With thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book is quite unlike anything I’ve read before. It’s a creative book, well executed, and has moments that left me with tears in my eyes. It’s beautifully whimsical, and so well written that it felt like I was walking right alongside our characters.

I adored Hana and Keishin’s story so much. I wish I could’ve spent more time in the world just exploring. The ending was very good, and I felt sad to finish such an imaginative book.

I really recommend this for fans of whimsical books, Studio Ghibli, and those looking for an adventure. I cannot wait to get my own copy!

Did a readalong for this and it is such a good book
The entire compact of having a shop that customers can on,u find when they need it was just such a great idea

I loved it

I wanted to read more and more to find out more and to know more stories of customers

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to get to this book so I really appreciate the opportunity to read this book ahead of time, the writing was magical and so descriptive and the story itself was really unique to anything I've read before.

This was a real slow paced book and I think you have to make sure you're in the mood for such a slow read as it's not for those who demand a fast paced read, however the character development and worldbuilding was really great.

I'm glad I read this and I'd encourage those who love a slow paced magical read to pick this up!

I absolutely loved Water Moon. It was not at all what I expected; I thought it would be Before the Coffee Gets Cold set in a pawnshop, but it took an unexpected turn into full-blown fantasy. It was like reading a novel set in a Miyazaki world; I honestly think it would make an amazing animated movie. I read it in one sitting as I was absolutely entranced.

I'm usually not a fan of romantic storyline, but I was so invested in Hana and Keishin and felt completely immersed in the world Sotto Yambao creates. My only slight criticism is that the ending feels slightly rushed; I would have liked more time devoted to Hana's parents, particularly her mother as her disappearance is such a crucial aspect of the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the digital ARC.

Water Moon is absolutely magical. Samantha’s writing is beautiful and makes both the characters and the world come alive. It’s so different to anything I’ve ever read and I would highly recommend it to anyone!

At first I thought I had stumbled upon yet another Japanese coffee-shop or restaurant-type book where you can talk for the last time with someone who has died and/or repair an ancient wrong. Instead, after the deceptive beginning I found myself in a not so bad fantasy, as if Murakami would write immersed in Miyazaki's world, and I enjoyed it immensely even if the end didn't really satisfy me so much.

All'inizio pensavo di essere incappata nell'ennesimo libro giapponese tipo il caffé o il ristorante dove puoi parlare per l'ultima volta con qualcuno che é morto e/o riparare ad un antico torto. Invece dopo l'inizio ingannevole mi sono ritrovato in un fantasy niente male, come se Murakami scrivesse immerso nel mondo di Miyazaki e mi sono divertita tantissimo anche se la fine non mi ha proprio soddisfatto piú di tanto.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

This is quite an inventive and fantastical tale! Full of magic and romance, and with a touch of healing fiction

The premise of Water Moon, with a pawnshop where you can sell your regrets, sounded very much like another healing fiction book (which I'm here for), but the novel took a turn quite early on; it seems to play with our expectation of books of that kind to do something very different. Is it still healing fiction? In a way, I'd say yes, but it's also not (in a very good way!)

The pawnshop mentioned before is run by Toshio Ishikawa and his daughter, Hana. We meet them right on Toshio's last day running the shop, which he's passing on to his daughter. She wakes up on her first day running the pawnshop to find her father missing and the shop ransacked. In her journey to find her father, we readers discover Hana's world with wonderment, alongside Kei—a man from another world (and I mean that in many ways) - who helps her and who she also gets to know in amazement. However, Hana's world isn't all filled with wonder; it's also filled with secrets, regrets and guilt, all of which unravels as we go along this journey.

I really liked this book! I thought the world-building was quite incredible, and the cover definitely matched the tone of the novel. I was able to be a part of #TheDreamersBookClub, a buddy read promoted by Bantam Books, and it was amazing to read it alongside other incredible readers.

Thank you very much to Bantam Books and NetGalley for my copy of the book! #gifted

As a whole, I enjoyed this book! The writing was descriptive and immersive and I felt like I was a part of Hana’s world. However, the romance aspect felt rushed to me, yet the book felt as though it was longer than it needed to be. I think this book is great for new fantasy readers/ YA readers

wow wow wow. I went into this book with a few ideas about what it was and what journey we would be going on, but I definitely underestimated how vast and incredible the story would be. I can often struggle with fantasy books as the world building can be too complex for me, but the way Samantha built up the world and characters in Water Moon was so captivating it draws you in bit by bit and before you know it we’re right there with Hana and Keishin. And then once you’re there the twists and turns constantly change your opinion on the place until you get to the end and feel like you yourself have just jumped out of a water puddle and plonked back to reality. Honestly the most magical and thought-provoking read, thank you so much to Samantha and Bantam Books for sending me the NetGalley eARC and physical proof copy and including me in The Dreamers Book Club in exchange for my thoughts and an honest review. It has been an incredible journey! 💜☁️✨

A wonderfully magical book that would make the perfect Studio Ghibli production. It is dark, mystical, romantic, perilous and amusing sometimes all at once. Fantastical alternative realities and expertly crafted world-building set in modern Tokyo.

An absolute joy of a book.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own unbiased opinion.

This was amazing. A brilliant novel about the lights of life and what happens when we get in our own heads

Thank you to Bantam Books for the ARC of Water Moon. I also took part in a read along organised by the publisher, which was a great way to have discussions about the novel. Honestly, I did read ahead of schedule because I couldn’t help myself!

Water Moon contains a pawnshop in Tokyo where you can sell your regrets. After the retirement of her father, Hana becomes owner, but she wakes up on her first morning with her father and their latest acquisition both missing. When a stranger shows up to the pawnshop, she accepts his offer for help and they embark on a magical journey.

I went into this book knowing pretty much nothing beyond the broad synopsis, and I am so glad I did! I was thoroughly surprised by the intricacy of the world building and the unique setting. This kind of magical realism doesn’t offer a lot of explanations, but that only makes the world that more magical and mysterious.

The author artfully describes so many fascinating locations within Hana’s world. I won’t give any specifics as I don’t want to spoil anything, but some details that stood out to me were the use of paper, the methods of transport, and the perceptions of our world. The world building was by far my favourite part of Water Moon!

I flew through this book! The chapters alternated between past and present and we got to see the viewpoint of multiple characters, which really helped to encompass the whole world.

There is a big focus on the idea of fate and choice in people’s lives. How would the world change if you made a different choice? Is fate set in stone? All the characters have to grapple with these ideas in different ways, and I found it very interesting to see how things played out, especially as more plot twists came about. They make mistakes and change their minds, but that is all part of life.

Romance also features, and while it is not the focus of the book, it is still really important. It was heartwarming to see the characters connect and struggle through revelations. They were constantly trying to shield the other from harm.

One thing I would change would just be to make the end section of the book a bit longer and more fleshed out. So much was revealed in quick succession, so I would have loved just a bit more length in the novel to slow the pace a little bit for the ending. In particular, I wanted more about Hana’s parents, and I could have done with some more lengthy conversations between her and Keishin.

Despite this, I still thoroughly enjoyed Water Moon and I think I will remember it for a long time. If you like the mystical nature of magical realism, especially that of Japanese fiction, I highly recommend this book. Water Moon is a magical adventure which also makes you think deeply about human nature and how we make choices in our lives.

Thank you once again to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for a review!

4.5 stars

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao is a captivating fantasy novel that masterfully intertwines nostalgia and hope. At the heart of the story are well-crafted characters who bring depth and warmth, drawing readers into a world that feels both familiar and otherworldly. The narrative is fast-paced and engaging, making it a breeze to read, while Sotto Yambao’s lyrical prose adds a layer of beauty to each page. Although the story leaves some readers wishing for more, the journey itself is rich and rewarding, making Water Moon a truly enjoyable and heartfelt escape into fantasy.

Water Moon gave me Ghibli vibes throughout the story but I wasn't completely invested. I think the flow of the story was very slow and too long at times. I enjoy magical realism most of the time but this one I am not completely sure about it. Maybe it would work better for me as a film rather than a book.

Such a beautiful heartfelt book. People who don't know they want to sell their regrets end up at Hana's father's pawnshop instead of a delicious ramen restaurant somewhere in Tokyo.

One day, the first day Hana Ishikawa is the pawnshop’s owner, she finds it completely ransacked. What's worse one of the shop’s acquisitions has been stolen, and her father has gone missing. At that moment Minatozaki Keishin, a scientist, enters the shop, who offers help instead of seeking it. When they find clues that all this was staged, they embark on a quest for Hana's parents that leads them to parallel and surreal worlds.

There is the theme of choice and predestination in this book. Hana isn't supposed to go after her father but should stay in the pawnshop and follow her father's footsteps. Yet she goes her own way which provides her with answers. Stubbornness and making your own choices are rewarded.

I loved how Shambao interweaved science and the surreal. Keishin is an openminded scientist and Hana is interested in his scientific world. It's very hard to pull off, but she does it.

The parallel world's are great: paper worlds, under the ground, the night market in the sky... It's all very dreamy and cute. Of course it reminds me of the Japanese literature that I adore but it's so lovely and poeticallly done.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing House/Ballantine/Del Rey for this ARC.

The first word that comes to mind after readings this book is creativity. The other world in which the story takes place, an alternative world that shares some doors with ours, is wild and imaginative. The crazy ideas that come to our minds when we are kids taken to another level of creativity and world building, with complex and detailed descriptions 
A whimsical, dream like world that holds some very ugly secrets that still don't take away from the allure of such a place.
The plot is full of twist that I didn't see coming at all, leaving me speechless at the end. The characters have interesting thought processes that make reading each one of their POV very, very interesting. Although the romance felt a bit lacking for me, it was overall beautiful and I really enjoyed this story.

This is a beautiful, sweeping atmospheric read from start to finish and gave me MAJOR Suzume vibes. Also, that cover? *chef's kiss*

The book transcends time and space while deeply exploring the complex emotions of family, loss and grief. Hana and Keishin are amazing characters that have to embark on a journey to uncover some mysteries and the writing it beautiful throughout.

A whimsical and lyrical read for fans of magical realism.

This is the story of a pawn shop that is disguised as a ramen restaurant and only the chosen ones will find the pawn shop where they can trade their regrets and life choices.

In the morning that she is meant to take over the shop from her father Hana finds the shop ransacked and her father missing. Along comes a stranger and rather than asking for help he offers it. Hana and the stranger need to find her father and the missing choice that has been taken.

This was so interesting, magical and was written beautifully but it did have a habit of jumping ahead in some of the paragraphs, and then I thought had missed part of the story. This led me to end up rereading parts to check. It has very mystical elements and I enjoyed the fmc and mmc characters. This is fantasy that has the world building down to a T without dragging it out. The ending was just perfect! Loved it!

Such a magickal book, right up my street! I loved the whole story and got totally lost in it.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The best part of having finished fourteen books in August is that I had FIVE 5 star reads to choose a favourite from. Sometimes that would actually be a bad thing, a real ‘which is my favourite child?’ dilemma, but this choice felt easy for me.

Water Moon was a NetGalley ARC, and yes, I know I said I’d sworn off them for a while, but wow am I glad I was chosen to read it. Although very different in subject, it gave me such strong The Starless Sea vibes, and that’s one of my absolute favourite books of recent years.

As a Japanophile, it also had me hooked on that score. I can’t even begin to describe it in a way that does it justice while avoiding spoiling anything, so all I’ll say is to check it out if you love putting logic and real-world facts to one side and just being swept away on an impossible adventure. Absolutely stunning.