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.

I really enjoyed my days at the Morasaki bookshop in the company of Takako who moves there, heartbroken, after her boyfriend announces his engagement to another woman. Her relationship with her uncle Satoru, the customers and the people of the Jimbocho neighbourhood in Tokyo gradually work their magic. This is a gentle story of healing, love, joy and books.

What a lovely book. Following a break up Takako goes to stay at her Uncle Satoru's bookshop. Here she discovers a joy of reading and also her own joy.
The second part of the book is about Satoru's estranged wife and why she left.
This is a lovely translation.

If you are looking for a warm read that emphasises why books are important, 'Days at the Morisaki Bookshop' is one for you.

Translated from the Japanese by Eric Ozawa, this novel is set in Tokyo's Jimbocho district, which is crammed with bookshops. In her early 20's, Takako, hasn't had much experience of life, and when her boyfriend turns out to have a fiancé, she is devastated. Reluctantly she responds to her uncle Satoru's suggestion that she come and work in the bookshop in exchange for lodgings. Over time, reading books, and the connections she makes with people in the district through her reading, help her to heal.

Many of the books referred to in this novel are real, but because they are Japanese I haven't read them. Instead of detracting from the story, it meant I was able to remain open to them and the characters responses to them. The translation was very good, and whilst some of the dialogue felt stilted, I wondered if this was more cultural than due to the translation process.

This is the ideal book to read when you need something cosy and safe to remind you how books can increase empathy and connection.

Such a gentle, refreshing read. I have come quite late to Japanese writing but I find it so enjoyable. This is beautifully written and set in my favourite place, a bookshop. It tells the story of Takako who has been jilted by her boyfriend and is invited to stay at her uncle’s bookshop. She is very depressed when she arrives and over time she starts to heal. At the start she really has no interest in anything, especially books but after a while she changes her attitude and starts to really love the books that surround her.
This is quite a short book and very easy to get into. I enjoyed it and hope to read more by this author.

'Days at the Morisaki Bookshop' is an enjoyable read; an entertaining story of the characters as their lives become intertwined around this little used-book store is heartwarming and gentle, if not a little too gentle. Lyrical and often funny in places, it was a refreshing read. I feel the translation has been a little robotic and literal, I did find myself skipping pages to get to the end.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a quick and cosy read perfect for anyone who loves books and stories set in bookshops. Takako goes to live with her Uncle in the Morisaki Bookshop after she's had her heart broken by her boyfriend, she's not a reader herself but in healing her heart she comes to discover the power of reading and the magic of bookshops in connecting people and communities. This is a lovely, gentle story about how books and the bookshops themselves become part of people's lives and brings mutual appreciation and understanding between people from all walks of life. Thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for a digital copy to read and review.

I loved this book so much, what a beautiful written book. I loved the main character takako , I actually read this and found a bit of myself in her character .as she did not realise how important books really are in this world ,this was me untill about 6 years ago .
This book has warmth , love ,friendship , heartbreak all in one small superb book l. If you are looking for a quick read with a big impact I recommend you read this book , as it will steal your heart , you will never want it to finish .