<i>First, a thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.</i>

Unlike [book:The Travelling Cat Chronicles|40961230], this book was a selection of short stories, some from the points of view of the owners or people who interact with cats, and some from the cats themselves.

The first story hit me right in the feels and was such a strong start, but then I had mixed feelings about the rest. Later on some characters from [book:The Travelling Cat Chronicles|40961230] make an appearance again, and I’m not sure how I felt about that; it almost felt like the author needed a few more stories to reach a publishable length and threw those in just to wrap up - although, in my opinion, those were some of the better stories.

Overall, I enjoyed this read - I am nothing if not a crazy cat lady at heart.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

This book is a series of short stories about different cats. They were all touching in their own way, but most of them felt a little bit too long and sort of got repetitive. I mean, I love cats, and I enjoy stories where they are anthropomorphized generally, but it seems there is a limit to how much of this I can enjoy.

As a long time fan of translated Japanese fiction and a lover of The Traveling Cat Chronicles I was excited to pick this one up. I have to say I was pleasantly not disappointed. The Goodbye cat published almost a decade after The Traveling Cat Chronicles is an equal if not better follow up for Arikawa. Perfect for anyone who loves cats and a good time.

"The Goodbye Cat" isn't just for cat people, but for the cat people who pick it up this year, know that you're in for an emotional journey quite unlike anything I've experienced in short stories before.

Through seven short stories centered on the intricate relationship between cats and their owners, Hiro Arikawa transports his readers almost instantly through lyrical, endearing, and at times poignant prose, and does a superb job in crafting stories that leave a profound impact.

To be found in the pages of "The Goodbye Cat" are stories of family, love, companionship, loyalty, and so much more. Know that if you're a reader with a cat in your life--past or present--these stories will resonate with you. They'll call to mind that cat of your childhood, of your recent past, of your present, and they'll remind you just why humans are so very lucky to have cats as characters in our own stories.

Keep the tissues nearby for this collection, "The Goodbye Cat" is a near-perfect compilation.

I had not read the book that came prior to this, so my first exposure to Arikawa's writing was The Goodbye Cat. It was one of the saddest, most hopeful books I have read in a long time. I'm tearing up thinking about it, because it really stuck with me. Out of the 7 stories, I didn't like the one where the cat kept waking up its human. It didn't feel like it fit in with the other stories. The one I liked the most was of the cat practicing its stamp so it could become a nekomata. I really appreciated the nuanced way the translator described this from the original Japanese.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC. The above is my honest thoughts.

Hiro Arikawa's "The Goodbye Cat" is a literary gem that navigates the intricacies of human-animal connections. Through the endearing relationship between an elderly man and his faithful cat, Arikawa explores themes of companionship, aging, and the profound impact of simple, genuine connections. The narrative is a delicate balance of heartwarming moments and introspective reflections, painted with Arikawa's signature poetic prose. The author skillfully captures the essence of empathy and the beauty found in unexpected friendships. "The Goodbye Cat" is a touching and beautifully written tale that invites readers to contemplate the profound bonds that shape our lives.

I enjoyed the stories in The Goodbye Cat, about how various kittens came into their owners' lives and into the lives of the children they grow up with. There is love, affection, and pathos in the lives of the cats and their humans, as the stories are about beginnings as well as endings.

It was interesting that the last story revisited the characters in the previous cat book by the author, The Traveling Cat Chronicles. Nana the cat and his owner Satoru are on their journey to various parts of Japan to find a new home for Nana, as Satoru is unable to continue taking care of the cat.

I loved reading about the various cat pets, their interactions and positive effects on the children in the households, and the fact that the cats are always treated as valued members of the family.

This book is definitely for cat lovers, but for those who are on the fence about which are better, cats or dogs, these stories may persuade them to consider both as equal.

'The Goodbye Cat" is truly lovely. Made up of stories involving the many ways cats affect our lives, it was in turn funny and heart wrenching. I enjoyed the previous 'Travelling Cat Chronicles' for the same reasons, it's a comfort read, very soothing and it just feels kind. A nice break from some of the more intense stories out there.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Goodbye Cat by Hiro Arikawa (translated by Philip Gabriel) is a collection of seven stories revolving around the relationship between cats and their humans as told from the perspectives of seven cats and their families with much wisdom, heart, and humor. Written in simple prose, the stories vary in length and tone and touch upon themes of love, loyalty, companionship, family and grief.

In the first story, The Goodbye Cat (4/5), we meet an elderly cat who endeavors to change into a supernatural spirit so that death won't separate him from his human family. A new father rescues a kitten from a recycling bin and in caring for it, learns much about fatherhood. Bringing Up Baby (4/5). A family is perplexed by their new cat’s devotion to their indifferent father in Good Father/ Bad Father (4/5). In Cat Island ( 5/5), we follow a young boy’s experiences on a trip to an island inhabited by cats with his father and his new wife. Her cat’s nightly visits are a cause for a woman’s annoyance in The Night Visitor (3/5). In Finding Hachi (4/5), we follow a young boy as he adopts an abandoned kitten and the events that led up to his having to give it up. In the final story, Life Is Not Always Kind(4/4), a young man visits his former professor in the hope that he will adopt his cat.

Heartwarming, emotional and bittersweet, these stories will strike a chord in your heart, irrespective of whether you are a cat person or not. I will admit to having shed a few tears along the way. I enjoyed this collection of stories but didn’t love it as much as The Travelling Cat Chronicles, which was a 5⭐️ read for me.

I would recommend reading Hiro Arikawa’s The Travelling Cat Chronicles before picking this up, given that we revisit the characters (human and feline) in the final two stories.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is a cute, whimsical collection that I enjoyed even though some stories feel generic or are a rehash of the arcs within The Traveling Cat Chronicles. (Truthfully, I'll read anything about cats.) It's a charming, quick read, though, if you're a cat fan and need something to occupy your day.

I really enjoyed this book and wrote a review of it for the Asian Review of Books, which was published in October 2023.

Oooof this one... I cried my eyes out reading the first story and really enjoyed the rest of the stories. I love Arikawa's understanding and approach to cat and human relationships, so tender, so sweet.
Thank you so much to Berkley Pub for the ARC of this one.

After reading and completely falling in love with THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES for a book club a while ago, I JUMPED at the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. While it didn't impact me as much as the previous book — which is hard to do when dealing with more of an anthology-based work as opposed to a novel with a single storyline — I still very much enjoyed it (and yes I DID tear up at several moments but WHO COULD BLAME ME).

Although not necessary, I do very much recommend reading THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES first to catch some *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge* moments (and, if you're me, bawl like a baby when you get to the last line of this book 🥰🥰🥰).

As a lifelong cat lover and owner, I’m always happy to read books about cats. Authors have a way of identifying the ways humans and cats form a close bond and the ways cats can surprise us. The Goodbye Cat by Hiro Arikawa highlights an array of pet-owner relationships across its seven short stories, from helping a new dad develop his parental skills to the heartbreak of losing a beloved companion.

The first five stories in The Goodbye Cat introduce new characters in contemporary Japan. They’re mostly realistic, whether told from the cat’s perspective or the human’s, but at least one dips into magical realism. The first story, which gives the collection its name, is one of the strongest and most heartbreaking. It describes a family of four and their two cats over the course of 20 years. Both cats know that life is finite, but they hope to be immortalized, if only they can figure out how. It’s beautiful and a tear-jerker by the end.

“Bringing Up Baby,” the second story, offers something happier: a married couple having their first baby, even though the dad seems underprepared. But when he unexpectedly adopts a newborn kitten, he has a new way to develop his parental skills. He becomes an excellent dad and cat dad. It’s certainly the cutest story here.

“Good Father / Bad Father” paints an ironic dichotomy between a grumpy man’s treatment of one pet cat versus another. “Cat Island” highlights a boy’s difficulty in accepting his father’s new wife after the death of his mother. A trip to an island famous for its feral cats helps young Ryo see the good in his new step-mother. “The Night Visitor,” by far the shortest story here, is something most pet owners can relate to: a hungry pet waking you in the middle of the night! Annoying… but cute. How to resist?

The final two stories here will be very familiar to anyone who’s read the author’s novel, The Travelling Cat Chronicles. If you haven’t read that, these stories may have some spoilers, so proceed with caution. “Finding Hachi” gives us more insight into Satoru’s childhood and his first cat, Hachi. Like the novel, this story certainly brought on the waterworks! “Life Is Not Always Kind” offers an additional stop in Satoru’s efforts to find a new home for his beloved cat, Nana.

All of the stories are filled with warmth, heart, and a genuine love for cats. Some stories may make you cry, but all will make you love your own cat even more. I read this whole book (and wrote this review) with my cat in my lap, and The Goodbye Cat makes me appreciate the time I have with her all the more.

The Goodbye Cat is a book that any cat lover—or animal lover in general—is sure to enjoy. From its contemplations on life and death to its simple celebration of our beloved feline companions, each story is a slice of life all pet owners can identify with on some level.

A lovely collection of 7 short stories all linked by the presence of a cat. In each, the cat has been rescued and is now, in a sense, rescuing the humans around it. This is the sort of book to keep by the bedside so that you can read one a day. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

I liked The Goodbye Cat, but it didn’t hit me the same way that Hiro Arikawa’s other book, The Travelling Cat Chronicles, did. The short stories that I enjoyed the most in this collection were the ones that were written from the POV of the cats. Or the ones that had a bit of a fantastical edge to them. It made them more charming and helped to give the stories a whimsical feeling. Also, it was fun to be able to revisit some of the characters from The Travelling Cat Chronicles.

While there were definitely stories in here that I loved, a lot of them also fell short for me. Some of them just felt pretty generic and like they weren’t adding anything special to the collection. Overall I did have a good time reading this and would still suggest that people give it a shot.

I picked this up because I thought an earlier book, The Travelling Cat Chronicles, was sweet. This one didn't resonate so much with me.

It was 7 different stories, all featuring cats, many telling the cats' whole life stories right up until the end. Not grim, but certainly melancholy at times. I found most of the cats to be more admirable characters than many of the humans.

There is some connection between stories, and even to the earlier book. A gentle and somewhat sad journey that will appeal to cat lovers. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I received a copy of "The Goodbye Cat" from NetGalley. Hiro Arikawa writes eight different stories with a cat in each one. A couple are seen through the eyes of the cat. All stories are about cats. I liked all of them. In one a boy rescues the cat with a bent tail. the same boy character has another cat with a bent tail.when He is an adult. Many of the stories surrounding the cat being a rescue and how they changed the lives of the people they each live with. Another story is about a cat island where people come to pick out their cat. This is a very nice book for people who love cats. It can be sad, feel good, and always. have me rooting for the cat to have a happy life.

Having just finished this short story collection, I would like to share three reasons why I enjoyed these short stories about cats:
🌟I am a "cat person."
🌟I have had a soft spot in my heart for The Travelling Cat Chronicles since reading the ARC years ago.
🌟The contemplation of cats in our lives--and ours in theirs.

Sadly this was not as enjoyable for me personally as Arikawa's earlier work. There was just something about the POV of the cat plus the late reveal about the reason for the trip that really pulled at my heartstrings as well as providing many humorous moments. Perhaps I will plan a reread.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.