Not for me. I liked a lot of the writing but felt that the plot was too meandering. I feel it either needed cutting into a short story or fleshing out to be a bigger novel.

Thanks for the copy.

A super cosy and wholesome read with reflections on love and growing to appreciate who you truly are. The love for second-hand booksand what they can provide was just magical. I liked that the main relationship explored between the pages was between Takako and her uncle, truly heartwarming. The perfect palette cleanser between heavier reads.

I cannot resist books about books. This one is set in a bookshop in Tokyo's Jimbocho's district, and I enjoyed following Takako's journey as she fell in love with books and reading.

The book is divided into two parts; the first is about Takako's move to the bookshop, and the second is based around the sudden return of her aunt Momoko although Takako features in this part too.

It is an uncomplicated narrative, short and therefore, easy to read. With only 160 pages I completed it in a couple of sittings and found it engaging and enjoyable. It reads as a balm to the soul as it has a calmness running through the prose. It is the sort of book that made me sigh with satisfaction as I was reading it.

It contains themes of love, friendship, loss and discovery. It is about new beginnings and how we can find a way to move forward. Charming and beautiful to read I enjoyed it very much and highly recommend it.

A comforting read of love, family, friendship, and the healing powers of books. The characters are lovely, especially uncle Satoru. See more in my Substack review.

I adored this story. Following the main character as her life changes and she seeks help, hope and connection. The language, descriptions and characters were all wonderful. I really want to visit the bookshop.

This was an enjoyable read about events taking place in ordinary lives, such as yours or mine. When Takako's relationship ends abruptly, she takes some time off to recharge and heal in her uncle Satoru's second hand bookshop. Here Takako learns not only about books, but about her estranged uncle's life, his customers, and ultimately her own.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for and ARC in exchange an impartial and honest review.

“It’s funny. No matter where you go, or how many books you read, you still know nothing, you haven’t seen anything. And that’s life.”

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a short and charming read about family, relationships and a love of reading.

When Takako’s boyfriend announces his engagement to another woman,, she leaves her job and moves to Jimbōchō Book Town to stay above her uncles book store. In exchange for a place to stay, Takako agrees to help out at the store. Initially Takako isn’t a reader and one of the best parts was seeing her love for books grow as the story progresses. It was also so wholesome and heartwarming to see Takako’s relationship with her uncle develop as they help each other heal from past heartache.

I cannot describe how much I love these books. I’m so glad to have since bought a physical copy of this too to further support the author. I will 100% be keeping my eye out for more, the stories are so fleshed out and wholesome ❤️

I have to admit this book wasn't really what I expected of it, especially part two. In some ways I was disappointed by that, but taking this book for what it is, I'm glad I've read it. It was comforting and I also found it enlightening - which is not something I think it sets out to be, but something about it just felt... resonating.

3.75 Stars, rounded up to 4.

The title drew me to this book and I loved everything to do with her life at the book shop. Great book, I enjoyed it!

Absolutely glorious storytelling that will move you, warm your heart and inspire you. The writing is wonderful and filled with warmth and you cannot help feeling affection for the characters that have been lovingly created. Highly recommend.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa is a beautifully written, heartwarming novel that gently explores themes of love, healing, and the transformative power of books. Set in the charming, book-filled world of Jimbocho, Tokyo, the story follows twenty-five-year-old Takako as she navigates the heartbreak of losing her boyfriend and finds unexpected solace in her uncle Satoru’s second-hand bookshop.

The Morisaki Bookshop is more than just a backdrop - it’s a character in itself, filled with hidden gems and untold stories that help Takako slowly mend her broken heart. As she spends time in the quiet, comforting world of books, Takako’s relationship with her quirky uncle deepens, and both characters experience personal growth and self-discovery. The novel’s pacing is gentle, allowing readers to savour the emotional and literary journey, much like leafing through the pages of an old, beloved book.

Yagisawa's writing is elegant and profound, filled with moments of introspection and quiet revelations. The story’s simplicity is its strength, offering readers a poignant reminder of how books can offer comfort, companionship, and a sense of belonging during life’s most challenging moments.

Perfect for fans of Before The Coffee Gets Cold and The Cat Who Saved Books, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a soothing, uplifting read that will resonate with anyone who has ever turned to books for healing. It’s a celebration of second chances, new beginnings, and the special bond that forms between those who share a love of literature.

Loved it, really easy read book.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

This felt like a surprisingly long book for the little that actually happened within its pages, as the focus is more on observing Takako’s actions and interactions during a period of uncertainty in her life rather than following a plotline.

Unfortunately, I found Takako (and her aunt and uncle) quite hard to connect to, as their motivations, thoughts and feelings never felt clear or understandable to me – perhaps as a result of translation, or simply different cultural mores?

I did love the bookshop and Takako’s gradual discovery of a love of books that she didn’t know she felt, and I enjoyed her discussions about the books she was reading and recommended reading immensely. I felt it was a shame that she spent most of the second half of the book away from the bookshop, embroiled in her aunt and uncle’s unusual marital relationship, which neither she nor I ever fully understood.

Overall, this is a sweet, sad story about family and healing from relationship trauma via familial love (and books!), and gives a lovely flavour of the used book market in Japan. There just doesn’t feel like quite enough story or character depth to stretch the length of the book.

I thought this was such a cute, quaint read, and I am always a fan of translated fiction.
The story was following Takako who moved to live with her sort of estranged uncle Satoru in Jimbocho in Tokyo after her boyfriend Hideaki suddenly announces he is marrying somebody else, a woman she knows at their mutual work-place. She is heartbroken but after a month or so she received a call from her uncle Satoru whom she hadn't spoken to in years however she always thought he was a bit weird as did the rest of her family however when she called him back he invites her to come and stay with him in his spare room at his home which is above the Morisaki bookshop that he runs, also located in Tokyo.
The first half of the story talks about Takako's adjustment to staying with her uncle, rekindling childhood memories and finding ways to heal after her sudden breakup. She learns to heal through reading the books that are surrounding her in the shop and in her room and builds friendships with people in the cafe over the road. I love how kind and patient Uncle Satoru is with Takako, and how over time Takako realises how beautiful his soul is and that although from the outside he might appear to be the comedian and not take things seriously however he knows exactly the right way to handle Takako by giving her her own space, leaving things for her to clean so that she has to motivate herself and not dwell on her emotions, leaving books around for her to help herself too whilst also showing that he 'needs her' to help him run the shop which is giving her purpose without feeling as though he pities her, by also being there to check in on her from time to time so that she doesn't feel alone, by having the regular people at the bookstore also keep an eye on her, but also his indirect realisation that over time she has come to save him slightly from his own life as he is such a selfless giving soul, and has always thought of Takako as his own daughter when she was younger and later on in the story in the second half (which is about Uncle satoru's wifes return) he tells her that Takako was the one that saved him when he was depressed with her kindred spirit. The second half that explores Momoko's return and her reasons for leaving. Takako can't believe that Uncle Satoru would allow her to just turn and walk back into his life like nothing had changed, after she left suddenly all those years ago. The way the story is written and the depth of the underlying messages are so profound. The fact that Uncle Satoru accepts that there is a reason why she left, even if he doesn't understand it, and that he had so much faith and trust that everything happens for a reason, that he is able to forgive and forget when she returns is beautiful. The fact that Momoko was battling her own demons mentally and needed to escape and found solitude in the mountains which led to her healing and coming back to Uncle Satoru is very understanding. Neither Momoko or Uncle Satoru called time on their marriage even though neither one knew what the other was doing and the fact they were able to so calmly discuss things when she returned is a lesson we could all learn from. Not everything is as black and white and sometimes people need space for healing. He allowed her to be free and she flew back and he did not hold it against her. However on Momoko's return she realised Takako was also going through her own healing so she managed to persuade her to go on a trip with her which ended up in Takako opening her mind a bit more and after the trip learnt a lot herself.

I think it was an easy book to read however it had such a profound message on so many levels. There is a lot to be learnt from reading this book, should the reader be ready to receive the messages.

DNF. Bit too weird for me. Not sure what it’s trying to be. Dipped in and out of those over a long period but never really got into it.

A strange "nothing" of a book. Quite sweet how family relationships developed, and interesting to see Takako discover the world of reading, but I found it a strange read. #daysatthemorisakibookshop #netgalley

What a lovely book! I particuarly enjoyed the first part and I think there were many things to learn from its pages. A wholesome read that I'll be recommending to my friends time and time again!

Satoshi Yagisawa's "Days at the Morisaki Bookshop" is a heartwarming and reflective exploration of healing and self-discovery set against the backdrop of a charming Tokyo bookstore. When Takako, heartbroken and adrift, moves into her eccentric uncle Satoru's bookshop, she expects only solitude but finds instead a transformative journey through the pages of countless second-hand books. The novel beautifully captures the solace and wisdom that literature can offer, weaving a narrative that gently explores themes of loss, connection, and renewal. Yagisawa's evocative prose and richly drawn characters make this a tender, uplifting read that celebrates the profound impact of books on our lives and relationships.

Thank you to Bonnier Books UK & Netgalley for providing this gifted copy to me!
This book sat on my shelves for too long, for some reason I didn’t expect to be taken with it. I was entirely wrong. Gorgeous, light slice of life with some poignant moments and a lovely main character. I could’ve followed Takako for hundreds more pages & I cannot wait to grab the sequel.