's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Grief

Moderate: Dementia, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

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.

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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

nineinchnails's review against another edition

emotional 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

5.0

i spent 60% of this book mildly disappointed by this book because it hadn't made me cry but it hit me like a truck. i thought the prose was a little plain (maybe because it was translated) but it kind of works for a story like this so i liked that! there was a couple of characters who weren't as memorable so their stories didn't really stick with me but the ones that did more than made up for that. i will probably reread this in the next couple of years :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Dementia, and Grief

Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Grief

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

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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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

laurakfinnegan's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Abortion

sailorari's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Dementia, Car accident, and Pregnancy

han_amey's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Pregnancy