what a beautiful, intricate read!
Samantha Sotto Yambao's Water Moon is a gorgeous blend of magical realism, speculative fiction, and fantasy, transporting readers through Tokyo, to a ramen restaurant, a pawnshop, a string of puddles and paper cranes, and both beneath the earth and amidst the clouds. We follow Hana as she searches for her father who disappeared the night before her first day taking over the pawn shop, a journey where she finds unlikely company in the silver-haired Keishin. Hana and Keishin embark on a series of twists, turns, and falls that force them to reevaluate themselves, their families, and reality as a whole.

the cast of characters was witty and loveable, especially our main protagonists Keishin and Hana, as well as characters such as Haruto.

the beginning of this book is magnetic and introduces us to a handful of intriguing concepts and bits of magical imagery. I found myself floating through the middle portion of the story, if not a little lost, but this is truly one of those works where you have to just trust the process, for the final chapters of the book beautifully tied the once-confusing and hard-to-trace loose ends together seamlessly. I hadn't realized how much I had become attached to our characters until the end; it snuck up on me.

this is a perfect read for fans of magical realism with a speculative fiction edge and those who devour bizarre, cinematic fantastical elements. the best way I can explain this is that I would love to watch an animated adaptation, very Studio Ghibli-esque!!

as always, thank you dearly to Del Rey and net galley for the advanced reader copy of this work!!

First, I would like to thank NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book and share my thoughts!
There is no doubt that I was going to love this book because a lot of people compared it to Studio Ghibli. If they got ahold of this story, the images would be absolutely stunning, and the vibes would be *chefs kiss*!
It is such a wild adventure through Hana's world as they dodge ghoulish Shiikin and discover the unimaginable.
This fantasy tale is so charming & I love how the choices/regrets that people trade are depicted as birds. It is an enduring message about the freedom of choices and how they make us, as Hanas world is filled with individuals with predetermined paths. The story is a mix of dreams & nightmares as Hana's world is exciting & beautiful, yet there are sinister operations happening behind the scenes to keep this mystical world going. Nothing is as it seems.
I think the only thing that felt random to me was the romance between Hana & Keishin. In my opinion, I felt that a friendship was better suited between them. It just didn't click for me, but I still enjoyed the adventure!
Thank you again!

Water Moon immediately caught my attention with its cover and the author. As someone who dives into every book blind, I was excited to embrace the surprises this story held.

From the very first page, I was immersed in the cozy atmosphere, intrigued by the mystery, and fantastical elements. The story was whimsical and it transported me to a world reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films setting: full of magic, spiritual wonder, and exploration. I was captivated by the intricate connections between timelines and the ripple effects of choices made—particularly how they can lead to regret. The darker themes delved into attachment trauma and self-discovery, evoking the poignant storytelling of Makoto Shinkai.

While I adored the whimsical tone and thematic depth, I found myself wishing for stronger character development. The plot was engaging, yet I struggled to connect deeply with the characters, which left certain emotional or pivotal scenes feeling a bit flat.

That said, I would recommend this book to anyone seeking a cozy, magical read with Ghibli elements and Makoto Shinkai's work for emotional depth.

Thank you to the Samatha Sotto Yambao, Random House, Delray Books, and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can't believe it's only January and I found my first 5 star of the year. I read through this book in two sittings and I came out of it silently screaming at multiple scenes throughout the book. I've seen the comparisons to Alice in Wonderland meets Studio Ghibli films, so allow me to call this the "Makoto Shinkai film if the two main characters are adults."

The story follows two individuals from different worlds. Hana is the daughter of a beloved pawnshop owner in another world, inheriting her father's of pawning people's choices. Keishin is a physicist from our world, longing to find more purpose in his life beyond his current career. Their paths cross on a fateful day when Keishin walks into the pawnshop and discovers the disappearance of Toshio, Hana's father. From there, the two go on a journey to search for Toshio, unraveling secrets that raises questions about their lives.

This is a story that takes its time, showing the beauty of portraying two characters that naturally fall in love throughout an adventure. Despite being opposites, there was a natural chemistry between Hana and Keishin that continuously developed as the story progressed. Every major and minor moment of their journey mattered in the overall narrative, which was crucial by the time Hana discovered the truth behind Toshio's disappearance.

Dedicating chapters to the pasts of various characters is my favorite aspect of the story. By allowing memories to show scenes that happened instead of summarizing in a single paragraph, I was able to get the full emotional impact that I wanted.

I highly recommend reading if you love anime, slow burn plots and romances, and books that make you analyze every little detail on the page.

At the start, we are introduced to Hana, who inherits her father's magical pawn shop, that is only found by those who are lost and are in need of it, and deals with a unique kind of trade, choices that they have made and regret. However, the day that Hana officially inherits the pawn shop, her father goes missing, the pawn shop is ransacked, and something important was taken from the shop vault. On her journey to find her father, she meets Keishin, and accepts his help with finding her father.

I absolutely adored this story. The world building was just so cozy, full of amazing details, and was so well written. There was just so much creativity put into this story and parts were so whimsical. It was so unlike anything else that I have ever read. It is marketed as a fantasy, cozy mystery, and it really is just that, but at the same time, it was so much more. Unlike other cozy mysteries, this one takes you on a wonderful adventure that is just so well thought out and so well executed and I very much appreciated that the plot had so much depth, and wasn't one-dimensional.

The ONLY complaint that I have for this story, is that, while I did appreciate the fact that the romance was on the back burner and the main focus of the whole story was on the plot, there were times when I still could have done with less of the romance. I was so intrigued by the journey and what would happen next, that I just didn't really care for the romance at times.

Thank you to Samantha Sotto Yambao, Random House Publishing, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.

WHIMSICAL. MAGICAL. TOUCHING. Us humans live with so much regret and a lot have to do with the choices we make or don't.

This is a beautiful, cozy-adjacent dreamscape of a fantasy novel. Along with the adventure and creative imagery, there are important themes that are explored: fate vs. free will, responsibility to strangers, sacrifice for family, the nature of love. I would recommend this to many readers.

This was a captivating read that pulled me in right from the beginning and didn't let go. The story effortlessly weaves magic and reality, drawing you into a world where a mysterious pawn shop offers more than just goods—it offers a chance to let go of your worries and regrets. As I read, I found myself wishing I could stumble upon such a place, where past burdens could be exchanged for new possibilities. Sotto Yambao's writing is enchanting, her characters are well-crafted, and the narrative is both thought-provoking and heartwarming.

What really stood out to me was Hana's journey to find her father, which was full of challenges and personal growth. Things are even more interesting when a stranger shows up in the pawn shop. This new companion brings his own mysteries and secrets, and his past ends up connecting with Hana's in surprising ways. Their journey together becomes a mix of adventure, discovery, and learning to let go. The story does a great job exploring how love, loss, and forgiveness can bring people together or push them apart. This book is a delightful escape that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a story with a bit of mystery, emotion, and magic.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, for the ARC.

✨ A magical, and epic adventure of isekai, love, mystery, and family. ✨

As I read the first chapter, I had the impression that I was about to read something similar to Before the Coffee Gets Cold—and oh boy, was I wrong! This is definitely different from BTCGC; it has its own unique twist, and Water Moon was just magical!

The essence of this adventure lies in Hana Ishikawa as she unravels the mystery of her father's disappearance. Hana is the epitome of headstrong, yet she is courageous, observant, and incredibly clever. Then, Hana crosses paths with Minatozaki Keishin—the guy who's ready to do anything just to satiate his curiosity. A carefree physicist, who wants to break free from his mundane life. A scientist who never believed in things that weren't scientifically proven gets thrown into a world that defies physics. Hana and Keishin meet at the most inconvenient time, yet despite their differences, they somehow fall in love. I just adore Hana and Keishin's chemistry—they were pure magic!

As Samantha Sotto Yambao described the magical world of Hana, I felt like I was walking right into it. It was surreal, enchanting, and I fell in love with it instantly. It reminded me of the isekai anime I used to watch a few years ago. I especially loved how Samantha described the puddles they use to travel, the stars, and all the little details.

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao is the perfect blend of fantasy, magical realism, adventure, and romance. If you’re a fan of fantasy, romance, and a Before the Coffee Gets Cold vibe with an anime twist, you definitely don’t want to miss this! It’s available now!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for giving me the chance to explore this enchanting world of Hana and Keishin.

✨WHAT I LIKED:
📌 Hana deciding to change her path
📌 Keishin’s reaction to Hana's world
📌 Keishin falling in love with Hana
📌 Keishin being reunited with his loved ones
📌 Hana meeting Keishin

✨TROPES:
📌 Isekai
📌 Slow - Burn Romance
📌 Fish Out of Water
📌 The Enchanted World
📌 Magical Realism
📌 Opposites Attract
📌 Found Family
📌 A Subtle Hint of Spice


🖥️ GOODREADS REVIEW: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7215778347

💻 BLOG REVIEW: https://kimthebookdragon.com/2025/01/15/arc-review-water-moon/

💻 FABLE: https://fable.co/review/bd4324db-d434-4639-bd0f-f84da02d0785/share

I absolutely loved this book. It was a journey that felt almost like a movie with all the different worlds and obstacles they faced. It was also a sweet love story that had me completely invested until the end. I’m definitely picking up this title when it releases.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I initially started reading this thinking it would be cozy Japanese fiction similar to Before the Coffee Gets Cold. And while it did have some of those vibes, just a few pages in we set off on an epic fantasy quest for the FMC to discover what happened to her parents, complete with Studio Ghibli-esque world building. This was such an exciting, beautifully written, and well-executed book. The world building is seamless with the plot. I highly recommend this book and will definitely be checking out the author’s past works.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine Group and Del Rey for an ARC of this amazing book. This review was left voluntarily.

In a world where we are allowed choices, there will always be regrets.
Would you rather avoid the regrets and live where fate has decided your entire life? Or find a way to eliminate the regrets your choices have led to.
On a back street in Tokyo, there is an unassuming ramen restaurant. But occasionally, a person - a chosen one - will open that door and walk into a very special pawn shop instead, a shop where you can pawn your regrets and life choices.
Hana Ishikawa's life was arranged from the moment she was born. Now she has just inherited her family's pawn shop from her father, but on her first day as owner she wakes up to find the shop ransacked, and her father missing, along with a precious artifact.
Expecting ramen, Keishin steps into the ransacked shop and soon offers his help to find her father and the artifact. Knowing he is from the outside world, Hana tries to dissuade him, but he is on his own journey of self-discovery and recognizes this as a chance for something new. Together, they wind through the fantastical world that Hana lives in, to find her father and return the artifact, and learn more about themselves than they could imagine.
The prose and writing style of Samantha Sotto Yambao is stunningly beautiful, unlike anything I have ever read. Is it possible to find your favorite book of the year in January? Because I think I may have. I will never look at choices - or how I use time - again the same way.

Publishing date: January 14, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/ Del Ray, and the author for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Water Moon was such a beautiful read! The fantastical elements will forever live in my head, like jumping through ponds to travel somewhere else, and forests with wind chimes instead of leaves. Having a swarm of paper cranes take you to safety, and traversing long distances as nothing more than a rumor. This book was pure magic.

The pawnshop exists on the backstreets of Tokyo. Only people intending to eat at the ramen restaurant near it, can find it. Once there, they pawn off their deepest regrets and choices. These choices are stored in a vault and are given to horrific creatures called Shiikuins.

Hana is set to inherit the magical pawnshop from her father. However, the day she is set to take over she finds the place ransacked, her father missing, and a choice from the vault stolen. She also finds a stranger named Kei, and together they journey through Hana’s magical world to find her father.

I was captivated from page one. This is such a whimsical story. I loved the themes that were explored, as well as the discussions around our choices, and how we live with them. I will definitely read more from this author!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an e-arc in exchange for my honest review*

I loved the concept of this one! It's a slow unfolding with cozy vibes but a lot of big emotions.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

Water Moon sweeps you away from the very first page.

We follow Hana who has recently taken over her fathers pawnshop, but the pawnshop isn't what you would typically expect. Instead of pawning trinkets, you meet characters who are there to trade regrets.

The entire time I was reading this story I felt like I was walking in a dream. If you love Studio Ghibli this is definitely a book that you should consider checking out. Its whimsy, its mysterious, its thought provoking and you will be sitting at the edge of your seat waiting to see how this story will unfold.

a perfectly cozy fantasy that will also have your heart racing as you move through the story.

Thank you Del Rey for the arc!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read one of my most anticipated reads of the year early!

I really liked this book! At times, it felt a bit long and dragged in a couple of parts, but overall, I read it super quickly and enjoyed my time here. The writing is descriptive and beautiful, and the world-building, while set in Japan, is still unique and complex.

My one complaint was the romance. I HATED it. It was insta-love. They met and were in love in under twenty-four hours and I'm not even joking about that. The entire book set in the modern day literally takes place in under three days. The romance was unbelievable and annoying, adding nothing to the story. Also, there is a bit of a love triangle. And while I typically loathe love triangles, in this one case, the not chosen love interest would have been perfect as opposed to this stranger. I refuse to believe in a romance in which one man is willing to die for you MULTIPLE TIMES while the other outright admits he would not have been able to make those same hard choices. No thank you. Get him out of here.

For fans of Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children series, this book takes you on an adventure to other worlds you would never have imagined possible, with unique doors and methods of transportation, "nonsense" activities and ways of living, and trying to find where you really belong.

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao, is a stunning tale full of adventure. On the streets of Tokyo, Japan is the door to a ramen shop. When strangers walk through this door, they enter the restaurant or find themselves walking into a Pawnshop. Contrary to belief, this pawnshop deals in regrets. On the day Hana is set to take over her fathers Pawnshop because of his retirement, she wakes up to discover the pawnshop ransacked and her father and a precious regret missing. An outsider, Keishin, stumbles into the Pawnshop at the right time and may just be the key to helping Hana find her father and her long thought dead mother.
This book takes its reader on a whirlwind adventure through a never before seen world full of markets on clouds, traveling by rumor and paper boats, and deadly creatures giving chase. There is an essence of a Ghibli style of storytelling that will bring comfort to readers while our main characters go through many obstacles. It took me a long time to read this book just because I felt comfort while reading it and didn't feel as if i needed to rush.
I believe this book will be loved by readers of any age! I would feel comfortable recommending this to anyone that would love this style of book.

This book is a delight and a whimsical dreamy journey! It felt like stepping into a Ghibli film! Despite its whimsy and magic there were deeper themes of grief and the choices we make in life and some romance/. A beautiful story. I wanted it to last

4.95/5 Stars
Samantha Sotto Yambao’s Water Moon is a mesmerizing fantasy novel and my first experience with her writing, but certainly won’t be my last. From the jump, I felt a rush of nostalgia as if I were a child again, exploring a world filled with imagination. The story truly scratches an itch my brain has needed for years.

Yambao’s vision of the other world is enchanting and thought-provoking, embodying how I would dream such a place would be. The unique way everyday objects, like a bag, function in this world is magical, and I was thrilled when this concept came full circle by the end.

Having recently immersed myself in Asian fiction, I found Yambao’s cultural elements captivating and enriching. I had the hardest time putting the book down, and the ending genuinely blew my mind. The pacing and the unfolding of the plot kept me glued to the pages, eager to uncover what lay ahead. With so many intricate details, it felt impossible to predict the outcome, showcasing Yambao’s insane talent of storytelling.

Beyond its engaging plot, Water Moon offers profound insights about life that we often overlook within this chaotic world. It serves as a reminder to appreciate the present rather than constantly chase what’s next. I know I’ll be reflecting on the themes for a long time.

Imagine if Studio Ghibli produced an Alice in Wonderland/ Through the Looking Glass -esque movie and you’ll have a wonderful idea of how reading this book felt.

The story asks questions about regrets and time and memories, and builds vibrant visuals to illustrate its ideas. The descriptions leap off the page in technicolor. Some of my favorite elements were the museum and its system for entry, and the marketplace— truly what beautiful depictions of ideas.

I found though that I wanted it to have a stronger through line, from whimsical vignette to vignette; but instead they felt a disconnected to me and not as well planned out as they could have been. I think the randomness works really well for some folks but it was a missed opportunity for me. However each vignette contributed a metaphor that built toward the book’s point very nicely. I also felt like at times the romance was detracting from the story and I wished they’d just been friends. The chemistry didn’t quite hit for me but they’d have made lovely companions without that added pressure.

On the whole this was something I expected to love and only liked. However, I think if cozy-adjacent whimsy is your speed, this is perfect. For me it was 3.75 stars, because of the elements above but I still very much do recommend it to folks who fit the style better. And even when it wasn’t a perfect fit for me, it was still a fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book!