3.75 rounded up to 4
This book is a sweet collection of intersecting stories, each follows a person who goes to a mysterious/magical clinic and as the clinic states gets prescribed a cat as treatment. Each story is neatly wrapped in a bow but the last story is left kind of open-ended/anticlimactic. For some of the stories I wish there was more about the character and their growth. I really enjoyed how cutely each cat is described and it’s really nice to read them interacting with the characters. I don’t know if it’s down to the translation but the writing feels quite simplistic at times but this makes it a quick and easy read. There a few times there’s no pacing between paragraphs so it time skips, chapters or sections would have made this more accessible. (Minor spoilers but all cats are okay)
#ad I received this arc as a gift but the review is entirely my own

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'We'll Prescribe You a Cat' by Syou Ishida.

This book was right up my alley and I absolutely adored it. The title gives you the entire plot and I loved it. As it says on the tin, this novel is sort of a collection of short stories about multiple people going through a lot of problems - such as insomnia, work issues - and they decide to go get help. Unknown to them, the help they will receive is in the form of a cat. It’s a wacky concept but it was so fun to read.

We'll Prescribe You a Cat is a selection of short stories that focus on the struggles of 5 different people and what's the cure for their struggles? Cats.

This collection of short stories was magical,heartwarming,realistic,misterious and original with a simple and direct language hence for this it's really easy to empathize with each character.

I recommend this book if you are looking up for these vibes and if you're a fan of cats!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK and Transworld Publishers for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
(I am rounding up)

First of all, thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publishers for allowing me to read this!

This book really fed my cat loving soul. It also fed my wildlife biologist brain with good cat care and behavior described. I deeply adore the concept and even the representation of mental health. One of the characters I honestly related too and their experiences and feelings.

I adore the quirky-ness of the novel as well with the doctor and the clinic. It truly added to the experience. I feel the pacing was one of the few things that I felt was off and a few of the endings although I sweet happy one felt a little unsatisfying for me.

I still deeply loved my experience and the concept of the book. Plus all the cover designs I’ve seen I love so so much!

We'll Prescribe You a Cat follows a similar structure and vibe than The Full Moon Coffe Shop minus the astrology factor. So it is not a super original book. Is comprosed of different stories with healing vibes and some are really cute. The idea is good but the translation was a bit off for me.

I loved this book. It was heart wrenching in some parts but also just beautiful fitting to life. The idea of having a pet that helps us is amazing. This books hits you with a lot of struggles that you might experience yourself but it gives you a nudge in the right direction. I recommend reading this book if you're a cat lover.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK and Transworld Publishers for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

We'll Prescribe You a Cat is a collection of short stories that focus on the struggles of 5 different people. The cure for their issues?...Cats!
Each character visits the mysterious Kokoro Clinic and is given a cat specific for their need, these needs range from grief to personality flaws.

I particularly enjoyed how the author incorporated humour into the stories - referring to cats as 'dosages' and it really just gives across the message that we need to learn to laugh at ourselves and also find humour in our darkest times.

This selection of stories is sweet and can be enjoyed in an afternoon session of reading. I highly recommend it, especially to fans of 'Before The Coffee Gets Cold' and other similar collections.

Thanks once again to NetGalley, Random House UK and Transworld Publishers for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

i enjoyed this book, right where it belongs in the comfy cat genre. it was very quirky and entertaining, and i loved all the cats featured hehe

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I requested it right away when I saw it and was so glad to get it - a japanese book with cats? I'm in!

This was set up as short stories with different characters - the cats were portrayed so well and the way they were described really made me smile. It focused on the bond between pets and owners, and their therapeutic effect. I enjoyed the writing style and the little cat illustrations at each chapters! This book was sweet, hopeful and emotional and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an easy read that will lift their mood.

I wanted to fall into this book and love it, but I actually struggled to like it. I was expecting it to be a cosy read about cats helping people get over difficult situations, but it wasn't as cosy a read as I was hoping, and I didn't really like a lot of the characters. Not one for me, unfortunately.

This is the second book I have read by Syou Ishida, I really enjoyed "The Travelling Cat Chronicles" so much, that when I saw this book advertised I was looking forwards to reading it. From the front cover to the back his love and appreciation for cats is apparent.

On the top floor of an old building at the end of a cobbled alley in Kyoto lies the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul. Only a select few - those who feel genuine emotional turmoil - can find it. The mysterious centre offers a unique treatment for its troubled patients: it prescribes cats as medication.
In the book we meet some delightful cats and their patients. Each person is dealing with a different issue from anxiety to heartbreak over the loss of a much loved pet with the help of their chosen companion they find hope and strength.

This is a delightfully charming and witty book about the power of cats to both sooth and calm the human soul. And the connections that we humans share with our furry friends.

It is universally acknowledged that "Dogs have owners, and cats have staff". Anyone who owns a cat or is a lover of them will appreciate this book and finish having a read it with a smile on their face.

Thank you to Netgalley and Doubleday Publishing for giving me an advanced copy of this delightful book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A sweet series of stories in where cats are prescribed to help people with their emotional pain. It was heartwarming and uplifting to see how the people prescribed these cats dealt with their issues.

I would recommend this book to people who want some uplifting stories with some magical realism sprinkled through the story. Plus the cats are super cute!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK, and Transworld Publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

As a veterinarian and cat lover, of course I have to read this book! We'll Prescribe You a Cat is a best-selling Japanese-translated literary fiction with an element of magical realism, celebrating the bond between humans and cats and the healing power of cats. This book takes us to an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, named the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul, which can only be found by people who are struggling in their lives. Directions are cryptic, and its future patients will only hear about the clinic indirectly. What is puzzling is the patients are prescribed, not with pills, but cats for a recommended duration and specific instructions.

The book is a collection of 5 short and separate stories of characters having their own struggles and emotional turmoil in life but somehow loosely connected with each other. The common theme of the stories is the cats in each story help its characters to find comfort, insight and optimism to navigate their struggles despite their initial reluctance.

I loved how the cats are described in this book, one cat was described as "a fluffy tennis ball" or the way their paws are described as "supple yet springy, with a resilient feel like memory foam". I also loved the different perspectives and how the author connected the characters with each other.

As the story goes on, the author adds mystery to the clinic, and I loved knowing more about what the clinic stands for when I finished the book. It had an open-ending because there is a second book, and I hope it will be translated soon!

Overall, it is a hopeful and heartwarming book that will resonate with those who love Japanese literature, literary fiction, magical realism, and cats!

Published 5 September 2024 - a novel for lovers of cats and Japanese translated works. This charming little book comprises of interconnected short stories and the idea behind them is utterly different. Down an alley, which is difficult to find because sometimes it is there and sometimes it isn't, there is a clinic, a clinic which has been recommended by a friend of a friend of a friend - you now what I mean. Even when you find the clinic, the door will not always open. Those who do manage to gain entrance are suffering from anxiety, from insomnia, from guilt and the list goes on. The receptionist/nurse is at times rude and cold and the doctor listens and immediately prescribes a cat to teat the problem. The cat arrives in a carrier and comes with a leaflet describing its care and a bag of essential supplies and a note of the duration of the treatment - 7 days, 10 days or what ever. And then we follow these individuals as they take their 'medicine'. The stories are heart-warming and at times funny as a coupe of the 'patients' are totally bamboozled at being handed a cat! But what comes over is the bond that forms between a cat and a person. A cat might not solve a problem but it can provide love and hope. And- there is a supernatural element/thread to the story as well that slowly becomes apparent. The cats are sweet little characters in their own way and I love the illustrations at the beginning of each story to introduce them. A sweet little book for cat lovers everywhere, but be warned - you might need a tissue or two.

Another one of those novels that would like to push you to think that there is still hope for humanity, especially when supported by the love of a cat. Only for those who loved the coffee-before-it-gets-cold series.

Un altro di quei romanzi che ti vorrebbero spingere a pensare che c'é ancora speranza per l'umanitá, specialmente se supportata dall'amore di un gatto. Solo per chi ha amato la serie del caffé prima che si freddi.

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

This book is such a little gem!
Each story holds well on it's own and I really enjoyed them.
It makes you laugh and cry. Definitely a must read!!

I'm honesty gonna do a reread on the beach<3

Thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book features a variety of characters, each with their own form of emotional baggage. The cats in each story aren’t just pets; they are portrayed as therapeutic companions that guide their owners through their emotional turmoil. I found the main characters delightful and curiously odd which had me wondering about them all the way through.

One of the central themes is the special bond between humans and their pets. What comes across is that the cats in each story provide comfort, warmth, and a sense of hope to their owners. The book delves into how these felines help the characters navigate their struggles and find resolution. What I also liked was the experience of the Japanese culture and how it differs from ours especially in the workplace.

In summary an uplifting and fun book that highlights the therapeutic power of cats and our love for them. Through it’s characters and heartfelt and comforting storytelling, it offers a unique perspective on the healing bond between humans and our feline friends. The art work at the beginning of each story is beautifully done and adds to the books charm. Puurfect for cat lovers.

After reading this I do wonder if there’s a clinic that specialises in therapy for cats after having to put up with the owners and their problems..

4.5 stars!

This is sort of a short story collection with interconnected stories about this mysterious clinic that prescribes its patients cats.
The stories were short and sweet - the first few especially were really funny, as the characters tried to grapple with the fact that they suddenly had gotten prescribed cats as medicine.
The last story was my favourite though, and really touched me. I recently unexpectedly lost a cat to chronic kidney disease, and this story also dealt with the grief of loosing a cat too soon, yet healing that wound through bonding with a new cat. Needless to say, I bawled my eyes out :')

Highly recommend if you're a cat lover or like slice of life stories with a whiff of magic to them.

A collection of short stories of different people attending a magical health clinic, whe the prescriptions are cats to help ease emotional pain. A very cute book which tackles different aspects of mental health in a light and humorous way.

I loved this book and once I finished, I immediately had to tell my cat obsessed friend all about it. This delightful book is a loosely connected series of short stories that all centre around a mysterious clinic. People who visit are suffering from various mental conditions such as anxiety and insomnia. Each person is prescribed a cat unique to their situation. For some the cats create chaos and problems for their temporary owners, though it’s forcing the owner to realise that they weren’t happy and need to change. For others it helps them focus on something else in their lives, forming a deep bond or wonder at their cute little cat, or even helping to improve family relationships. We also explore a subtle undercurrent of mystery surrounding the clinic itself.

I found this book utterly charming and so easy to read. It was a warm hug of a read, with sweet and delightful cats, characters who needed a bit of help but were inherently good, and a strange and curious mystery surrounding the clinic.