The download date was unfortunately missed, I would be happy to re-review if it became available again. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to re-read and review if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

Though I did find this book a little bit boring in places, I thought it was a heartfelt read. I thought the emphasis placed on the power of reading was brilliant. The narrative being rooted in reality added to the power of the emotional impact and more than anything, it made me want to go to a quaint secondhand bookshop!

I'm really sad that this book wasn't longer. It could have been a 4 star at least but the characters were flat, it felt rushed and underdeveloped.

This had so much potential, I'm sad that I didn't get sucked in because there was so many possibilities.

I actually read this all in one sitting!

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a heartwarming story about Takako, a young woman who moves into the tiny room above her eccentric uncle's bookshop after her boyfriend breaks up with her. As Takako gets lost in the stacks of books, she discovers new worlds and learns about life, love, and the healing power of books.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a delightful, exquisitely crafted, and deeply touching novel that will captivate fans of the Before The Coffee Gets Cold series, and those who have experienced the mending of a broken heart.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a snapshot into the life of Takako, a 25-year old Japanese woman; having found herself out of a one-sided relationship, she falls into a bit of a depression and ends up living with her Uncle, Satoru, at his bookshop in the Jimbocho district of Tokyo (also known as the ‘book’ district). Through working in the shop, she reconnects with her Uncle - who’s been abandoned by his estranged wife - and also makes friends in the local community, helping her to rebuild her confidence and ability to make connections with others.

This was a really nice book - very lighthearted and easy to read. Because it’s just a small part of the character’s lives, it’s a little like catching an episode of a TV show you don’t get to see the beginning or the end of, but it certainly ended in a way that satisfied my curiosity*.

It can be a little slow in places; however, it had quite an undulating quality to the pace, which seemed to keep my interest piqued. I loved the little snippets of the supporting characters in the district’s local scene. While Takako’s character wasn’t massively stand out, you could definitely relate to what she’d been going through, and the whole story felt quite well rounded. It made me want to visit that area, if/when I get to travel to Tokyo!

A great read for fans of The Kamogawa Food Detectives (another delightful book), and Before the Coffee Gets Cold.

*I’ve since seen that this is book#1, so I’m hopeful that there may be more to come in the near future!

4 out of 5 stars

I was provided an advanced copy of this book on Netgalley

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a sweet, gentle tale about the power of books to bring solace to troubled souls and offer them hope for the future.

The title takes us inside a bookshop housed in an old wooden building on a quiet corner of a Tokyo district that has come to be known as “Book Town.” This paradise for book lovers does actually exist — apparently there are more than 100 bookshops in Jimbocho, many of them selling second hand and antique books.

The Morisaki bookshop becomes a temporary home and a refuge for 25-year-old Takoko when she’s unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend. Her uncle Satoru who owns the store, offers her a room rent free in exchange for some help running the business.

She doesn’t relish the prospect because her uncle is “a weirdo … “the exact opposite of anyone’s idea of a dignified man.” but the alternative is even less palatable — return to her hometown to live with her parents and very likely get pushed into an arranged marriage. So she moves into a miniscule room above the shop, so full of books that “If I got even the slightest bit careless, my Towers of Babel would collapse.”

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop has a simple structure. In the first part we follow Takako’s experience of living and working at the bookstore and see how she develops a deep and abiding love of literature. The second part gives us the beginnings of a romance and the start of a new life for a woman who has grown in self respect and confidence.

None of this would have been possible but for the supportive presence of Uncle Saturo. He not only gives practical support, urging her to view the shop as a harbour, but passes on lessons he learned from travelling the world as a young man. it took him years to decide what he wanted from life, he tells Takako, now it’s time for her to start figuring that out for herself.

“Your life is yours. It doesn’t belong to anyone else,” he tells her.

Taken in isolation Saturo’s words of wisdom about life and love can come across as trite; a bit too much like those awful slogans found on motivational posters; but they do play an important role in the novel. It’s through those conversations that Takoko learns how to trust people again, so she can make friends and build relationships.

The most important relationship she develops is the one with books.

Takako hasn’t been much of a reader before, beyond the occasional visit to a chain store to look at their Manga shelves. All it takes to turn her around is one book, one that she picks out at random from the thousands of modern classic Japanese novels piled floor to ceiling in the shop. She’s stunned by the revelations a book can hold:

It was as if without realising it, I had opened a door I had never know existed. That’s exactly what it felt like. From that moment on, I read relentlessly, one book after another. It was as if a love of reading had been sleeping somewhere deep inside me all this time, and then it suddenly sprang to life.

In the course of the novel we learn of the joy of discovering a new author, the delight of walking into a bookshop and that feeling you just have to finish your book despite the late hour.

Inevitably when I read any book about books, I end up with a list of authors I’ve not heard of previously and now want to read: Jun’ichirõ Tanizaki, Osamu Dazai, Kafū Nagai, Haruo Satõ. I’ll have to temper my enthusiasm however because at the end of the book there is a warning from translator Eric Ozawa, that not all these authors are available in English. In fact the book that spark’s Takako’s reading passion — Schoolgirl by Osamu Dazai — has yet to be translated.

I suspect Days at the Morisaki Bookshop will appeal to bookworms around the world. What’s not to love about a tale set in a bookshop?? It’s a gentle story told with a light touch; doesn’t have the quirkiness of some more recent Japanese fiction (like Before the Coffee Goes Cold) but it’s a wonderful reminder of the way books can open doors to new experiences and emotions

‘When twenty-five-year-old Takako's boyfriend reveals he's marrying someone else, she reluctantly accepts her eccentric uncle Satoru's offer to live rent-free in the tiny room above his shop. Hidden in Jimbocho, Tokyo, the Morisaki Bookshop is a booklover's paradise. On a quiet corner in an old wooden building, the shop is filled with hundreds of second-hand books. It is Satoru's pride and joy, and he has devoted his life to the bookshop since his wife left him five years earlier.’

Takako takes a step out of her comfort zone following her unusual circumstances and takes time away from her day-to-day life to live with her Uncle Satoru. Together they coexist, living their own lives and are stuck in their ways. However, they soon find they have more in common than they may have first thought, and their lives begin to change for the better.

This one hones in on just how significantly books can change your life for the better.

I found it very relatable and I have to say I read it very quickly and may have to re-read it very soon…

Thanks so much to @netgalley for giving me access to it following its translation into English.

This book had potential to be an absolute classic but somehow didn’t quite hit the mark. The concept was good and I expected good things. The characters could have been amazing but were never fully fleshed out. Perhaps there was something list in translation but I didn’t really have any emotional connection with them and ended up feeling generally a little bored. The same with the storyline that started off well but just petered out. What a shame.

I found this a very interesting book, a different genre from my usual read. The details were so cleverly written, one was really drawn into the life of Takako and into the bookshop. Japanese gardens are full of tiny details making up a whole, and I felt the book had much of the same approach.
Thank you giving me a chance to read and review the book.

Rating 2.5/5

This is a hard one to sum up my thoughts on, I went into this story hoping for some cosy and lighthearted vibes and whilst the first half of the book manages to capture the feeling I was hoping for, the second half I found a bit more difficult to get through.

There are some pretty marvellous descriptions of the setting that made it come to life, what could be better than a bookshop situated in a street full of bookshops with a lovely community spirit. I enjoyed getting to experience this community as Takako moved into the bookshop and rediscovers her joy for reading and life generally, with the help of her uncle and others.

Unfortunately, I didn’t really warm to Takako, I wouldn’t say for a book that is driven mostly by its characters she was the right type of person to carry this story. I also felt like the characters didn’t seem to have much substance, especially the female characters, which was surprising because they were the story's main focus.

In the book's second half, as the focus turns toward Momoko, Takako’s aunt, the story takes a weird turn. I didn’t feel like I understood why Takako and her uncle kept giving Momoko a chance and this is where I felt the book get longer and longer. I have read full-length novels in less time than it took me to get through this book.

I stuck with it hoping that it would recapture the joy of the first half and it did somewhat but not in a way that managed to pull the story back.

I’ve been really enjoying fiction in translation lately particularly stories set in Japan and this one certainly didn’t disappoint!

A cosy heartwarming tale which unfolds in a second hand bookstore, what more could you want!

Ah, I'm a sucker for a gentle Japanese coffee/bookshop based tale, and this hits the target. A lovely, quietly unassuming rambling story of a young woman finding her way, this joyful story explores the power of friends, taking chances and the power of books. Nothing groundbreaking or terribly deep, but a good read.

A sweet story about books and family. Cosy vibes and fun characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy. I did read the physical copy.

* 3.5.
A deceptively simple story of how having a break from your normal life can help you to move on. I really enjoyed reading about Takako’s time at the bookshop. I was really envious of the how she got to escape from everyday life and read and find herself again. I wasn’t so keen on the second half, after she had left the shop. I was reading it because I wanted all the bookish bits and they were a bit lacking. The story seemed to go off in a slightly odd direction. The ending left me wanting.

Days at the Morasaki Bookshop - Satoshi Yagisawa

A book about a bookshop, there cannot possibly be anything more cute and appealing to a book lover. After Takakos boyfriend announces he is marrying someone else she reluctantly accepts her uncle's offer to move into his second hand bookshop. He's a bit eccentric, as is the shop, but she settles into the small town. After noticing she sleeps all the time, Takakos uncle decides she needs to visit some of the local shops and cafes. Upon visiting Takako opens up to her uncle and to a world of reading. They realize they have a lot more in common than initially meets the eye. After Takako leaves the bookshop she remains close to her uncle, now it is her time to support him.

I thought this was an adorable read. I loved the characters and the setting of the bookshop. I also loved two parts, one in which Takako needs support and then it moving over to her uncle. A must read for all of us book lovers.

A heartwarming read with loveable characters and a sweet story of how books can create community. I enjoyed it :)

Quite a slow book to read, an insight into a young girl in Japan, whose life falls apart when her 'boyfriend ' announces he is getting married to someone else.

Takako leaves her job and stays at her uncle's secondhand bookshop to recuperate, she also becomes friends with her uncle and his estranged wife.

The book did lack depth and was at times quite slow reading,

This is a very Japanese novel both of its setting, and its writing style, it really made me want to travel to Japan to look at the bookshop area described in the novel so perfectly.
Having said this about the Japanese elements of the novel, the theme of searching the world for the place where are you fit in is universal . The book was easily accessible to British readers.
The writing is spare but beautiful in its clarity and preciseness The novel is well crafted and complete.
Story of a young Japanese woman who has a crisis of confidence then finds that, just at the right time ,an offer to come and help her uncle run a family bookshop whilst living above the property surrounded by books is just what she needs. . The book is calming and gentle, relaxing read . I’ve seen quite a lot of mention of this book on book Twitter (x) I think it will prove to be very popular in the UK. I love the thought of secondhand versions of it in due course, arriving in secondhand bookshops that seemed pleasingly circular to me.
There is quite a lot of mention of specific Japanese literature within the story, which is probably to be expected as the novel is set in a secondhand bookshop .As a British reader, I haven’t heard of most of the authors I’m sure that this must’ve added to the enjoyment if you were an, Japanese reader. As I was reading, I tried to reframe it in my own mind using what I thought would probably be equivalent British novels in a British secondhand bookshop.
The joy of reading, and finding your favourites in the secondhand bookshop is so universal, the author really manages to bring this over.
As a British reader, I enjoyed reading this specific, Japanese customs and experiences in day-to-day life.
This is quite a short book, but I felt this increased the feeling of completeness as the whole of this young girls experience at that time is so succinctly described and fits into such a little book.
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK. The book is publish in the UK on the 4th of July 2023 by Bonnier books.
This review will appear on NetGalley, UK, Goodreads and my book blog. Bionicsarahsbooks.Wordpress.com After publication, it will also appear on Amazon, UK.

I enjoyed meeting the characters in this quirky story but it felt a little like this was an introduction to a longer book, that there was more to come. The bookshop setting is appealing to anyone who loves books and I loved the gentle way the relationship developed between the main character and her uncle. I particularly liked the scenes set in the coffee shop and the owner is someone you feel has their own story to share.

Like others have said, I enjoyed the first half more than the second when the focus switched to the story of the uncle’s missing wife.

It is an intriguing read and one that left me wanting more.

Books about books and bookshops are pretty much a winner for me. I am actually a little wary though – what if such a book lets me down and (gasp) disappoints in its depiction of one of my favourite places in the world? Can such a book accurately describe my love for such places?

Well, no fears on this one. From the first few lines I was hooked.

From the beginning of summer to early spring, I lived at the Morisaki Bookshop. I spent that period of my life in the spare room on the second floor of the store, trying to bury myself in books. The cramped room barely got any light, and everything felt damp. It smelled constantly of musty old books.

But I will always remember the days I spent there. Because that’s where my real life began. And I know, without a doubt, that if not for those days the rest of my life would have been bland, monotonous, and lonely.

The Morisaki Bookshop is precious to me. It’s a place I know I’ll never forget

Young (well, in her twenties) Takako finds her life in Tokyo suddenly changed when her boyfriend out of the blue announces he is going to get married – not to her. This is a shock, understandably. Takako gives up work but then takes up the kind offer of her Uncle Satoru to live and work in his second-hand book shop in Jimbocho, a kind of Japanese version of Hay on Wye in Tokyo. She is initially reluctant, not really being a reader, and feeling that a move back towards family could be an admission of failure, but the quiet charm of the place works its magic and before long, living above the shop, Takako learns to love it.

“In the end, it doesn’t matter if you’re related by blood or if you spend years together in the same class at school or the same office; unless you really come face to face, you never really know someone at all.”

Although books are an essential part of the story, this book is really about relationships. Although Takako knows a little about her Uncle Satoru, it’s not really a lot and she hasn’t seen him in years – the rest of her family regard him as a bit of an idiot. Working for him, she gets to know her Uncle better, and realises that he is a much more complicated person than she realised. Satoru’s relationship with his wife Momoko is complicated. At the beginning of the book, we find that Momoko walked out five years ago, although in the second half of the book she returns.

This is a book that exudes gentle melancholia and a certain nostalgic charm, combined with the complexity of human relationships (well, humans and a cat) and the profoundness of life. Not a lot really happens, but as an encapsulation of a no-doubt idealistic Japanese lifestyle and as a meditation on the important things in life it worked wonderfully well for me. The Studio Ghibli feel is strong with this one, and I also think that fans of Haruki Murakami should like this one too, although this is not as complex.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is for anyone who loves Japanese culture or literature, or would like to. At a mere 160 pages this can be a quick read – I read it in two short sittings – but like the best contemporary Japanese writing, it has scenes that I’ll remember for a long time. Whisper it quietly, but this is a great big hug in a book.