Wonderfully light book about living your life and your dreams not just existing. Great little library in the book and I love the inclusion of fiber arts as well.

Charming and enjoyable. Books change lives! It was very cool how the characters and stories were connected.

This was utterly fabulous! So many meaningful quotes to highlight that would be fantastic for discussion in any literature class. This is the best kind of book as it emphasizes the life changing power of literature AND the value of librarians. I loved all these characters and was truly sad when the end of the book arrived. I hope to see a sequel one day as what I'm looking for is definitely in the library in this book!

"Readers make their own personal connections to words, irrespective of the writer's intentions, and each reader gains something unique."

Set in Tokyo, this novel features a community center and its adjoining library. Five different people come to the center and eventually to the library for various reasons. The overarching theme is that they are all looking for something, mainly direction on what steps to take next in their lives. They all meet with the odd librarian, Sayuri Komachi, who provides them with a list of books. Each person in turn is able to use those books to reevaluate their lives and push through their barriers.

I enjoyed each little story, they overlapped at times and I loved that part because it made it more of a cohesive book rather than just a series of short stories. I liked how the characters got inspiration from the books, and when one confronted the librarian about how she knew what they needed, she stated that they truly found what they needed inside themselves.

I listened to part of this as an audiobook and as with many translated books, it helped me to get a better sense of how the unfamiliar-to-me words are pronounced to let me stay in the flow of the book. The story reminded me of another Japanese series I have read, Before the Coffee Gets Cold and its sequels. This one has less repetition than those books and was a bit easier for me to follow, but I do recommend all of them.

Lovely, fast paced read about the power of books and the power within ourselves.

I absolutely love this book!!!!
A great story about individuals who have one thing in common, the library and one special librarian who helps people find their truth . A wonderful and easy read. Very inspiring.

I just reviewed What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama. #WhatYouAreLookingForIsintheLibrary

I have always thought librarians were amazing, and after reading Michiko Aoyama's charming novel, What You Are Looking For Is In The Library, I am more convinced than ever.

It tells the stories of several people who are either at a crossroads or feeling stuck in their lives. Tomoka is 21 years old and works in a boring job at a clothing store in Tokyo. In order to get a better job, she has to improve her computer skills.

Her friend tells her about the Community House where she could take a class. At the community center she seeks out the reference librarian, Ms. Komachi, who listens to Tomoka's story and gives her advice, a list of books to check out, including a children's book seemingly unrelated to computers, and an odd little felt craft that Ms. Komachi made.

Other people go the Community House for classes, and end up at the Reference desk with Ms. Komachi. A stay-at-home mom who was demoted from a job she loved when she returned to work after maternity leave is dissatisfied with her life, an accountant who dreams of owning his own antique shop, a recently retired man who doesn't know what to do with himself now that his identity has been taken away- they all end up at Ms. Komachi's desk.

She listens carefully to each of them gives them advice, a list of books to help (including one seemingly unrelated to their search) and even though they don't understand all that Ms. Komachi tells them, eventually it all comes together.

The story is about the connections that people make, as this passage states:
"Everybody is connected. And any one of their connections could be the start of a network that branches in many directions. If you wait for the right time to make connections, it might never happen, but if you show your face around, talk to people and see enough to give you the confidence that things could work out, then 'one day' might turn into 'tomorrow'."

What You Are Looking For Is In the Library is a life-affirming, endearing story that restores your faith in humanity and will make you look for new connections in the people around you. It is perfect for fans of The Midnight Library (but I liked this one better). I adored this book and give it my highest recommendation.

Thanks to Harlequin or putting me on their Fall 2023 Blog Tours.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing; all opinions are my own.

What You Are Looking For Is in the Library is like a warm cup of your favorite beverage, made in just your favorite way. It's beautiful, cozy, and moving as it shifts from each character to give us a glimpse into their lives. While the chapters function as a sort of collection of short stories, everything is woven together and feels incredibly satisfying. Though it is uniquely Japanese, the book transcends (without dismissing) cultural differences to explore the basic roots of humanity we all share.

This book takes you on a journey through the lives of several characters who all share one thing in common. They all have met a librarian who works at a small community library. The setting is Japan so the reader will learn some about this culture. The librarian also does felting which is a craft that is becoming more popular. Some of the characters in the book will interact with each other's stories. The author did a great job of tying some of these characters together throughout the book. This is not an overly exciting book but was an enjoyable read that made one think about their own life goals.

This was a delightful little book! I am not sure it is for everyone, but it definitely is one for librarians. It is essentially 5 vignettes about the power of the library and reader's advisory services. A nice little palette cleanser showing a slower pace of life and the impact of a different perspective.

I loved the idea of this collection more than its simplistic execution. However, there were many parts where I got at least a glimpse of the depth I wanted, and the characters were well-etched-out and complex even when the solutions to the situations they found themselves in were easily procured. These characters, if nothing else, will stay with me.

If you’re a book lover, library supporter, or a big fan of warm and fuzzy feel-good fiction, then this is the perfect book for you. What you are looking for is in the library by Michiko Aoyama is a Japanese novel that reads very much like a short story collection. This lovely little book will feed your soul.

Five people, five visits to the same local library. These characters are all in different seasons of life, frustrated with their careers, feeling stuck, looking for a change, and/or chasing their dreams. The librarian, Sayuri Komachi not only recommends the very best books to her patrons, she also suggests an extra one that they didn’t even know they needed. At first they’re perplexed by the recommendation, and wondering why the librarian suggested it. Once they start reading, everything clicks into place. This book is very special, and feels like a nice warm hug. It will bring a smile to your face.

Also, let’s talk about this cover. Isn’t it the most charming, inviting, and coziest scene you ever did see? I just wanna sit down beside that black cat, take a sip of that coffee, and start flipping through one of those books. It’s perfect! Inside and out, this book really has it all, and is a must-read for any book worm. Truly! 4/5 stars for this little gem! It’s available now!

Absolutely charming! I loved this very sweet story and the characters who inhabited it. A perfect palate cleanser between other books.

This was a joy from start to finish. I felt like hugging it when I was done. The characters were nuanced and I really felt invested in their stories. I loved the sprinkle of magic. A delightful read. Thank you Hanover Press for the ARC.

Sayuri Komachi has a unique ability to recommend just the right book to her patrons; in fact, she can sense what the individual is looking for or what is missing in her or his life. The books she recommends to each of five patrons change the person’s life in some way. What You Are Looking For is in the Library is an ode to librarians and the life-changing magic of reading the right book at the right time.

Do you believe a book can be life-changing? Has a book ever come to you at just the right time? Have you experienced a profound insight into your own life after reading a certain book? Has one book caused you to rethink something in your own life? Have you been changed because of a book you’ve read?

This story is told in a series of five short stories or vignettes. The library, the librarian, and the community serve as the connection points between the stories. I was a bit surprised and perhaps disappointed that there wasn’t more of a conclusion to tie the stories together. The book ends abruptly at the end of the last vignette.

It’s sometimes challenging for me to read loosely connected stories. With the introduction of each new character, I feel like I’m starting over again. During my reading experience, I was delighted and surprised to find that I quickly engaged with each story and found each character relatable in small and big ways to my life. I think the author brilliantly creates a lovely variety of characters which includes a women’s wear sales assistant, an accountant, a former magazine editor, a 30-something NEET (not in employment, education, or training), and a retiree.

If you love thinking about the magic of reading and you enjoy simply told and poignant character-driven stories with a bit of whimsey, you might love this quiet collection of short stories connected by a quirky librarian. Of course, fans of translated literature, books about books, and books about libraries/librarians will appreciate What You Are Looking For is in the Library. Book clubs will find many discussion possibilities.

Thanks #NetGalley @HarperCollins @HTP_Books @Hanover_Square for a complimentary e ARC of #WhatYouAreLookingForIsInTheLibrary upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Contemporary Fiction | Adult
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Five stories of individuals seeking to find their purpose are connected by a community house, a tiny library featuring a sharp and enigmatic librarian with a passion for wool felting. In this collection, originally published in 2020 in Japanese and ably translated to English by Alison Watts, each story features a character mired in inaction by fear and self- doubt. When circumstances lead each of them to the little community house library, they leave with just the right book recommendations from the librarian, Sayuri Komachi, along with a bonus gift – a little felted creation that helps open their eyes to hope, possibility and opportunity. The stories are touching and reflective of the Japanese setting, with a high degree of respect for authority and expectations dominating individual aspirations. But thanks to Ms. Komachi, each discovers a way to draw out their potential and take the first steps toward realizing their goals and dreams, once they have figured out what those are. It’s almost a coming of age novel, except with characters at every stage of adulthood, from new graduate to recent retiree. Aoyama offers much for the reader to ponder, especially those who are nearing a crossroads in their lives. Or perhaps wishing for one. A gentle and sweet collection about the mundane and sometimes pivotal moments in our lives that nudges you toward hope just when society needs that push. My thanks to Hanover Square Press for the digital reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
More discussion and reviews of this novel: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/91274427

This novel is very cute and heartwarming. An ode to book lovers in search of that next life-changing read.

I am a great fan of books about books. A favorite of mine is The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George, and I recently read Days at the Morisaki Bookshop. Aoyama’s lovely title shares with the others a love of books and reading, an acknowledgment of how books open worlds to readers, and an understanding of how self-knowledge and growth are fostered through reading.

A bit like, Wait Until the Coffee Gets Cold, What You are Looking for consists of a series of vignettes about people who are at a crossroads. When they meet a very particular librarian, they may not understand why she gives them certain recommendations (a small felted frying pan, the suggestion of a children’s book when the reader was asking for books on Excel) but readers can trust that all will become clear and that the books’ borrowers will benefit.

This book is one that reads in a deceptively simple manner. There is much to think about as well in these pages, however, especially about the meaning of work.

This book would make a delightful gift for a book lover. It looks very nice in its hardcover version.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars. This is a lovely book, translated from Japanese, about a librarian who gives unlikely book recommendations that initiate life changes. Comprised of a collection of interconnected stories about individuals who are stuck in life, this is largely about work and what work could and should mean in the span of a human life. There is nothing fancy about this book, it is about common people and the decisions that make up their lives. I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

Each visitor that comes into this library arrives at a time in their life when they need a change. The librarian, Sayori Komachi, always gives the visitor a little surprise in their book list. It is a surprise the visitor did not know they needed but it leads to life changing decisions.

This story reads like a compilation of short stories. But each story takes place within the scope of this library and its librarian. I would love to see a tv adaptation. I would like to see if what shows up on the screen is what I pictured in my head as I was reading this.

The librarian, Sayuri, is clairvoyant…or something like that. She knows exactly what each patron needs to hear to discover their strengths. And that is what she does. Isn’t this what a lot of librarians do…listen and discover what is needed.

I really enjoyed this novel. Now, I was not very hip on the short story style format. But, that is just my preference. But each story has its own power and energy!

Need a unique, heartwarming tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

"Readers make their own personal connections to words, irrespective of the writer's intentions, and each reader gains something unique."

A sweet story for book lovers. What You Are Looking For Is in the Library is the story of 5 characters who all stumble into the small community library in Toyoko looking for guidance. They all are at different crossroads in their lives: wanting to start a business, wanting to better themselves, switch careers, feel valued in the world and finding their identity after retirement. At first the characters don't overlap at all but then they start to. A reminder that we're all connected and can truly benefit from our community. My favorite part of the story was the Librarian, Ms.Komachi. When each character meets her she gives them the books they are requesting but also a bonus book. That book helps lead their journey to whatever they are really seeking, the bigger picture if you will. I loved that through these books there's a bigger connection. As woo woo as this sounds, I'm a big believer that certain books come into our lives when we need them most. This happens to me all the time and I loved that this happened for our characters too. This book was translated from Japanese so a few times the sentences felt a little off but overall it was an easy read that will fill your cup this Fall. Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. This wonderful story publishes today!