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.

HUGE THANKS TO NET GALLEY FOR MY COPY

3.5/5 rounded up

Girl is broken up with by her boyfriend - a two timing, arrogant butt-faced miscreant! - and quits her job. Her kindly eccentric uncle offers her a place to stay and a job at his second hand bookstore and our heroine rediscovers the love of reading, reconnects with her family, gets some self esteem and even gets a new boyfriend!

Sweet, light book, that manages to do that Japanese thing where the writing is light and somehow quite deep and truthful at the same time.

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.

Takako has moved from the countryside to the city for work and has developed a relationship with a co-worked. However when he tells her that he's marrying someone else (but they can still hook up) Takako leaves her job and her flat and moves into the bookshop run by her uncle. The bookshop is in an area of the city which is full of bookshops and during her time there Takako makes new friends, learns more about her family and realises that her ex was not worth it.
This is a short and quite light book. I did enjoy it but only on a superficial level, as in the fact that it is a pleasant read and does have something to say about relationships and the way to treat people. However I didn't find it profound!

This is a an easy and cosy read. It was my first translated book and I rather enjoyed it. It’s charming and relatable.

A very sweet book about a young girl taking solace in her Uncle’s bookshop.
She discovers books and a sense of community.

Translated from the Japanese and really brings the Jimbocho book town to life. Sounds like my perfect place 🥰

A gentle, slow-paced story of family, tradition, and the magnificence of the written word, DAYS AT THE MORISAKI BOOKSHOP by Satoshi Yagasawa is a simply lovely read.

When Takako gets brutally dumped by her boyfriend who she also works with, she immediately quits her job and finds herself a little lost and alone. So when her eccentric Uncle Satoru offers her free room and board for helping out in their family bookshop, Takako feels like this is probably her best option, even if it isn't the most appealing.
As Takako settles into the routine of the bookshop and its customers, it isn't long before she begins to feel revitalised, and as new friendships are formed, Takako regains her confidence and a newfound interest in life again. And it turns out that she may have more in common with her Uncle than she could ever imagine possible.

From family ties and expectations to finding the perfect path for you, DAYS AT THE MORISAKI BOOKSHOP has it all. Blending beautiful traditions with the modern world is wonderfully described and the characters, while a little cold at times, really connect well together and push the story forward at a gentle pace.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more Japanese translations.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop revolves around Takako who starts working and living at her uncle's bookshop. This book explores her rediscovering her love of reading in her mid twenties and the power of books in connecting people and spreading joy.

I loved the first half of this book where we follow Takako falling in love with books and reading and there were some beautiful quotes surrounding books. The overall atmosphere of the small town made up of used bookshops and coffee shops was perfect for the autumn and winter and I really enjoyed the cozy vibes. The translation was extremely well done and felt very natural.

I did however find at times that the pacing was slightly off and for that reason I did find this book quite difficult to get through despite how short it is. The second half, which focusses on Takako's relationship with her uncle's wife, felt like a completely different story to the first half and while there were still some poignant moments and lyrical quotes it felt like these were rushed over and we spent a long time on details that weren't very important.

Overall, I loved the first half of this book and really wish it would've stuck with the theme of books and reading for the second half. I would recommend this book if you're looking for a short, autumnal read.

Delightful contemporary fiction full of emotion. It had everything from highs and lows sometimes combined. Set in a bookshop in Japan and led to friendships and love. It helps the protagonist, Takako, find a belonging and security in her life which had lacked for so long with the help of the bookshop owner, her uncle Satoru. Her uncle invited her to stay above his bookshop which gave her the opportunity to leave her unhappy life and broken romance. Contentment amongst the books took a while to establish and then she felt she fitted. A charming quirky story which was warming to read.