Bookreview: Water Moon🌊🌙 by Samantha Sotto Yambao
If you could sell your regrets to a pawnshop would you take it?
This book is my first 5 star read of 2025 and boy does it deserve it.
This dreamlike enchanting fantasy novel feels like watching a studio ghibli movie. It is beautiful, bizar, and gives you all the emotions.
Somewhere in Tokyo there is a pawnshop you will only walk into it (instead of a ramen bar) when you are truly lost, and pawn of your life choices and deepest regrets.
Hana takes over the shop from her father but on her first day it is suspiciously ransacked and she things her dad went away on a dangerous journey. A strange man walks into the store and does not need her help but offers to go with her instead. They enter a mystical world and so the ghibli movie begins...
I basically read this book in one sitting because I could not put it down. Every single page brought magic and awe due to the author's writing style and imagination. It was a mysterious trip and I highly recommend you try it out yourself! Water Moon is out TODAY so please pick it up to start your reading year off with some cosy magical goodness!💗

Have you ever felt like the rain is following you?
Then perhaps, you are not meant for this world, my friend.

Tomorrow is the day. Hana’s father, Toshio, will retire, and she will take over the pawnshop.

When Hana wakes up the next day, however, things look quite different.
A stranger named Keishin stumbles inside, looking for ramen. Unlike any other client, he offers help instead of needing it.

“The most interesting things are invisible”

Despite danger and possible consequences, my heart did not speed up. The book is written in a beautiful way that let me enjoy what was written.
I never felt any urge, other than to get to read the next words. The whispers of nothing you can see and touch.

Riding on songs, travel by rumours, and visiting a nightmarket in the clouds. Their dreamy quest takes me places I have never even dreamed of, and I adore every bit of it.

Of course, there is a sweet sense of humour, too.
Would it be possible with sweet music between the two?

This is the most beautiful book I have ever read. Made up be the most beautiful sentences I can ever remember reading. With eyes like Kei, the wonders revealed themselves to me.

WaterMoon has a lovely concept in the storyline, a pawnshop where you leave behind your deepest regret, for a lifetime freedom from the torment of "what if".

But, the execution left me wanting more. I may be in the minority here but the lead characters felt wooden and the romantic storyline lacked depth for me to really buy into their tribulations and in the end I really didn't care much for the outcome of them.

From the very first page, 'Water Moon' cast a spell on me. The idea of a pawnshop where you can trade away your regrets for peace of mind is utterly captivating. It's a haunting image, and the book explores this concept with such grace.

The settings are vividly described, so alive with detail that I felt like I was right there, breathing the same air as the characters.

The story is rich with layered meaning and subtle morals, inviting contemplation without ever feeling preachy. This is a truly sublime reading experience that will linger long after you turn the final page.

Highly recommended for fans of magical realism and of course, Studio Ghibli (I honestly feel like an adaptation would be incredible).

I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House UK for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautifully written story. It’s a fantastical delight, that takes you on a journey with such mesmerising descriptions, a real treat for all the senses. It is filed with wise teachings about life and the choices we make and the implications of them, creating impact on outcomes and how it affects not only ourselves but those around us. The story touched my inner child too, I would have absolutely loved to be able to achieve some of the ways of travel and adventures experienced.

I was completely elated with the ending and it left me with such a warm affection and satisfaction of a book wrapped up so eloquently. I found it to be such a splendid and heart warming read!

I also absolutely love the book cover, it’s so pretty and reflects the story wonderfully!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and all involved in making it possible for me to read an ARC copy of this wonderful book for an honest review.

On a backstreet in Tokyo, there’s a pawnshop that can only be found by those who are lost. It’s a place where they can pawn difficult life choices and their deepest regrets. Hana is taking over the running of the pawnshop from her father. On her first morning as the new owner, she finds the shop ransacked, her father gone, and one of its most precious acquisitions stolen. When her first customer stumble into the shop, he offers her help with tidying up and finding the stolen choice. Together, the two must journey through a mythical world to find Hana’s father and the missing choice. They travel through rain puddles, into the pages of a book, visit a night market in the clouds and ride on paper cranes. But as Hana and Keishin get closer to each other and to finding what they seek, Hana will have to make a choice of her own that could tear them apart.

Water Moon was absolutely captivating and magical. I loved the imaginative world and all the different places Hana and Keishin visit on their quest to reclaim the lost choice – this is a novel with top tier world building: I could visualize the places as I was reading. I enjoyed the element of the quest and while I felt I was watching the characters go through their adventure rather than feel deeply connected to them, this worked for me as it gave me the feeling of watching their story unfold. Water Moon would make an absolutely beautiful novel to see adapted and I hope Studio Ghibli pick it up. In the meantime, it’s definitely one that you should add to your TBR if you enjoy magical worlds, enchanting world building and a touch of whimsy.

This is a cosy, romantic fantasy that I think is being accurately compared to Ghibli. If you like Studio Ghibli, I'm confident that you will like this. I also think you would certainly like it more if you are the type to see the images of what you are reading in your mind, because it's a beautiful book, full of whimsy. I think for me, because I read this straight after two much darker, more action-packed reads, This felt a little flat in terms of characterization. I more read this for vibes. With that being said, I still enjoyed it. I might skim over it again in a few days when my nerves have settled from the last books as I think I will love it more when I'm in more of a cosy mood. I think it will be fun to annotate a physical copy.

What a heart-wrenching and heartwarming novel, that takes you on a truly unique journey. I have never read anything like it.

Water Moon felt quite reminiscent of the Midnight Library, in the way it makes you reflect on the choices we all make in life, and was a very creative plot in doing so. I found myself highlighting so many poignant excerpts.

The prose was truly fantastical and contained so much vivid imagery. My one challenge was that almost every chapter introduced us to entirely new fantasy elements, and the world building felt quite never-ending, and thus, it took me longer to read than usual.

With that being said this was a truly unique read, and I would highly recommend it!

Warm thanks to Samantha Sotto Yambao, Random House UK and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm so grateful to have received this as an arc through Netgalley. It's been on my to read list for a little while since I wanted to read it close to release date but oh how I wish I picked it up sooner!

The book is beautifully written and while it has plenty of action and plot line to keep you enticed, the fantasy elements and the writing was enough to solidify this as a five star on vibes alone!

The world building and lore rooted at this book is fed to reader in a way that doesn't make it seem like you're wading through passages of how things work because it all fits together within the plot of the story and while I'm sure there'll be people out there that picked up on the plot twist, it took me by surprise but I loved it!

Definitely one to recommend to anyone and everyone

Hana is about to take up her father’s job as a pawnbroker. This isn’t a choice she has had to make, she simply had to fit comfortably into a future already decided for her. Things were supposed to be easy, but instead on her first morning as the shop’s owner, she finds the place in utter chaos and her father gone, with hints scattered across the shop’s mysterious wares. To save him, Hana has to make a choice that might well break the comforting routine of her life and make her consider her trade in another light. For she and her father don’t deal in material stuff. They deal in choices and regrets, enabling customers to leave their shop with a weight lifted off their shoulders.
This novel that is out on January 16 is utterly enchanting. The author deals very creatively with the Japanese culture that seeps into every corner of the narrative set in Tokyo and mostly beyond. Here, paper cranes are a means of transport and the door to a ramen restaurant may open onto unexpected realities. There was a fragile but well-kept balance of light and dark, which meant that the more whimsical aspects of the character’s journey were anchored in profound feelings and reflections on choice, free will and regret.
The parts of the book I enjoyed less were purely subjective and have nothing to do with the quality of the book. Mainly, I wasn’t a fan of the very episodic nature of the narrative, with the characters jumping from one location to the next without staying long enough to really appreciate their surroundings (but that’s what comes with being chased). The romance also didn’t work for me, but it rarely does. It felt a little rushed at the beginning, and was patched up a little too quickly at the end as well after the usual fall-out. So, really, nothing major! There is plenty to love if you’re looking for a very magical, Japanese-inspired adventure set partly in our world and partly in a very dream-like land where time and space works differently.
CW: alcohol, internalised fatphobia.

Exquisite. Simply exquisite! 4.5⭐

Water Moon is the perfect example of a well-written Japanese fantasy book. Perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli films, Water Moon takes you on a magical adventure in another world. A world where everything and everyone has its place and order is a way of life. Choices don't exist. Hanna's world is the exact opposite to ours yet, her world relies on ours to function.

There were so many layers and hidden depths to the story. My favourite thing about Japanese fiction is how "vague" it first appears. You really have to look beneath the surface and you'll discover many hidden nuggets of wisdom that'll constantly have you pausing to reflect on.

The only thing that makes this 4.5⭐ over 5⭐ was the pacing feeling off. It often felt like we were rushed out of a scene before we could really emotionally appreciate what was happening.

I'm so excited to see what else this author writes and am dreaming of Water Moon being made into a film.

Thank you Netgalley and PRH for the opportunity to read an eArc.

Water Moon is a stunning and extraordinary novel by none other than Ms. Samantha Sotto-Yambao.

I am thrilled to see it soon available to other readers and even told my close friends and family about it. I am sure that with its enchanting story and wonderful characters, this book will undoubtedly captivate readers.

I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an E-ARC!

I really liked the prose in this novel, The writing style is very lyrical with a lot of memorable and heartwarming quotes throughout.
I would definitely recommend if you would like a studio Ghibli feel to your books

i'm not sure how to rate this book. i mean, it was cute. the reading experience for me was like watching a studio ghibli movie due to the whimsical places the story takes us to, but it lacked that certain magical element.

i think a big reason why i couldn't fully enjoy the book was the whole execution. the dialogue was stilted, the writing was clunky with some awkward phrasings, and the pacing was extremely messy throughout the whole book. the characters felt very one-dimensional, they behaved/talked unnaturally most of the time, and their insta-love was not even believable.

the biggest strength of this book by far is the dreamlike setting and the originality/creativity of this whimsical world. if you're just looking for a cute magical realism adventure, you might have a good time, but if you're looking for something with more substance beyond all the whimsy, i don't think this book is gonna offer that.

I absolutely fell in love with Water Moon and could not put it down. I loved the magical world-building and I immediately found myself loving Samantha Sotto Yambao's writing style. It was so whimsical and beautiful! It definitely gives my Studio Ghibli vibes and I am all here for that.

I really enjoyed the whole premise of this story and I loved that it was not only a story about love but about choices, fate and the cost of regrets. The idea that people could pawn off their regrets really stuck with me and I have not stopped thinking about it. Also I need puddle jumping to become a thing, travelling would be so easy and fun!

Hana and Kei were fantastic characters and I loved learning about the world and it's traditions through their individual perspectives. Their romance was beautiful yet also full of suspense because of how forbidden it is, I couldn't help but root for them because I loved them so much!

Water Moon is a beautiful and magical story that is so creative and unique. I cannot wait for you all to read it and fall in love with it like I did.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

had the absolute pleasure of reading this book. It was so incredibly magical, very Studio Ghibli in so many ways. Water Moon is a captivating read, and every chapter brings forward a new type of magic. This book examines the power of choice in such an ethereal way - what you believe is an insignificant choice, might just change your life for good.
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Hana and Keishin are such a strong characters from the very beginning - they have this all-consuming drive to KNOW, to understand. And from the very beginning, they’re fighting to keep the other one safe. They have this instant connection, this unbeatable pull towards one another, and in a world where Hana has never had her own choice before, Keishin is her first, and most important, one ever.
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Everything about Samantha Sotto Yambao’s world building is stunning. We get to explore the beauty of this world through an outsider’s eyes - and we’re just as captivated as he is. It is a breathtaking novel, and I already want to reread it, knowing what I know now. It is heartbreaking, but also incredible hopeful, and it is so full of beauty. I cannot recommend it enough.
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Water Moon is a must-read, so keep your eyes peeled on the 16th January. (I may have preordered an exclusive copy of it as soon as I finished reading this arc)

4.5 stars - Magically romantic!

Yambao has created a dreamlike whimsical world full of charming characters on a quest to find Hana’s missing parents.

The writing is lyrical and poetic without being overly written and pretentious. But there’s still a lot of food for thought around belonging, who you are, your destiny, and fate.

The only reason this isn’t a 5 star read is because I felt a little disappointed by the ending. It felt too rushed, and personally (my own opinion), I felt a different ending would have been more emotionally hard hitting yet satisfying.

Perfect for lovers of Stephanie Garber, Erin Morgenstern, and Sue Lynn Tan!

I cannot wait to see my special edition preorders of this book!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Water Moon is the story of Hana who along with her father Toshio runs a pawn shop. It's no ordinary pawn shop though, this pawn shop deals in bad choices AND it is hidden from the world. The only way customers find it is when they're meant to. Each bad choice is paid for with a green tea that helps their customers forget their regretful memories. Those memories get stored as birds and they get collected on the last Sunday of every month by the mysterious and kind of scary soul collectors. It is just Hana and her dad running the store as her mom is dead. She was put to death for stealing one of the choices Toshio and her had collected when Hana was a baby.

When it comes time for Toshio to retire he leaves the running of the store in Hana's capable hands but on his last night he disappears in mysterious circumstances. As Hana sets out to find her father she crosses paths with a scientist called Keishin who thinking he's going into a ramen restaurant but instead crashes into Hana who has hurt her foot on glass. Keishin must have a regret he needs to let go of. He has the ghost of his former friend to keep him company so anything is possible! Thus ensues an adventure that could very well be made into a Studio Ghibli movie! I found the descriptions, characters and world building to be magical and full of whimsy and I couldn't wait to sit down and read this book. I still find myself thinking of it. Its such a beautiful read. I'd highly recommend it. I dont want to spoil any more as I think this book is better suited being read going into it blind. It has so may characters and worlds packed into its story and it is just so much fun to read. This author will be an instant buy for me going forward.

Thank you as always to NetGalley, the Author and Publishers for the ARC of this book in exchange for my review on it.

Water Moon had all the makings of a stunning fantasy, unfortunately, while the idea was brilliant, the execution left me feeling a bit adrift.

There are some truly beautiful moments in this book—star making, paper crane rides, and a night market in the clouds. These scenes feel cinematic and would probably do well in an anime or movie. But as a novel, they felt disjointed, lacking the narrative flow needed to immerse me fully in the world.

The biggest issue for me was the characterisation. Hana and Kei, while central to the plot, didn’t feel fleshed out. Their personalities lacked the depth that makes me want to root for them or connect emotionally. And while the magical elements were intriguing, they often felt confusing rather than cohesive.

That said, I can see how fans of whimsical fantasy might enjoy the imaginative elements and quirky world-building. It has a Studio Ghibli-esque vibe and a dreamlike quality that some readers will find charming. But for me, the book didn’t quite deliver on its potential.

Headlines:
Magical (realism)
Whimsical
Romantic

I enjoyed the foundational setting of the pawn shop in Tokyo. Open the door and is it ramen or is it a place to stow your emotions? Hana was about to finally take over the running of the shop from her father when the rug was pulled from under her feet. She found herself jumping into an adventure with the latest stray to enter the shop...Keishin.

From here, it was a story of jumping quest to quest, door to door with a cast of unusual characters. All of this was in the backdrop of a sense of peril and the lives of Hana's parents were at stake. The concept of what the pawn shop did was really interesting and the quest mostly kept my interest. I did find the story a bit overly drawn out and I was chomping to get to the end of the quests.

The romance developed rather sweetly and I believed the connection between Hana and Keishin wholeheartedly. I enjoyed the whimsical plot lines but I was never far from being worried about Hana's father and wanting to know more about her mother.

Overall, this was a good story with a magical realism experience I connected with.

Thank you Bantam Books for the early review copy.