A cosy Japanese book about anthropomorphic cats running a special cosy coffee shop - what could go wrong? Another in a spate of translated Japanese works featuring cats and a touch of mysticism, The Full Moon Coffee Shop is unfortunately the one that missed the mark for me.

Partially it might be the repetition - so many books about a place that only appears to SOME people, SOME of the time and ugh… can we imagine something new, maybe? I understand the appeal, and it even worked for me, but now it’s been a few books and it gets tired.

The focus on astrology is perhaps the other thing that did not appeal to me. I understand imbuing your writing with something you love, or are interested in - but the inclusion of astrology and natal charts did not add any value to The Full Moon Coffee Shop - really just added “clutter”.

The conclusion, with the old man and the cats (no spoiler), is the book’s saving grace, and softened my heart a little. Be good and kind to cats, y’all.

Mai Mochizuki’s variation on a feel-good, life lessons story revolves around three interconnected characters, who each have a mysterious encounter with a place called The Full Moon Café. Mochizuki’s fictional café taps into Japan’s flourishing café culture in which small, independent cafes function as havens or meditative spaces. The Full Moon Café has no fixed location, it appears and reappears in different spots in Kyoto, and only during the full moon. It’s a mystical place managed by cats. These are special creatures, some look no different from ordinary cats, others are the size of humans but all of them can talk. The cats serve up specially tailored selections of food and drink to their chosen customers and then attempt to guide them towards solutions for the challenges each of them faces. First to be introduced is former teacher, and down-on-her-luck drama writer, Mizuki Serikawa who’s struggling to regain her self-confidence. Next up is Akari Nakayama, a former colleague of Mizuki’s whose perfectionist personality is stopping her from achieving her goals; then comes Takashi Mizumoto who runs an IT company that incidentally employs Mizuki as a scriptwriter for mobile games.

Once at the café, each character’s served a different combination of food and drink while the cats discuss each individual's horoscope, using this method to analyse past and present life choices, and what might be done to move forward in more positive ways. The portrayal of these shape-shifting cats seems to stem from cat-like yōkai (supernatural beings) not unlike the bakeneko or changed cat. But here, Mochizuki mingles aspects of Japanese mythology and folklore with elements of ancient Greek and Roman beliefs. There’re echoes too of Lewis Carroll in her depiction of the cats, there are even peripheral customers who suddenly transform into creatures like giant rabbits. The story’s fluidly told, the descriptions of Kyoto, its architecture and history are particularly vivid – the author regularly blogs about Kyoto’s landmarks, famous buildings and coffee shops. It’s a carefully-constructed narrative with a pleasing final twist that solidifies the links between the Café’s clients. However, I have zero interest in astrology, so that aspect of the story really didn’t work for me: astrological concepts are central to the plot. For readers who don’t have this problem, and relish “cosy” Japanese fiction, then I’m sure this will be a winner. Translated by Jesse Kirkwood.

I absolutely adored this, reading it straight after We’ll Prescribe You a Cat gave the perfect one two punch of wholesomeness I was looking for! I really liked that each character got their own limelight. The magical realism was blended seamlessly and the descriptions of the food and teas sounded delectable.

A quick read that packs its own punch. Excited to re-read this in the new year when the post Christmas slump hits.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop was a really cozy, delightful read. As with most  other Japanese books I've read, each section of the book followed a different character, although they were all delightfully interlinked.

Who doesn't love a clever cat - especially one that will teach you about yourself! I would love the opportunity to experience the Coffee Shop for myself, and see what Cronus, Caelus, Mercury or Venus could reveal to me about myself.

The book was well-written and modern (it might be the first book I've read that references TikTok), and yet it also feels very intimate. We are meeting each of these characters at their lowest points, and you really do empathise with them!

This book was so warm and conforting, and definitely gave me fall vibes. A really fun, and yet surprisingly deep book, that I think anyone would enjoy.

This book was cute and whimsical and overall a good time. Nothing too deep, so 3.5 stars.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop is a magical place that shows up when you need it. The book follows three separate individuals who are going through some sort of challenge before finding their way to the coffee shop. The shop is staffed by cats that teach the individuals about their astrological charts and how to incorporate them into their lives. I am someone who loves astrology, so I found this to be fun. If you don't like astrology, you'll likely dislike this book.

This book was just a quirky, fun vibe. It's not too deep and isn't going to change your life.

Thank you to Octopus Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

It was a cute, heartwarming and insightful book. It's a short book with characters with everyday problems, who find themselves in a magical café where they end up finding the answers to their existential crises, making their lives a little better.
I really enjoyed the ending and seeing what the characters had in common and how it relates to astrology.
The setting is wonderful for autumn and I really enjoyed the calm and pleasant narrative.
Recommended for lovers of coffee, cats and stories of self-improvement with an emotional and sweet touch.

A cafe that help people change their lives for the better through balancing their astrological star signs. Told through different characters who's stories interconnect.

Enjoyable but unfortunately if you've read Before the Coffee Gets Cold or The Kamogama Food Detectives or any of the many others that follow a similar format you've probably already read this book.

Do you believe that stars and their position affect your personality and life? In short, astrology?

I don’t believe in it. The science intrigues me but I have never based my life decisions on them. And yet, this book urged me to look up my Natal chart and analyse it. 😅

The Full Moon Coffee Shop is translated from Japanese and features a mysterious coffee shop run by cats. It appears on full moon nights at random places. You are served not from a menu but based on your star chart. Your chart analysis is provided along with life advice by these cats who can also turn into humans.

Through the story, we meet Mizuki Serikawa who used to be a famous script writer but is now going through a stretch of failure. She also used to be a substitute primary teacher where she left a positive impression on a bunch of young minds. These people are now grown up and at a crossroads in their lives. The cafe helps nudge them all in the right direction.

I related to all of these characters and felt happiness through them. But when I discovered how they are all connected, it left my heart full and my eyes teary.

It does get a little too technical at times. I felt like I was taking a crash course in astrology. And a couple of character situations felt forced to fit the star charts. But it all came together rather nicely and I didn’t mind it as much.

I loved reading the book with a bunch of other readers and sharing my thoughts with them through interesting questions and challenges. I think all of us wanted a chance to meet a certain cat who could give life advice.

If you like healing stories brimming with magical realism, kindness, and hope, you have to pick it up. I am sure it will bring a smile to your face. I would surely go back to this book again.

This was such a heartwarming and delightful read that I couldn't help but enjoy. We follow four characters who are at different stages of their lives and each going through their own struggles. I really liked getting to know our characters and learning how they were all connected. I loved the interaction with the cats in this one and I loved how each had their own clear personality!

The Full Moon Coffee Shop sounds absolutely heavenly and I really enjoyed the astronomy aspect of it. I didn't have too much knowledge of birth charts but it was explained so clearly in this one that I'm really intrigued to fully deep dive into my own chart. Each chart is unique and it was really intriguing to see how the characters own charts had affected their lives and their experiences.

Overall an amazing and compassionate story full of magical realism and astronomy. I definitely recommend for anyone who loves cats and is interested in birth charts!

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

This is a short book with a big helping of magic realism. Usually that's something I enjoy but I found this hard to get through.
The focus on horoscopes didn't engage me.
I did enjoy the cats

A whimsical, bite sized, book, which sets out to help a handful of lost characters re-discover their life paths, thanks to a cafe (full of talking cats with star charts) that appears to them during times of need.

This book is ruminative, setting real life problems against the quiet, problem-solving, dreamscape of the cafe setting. However, I was quite thrown off by the fact that some of the cafe cats are quite literally six feet tall…it did slightly alter the vibes from sweet, and cosy, to mildly unsettling, when imagining a human sized cat serving up treats and life advice.

This book is also pretty heavily steeped in astrology - moreso than the cats. I have to admit that I glazed over slightly during the explanations about planets and star charts, as it’s something that doesn’t fully appeal to me, but I know that this will be a draw for others.

However, I did love the whimsy of the cafe simply appearing to the characters who were in need of it, and the starry desserts and drinks did indeed sound heavenly. I might not of cared much for the astrological charts, but I’ll take a star sprinkled affogato any day.

I must admit that ‘The Full Moon Cafe’ wasn’t a stand out of its genre for me, but it was still a very sweet little read indeed.

Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the copy to review.

‘𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒄𝒓𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆, 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖? 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉, 𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒄𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅.’

The Full Moon Coffee Shop captured point of view between several people who in fact have been sharing a common event in the past. Every main lead in this story has a captivating storyline and lessons that close with nowadays lifestyle and issues. I found it to be true to the words and very fascinating advice.

The readers are first introduced into the world of Mizuki Serikawa, once before a great script writer but now having the lowest point in her life, leading a monotone and depressed lifestyle. Facing rejection that she did not anticipate, a conversation with two guys had led her into a mystery and cozy coffee shop that only opened at Full Moon. Also as strange it may seem but the shop is run by a wise talking cat. The cat or cats specialized in astrology and food not only offer advice but also comfort and understanding. So then, the mind changing story begins.

The only complaint I have for this book is that it ends too soon. This book indeed is a combination of slice of life, astrology, music, comfort of foods and of course the whimsical mysterious advisor we get. I found it was a refreshing idea, to be saved by the random kindness you do. Although I may not really understand how astrological things really work, the plot can still move forward smoothly without depending on it too much. The problems the characters faced in this book also seem to be relatable with today's circumstances, and most of the advice is applicable as true as it may seem.

Aside from Miss Serikawa's point of view, the second and third person also caught my attention. The advice given regarding their affair and the career they have is very savage. In fact it was so savage I ended up making it a quote poster, feel free to share if you ever feel resonate with it.

That said, it was a good read in spite of how short it was. I wish it could be longer but all the points and lessons were well delivered so it was kind of sum it up.

This is a nice addition to the cosy Japanese magical realism genre of books and I really liked how while it appeared to be a set of unconnected stories it was in fact a cleverly linked novel.
I liked the cats but was less convinced by the astrology but as it was all done by talking cats I guess there's no need to take this quite so seriously as you'd think - and I defy anyone to not end up humming "This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius" at several points throughout the book!

The Full Moon Coffee Shop is a cozy and beautifully written short story collection. It's also the first book in a series, so if you enjoy this book, more stories are on the way. The book is about a cafe run by cats who give advice to people. All the stories are lovely and emotional. It was a really short book, and I enjoyed it a lot. If you like cats, astrology, and food, you should definitely pick up this book. I hope the other books in this series will also be translated. Thanks to Netgalley and Octopus Publishing for the arc.

An inspiring story with lovely characters, especially the cat. I always love to read Japanese fiction, because they always have a deep and meaningful story plot. This cafe is such a magical cafe. If there is a cafe like this in real life, please let me know! I am impressed by the imagination of the author. The story is much enjoyable!

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for my copy.

Pub date: Aug 29, 2024

This book is perfect for boosting the spirit and creating joy. It’s such a sweet story, that shares how entwined in life we can all be. I love the simplicity of the writing with the impact of the powerful underlying lessons being taught.

There’s something I find just so magical about Japanese translated books, I absolutely love them and this one is a real pleasure to read!! It’s so creative and original, filled with magic, enlightenment and lessons to reflect on that are so well delivered.

I also love cats and it’s wonderful how much respect cats have, with their belief of cats being good luck. I’d have to agree!

I give this book a wholehearted 4.25 stars.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and all involved in allowing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. It’s been a pleasure.

Beautifully magical. I loved this book, so easy to melt into and relax. If you love cats, you’ll adore The full moon coffee shop by Mai Mochizuki. 4/5

The title of this book is what caught my eye… The Full Moon Coffee Shop. And it has cats, brilliant - surely I’m onto a winner. The general concept of a coffee shop run by cats appearing magically certainly is interesting however the execution of this book fell a little a flat for me.

I find from previous Japanese lit fics that I’ve read we focus in on specific characters and each has their own chapter, this book kept to that structure and I quite enjoy it honestly. I found I like most of the characters well enough, but I didn’t particularly connect with anyone in particular which was a bit disappointing. 

I enjoyed the dilemmas each character found themself in. They were all relatable issues and by the end each character had taken something away from going to the full moon coffee shop.

The setting of the coffee shop itself sounds like somewhere I’d love to go! However the idea of massive human size cats walking on their back legs freaks me out slightly (also reminded me of new earth in doctor who - if you know you know). 

The bit that really didn’t work for me was how much astrology was in this book. The amount of talk of planets and signs and mercury being in retrograde is what fully lost me. I’m someone who usually finds stars quite interesting but this just didn’t work for me at all.

Overall an ok book but personally not one I will pick up again.

3/5 ⭐️

I really loved this, a coffee shop, cats, characters all connected to each other, heartwarming and inspiring.

These are the stories of 5 people living/working in Kyoto who visit the Full Moon Coffee shop, run by cats. The cats read their natal charts and give life advice based on the readings. This isn't an astrology book and the advice is more applicable than you first think. I read it in 2 sittings as I just wanted to find out more!

I'll be buying a print copy so I can re-read and flip through and look at the charts in more detail.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mai Mochizuki's "The Full Moon Coffee Shop" is a delightful and enchanting read that transports readers to a cozy, magical world. The story revolves around a quaint coffee shop that serves not just beverages but also solace and secrets. Mochizuki's writing is warm and inviting, with richly drawn characters that feel like old friends. The intertwining tales of the patrons are beautifully woven, each revealing heartwarming moments of connection and personal growth. With its charming setting and heartfelt narrative, "The Full Moon Coffee Shop" is a comforting and uplifting read that leaves a lasting impression. Perfect for those who love a touch of magic in everyday life.