I have been loving this genre lately and this one came across as a sort of cosy read.

However . . .

I did find it quite hard to follow.

Between the characters and the actual plot line, for me, it just didn't flow like I thought it would.

Although I struggled to get through the first chapter, once I was in I was very much into it! I loved the simplicity of basing a book around one well-loved convenience store and the way the characters lives and stories weaved in and out of each other was so lovely to explore. I really loved the idea of so much going on in one seemingly insignificant place and the characters were all so different with different challenges to overcome that I never felt bored or uninterested. This was such an uplifting cosy and inspiring read. ✨ Thank you Sonoko Machida and Orion Books for access to the eARC in exchange for an honest review ✨

I didn't realize this wasn't a novel but actually a collection of short stories but that didn't take away from cozy, warm theme that's there. Overall this is a nice read if a bit boring

Another asian cozy literature. Actually I expected this book will entertain me and giving another warm feeling like others cozy literature, especially when the cover itself is so appealing.

However it was difficult for me to engange with the plot and characters, whether it because the writing style? Or because of its lack of storyline?

I love the premises actually, however it just not meeting my expectation. I hope the author will improve in the future :).

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC!

I had been really looking forward to reading this book, but sadly i was very disapointed. It just had nothing to keep your interet. I found it poorly written. The plot had seemed very good, it had great potential

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC

If you liked Before the Coffee Gets Cold you'll love this one. It had the same heartwarming and cozy feeling. A quite novel but an impactful nonetheless. A delightful read

A cozy Japanese slice of life novel based in a convenience store. Easy to pick up and read a chapter at a time. Characters varied and interesting.

Thank you to the Author, Publisher and NetGalley UK for a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Ah a light hearted but sensitive book and take on a magic and magical realism. I have read this at the wrong time and I’m sad I didn’t read this round the festive period as I would have lapped this up whereas now, it’s a me issue rather than the book. A good book for someone who is looking for something similar but different to other translated fiction work

3.0

Thank you NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group, and Sonoko Machida for this arc in exchange for an honest review!


Thoughts:

Slow, simple, and cute. However, I wasn’t riveted, and it took me quite a bit to finish this story.

I loved that the characters’ storylines were all for the most part interwoven, but with our repeat characters throughout, they were very one note. I wanted more depth and instead we had the same descriptions for each of those characters that were repeated several times (pretty often to be honest).

On a very positive note, I found myself really wanting to eat with each chapter, so the foodie aspects to this were a great touch. Food is emotional and a great way to connect people. It was a good way to tie our characters together.

Overall, this was cozy, but a little odd and boring.

(Azusa and Tsugi were my faves!)


Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:

E-book

Pace:

Slowwwww

Cover thoughts:

So so so pretty! Pulled me in right away!

If you're a fan of cosy and healing Japanese reads, you're going to enjoy this sweet slice of life story that's centred around a convenience store.
I was worried I might get fatigue from reading too many wholesome Japanese books that are similar to Before to Coffee Gets Cold, The Kamagawa Food Detectives and The Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, but thankfully that was not the case.
I really enjoyed The Convenience Store By the Sea and it's heartwarming nature.
I seem to have a fondness for these types of stories.
This book features multiple stories about the local konbini in Fukuoka, its workers, customers and the manager Shiba.
I enjoyed some stories more than others, but that's perfectly normal when it comes to a book like that.
All in all, this makes for a lovely comfort read.
Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Such a cosy read, I found myself very immersed in this book with characters that I really resonated with.

Where to begin?

The Convenience Store by the Sea is a cosy escape and like a lot of the books that settle in this genre the kind I personally think are great commute reads as you can dip in and out and get straight back in to the gist of it. For me it felt in a similar vein of the ten loves of mr nishino in how the customers seem to all be insatiably attracted to the convenience store manager, yet the novel itself feels more reminiscent to the cosy genre like days at the morisaki bookshop in that it is ultimately a social commentary on Japanese society and the common issues faced by those living there - you have the topic of aging, but also divorce and bullying all of which are handled sensitively yet in a whimsical at times otherworldly way especially when it came to the stories intertwined with the Whatever Guy.

Would recommend as a cosy commute friendly read guaranteed to make you reflective as well as laugh a little at times.

Thank you netgalley & Orion for the ARC.

Hugely popular in Japan, this is the first in a series revolving around the Tenderness convenience store near Mojiko Port in Kitayushu – where the author lives and works. A variation on bestselling ‘healing’ narratives, it’s comprised of interconnecting episodes centred on this quirky 24/7 shop – the kind of place once common across Japan but now rapidly closing or acquired by large corporations. The shop has a unique feature that’s made it particularly successful, it’s run by Shiba aka Phero-manager who exudes an overwhelming, indefinable charm that’s proven a massive lure for customers. Prolific author Sonoko Machida’s slice-of-life stories focus on different members of the community surrounding the store: shop assistant Mitsuri Nakao whose spare time’s taken up with devising manga based on Shiba’s life; a couple having difficulty adjusting to retirement; a cram-school tutor who dreams of a different life. Machida draws, at times, from her own experience, notably in the section featuring Azusa a teenage schoolgirl struggling to break free from an oppressive friendship group.

Overall, it’s richly detailed, fairly well observed. Although it’s clearly based on a fantasy of found friendship and connection, which is key to the appeal of this type of novel, there’s a marked emphasis on exploring concrete, societal issues in contemporary Japan: from bullying in schools to aging, isolation and the growth of ‘grey divorce.’ Sometimes the realist elements and the more whimsical ones – particularly Shiba’s bizarre appeal and growing flock of adoring fans – don’t combine as smoothly as I’d have liked but it’s still a very readable piece, an intriguing addition to this growing subgenre. Translated by Bruno Navasky.

An uplifting book on the power of community which centres around a convenience store in a particular neighbourhood. Each of the chapters is designed as a self contained story or character study (so there's some repetition) but the book builds as a whole as characters appear and reappear throughout. This does mean that there are lots of names to keep track of at first which may put some readers off. There are also charming illustrations marking the start of each story/chapter. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book is very much in the vein of what I expect from a translated Japanese story - we're introduced to a wholesome community, and the stories of different members of that community, as the book progresses. The convenience store, and the residential building it's in, connect these various characters, of different ages, backgrounds, professions and temperaments which I really like and it was interesting to get to know these different people and the experiences they were having, from adjusting to retirement, pursuing passions, difficulties at school, and more. There's something for everyone in this book and though some of the characters' stories weren't as interesting to me, there were plenty that were. The two slightly strange characters, Mr Shiba and the Whatever Guy added a little intrigue and mystery into the story. I particularly enjoyed the Whatever Guy's personality, probably more than Mr Shiba who is perceived differently by the characters, making it hard to get a real read on him. I'm a little unsure how they really play into the overall story - they weren't exactly necessary to the plot, though brought an edge of the paranormal into it, if only very slightly. I'm sure I'm missing something! I did enjoy reading this and getting to know this community as well as the quirks of the convenience store and how it meant different things to different people, but it was a little slow going at times.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

A warm thank you to Orion and NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book for an honest review.

A sweet, slice of life novel with a series of interconnecting stories each converging on a convenience store. This was a very cozy read, and I appreciated how diverse in age the characters were! My favourite chapters were:

A Melancholy Strawberry Parfait</u> — a schoolgirl breaks away from her old, unkind group to make a new true friend.
Advent Calendar Cookies of Love and Longing — a teenage boy exploring the worlds of love and friendship.
A Soft Egg Porridge for a Hard Old Man — an old man reflects on his life and makes a change while connecting with a young boy.

I did find the hysteria surrounding the store manager and his mysterious siblings to have been pretty unnecessary, and ultimately raised more questions than it answered. This was a light, easy read that I’d recommend to anyone looking for a quick palate cleanser!

DNF @ 48%
I have been reading this book for well over 2 months now and picking it up frequently trying to push through it but unfortunately I have to DNF this one now and not continue putting effort into reading a book I am not enjoying.
My main issue with this book is just the lack of plot or direction and this is coming from someone who loves slice-of-life translated fiction. I just got nothing out of the 130ish pages I read and did not connect with any character or storyline. I didn't enjoy the writing style either.
I am always disappointed to DNF an arc, especially one that I was so looking forward to but this one hasn't lived up to expectations.
1 star

Thank you to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and Sonoko Machida for a digital review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review posted to Goodreads and The StoryGraph.

I recently visited the convenience store by the sea, and I was pleasantly surprised! The location is ideal for beachgoers looking for quick snacks and refreshments. They offer a great variety of items, including delicious ice cream and beach essentials.

The staff was friendly and helpful, making my experience even better. Prices were reasonable, and everything was clean and well-organized. If you’re looking for a quick stop while enjoying a day by the ocean, its the place to go. It is filled with warmth and cozy vibes.

This book was such a delight to read! Thank you so much for the advance copy!

Thank you NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC.

This is a very cozy read. I really enjoyed it. It's a collection of stories that centre around different characters.

People need to read more Japanese literature!

A really lovely slice of life collection of stories all centring around a convenience store. This is definitely more of a study of people than of stories with plot, so if you enjoy that sort of thing (and if you enjoy people watching) then you'll like this one! A couple of the stories here I liked less than others, but overall this was a cure and cosy read.