The author hinted on the importance of hand written notes/letters in this digital world. It was a mix bag of  short stories. I loved the characters of fumi-mama , Nanami and the owner of stationery ken takarada-san. I liked the use of some untranslated Japanese words to retain the originality . Overall it's a good book with some feel good stories.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
4 stars book from me. Loved the plot and the storytelling and relatable, likable characters,. Loved every single second reading it.

In an age of digital communications, this reads as a love letter to the power of actual handwriting on beautiful paper. Each chapter features a character with a problem which they solve by being brought to the desk on the first floor of the stationery shop and talking it through/reminiscing with owner Ken. What makes this book stand out from the crowd is the character development of Ken himself - he’s not just a wise cipher but grows into a more rounded character and may even need to write his own letter. If you like this style of novel then I’d recommend this one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed this book!

I didn’t think a book set in a stationery shop would be this engaging, but I learned a lot and really enjoyed going through life with the characters.

I wish there had been a bit more development of Ken the shop owner as I would have liked a chapter on his life and especially the hint of his love life but maybe for the next book.

Overall, this is a really gentle and engaging book I really enjoyed dipping into.

In this touching novel made of interconnected stories, a thoughtful stationery shop owner in Tokyo's Ginza district helps customers find not just the perfect paper or writing implements, but also paths to healing and connection through the simple act of putting pen to paper.

Over five separate but connected tales, we meet characters seeking something deeper than notebooks or pens: a man struggling with a eulogy, a woman trying to find the right way to depart, a high school athlete struggling to confess something, and more. Being a stationery lover myself, I love how each story demonstrates how the physical act of writing can unlock emotions and memories in ways that digital communication cannot.

Each of these stories show how life's fractures can be carefully repaired, for others, and for yourself. While addressing themes of loss, loneliness, and change, the book maintains an uplifting tone throughout. I have to admit, I got teary at more than one of these tales.

The author beautifully captures the sensory pleasures of fine stationery - from the satisfying weight of a fountain pen to the weighty texture of premium paper. For anyone who has lovingly browsed in a stationery shop, these descriptions will resonate deeply. The book also weaves in fascinating details about Japanese stationery culture, which I enjoyed learning more about.

If you are not familiar with the Japanese style of storytelling, the end may seem abrupt. This is a book of processing, not of finality. It is best to think of this novel as a slice of life, not only of all the customers, but especially the shop owner.

This book is a timely reminder that in our digital world, there's still something irreplaceable about the personal touch of writing things out, and sharing our handwritten words. I really hope that I can find more works by this author in the future.

Thank you so much to Manilla Press and NetGalley for providing me with an eArc to review.

This was pure joy from start to finish. A love letter to all thing stationery, the book is a collection of 5 short stories - Fountain Pen, Organiser, Notebooks, Postcards, Memo Pads - all centred around a stationery shop in the Ginza region of Tokyo.

In each chapter the owner of the shop, Ken, assists people who need help moving something forward. There's a eulogy to write, a romance to start and a chef to thank, amongst other things. All the stories are delightful, real hugs in books, and I was sad to end it.

It regularly refers to many stationery items losing places to digital versions and it's so true. However, whilst I love the ease of using Google Keep (I'm writing this review on it!) you cannot beat a lovely notebook, decent pen and stickers/stamps. (On a side note, this is why I love Postcrossings, because I get to hand write postcards to people all over the world - drop me a message if you are curious)

Sorry, back to the review! I'm obsessed with the shop in this book. Think Paperchase but independent. There are journals, post its, fountain pens, colouring pencils, postcards, writing paper and envelopes. I think it I wandered into a shop like this I would never leave. The author also clearly has a love of food, as it is always so beautifully described. I found myself pausing to look up Japanese words too, so I could full engage with the stories.

Thanks to Manilla Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my review. I'll be needing to get a copy of this to add to my translated fiction shelves. It's out on 7th November.

Advertised for fans of Before The Coffee Gets Cold and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, for me is nothing similar to the first one andmaybe closer to the latter one.

I love Before The Coffee Gets Cold series, is one of my favourites! I can't say the same about Days at the Morisaki Bookshop. I didn't really enjoyed it as much. And this one for me didn't have that great feeling. It was a nice read without the wow factor,

3.5 I so enjoy the serial short style where each story contributes to an overall arc. I thought elements of this were really strong from that perspective.

The characters were a mixed bag. Nanami and Fumi stood out as favourites and their stories were most enjoyable for me. I liked Ken but I didn’t care for the pressure people were putting on him to get involved with Ryoko. As I reader, I didn’t sense he had a romantic interest in Ryoko so all the pressure felt almost coercive.

I loved the setting at the stationery shop. I have such a soft spot for stationery and really liked the themes the author chose. The research into fountain pens and notebooks were a nice touch too! I love learning stuff in fiction and the way the author wove the research into the narrative was well done.

For the most part, the stories were varied and enjoyable. Some themes I found a bit sickly sweet (implausibly financially generous employers, a horrible man’s ex-wives who are all BFFs). I enjoyed the food theme of the final section.

While I loved some of the untranslated Japanese words and the care taken with cultural and kanji details, the translation felt a bit flat in speech: character interactions felt forced and didn’t flow well. I noticed an overuse of the word “venerable” and some colloquialisms/expressions that felt more western than Japanese, particularly in the first two sections.

It didn’t end so much as just stop. I’m not sure how I feel about that. 🤔