Before we say goodbye --book 4 of 5 of the Before the Coffee Gets Cold books by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

 Publisher: Hanover Square Press; November 14, 2023

Language: English

Hardcover: 240 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1335009111

5 Stars

 

To be honest, I hesitated on reading this one. I’d read the first three, and I wasn’t sure Kawaguchi could come up with 4 more different stories. I should have known better. Like the previous books, these four stories are charming, heartwarming, and great fun. He has a ‘formula’ for his books, they all, so far at least, have four stories and are in small format (roughly 6.5” x 8.5”), the books are easy to hold while reading in bed, and are just fun! Some of the characters have appeared in earlier stories, and it’s like meeting an old friend by chance again.

 

One of the great things, to me at least, is you do not have to read the books in order. I read the second one first and had no problem reading number one later. Just buy these little books, they are great fun. Honest. Trust me.

 

 To read my reviews on earlier books:

https://lenoragood.blogspot.com/search?q=Toshikazu+Kawaguchi

Before Your Memory Fades (Book 3 of Before the Coffee Gets Cold) --by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

 Publisher: Hanover Square Press (November 15, 2022

Language: English

Hardcover: 320 pages (small book)

ISBN-13: 978-1335429285

Stars: 5+

 

This is the third in a series. The first thing I think all who have never read any of this series needs to know is that all books stand alone. If you read them out of order, it’s alright. There might be a couple references in passing you don’t get, but not to worry.

 

There is a second coffee house in Japan that offers time travel, with the same rules, it I the Donna Donna in Hakodate, a town on Hokkaido Island, north of Tokyo. Some of the people who work at the Finucli Finucla have come to the Donna Donna to cover for the owner who is out of the country.

 

Again, there are four independent stories that are expertly tied together at the end. These are great bedtime stories for the adult kids. Guaranteed not to give you nightmares ;-) As Mikey used to say when finished with his bowl of cereal, Try it. You’ll like it. 

Tales from the Café [Book 2 of 4 of the series, Before the Coffee Gets Cold] –by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

 Publisher: Hanover Square Press; Original edition (October 12, 2021)

Language: English

Hardback: 256 pages

ISBN: 978-1335630988

5 Stars

 

I’m not sure where I first read about this series, but it sounded interesting, so I ordered a book. Thought I was getting #1 in the series, but ordered #2 by mistrake. Fortunately, this book contained 4 short stories, and I think I read somewhere that each book has 4 short stories in it.

 

The premise is, on a side street somewhere in Tokyo is a small, windowless basement coffee shop rumor has it one may travel back in time if they comply with the rules. The first rule is, you may only meet people who have been in the coffee shop. If you live in Tokyo, and wish to go back in time and meet the Emperor, and he’s never set foot in the coffee shop, well, you can go back, but not meet him. There is a rule that you can’t change reality, one that says while in the past you may not change seats in the coffeeshop, and perhaps the most important—you must return before your coffee gets cold, or else. Trust me, it’s the ‘or else’ that will get you! And, I did not give all the rules.

 

Although these are not murder mysteries, I would still call them ‘cozy’—they’re fun, and ‘comfortable’ to read in bed and not have bad dreams. I’m looking forward to reading the other three books.