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 .

It was an easy book to read, but I felt that something was lost in the translation, leaving it a little flat in places.

Description of places came across well, modern-day life in Japan. It would have been nice if the tale had continued for a while longer giving an ending to what happened next.

How could I resist a book about books and a bookshop? Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a quaint and engaging read with insight into Japanese culture. A gentle tale of learning to love books and reading, the characters will make you wish you knew them, from the heartbroken Takako to her kind and generous uncle, his free-spirit wife, and the people she encounters in the book district.

A short story at 160 pages, it was a quick easy read.

The story was broken into two halves with no chapters within. In the first the story is focused on Takako who has split with her boyfriend after finding out he is engaged to someone else. She leaves her job (where they all work) and goes to stay with her Uncle at a second hand bookshop in Jimbōchō, a district dedicated to used-bookstores.

The second part of the book comes sometime later when Takako has got back on her feet with a new job and her Auntie returns to the bookshop after leaving 5 years ago. Why has she returned and can Satoru forgive her for her absence?

I thought Takako was quite insufferable. She was very judgemental, especially of her Uncle who seemed to dote on her. I thought the coffee shop felt more important to the first part of the story than the bookshop, and the scenes that happened here were my favourite.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautifully written, very short book telling the story of a young woman who goes to live in the room above her uncle’s bookshop and to help him run the shop. The relationship between the two of them is convincing and the other character they meet along the way are also great additions. I don’t read very much in translation but this is one I am very pleased I found.

A sweet book, though the translation could have been more polished. Worth reading for the feel of how Japanese books have a totally different style to English ones.

I loved this book and read it over 24 hours. The characters and their relationships are gentle and develop over the period of the novel taking the reader with them. The underlying theme of the bookshop makes it inviting to anyone who enjoys the company of books. I hadn't realised until recently that I enjoy Japanese books so much but I'm now off looking more so I hope Satoshi Yagisawa writes a sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A simple story that conveys numerous life lessons. I found this book left me feeling at ease and peaceful within myself.
The story is about relationships, family, the joys of a smallish community and a love for reading.

I think most book loves Will appreciate how well written this was and the simplicity of the narrative. I know I certainly did. Well worth a read.

When Takako's boyfriend announces that he is getting married, she gives up her home and job. Not wanting to return home, she agrees to help her uncle in his bookshop in return for somewhere to stay. As she discovers a love of reading, she also begins to heal and takes the reader along on her journey. This was a gentle but poignant read, perfect for a cold afternoon, curled up under a blanket.

In Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, Satoshi Yagisawa invites readers into the enchanting world of the Morisaki Bookshop, where the transformative power of literature intertwines with the healing journeys of its inhabitants. Set in Tokyo's Jimbocho district, the novel follows the story of twenty-five-year-old Takako, who finds solace in her Uncle Satoru's cherished bookstore after a heart-wrenching betrayal.

Yagisawa skilfully blends the nuances of human emotions with the timeless allure of books. The Morisaki Bookshop emerges as a place of solace for the broken-hearted, offering not only sanctuary for Takako but also sanctuary for the readers drawn into its warm, inviting atmosphere. As Takako delves into the treasure trove of second-hand books that line the shelves, she discovers not just new literary worlds but also the profound connections that can be forged through shared experiences.

Yagisawa’s evocative prose brings the setting to life, immersing readers in the nostalgic charm of the old wooden building and the endless possibilities that lie within its walls. Yagisawa's vivid descriptions of the bustling streets of Jimbocho and the cosy intimacy of the bookshop create a sensory experience that resonates long after the final page is turned.

What sets Days at the Morisaki Bookshop apart is its ability to capture the intricate complexities of human relationships. Through the evolving bond between Takako and her Uncle Satoru, Yagisawa explores themes of resilience, healing, and the cathartic influence of literature on the human spirit. As the seasons shift from summer to autumn, the characters' emotional journeys mirror the transformative power of the changing natural world, underscoring the novel's poignant message about the enduring capacity of books to mend fractured souls.

Readers who relish heartfelt narratives that celebrate the magic of books and the resilience of the human heart will find solace and inspiration in Yagisawa's masterful storytelling. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a testament to the enduring power of literature to heal and uplift, resonating with those who have sought refuge in the pages of a beloved book during times of turmoil. This poignant tale of love, loss, and the redemptive force of literature will captivate readers, leaving them with a renewed appreciation for the transformative potential of storytelling.

Takako was seeing a man from work, although the pair kept their relationship secret. One day he told her he was getting married. While Takako struggled to take this in, her boyfriend seemed oblivious he had caused any upset in her life. But only when she returned home did she cry. The news had devastated her and she took to her bed. Eventually she quit her job. But with no income she wondered what she was going to do.
Out of the blue her Uncle Satoru phoned and suggested she come to stay in a room above his bookshop in return for minding the shop for a few hours in the mornings. She had nothing to lose so Takako moved into the Morisaki bookshop, started by her Great Grandfather and kept going by descendants since.
The Morisaki bookshop existed in an area of Tokyo with a dense population of other bookshops, all specialising in different types of books. But Takako didn’t read, just slept in her spare time. Until one day when she picked up one volume then couldn’t stop. Only when reluctantly accompanying her Uncle to a coffee shop one day did Takako leave the bookshop and venture out.
Between her stints in the bookshop and visits to the coffeehouse Takako’s world slowly expanded. The characters she meets along the way help her find her way out of a deep depression she hadn’t realised she was in.
This is a gentle novel with no resolutions except giving more than one person reasons to look forwards instead of back, where books help soothe the soul.

A Comforting Read

This was my first read of translated Japanese literature and although it didn't excite me, I loved the contemporary feel of the story.

With the Morisaki Bookshop at the centre of this sweet tale, the main character Takako takes you on her journey of betrayal, love, friendships, family and truth.

A very easy and enjoyable read with some beautiful descriptions of the Japanese landscape, culture and traditions.

A gentle story of reconnection, reflection and recovery and most definitely a nod to the magical power of books.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was a cute quick read for me. I enjoyed the development of Takako as a character, going from not liking books to picking up that first book and not putting it down. I also liked to see how she grew emotionally, considering others feelings/life experiences, acknowledging that she had made assumptions about her uncle when in fact she didn't know him as well as she thought.
As an avid reader I loved the bookshop setting and that there were so many characters that also enjoyed reading.
I preferred the first part of the book more than the second. The first focus' on Takako after a relationship breakdown and her then quitting her job and how her mental health suffers because of this and we see how she slowly recovers from this due to the bookshop. The second part is more about her uncles wife that ran away but has now returned. While they are still in the bookshop this part wasn't much actually about books/readers which is why I preferred the first part.

When Takako’s boyfriend, Hideaki, reveals he is marrying someone else, her heart breaks and her world falls apart. She needs somewhere to stay and ends up at her Uncle Satoru’s second-hand bookshop, which is in Jimbocho, Tokyo’s famous bookshop district. There, among the towers of old books, she minds the store occasionally, does some reading, meets some people and ultimately learns to start living, perhaps for the first time. This means that when Satoru’s wife, Momoko, who disappeared several years ago, suddenly returns, Takako has becomes more empathetic and has a better understanding of relationships, so she is able to mediate between the two of them. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is sweet and low key, but it is one of those deceptively slight, deceptively simple novels, which, even though on the surface there doesn’t perhaps appear to be much to it, really stays with you.