Days At The Morisaki Bookshop follows Takako as she leaves her life behind after the man she loves tells her he's marrying someone else. She moves to her uncle's bookshop and builds new relationships whilst falling in love with reading. I had really high hopes for this book but found the story quite boring with not enough character development. I enjoyed the storyline with the man in the cafe but found the rest of it quite disjointed. This Book would have benefitted from more detail and being longer. Overall it was a pleasant read but quite forgettable. 5/10 rounded up

This book was a little outside my usual choices. I was pleasantly surprised by it. A quirky and wholesome Japanese story. Loved it.

Such a delightful joyful read about moving on in life, albeit with some miscommunications on the way! It felt very cosy, with a bibliophile's dream of living in a book shop, down to the smell of pages. Despite a depressing opening, I rooted for all the characters and especially enjoyed how Uncle Saturu was depicted. Although I feel I missed some hidden meaning of her aunt Momoko representing something, I really enjoyed this story just at a surface level and sped through it.

A quiet, somewhat introspective read which is calm and enjoyable.

The narrator, Takako, after a break up and some life re-evaluation, goes to stay in the little flat above her uncle Saturu’s bookshop in the used book district of Tokyo, helping him out at the same time.
It follows her journey to resetting and reconnecting with family members.

Not much really happens but it’s quite nice all the same.

This book is an absolute joy and I adored every second of it. My students are wanting more translated fiction right now so I think they will love this too.

What a wonderfully written story! It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did it took me on quite a journey. I love that very deep thoughts were delivered in such an easy on the eye/ear way. It shows how important it is to know one's story before you judge them. How important it is to be nice to someone regardless of whether they appreciate it at the time.

Some big and important lessons wrapped into a little cute story about the bookshop and that little room upstairs.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop" is a delightful journey into the enchanting world of literature. The vivid descriptions transport readers into a realm where the joy of discovering a love for reading takes center stage. The uncle and niece relationship adds a heartwarming touch to the narrative, serving as a backdrop to the protagonist's transformative journey. While I couldn't entirely relate to Takako, the book's focus on friendships and overcoming challenges remains compelling. The rich prose and immersive storytelling make this a captivating read. Despite my minor disconnect, I'm eager to continue the adventure in the next instalment.

The Days at the Morisaki Bookstore is set in Jimbocho near Tokyo. This long street is renowned for bookstores all of which offer bibliophiles something different. The Morisaki bookstore is run by Satoru who offers his niece Takako a refuge after a relationship breakup which necessitates a job resignation. Initially the 25 year old Takako has no interest in books or, it would appear, in life. In time though balance is achieved through the restorative nature of books.
In addition there is the unexplained disappearance of Uncle Satoru’s wife Momoko and the delights of the Saveur coffee shop to engage her mind.
This is an easy book to read with engaging characters. Thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for the eARC.

This is a simple, slice of life story newly translated to English from the Japanese (originally published around 2010). The cover is beautiful. The story follows a young woman who is melancholy after a breakup, leaves her job and goes to live above her uncle's bookshop in the Jimbocho neighbourhood.

I should have loved this book - I enjoy translated Japanese, gentle slice of life, books about books, reading and bookshops, but for some reason this just didn't resonate with me. The main character felt flat and I didn't enjoy the uncle-niece relationship which seemed awkward and made me feel uncomfortable. The second part of the book is less about ordinary day to day life and instead centres secrets from the past. I didn't enjoy this part and for a book about a bookshop I would have liked more on books and reading.

This is recommended to fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, and while I think there are some similarities, for me this book didn't have the same emotional depth or deeply heartwarming moments.

Overall a short, relatively pleasant read, but below expectations.

This book started out as very promising. After being dumped by her boyfriend Takako goes to live with her uncle helping him to look after his bookshop in Jimbocho. Through this she discovers a love of reading and gets to know the locals.
Unfortunately there is no real story to this although it does contain some lovely vignettes, it may have worked better as a series of interconnecting short stories. Writing is very simplistic and at times I found the dialogue illogical and somewhat confusing but this may have been a translation issue.
It’s a nice short read if you are looking for something not too taxing on the brain.

Thank you to the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book!

I had heard a lot of great things about this novel, and as a fan of japanese fiction and translated fiction I was really excited! And this did not disappoint! I really enjoyed reading this and found it quite moving and emotional as the hidden meanings and messages to take away are quite touching. It also was quite relatable to me in parts. I also adored the setting of a bookshop! Overall a really warming, quiet and tender book, that you can easily read in one sitting as it is only 150 pages!

An OK read - I think a lot was lost in translation as the writing felt very immature and I felt that subjects were only really looked at on a surface level rather than going deeper into it, this may have also been because it was a short read

This is a lovely book to get engrossed in and escape the world for a while. It feels like we are dropped into a slice of someone's life. The plot, such as it is, is basically a young woman growing up and coming to a better understanding of herself and what she wants out of life. It's very gently done.

Takako is reeling after discovering that her boyfriend is in fact getting married to another woman. The revelation has made her realise that the way she saw their relationship was very wrong. Thrown by this, and the fact that he works with her, she quits her job and goes to work in her uncle's second hand bookshop.

Her uncle is an interesting character who clearly loves her very much. He has good advice but also seems to know enough to not shove it down her throat. Slowly, Takako moves from being someone who sleeps all the time and does very little to someone who is more sociable and engaged with the world. The change comes about in large part through her discovering the pleasure of books.

There isn't loads going on in this book but actually that's part of its charm. It feels like a mechanism for taking a break from life and just enjoying the moment - via the characters. It reminded me of Sally Page's book, The Book of Beginnings, which has a similar vibe and which I loved. I enjoyed it a lot.

I’m not sure what I was expecting but I’m afraid I was totally underwhelmed by this book and don’t know what else to say about it! Maybe something was lost in translation? Not for me, sorry.

A gentle easy read. As some reviewers have said the characters are one-dimensional and although there are many life-changing scenes they are all under-stated. I’m not sure if this is the translation or how Japanese literature is.

Anyone who has had the gift of recovering from a broken heart will love this beautifully and elegantly written book by Satoshi Yagisawa. A page turner, tender and sensitively written, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop shines a light on the power of books, how they can embrace us and teach us new, interesting and healing things. When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. Takako discovers new worlds in the stacks of books in the shop. Satoru is surprised to find he has more in common with Satoru. The bookshop indeed has a lot to each them about life and love.

Takaku has moved to the Morisaki Bookshop, owned by her uncle, to recover from a failed love affair. During this calming, quiet story, she finds new confidence in the community around the bookshop and a love for reading again.
A charming read.

I listened to the audiobook and wanted to read the book and I confirm that this is a lovely and compelling book, a well written novel
It's a love letter to books, bookshops, reading and life. It's a story of how books changed the life of a girl, help her become less prim and more read to face and enjoy life.
It's a book that kept me till late in the night, made me smile and root for the characters.
I know there's a second book and can't wait
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was cute! Takako moves in above her uncle's second hand bookshop after a breakup and discovers a love for reading, and gets involved in the life of the community. The second part is about her aunt's return after leaving her uncle five years prior, and that part was less enjoyable for me and less interesting.
Overall I liked the atmosphere and I regretted not knowing more of the books named in the novel, but I can't say I will remember much of it anyway in a few weeks.

Although a bit bit of slow burner, it is well worth sticking with this book. Beautifully written and truly a masterpiece.