Imagine : you’re going through it. Some ish has gone done in your life and you’ve got some things to figure out. You happen to be out one night & notice the cutest coffee shop that you’ve never noticed before. You sit down & are welcomed by a few talking cats who tell you what you should drink and which dessert you’ll want to eat. They know this because these cats know what you’re going through. And while you enjoy these delicious treats, these extremely knowledgeable cats leverage the stars as laid out on the day you were born, to tell you why your life has ended up the way it did and which part of your life is located in which astrological house, which helps you realize what you need to do to improve your life. This book was so reminiscent of Before the Coffee Gets Cold but not sad. A very lighthearted, feel good look at the lives of a few characters whose lives are all interconnected. If you are super into astrology, this will be a fun read for you. And you may even learn some things.

I love all of the cozy fantasy books involving Japan and cats that are coming out! As someone who has never been all that interested in astrology, I still enjoyed the various coffee shop experiences people had. I also like that this wasn't stretched to be about just one person but several.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!

[Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc!]

3.5⭐⭐⭐💫

This was a fun little book. I blew through it in a day and was really vibing with it for the majority of my reading experience.

I loved the fun, yet fantastical nature of the full moon coffee shop; the astrology you learn (and the change in perspective on life you get) from a talking cat, the way the characters reminisce on the delicious coffee afterward... It was all very fun to read about.

Part 1 was probably my favorite as I really loved our main character, but once we started shifting away from her and learning about other characters, mainly the ones toward the end, I felt like the book got a bit lost. While there were some side characters that I enjoyed, I would've liked if we fully circled back to Mizuki and ended the book in her perspective to see how the encounter with the coffee shop trully impacted her. It was a bit jarring to see her become a side character the way she did.

Cozy Magical Realism

The Full Moon Coffee Shop is definitely cozy, well written, and easy to read through. Maybe a more positive spin on the Midnight Library? The cats just threw me off due to my assumptions of how they might be guiding people versus how they actually did. That just wasn't for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for the eARC!

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki is a magical trip into Kyoto where a coffee shop run by cats shares astrological fortunes. It's a cozy story, though there isn't much plot propulsion, which may not satisfy some readers.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

This was a fun one to read! Very magical and quaint. I feel like I could connect with all of the characters even though they all had very different experiences. Loved the tie in with astrological signs!

What makes this novel stand out is its emphasis on themes of healing, self-discovery, and the magic found in everyday moments. The coffee shop itself acts as a metaphor for the space in which people can grow, change, and find love, both with others and within themselves. The magical realism element adds a touch of intrigue, with the full moon serving as a catalyst for personal transformation and unexpected connections.

While the plot can be predictable at times, the atmosphere and character development more than make up for it. Mochizuki’s writing is lush and evocative, transporting readers into a world that feels warm, inviting, and full of hope.

Overall, The Full Moon Coffee Shop is a beautifully written and enchanting read that will leave you feeling uplifted and cozy inside. Mai Mochizuki’s storytelling is a soothing balm for the soul, making this novel a must-read for fans of magical realism and heartwarming romances.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with a digital arc of this book!

The Full Moon Coffee Shop is a Japanese translated short story that centers around the symbolism of cats in Japanese myths. It follows four individuals that visit the Full Moon Coffee Shop at dire moments in their lives and careers. This coffee shop is run by cats who offer wise advice through astrological signs.

I thought the premise of this book was rather intriguing. The summary of the book gave off the feeling of cozy vibes with cats and coffee and I felt like it would be a tragically warm story. Unfortunately, that is where my praise ends.

This book was probably one of the most boring books I have read this year. I will admit that this was way out of my typical genre preferences, so I am not particularly surprised I found it boring. I was hoping that there would be some saving grace, maybe in the language or the story itself, but I can't even say that. And again, I will acknowledge that this book is a translated work, so I am sure some of the poetic language got lost in translation.

I found it almost impossible to differentiate each character and I kind of hated how repetitive the story was. Each person had something going wrong in their careers or personal lives, found their way into a random pop-up coffeeshop, were served by talking cats (which was somehow not surprising for them??) and were told that all of their problems would be solved when they understood what their zodiac house was. The fact that the answer to every person's problems had to do with astrology kind of annoyed me and I found the story just lacking overall. 1/5 stars.

This is a charming and cozy tale that blends a bit of magic with heartfelt moments. The story revolves around a mystical café run by talking cats, appearing to people at pivotal points in their lives to offer wisdom and warmth.

This book shines with its whimsical tone and enchanting setting, making it a light and enjoyable read. Lines like, “The stars may guide you, but the courage to move comes from within,” and “A good cup of coffee can mend even the most tangled hearts,” capture the magical and comforting spirit of the story.

While the characters and their journeys are sweet, some arcs felt a little rushed, leaving me wanting a bit more depth. Overall, it’s a delightful book for fans of magical realism or anyone needing a feel-good escape. Three stars, but with plenty of charm!

If you like cats-as-human-as-cats, astrology, come-and-go buildings, you are in for a read you won't soon forget!

Troubled coffee shop customers are most often unaware of their level of internal distress until out of nowhere, in a place they don't remember a coffee shop being, the Full Moon Coffee Shop has open doors and a table waiting for them. Especially for them.

Easy sweet read if you have tolerance for mystical magical fantasy with all the right answers. Not a long read, just right for my stretchy disbelief.

*A sincere thank you to Mai Mochizuki, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently. *TheFullMoonCoffeeShop #NetGalley

Very cute and heartfelt novel with magical charm and cats! I love the connections between astrology and folklore throughout the story. A quick quirky read that all should give a shot.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

**The Full Moon Coffee Shop** by Mai Mochizuki offers a masterclass in subtle storytelling, seamlessly blending whimsy and introspection in a way that feels like sipping a perfectly brewed cup of coffee—warm, comforting, yet tinged with a touch of the unexpected.

This novel unfolds within the inviting confines of the titular Full Moon Coffee Shop, a cozy haven that seems to defy the rush of the outside world. Here, Mochizuki introduces us to a cast of characters as varied and rich as the blends of coffee they consume. Each patron brings their own stories, struggles, and hopes, creating a mosaic of life that’s as beautiful as it is complex.

Mochizuki's prose is a delicate dance, evoking vivid images and deep emotions with an economy of words. The shop itself becomes a character, imbued with a sense of magic that’s never overt but always present—like the soft glow of the full moon on a quiet night. The narrative pace is gentle, allowing readers to savor each moment, each interaction, and each cup of coffee.

The heart of the novel lies in its exploration of human connection. Through the interactions between the shop’s owner, the enigmatic barista with a mysterious past, and the eclectic mix of customers, Mochizuki delves into themes of love, loss, and the healing power of community. There’s a sense of timelessness to these interactions, as if the coffee shop exists outside the constraints of time, offering solace and understanding to all who enter.

**The Full Moon Coffee Shop** is a reminder that sometimes, the most profound experiences are found in the simplest of settings. It’s a celebration of the everyday magic that occurs when people come together, share their stories, and find common ground over a steaming cup of coffee.

Mochizuki's novel is a gem—heartwarming, thought-provoking, and utterly enchanting. A must-read for anyone looking to find a bit of magic in their everyday life.

The book is not as charming or interesting as the premise suggests, and reads more like a manual for astrological interpretation.

I had low expectations for this one because it’s a fairly small book at only 240 pages, the cover felt chintzy, and I hate talking animals in books. I ended up reading because I needed a palette cleanser. I was pleasantly surprised with how well rounded it was! This novel has four interconnected stories that are woven together by fate, astrology, and karma. I have to admit that I cried at the end; something I don’t do often.
I did not rate a five due to the clunkiness of the translation and because the astrology elements were a little too scientific. I ended up doing additional research to see if those elements were factual; I wish I could have just believed it.
Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for an early ebook copy.

A pop-up cafe where shape-shifting cats provide the horoscopes of different patrons. Yes, please.
This book is cozy and I am so glad it was translated from the original Japanese so that I got the opportunity to read it. Well-written and easy to understand, even if you don't know a lot of Japanese horoscopes.

I know this book may not be for everyone, but I can see why it is popular.


Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the dARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

I have requested this one for our college library.

What a great read!! This was a quick story, but so much depth to it. I couldn’t stop reading, from the first page till the very end. The astrological aspects were so very intriguing to me. Each chapter was so interesting and seeing how everything tied together in the end. What a great journey this was to read.

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for- Ballantine for this advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

i was super intrigued by the concept of using astrology as an element of a cozy urban fantasy, but unfortunately the author didn’t quite pull it off. instead of being one of many building blocks for the story, astrology only seemed to serve as a device to conveniently and perfectly explain the issues going on in each character’s lives in a way that left little room for complexity or depth. honestly, it felt like i was reading a really long astrology advertisement. my favorite parts of each story were honestly the ones before the main event happens… which is disappointing. some meaning might have been lost in translation, but the pros were not enough to outweigh the cons when it comes to whether i’ll tune in to the next one.

DNF…I wanted more from this boy ok but found it lacking. The plot did not hold my attention. The characters were boring. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

This book was actually really interesting. I love cats, and the idea of using cats to convey wisdom really resonated with me.
The storytelling and the in-depth descriptions of each character’s background was really well done, however what confused me was when all the zodiac and astronomic descriptions came into play. That is not really my field of expertise, so being thrust into such vivid explanation without any prior experience was very disorienting and I did not understand much if it.
I appreciated the fact that every character mentioned was able to get the direction they needed in order to make major changes to their lives in order to become better and succeed at what they were good at. I was honestly expecting this to be a story that was told from one angle and not from many, so the multi-character pov surprised me.

All in all, this was a fascinating read.

4.5/5
This is such a beautiful telling of how things could be if you change your mindset. The characters all go through struggles that I feel like everyone has gone through before. You never know when a cafe full of cats will set your life's course down a different path.