Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao is a magical and thrilling journey that swept me away from the very first page. The story is beautifully written, full of emotion and wonder, and it brought me to tears in the best possible way. I absolutely loved it—an unforgettable read!

Hana Ishikawa inherits a hidden pawnshop in Tokyo that deals with life's deepest choices. When her father vanishes and a precious item is stolen, Hana teams up with Keishin, a physicist from another realm, embarking on a surreal journey through puddles that lead to other worlds, paper cranes that soar the skies, and night markets nestled in the clouds.

This fantasy is a heartfelt tale of self-determination, grief, and healing (honestly, we all need some healing). Hana's resilience shines as she navigates an unpredictable world, and her bond with Keishin is tender and inspiring. It's a story that reminded me how each decision, no matter how small, creates ripples that shape our lives.

It makes a girl want to run to every pawnshop for her little adventure.


Thank you Del Rey for the ARC

Ugh. This had so much potential. I wanted to love this–not like–LOVE. And instead, I was crawling to the finish line and couldn’t wait for it to be over.

Whimsical fantasies are a hard line to walk. They can have so much imagination and beauty and concepts of flight and fancy that are so fun to read, but if the plot and characters aren’t anchoring me in a story that I actually am invested in and care about, it doesn’t matter how gorgeous the setting is. This book was like that. The premise of the pawn shop and its surrounding world was fantastic. Night market in the clouds? Amazing! But the characters were pretty dry, the romance felt nonexistent then instalove at the same time, the ending was convoluted and not clear in its closure for either protagonist and their mommy issues… I just found myself wanting a lot more from the book, which wasn’t delivered. 2.5⭐, rounded down to 2 on Goodreads.

*Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

One of those rare and beautiful stories that whisk you away into another world. A pawn shop where you can trade in your deepest regrets. That sounds fantastic and it’s the start of a grand adventure with memorable characters and a lot of amazing visuals. Really a great book.

"Water Moon" is a captivating adventure in which two magnetic strangers attempt to solve a mystery in a magical world. Where this book really shines is in its inventive world building. Every time we were introduced to a new location I wished that more page time could've been dedicated for exploration. They're so lived in, purposeful, and well thought out in how they intertwine with one another. Yes, the treasure hunt style narrative that weaves through the places can feel a bit too convenient at times, but the vibrancy of the places themselves and the way that the two leads experience them makes it satisfying anyway.

My core issue with the writing is how stilted Hana feels in the beginning of the book. She's a pawnbroker and she's been trained to turn off her emotions as much as possible, but, at the same time, it's woven into her characterization that she rebels against the rigidity. It's difficult to understand how she has that inner conflict, yet, when presented with a crisis and an intriguing Keishin in her doorway, she doesn't revert to her actual personality and instead remains quite stoic. This in turn makes their immediate connection feel one sided. To me, Keishin seemed to be more emotionally available, which allows us to connect with him earlier on in the narrative, as opposed to the distance that Hana has with us. With that said, I did enjoy their dynamic more as it progressed into looser, more natural dialogue and messy emotions. I just didn't buy that there was an immediate, two-sided electricity there. If anything, I'd say it was more of a slowburn from Hana's point of view.

Overall, the equally whimsical and melancholic tone had me eager to keep turning the pages.

Listed under: a book you shouldn't read if you're familiar at all with Japanese culture or language (especially if you also read a lot of translated Japanese fiction).

Water Moon on its head is an interesting premise - woman goes on a journey to find her missing father through a world rife with the supernatural and the otherworldly (literally). Woman also goes on that journey with a man who happens to show up at her door exactly when said journey must start. As expected, the two fall for each other pretty immediately despite a ton of things that happen and get revealed that should make it not so... and it's so very... I think this book would have been way better if Hana was searching on her own! Because this romance was so... for the sake of a romance I guess, but I think "shoehorned" is the word I'm looking for.

Without getting into a red-pen mark-up of all the things I had to pause and talk to my partner about that bothered me (or were simply wrong) about this book (yet), Water Moon just had Too Much going on. We were shot from here to there to over there to way over there and then back again, even before Hana and Keishin were running from those that ended up pursuing them. It's very hand-in-hand with one of my other major complaints: because this book was Inspired By My Trip To Japan, there are a TON of Japanese words/phrases/Cool Japan Things that are just thrown in for no reason except to have one more reference to Being In Japan. Additionally, things that felt like they should have been higher stakes or horrifying end up... either being hand-waved with, "oh, they'll be fine," or plot-wise not really mattering in the end. There was a reveal near the end that should have been horrifying! But because so much was going on and the stakes just felt like... whatever by this point, it really lost a lot of the punch.

Samantha Sotto Yambao, a Filipina author who was inspired to write this book after a trip to the older touristy parts of Kyoto, an area where some of the old houses have been converted into storefronts (including the famous Ninenzaka Starbucks, which is on the street she cites as her direct inspiration) to promote said tourism and to keep these areas preserved and afloat. Inspiration like that is totally fine, especially since a lot of the things that happen in the other world seem to be made up or vaguely inspired by instead of pieces of actual folktale, but using someone else's culture and throwing as much of it at the wall as possible in your 'cozy, Studio Ghibli-esque fantasy' there needs to be a certain degree of mindfulness which feels... missing here.

Hana is our protagonist who comes off very naive ("What's a date?") for the majority of the book, and then we're supposed to believe she's intentionally Kept Secrets and Made Lies the whole time instead of it being plot-convenient when it is (also she calls herself a monster for having The Same tattoos everyone in her world has. Tell me where that makes sense).

And then we have Keishin, a man who moved with his father overseas (although where is never specifically mentioned) for some years, but comes back for a job and immediately ends up in this pawn shop. At first him saying right away, "Call me Kei," bothered me, but I rationalized it as he's more used to that living abroad -- but that Hana immediately accepts and does so just pulled at the edge of my brain (this is a place where sometimes married couples even call each other by surname for a while-- first name basis is VERY serious). Kei mentioning/thinking several times, "my Japanese is rusty" but having zero issues communicating to anyone at any time despite the fact that we as readers should assume all dialogue is spoken in Japanese -- sure. This is just a way to, at least early on (as this does stop eventually), define to the reader Japanese words, but it was so clumsy and could have been easily done in context. Examples of Keishin translating for us but also to himself while speaking normally in all other regards:

"...then you may call it Isekai." Other world. Keishin translated the word in his head.
"The Shiikuin?" Keishin tried to remember the meaning of the word. "The Keepers? Like the caretakers of a zoo?"
"I am hoping that the Horishi will have some answers." "A tattoo artist?"

There are a ton other linguistic nitpicks I have that I wrote out but instead will summarize as: there are a lot of inconsistencies in the romanization of the Japanese language, inaccurate pluralizations (never say "animes" to me please), a lackadaisical use of honorifics while on the other hand Hana rarely uses contractions in her speech (I assume to make her seem otherworldly/old timey and if this was a translated novel MIGHT indicate she's speaking Formal Japanese or an outdated style/dialect... but it is not translated, so...), and several many instances of the Japanese being used where it's a word/phrase that is actually easily translated into English (example: Kyoiku Hakubutsukan [Keishin: "The Museum of Education?"] could have just been called that! Except that's not even accurate; it's had a new name in English for 75 years and Keishin is not 100 years old but whatever). For how OFTEN this is done, it really makes not just the language used (often incorrectly or at minimum inconsistently), but the whole worldbuilding, feel very... exoticized.

Also, Keishin's elevator side chapter story and the entirety of his mind palace I think don't really make a lot of sense either, like, I get what the last part was going for; I just don't think it worked.

I started to think that part of the problem is that the several books I read prior to Water Moon were all Japanese translated fiction (some being magical realism/urban fantasy and not a supernatural fantasy like this with very little of it in The Real World), and that I started learning Japanese language/culture ... maybe 25 years ago... so these things really stand out to me where they don't to other people (and I did talk to to be like "is it just me or") but overall it was a disappointing read that needed a lot more tightening up in both the amount of things happening in the plot and space for the romantic relationship to grow and the characters to actually develop into their own people past being individual plot devices even to us as readers in moments they're not being slingshotted around? And the longer I sat with the language and cultural issues sort of pushing at my mind, the more uncomfortable I feel about the lack of care with Yambao using someone else's culture for her story and then just making a mess of it in a way that people who aren't as familiar wouldn't easily realize just pushes the exoticism and "cool unproblematic Ghibli-vibes Japan" narrative further. I don't like that.

In the end, I am grateful to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey for the eARC (that I read every page of!) for approving my request to read and review , but this very much wasn't for me, as much as it really could have been.

THE ORIGAMI COVER IS SO COOL THOUGH... and the cover art! What a novel (no pun intended) idea!!

This book was whimsical, emotional, and more than a little bit strange. Travelling by puddle? Night market in the clouds? Waiting for trains that may or may not show up in your lifetime? That's the norm for the "other world," in which Hana and Keishin team up to look for her parents. This book reminded me a lot of Kazuo Ishiguro's books, and I will definitely be reading more works by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and RandomHouse Publishing for this ARC! This book was an absolute delight to read. The writing style was intriguing and beautiful. I found myself wanting to highlight almost every passage- entranced by its beauty and wisdom. The concept of the book was also unique and attention grabbing. My only concern was pacing. I found the pace of the book quite slow for the first 80% and then warp speed for the last 20%. I wish the author had spread out some of the twists to build more intrigue and keep the reader engaged. Otherwise, this book was delightful and definitely will become a staple on my shelf.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Samantha Sotto Yambao for allowing me to read an early copy of Water Moon in exchange for my honest review.

This book was magical. I heard it compared to a Studio Ghibli film, and I have to agree it has that vibe. It highlights the bond between family members, the good and the bad, and its whimsy dial is at 100%. It's also incredibly fast paced, and it quickly transports you through Hana's colorful and diverse world.

Now, while this book was beautiful in its world building, and the plot is unique, it was not my cup of tea. The relationship between Hana and Keishin feels rushed and unbelievable. I suppose if I was a teen or in my 20's I may be able to believe the trope of "love at first site" but as a (still pretty romantic but realistic) 30 year old, I just couldn't believe that these two are immediately intertwined to a degree that Kei would go along with Hana.

Overall, I didn't have a bad time, and like I said it didn't disappoint when it came to whimsical worlds. It just wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook in exchange for an honest review!

The pawn shop that Hana inherits is behind the door of a popular ramen shop, is only revealed to certain people, and deals in choices. When Hana wakes up to find the shop ransacked and her father missing, she sets out to find out what happened with a curious stranger who stumbles upon the shop. Their journey takes them across worlds as the truth is slowly revealed.

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao is a magical adventure story about love, trust and choices. I was expecting a slower and cozier type of story, so the faster pace and mystery elements surprised me. I loved all of the otherworldly settings that Hana and Keishin traveled to, and how he was mind-blown every time. It was whimsical and very cool to experience those different settings. On the other hand, it was a little disorienting to hop between settings so often and made me lose a little of the thread of the plot. I enjoyed the romance element, but I would have liked a little more depth from the relationship. I think I enjoyed the first part more than the climax and resolution, but overall was happy to be along for the ride.

Water Moon is full of unique magical places that had my imagination spinning with vivid imagery. However, you spend very little time at most locations. I struggled to connect with the characters and wanted more depth/detail from both the characters and the scenery. It felt like someone was flipping the pages at lightning speed when I wanted to sit and stare at the pictures. I wanted to love Water Moon, and I truly think this would be a magical reading experience for others.

I received an ARC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Water Moon.

Occasionally, I’ll read a book in a genre outside my comfort zone to break up the monotony of the thriller/suspense books I always read.

Water Moon sounded intriguing; I don’t read fantasy, but the premise really drew me in.

It started out interesting, but as I kept reading, I started to get annoyed.

The constant jumping back and forth between these surreal worlds was distracting. The descriptions are beautiful and what these worlds do and are capable of, but we never stay long in them to find out more.

There’s little exposition and depth to these magical places, before we move on to the next fantasy realm.

I’m not a fan of romance for romance sakes and I’m against main characters saying “I love you” the second they lay eyes on each other.

That meant the insta-love connection between Kei and Hana was a huge turnoff for me, especially since they kept speaking lovey-dovey to one another.

And don’t get me started on the love triangle. Sheesh.

Writing is good, but dialogue is formal, stilted. People don’t speak like this in real life, fantasy world or not.

Hana is barely developed; it’s her fate to operate the pawnshop for her life but that doesn’t mean she has to be boring and without a personality.

Kei is okay, a little more developed but he sounds pretty boring and his Freudian mommy issues made him less of a catch and more someone who needed to get on Dr. Freud’s couch ASAP.

If anything, I wanted to find out more about the Shiikuin. They reminded me of the Dementors from Harry Potter.

When I began putting this book down to read something else, I knew it was a bad sign. It took me almost two months to finish this.

The premise had great potential but cheesy romance tropes and corny dialogue drained the fantasy and magic out of the narrative.

This book is a dreamlike, magical journey that had me hooked from the start. Hana inherits a pawnshop where people can sell their regrets, only to find it ransacked and her father missing on her first day. Enter a charming young physicist, who offers to help instead of seeking help, and the two embark on an enchanting quest through mystical landscapes. With paper cranes, rain puddles, and a night market in the clouds, it’s a world full of wonder and romance. The whimsical origami jacket design is a perfect touch, making this a cozy, unforgettable read.

A cozy fantasy with action packed scenes and a beautiful cover!

Hana Ishikawa inherits a secret pawnshop in Tokyo where people trade their regrets. After her father disappears and a valuable item is stolen, she teams up with a physicist to recover both—traveling through a surreal world of magical realms and hidden truths.

I absolutely loved the narrator for this book and found her to be very soothing to listen to. A big reason why I kept reading was because of the phenomenal narrator - however I think I’m learning that cozy fantasies are not for me.

When I first read about this book I thought “a magical pawnshop where you can pawn regrets?” COUNT ME IN. The story ended up being filled with more magic and whimsy than I thought it would be.

Hana and Keishien’s adventures through a dreamlike world to find out what happened to Hana’s father after the pawnshop is ransacked was poetic and so vivid. It was cozy but thought provoking at the same time and examines our choices and regrets in a really beautiful way.

I’ve seen this book recommended for fans of Studio Ghilbi and I definitely also got those sorts of vibes from it. All in all a really lovely escape from reality on the surface, with much deeper and thoughtful messages intertwined throughout.

The premise of this story is the reason why I requested this book. The book description promised a magical journey that would feel dreamlike, fantastical, and unique - coupled with beautiful and lyrical writing - which in a way delivered that however, overall the story fell short for me.  

The unique world in this story is vast and because it is so vast and fast-paced, we as the readers miss the details at almost every stop. When the main characters would pop into a new place, I found myself in a similar situation as the male main character of awe and wonder, excited to get to know this new world and its quirkiness. Within what felt like minutes, however, we were done and on to the next experience. 3/4 of the way in I found it very hard to continue to invest myself and my time in the story. I couldn’t keep up or felt disappointed I couldn’t fully experience what was such unique opportunities. 

I may try another story from this author in the future but this one wasn’t for me.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced reader copy for my honest review.

I was soooo extremely excited for this book because of the beautiful cover and synopsis, but felt that it fell a little short of my expectations. While it did feel like a Ghibli film, full of beautiful settings, complex relationships, and a heaping dose of whimsy and nonsense but also sprinkled with darkness, it just didn't completely grab me. In all honesty, the characters felt too dull to keep me interested, and the romance made me want to quit the book altogether because of the insta-love, which is one of my pet peeves in any book. I will say that the prose is lyrical, and the mysteries kept me intrigued until the end, where everything comes together.

I still think this will appeal to readers that love Japenese folklore and fantastical stories; I just feel disappointed that I am not among them this time. I will definitely look into the author in the future as the ideas are there and I see the vision! 3 stars.

This was a book that was so visually immersive - it really did feel like I was inside a Studio Ghibli film, if Hayao Miyazaki decided to make it REALLY violent. I seriously wasn't expecting this to be as dark as it was. I appreciated that aspect of it, though, because it made the stakes feel real and added depth to the whimsy.

Wow, I adored Water Moon! It was whimsical, emotional, and quite the wild ride! There were so many twists and turns that I did not see coming. Hana and Keishin's love felt very relatable as two deeply flawed people trying to get closer to one another. There was also some powerful commentary on the nature of choices and what we must give up each time we make one. I definitely recommend Water Moon to anyone who likes moving, completely engrossing fantasy novels!

Upon finishing Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao, I was mostly with imprints of how it made me feel, rather than any lasting memory of what actually happened. That tends to be the case with this specific brand of "cozy" contemporary lit, and while I don't typically gravitate towards this genre, I did mostly enjoy Water Moon. The premise of the book, that people can sell their regrets in a hidden pawnshop behind a ramen restaurant, is intriguing enough. But what kept me interested in this book was less the plot and more the magical atmosphere that Samantha Sotto Yambao was able to build over the course of the novel. Some elements were a bit underdeveloped for me (the relationships, for example), but overall I'm glad that I read this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey books for my advanced digital copy.