This was an odd little book. I'm not sure if reading the previous novel would have helped, but I frequently found myself chuckling at how utterly bizarre it was. I've noticed that a lot of novels translated from Japanese have a very flat narrative voice, and I definitely noticed that here. I like the novelty of that style a lot (as compared to the much less frank styles I usually see in other fiction), and here it felt as if it underscored the strangeness of the story: watch me report on extremely odd events in what reads like a monotone rendered on paper. It was sort of charming but definitely not very moving. Definitely entertaining, very imaginative, and grounded in a way that I appreciate, but made me scratch my head in more than a few places.

Enjoyable, great pacing, exciting settings kept me hooked. Intriguing novel that will be the perfect to lose yourself in. Thank you Net Galley for ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

Light-hearted fast-paced fun time travel storyline that has rightly been adapted into an anime. I hope more of Tomihiko Morimi's novels are translated because they're great!

What a strangely fascinating adventure in time. Set in a fairly mundane setting this story is about the paradoxes of time travel in what is effectively, a college dorm. A cast of characters that are just as full of intelligence as they are full of clumsy slapstick humor. We see them navigate only traveling in time ONE day and still managing to struggle not to send the universe into oblivion. What seems so average and everyday is seasoned with the fantastic as this group runs through hi-jinx trying to avoid their past selves simply to restore the remote control on an air conditioning unit? Not only that, but struggling through the embarrassing pitfalls of post adolescent relationships. Definitely a fun quick read for fans of Japanese storytelling.

I was a little concerned I wouldn't like this since I don't always like tales translated from Japan, but this is pretty good, and has an entertaining story. The premise seemed like a challenge to pull off, but it worked for me.

Thanks very much for the free copy for review!!

[Blurb goes here]

It all starts with an Air Conditioner remote control. Ozu, the evil demon-looking youngster (and the protagonist's worst friend), has ruined the remote, an accident Ozu is unwilling to take the blame for, even though he's entirely at fault. The buttonless A/C is rendered useless.

The protagonist's four-and-a-half Tatami mat room is now as hot as the Taklamakan Desert!

The group of friends (purely by accident, mind you) encounters a Tatami Time Machine. It looks like an ordinary tatami mat, but the dials, buttons, and levers hint at something more fantastic.

A Plan forms in the protagonist's mind: return to yesterday and bring back the working remote! All friends agree, putting the plan in motion, that is, until they realize that changing something might rupture the time continuum, destroying the universe as they know it!

Going into the story, I had yet to learn what to expect. I love Japanese fiction/fantasy. So I dismissed the blurb, downloaded a copy of the novel, and dove right into it.

You usually follow one or two characters when watching or reading time-traveling fiction. Morimi takes this a few steps further: what would happen if a group of friends went back in time? Worst even: they have a mission but readily ignore it, and hijinks ensue.

This is a fun, uncomplicated novel with a splash of romance and sci-fi...but mostly a lot of soul.

If you're looking for a fast-paced, fun read, look no further: The Tatami Time Machine Blues is the one you should pick.

Thank you for the advanced copy!

Thought fairly short, this book was a delight. It skillfully blended a light helping of sci-fi time travel shenanigans with the normal silliness and angst of the experience of being a college student. I'm not generally super into realistic fiction, but I do enjoy when realistic, simple problems (like gathering up the nerve to ask out a girl) are put into a situation where, for whatever reason, they take on great important (like saving the universe). The juxtaposition of things of very personal significance and very universal significance works wonderfully in this book; it's tightly plotted and of a very small scope despite the time travel component, but the themes and feelings within it are universal. The voice of the protagonist is clear and enjoyable, and there's a healthy dose of everyday absurdity (as in the story of the Electric Train Research Society) that I found delightful.

After reading it, I discovered that there is an accompanying anime series, which I definitely would like to watch. It also really gave me a hankering to visit Kyoto!

It’s summer in Kyoto and the a/c remote to the only air conditioner in the building ends up broken due to an accidental cola spill. A wake is held and condolences are given. Suddenly a time machine appears. Using that time machine to go back a day in time to save the remote? Relatable. This was such a fun and clever read. It’s delightful absurd and the ensemble of characters are fun and charming. The description and setting of campus life in Kyoto was also interesting. After reading it it was fun to go and look at photos of actual student apartments like the ones described in the book. If you are looking for a short fun summer read full of comical misadventure this is it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My experience with Morimi’s tatami world is solely from his first novel “Tatami Galaxy”, not any of the anime. The first novel is four versions of the narrator’s college experience in Kyoto that vary based on what club he joined in his first year. This novel presents as a fifth version, one where he and his friends use a time machine to go back one day and the hijinks that ensue by trying to keep the integrity of the past so they don’t create a paradox that might destroy the universe (a plot based on the play “Summer Time Machine Blues”). I thoroughly enjoyed returning to this cast of characters and I loved the plot. While it is probably helpful to have read the first book, I don’t think it is required to enjoy the time machine plot. A fun read, and now I want to watch the anime to keep the fun going.

A very fun time travel story! I really enjoyed all the characters and found the whole adventure to be comical and just an overall short and good time! If you're looking for an entertaining light read, I highly recommend!

The MC of these novels is just so thoroughly unlikeable - in a purposeful way. He just loves to blame anyone and everyone other than himself for his miserable life. Typically, this would ruin a novel for me. I rely heavily on characterization and connections to those characters. But these books seem to be different, with the points lingering through the stories. I enjoyed this one more than the first novel, and still found the unique narrative to be very compelling and drew me into the story. Annoying, yet quirky and intriguing and easy to read.

This was an excellent second novel in this series. I love this author , the characters and look so forward to more.

Tomihiko Morimi's The Tatami Time Machine Blues was a very engaging and surreal reading experience. From the beginning, the premise of a stressed college student stuck in a dorm with horrible temperature control was (all-too) relatable, and grabbed my attention! As I kept reading, the writing style and twisty plot kept me engaged, and made me eager to keep reading.

Close after the start of the novel, the voice of the protagonist was super fun and relatable: "If I didn't stop twiddling my thumbs, society would no doubt heartlessly slam its gate in my face. The breakthrough for revitalization was that civilized convenience: an air conditioner."

This incredibly relatable line made me sure that I would enjoy the rest of this work!
The writing style is very matter-of-fact and engaging, and I definitely love the narrator's literary voice.

A huge thank you to Tomihiko Morimi and NetGalley for the ARC! I enjoyed this book very much, and am excited to see what works are coming next.

Read this in one sitting! Quirky and fun sci-fi book and such a quick and easy read! :) The imagery made it easy to imagine the characters going through their time-traveling journey! Really had a good time reading it.

The felt like summertime and even though I do not envy anybody who is stuck without AC in the hot summer of Japan, I found this book to just be so much fun. Something about time traveling and hot summer days just seems right, IDK.

I will admit though, I was a little confused by some of the time traveling and the time jumping and the mix mash of characters. I couldn’t keep everyone straight in my mind. There were moments when I was shocked when a character came around because I didn’t expect them to be there but I really do think it’s my fault for not paying close enough attention, so that’s on me, no fault to you Morimi!

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc for my honest opinion.

This was my first time reading Japanese Fiction, I was glad to finally read one. The story was interest all about their apartment that is a four-and-a-half- mat tatami (which is repeated so much I got annoyed with it) but I did some research and realize that it was a larger room and that because it was the one room in the building it was extremely valuable. The MC/narrator does go into detail about. It's set in the middle of summer in scorching heat and the AC unit stops working. Which feels like the end of the world to the characters.
It's a slower moving story for me but the characters are funny and keep you wanting to read more. I'm defiantly going to read more Japanese Fiction because of this book.

"The Tatami Time Machine Blues" by Tomohiko Morimi is a quirky and whimsical novel that will take readers on a thrilling journey through time. The story is set in Kyoto, where a broken remote control for an air conditioner threatens the characters' lives in a reality-bending and time-slipping sequel to "The Tatami Galaxy."

The protagonist and his worst friend, Ozu, are locked in a glaring contest in their apartment when Ozu spills Coke on the air conditioner's remote control. The only AC in their apartment building, Shimogamo Yusuisuiso, is now broken. The protagonist seeks revenge on Ozu and discusses countermeasures with his secret crush, Akashi. However, things take an interesting turn when a stranger named Tamura, a time traveler from 25 years in the future, appears.

Tamura shows off his time machine, and the protagonist has an idea to go back in time one day to retrieve a functioning remote control. However, their simple plan is complicated when others, including Ozu, want to join in on the ride back in time. Their actions to alter the past may result in the world's extinction, and the protagonist's crush, Akashi, brings someone to the upcoming bonfire that isn't him. The book is filled with interesting characters, like Tamura, who adds a sense of mystery and unpredictability to the story.

The novel's strength lies in its storytelling, which is humorous and imaginative, making for an enjoyable reading experience. The author has used elements of science fiction and fantasy, which adds to the story's whimsical nature. The pacing of the novel is steady, and the transitions between timelines are seamless, making it easy for readers to keep up with the story's multiple timelines. The novel also explores themes such as time travel, the consequences of our actions, and the power of friendship and love.

In conclusion, "The Tatami Time Machine Blues" is a fascinating and entertaining read that will captivate readers from start to finish. The author's unique storytelling and imaginative world-building make this book a must-read for fans of science fiction and fantasy. The book is translated from Japanese by Emily Balistrieri, and the translation is excellent, making it a smooth read for English-speaking readers.