Oh this book, this had the potential to become a five-star-read, a new favourite even. It is gorgeously told, well-crafted and the world of "Water Moon" is full of incredible, stunning imagery and creativity. It's whimsical and poetic in tone and asks important questions about agency and choice. I really liked Hana, our main protagonist - a young woman about to inherit her father's magical pawn shop before he mysteriously disappears.
I genuinely enjoyed the flowery writing, though I admittedly wasn't as much of a fan of some of the narrative choices the author made (like an overreliance on Super Dramatic Chapter Endings). But still, I didn't mind those much.
I just sadly have to admit it was the completely unnecessary instalovey romance that ruined it a little for me. Kei was an incredibly boring character and as soon as he arrived and it was becoming clear that this would be first and foremost a romance I sighed the deepest sigh. I would have preferred a focus on Hana's story, on her development, her journey towards agency and choice independent of a relationship with a man, because right now he is the major catalyst for her character development. And character development isn't this book's strong suit in general. Add to that an even more unnecessary love triangle and yeah, the story lost me. I kept reading for the potential of it all, for the beautiful and creative world spread out before me, for the mystery, but I wasn't emotionally engaged anymore. Sadly, the romance really worked to the detriment of this book and the actually beautiful story that could have been told.

As such, this turned out to be a disappointment especially because I wanted to love it so much, had high expectations and the first chapters were an incredible setup. 3 stars for the beautiful world and concepts.

Next to a popular ramen restaurant on one of the backstreets in Tokyo lies a pawnshop. This isn't just any ordinary pawnshop however. Most people will not even see it. But the ones who are lost—who have regrets or disappointments that they can't get rid of, - will find a place to pawn their life choices and deepest regrets. Hana Ishikawa wakes on her first morning as the pawnshop’s new owner after her father retires to find it ransacked, the shop’s most precious acquisition stolen, and her father missing. Then a charming stranger stumbles into the store, quite unlike its other customers, for he offers help instead of seeking it. Together, they journey through a mystical world to find Hana’s father and the stolen choice—by way of rain puddles, rides on paper cranes, the bridge between midnight and morning, and a night market in the clouds. But as they get closer to the truth, Hana must reveal a secret of her own—and risk making a choice that she will never be able to take back.

I will admit it took me a little bit to really get into the story, but once I did, I was fully immersed. It was magical, often thought provoking, with romance, adventure, and fantastical settings that kept me engrossed until the very end. It really made you contemplate how every decision you make, no matter how small, is a ripple effect, affecting your future and others around you as well. This book is perfect for anyone who loves a good story, or is in need of an adventure in their lives.

When I started the book, I really enjoyed it, especially when it was describing the pawnshop process and the tea. I appreciated how whimsical the world was. I also enjoyed the set-up for the conflict with Hana’s father disappearing and so Hana and Kei must find him.

I think where the story fell off for me was the middle and the end. As Hana takes Kei through her world, we are introduced with magical locations and items at every scene. At first it was fun to follow along with to enjoy this increasingly magical world. However, after the first couple of them, it started to get predictable and repetitive. There wasn’t any attempt to understand the world, just a simple this is how it is and then we just move on to the next thing. I felt that the author was trying to fit as many magical elements into the story as possible, but without any depth, the story and world-building felt shallow.

I felt that the book’s biggest problems could be solved if there wasn’t a standalone. I don’t believe most fantasy books can be fit into one book because there is so much world-building that needs to be done, especially for this book that claims to be similar to Studio Ghibli. If given the space of a duology or trilogy, I think the book wouldn’t have felt as shallow and all the magical elements would have had time to be explored.

Oh, the whimsical journey this takes you on.

Water Moon is an adventurous, dream-like story. It centers around Hana, who is set to take over the family business—a magical pawnshop that allows people to pawn their regrets. She wakes to find her father has gone missing, along with a customers regret. As Hana is trying to determine what happened, a stranger stumbles into the pawnshop. From there, Hana and her new companion, Keishin, go on an adventure of all adventures.

The story itself is full of wonder and adventure. I mean, taking a ride on a rumor, or jumping into a puddle to reach another world? Magical, indeed! I loved the world building and uniqueness to each new setting. This story is centered around choices and the ability to pawn them, with some twists along the way—I was surprised a couple of times, so that was fun!

Overall, I enjoyed this one. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys cozy fantasy and magical realism, with an extra dose of whimsy magic!

—𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.—

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook arc. This book would be great for those who love Erin Morgenstern, and the Night Circus fans, along with fans of studio Ghibli.
This wonderfully written story takes you thru the life of a Hana who I’d set to take over a pawnshop that is run by her father but the morning she is to take over she discovers that he is missing and the pawnshop is ransacked. When she opens the front door a customer finds her bleeding and instead of leaving her he stays and travels thru her world trying to table down clues her father left behind to help find him, but she must do it before the full moon before she has to deposit the payment for the pawnshop bit one bored is missing and she needs it. Kei travels with her to worlds that are beyond what he can describe and leave him wondering time and time again how folding time could be used in the real world.

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine, Del Rey, and Random House Publishing Group for this advanced copy. You can pick up Water Moon on January 14, 2025.

What a gorgeous, lyrical, absolutely whimsical book. I immediately fell in love with Samantha Sotto Yambao's writing style, which definitely transports you to another world. Not only did this book evoke Studio Ghibli vibes, but the number of fantastical places our main characters visited felt like they came straight out of a Ghibli film (alternatively, I could easily see this book getting adapted).

I love how the fast-paced plot was coupled with contemplative moments and messages about choices and how they affect us. At its core, this book not only focuses on humanity and the relationships that drive us but how it's the seemingly inconsequential moments that define our personal stories.

Hana and Kei were both super compelling characters, and I honestly appreciated their individual character arcs more so than their romance. The romance might have been the weakest part of the book, actually -- not that it was bad, but it didn't have a ton of buildup and tension driving it compared to other books. This is definitely a fantasy first, romance second book (or the romance worked more as a subplot).

Either way, I highly recommend picking this up if you're looking to escape reality and fall into a different, gorgeous world!

Very torn on this one. I will therefore craft a complement sandwich (multilayer, I’ve decided to make it a bread-heavy BLT):

Bread: Beautiful imagery throughout, especially the descriptions of the different locations Kei and Hana visit.
Tomato: Kei falls for Hana so fast it made me want to smack him. If a person I’d just meant started throwing out big sacrifices and big declarations that quickly, it would be a huge red flag, not a turn on.
Bread: I did, however, actually enjoy Hana and Kei’s chemistry after they’d been together for a while adventuring. I wish we’d grown to that organically instead of Kei being all in from moment one.
Lettuce: Speaking of love, the love triangle aspect was- it was there! It sure was. I really wish Haruto had also only seen Hana as a friend, which would keep the whole love vs duty, choice vs stability thing without adding a layer of strangeness and (honestly to me) ickiness. We could have gotten to know him beyond his infatuation with her! Within all the whimsy of the world, it did strike me that Hana has no platonic friends. That’s part of her growing up, intentional to the story, but I hate that the only two possible friends she has are both deeply in love with her. That’s tragic, and Hana’s back story is meant to be tragic, but this aspect of it just felt overlooked.
That’s it! That’s the thing that bothered me! This is a mommy issues book that has a lack of women talking to each other in meaningful ways. I still enjoyed it- this isn’t me “cancelling” Water Moon by any stretch- I just finally put a finger on what was bothering me! Anyway, back to compliment sandwiching-
Bread: Super readable. I’m an anxious flyer and I was able to read it on a plane, which is a big deal. The story kept moving and although the descriptions could be long, they never weighed down the reading experience- they felt just as engaging as the plot.
Bacon: One writing critique- so many chapters ended with the same button, in the vein of:
H: “We’re not going to ride horses.”
K: “then how are we getting there?”
H: “We’re going to fly horses.”
I made this one up, but they’re all in that format. First time, I groaned a little but carried on. However, the format kept coming back- I know ending scenes is hard, but using the same button format over and over was frustrating (and a little silly).
Bread: I actually liked that Hana sort of sucked sometimes? She’s deeply self-critical in the way of many a YA heroine, but she’s actually allowed in the narrative to make BIG mistakes and truly have reasons she feels guilty that aren’t silly or misunderstandings. I wish we’d grappled with one of those mistakes more (see below on the ending) but I really liked that Hana was allowed to be so messy. I’m not sure I like her, but I really liked her role in the story, if that makes sense, and I think that’s more important.
Bonus round (chips I guess? I’ve lost the structure…)-
Annoyances: Titanic lies, the never quite said but very much felt implication that having biological children is a necessary part of happiness, ending too pat
Things that were great: Keishin being a huge nerd, the book being unabashed in its mommy-issues-ness (props for owning it), the descriptions of/love for both legit restaurant ramen and the cheap nasty (yummy) microwaveable kind, layered use/symbolism for both paper and ink within a book made of paper and ink.

Finally- the ending- that implications of the last pair of twists was not really explored, and I know that with the whole magical realism thing, I should let that slide, but in other places, the story didn’t bump up against its own internal logic so aggressively. It was just a lot to swallow that got brushed over very quickly to lead to a too neat ending- I think the ambiguity with the twists would have bothered me less if the ending, too, was ambiguous.

So- TLDR- lots of conflicting feelings, but a lyrically written atmospheric story that’s super readable, just not for me. I’m not mad I read it as it’s been interesting to think about both the ideas in the story and why it didn’t work for me, but I can’t say I liked it per se. I don’t know. I think I’ll pull quotes and make my quantum physicist friend read them, to see what fae thinks.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao feels like stepping into a Ghibli movie. It brims with fantastical concepts—a portal made of rain puddles, a museum of regrets, rumors as a mode of transportation, and a pawnshop where you can trade away your choices. I have to give it to the author for conjuring such imaginative world.

The worldbuilding is expansive yet accessible. It feels like our world but with an enchanting twist. Unlike some fantasy settings that demand intense focus to understand, this one is easy to immerse yourself in, which I really appreciated.

The plot is equally intriguing. Our FMC (female main character) works at her father’s unique pawnshop. The story kicks off as she takes over the shop, only for her father to vanish on her very first day. Enter a mysterious stranger, and the two are whisked away into a world where logic is turned on its head. The mystery at the heart of the story kept me hooked and thoroughly entertained.

That said, I had a couple of issues with the book. The writing leans heavily on telling rather than showing. There are moments where the FMC directly explains how things work, and I found myself wishing the author had let the narrative reveal these details more naturally.

The ending also left me a bit unsatisfied. While the time jump added an interesting twist, it felt abrupt and drained the story of its emotional impact. I couldn’t help but feel like something was missing, leaving me with a slight sense of disappointment.

I’m unsure how I feel about this one. I really enjoyed the writing style, and the plot and world are so interesting! On the other hand it felt like there was almost too much detail attached times, and things that were important to the story would be skipped over in favor of describing the wackiness of the world.

I also didn’t really care for Keishin all that much. I’m really not a fan of the insta-love trope, and this book is full of it. Keishin seems to fall in love with Hana from the moment they meet, and I just prefer more of a slow burn romance that’s properly built up over time. I probably would’ve enjoyed this book a whole lot more if it was just Hana exploring her world and attempting to find her dad.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Water Moon is undoubtedly one of the most MAGICAL books I've ever read. You enter a fantasy world via a magical pawnshop where the customers can pawn off choices they regret. But just when you think you've gotten the rules of the world nailed down, you turn the page and it expands. If you've ever attended an immersive art exhibit where projection art bathes you in stunning and varied displays from room to room, that's what you can expect from this book. Each chapter is like a beautifully crafted world of its own, the creativity is off the charts!

The plot is exciting and propulsive: Hana's father has gone missing. You'll follow along on her dangerous adventure for answers. But as she warns time and time again, all is not as it seems.

I LOVED this. It was breathtaking and moving. I even cried.

My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey for this eARC!

I truly am at a loss for words. This was a beautiful novel and one of my favorite reads this year. The simple concept of the possibility of trading choices and regrets for a life unburdened drew me in. Samantha Sotto Yambao took this simple concept and transformed it into a whimsical, heartfelt, beautiful journey about the consequences of such a choice. The amount of depth that was written into this plot is enough to drown you.

The multiple POVs were done perfectly. The prose is eloquent. The characters were brilliant. I can't think of a single thing that I didn't like about this book.

This is one of those books that as I read, I thought about how it would be amazing to make into a movie or a show (mostly because the magical aspect reminds you of a Miyazaki film). However, no amount of concrete visuals could do this story justice. The author paints such an explicitly vivid illustration of the world through her words and the depth of that beauty, I think, can only reach it's full potential in the mind of the reader.

Absolute gem of a story.

Final Rating: 3.5

First, the writing in this book is gorgeous and it's so whimsical! I do have this issue though with writing like this, although its beautiful it tends to keep the reader at arms length and I never felt like I was really IN this book. You know how sometimes you can tell you're reading a book, and sometimes you're so into it you forget everything going on around you? With this one I definitely felt like I was reading a book rather than existing within the story.

I found the world to be really interesting and I enjoyed exploring it. That said, I found this book to be simultaneously too slow but also we didn't spend enough time in any of the locations for me to feel connected to anything. After a while, things did become a bit repetitive - visit one location then the bad guys show up, run to a new location and repeat. I didn't really care for the romance aspect, and I don't think it really added anything to the book for these two characters to instantly fall in love with each other. I also never really felt like I knew who Hana and Keishin were.

I found the last 1/3 of the book to be the most interesting, as we got more answers to things and everything came to a close, but I don't think my enjoyment of that last bit and the gorgeous writing was enough for me to love this book, sadly. I do think this is going to be a big hit with a lot of people, but for me it was fine.

This deeply emotional novel read like the best of Studio Ghibli films. Yes it was funny and fantastic with a host of unusual creatures in uncanny locations. The portal fantasy style let the main characters hop between scenes constantly. But Water Moon was also deeply concerned with identity and connection. What did it mean to belong to a world, or to the people that inhabited it? Is your life predestined or self-determined? I was hooked by this book and could not put it down. Slightly terrifying but totally dreamy, Water Moon will be living in my brain next to the likes of Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle.

Hana's father has been preparing her for the day when she will take over the family business. They own a pawn shop that trades in mistakes and regrets and it's finally time for Hana to be in charge.
That first morning, she wakes up to find the shop destroyed and her father missing. To top it all off, her first customer come waltzing right in. Hana needs to find her father, help this new person, and keep out of reach of the Shiikuin (the magical, mechanical entities in charge of the realm).

Water Moon is a story I want to read again for first time— it’s damn near perfect. The world is whimsical and unique, the plot is engaging and the characters are like able.

I love this world of magical origami and transportation puddles. There was never a dull moment, and luckily, the story did not go in the direction I initially thought it would.
In hindsight, the ending actually isn't all that surprising but I didn't predict it and it was completely satisfying.

I loved this book so much that I preordered a special edition from Satisfiction book box.


I was given an advanced copy for review, all thoughts are entirely my own. Thank you Del Rey and NetGalley for the opportunity.

Name of the publication/blog/outlet where your review will be published/posted: Instagram
Run date for when the review will be posted/published: 12/28/24
A link to your review, if available, so the publisher can share your review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEIjxppvIgM/


Hana owns a pawnshop in a world not too far from our own. The clients who find themselves suddenly in the pawnshop sell her a regret to release before going back to our world. When an unexpected break-in happens right before a new customer named Kei comes in, she has to make a choice that will lead them both into a winding mystical adventure to uncover family secrets.

This was such an interesting and fresh read! It had vibes of magical realism, Studio Ghibli, and Everything, Everywhere, All at Once. The worlds were Japan-centric with brief mentions of the West, which I really enjoyed. There were twists I didn't expect along the way. The magical elements gave moments of coziness that mixed in with moments of darker mystery. I really enjoyed this read and would recommend to those who love East Asian inspired magical realism books like "Before the Coffee Gets Cold."

“I have found beauty in all manner of broken things. Chairs. Buildings. People… Especially people. They shatter in the most fascinating ways. Every dent, scratch, and crack tells a story. Invisible scars hide the deepest wounds and are the most interesting.”

A book about the choices we make and the regrets we face, Water Moon tells a story that is both whimsical and contemplative. We are taken on a journey where nothing is as it seems and the scientific principles of our world don’t apply.


Some things I loved:

🌊 So much of the book felt like a Ghibli-themed dreamscape, where everything (even moments of danger) seems to take on a fantastical and illusory quality. The descriptions were vivid, and it really drew on the differences of the parallel worlds.

🌙 While whimsical in tone, the book really makes the reader reflect on the nature of choice. So many decisions are taken for granted, and we can see how even some of the tiniest ones can have a huge impact on our lives.

🌊 The world building was so unique, and I know I touched on the dreamlike quality, but the world itself, with all of its customs and rules, was quite interesting on top of that.


Some things I wished:

🌙 Some of the plot points, especially toward the end, happen off page. I wish we’d gotten a bit more of how and why things worked out the way they did.

🌊 There are so many gorgeous places we explore through the book, and some of them, I would have liked to explore a bit more. It felt like, at times, we were rushed out of a scene so quickly that we weren’t able to take it all in. Though… I will say this did add to the illusory feel of the world!

🌙 The relationship felt a bit insta-love-ish. I understood their connection for sure, but the love aspect felt way too quick.


Overall I really enjoyed the book. Though there is definitely some danger and mystery and adventure, the storytelling made it feel more fanciful in tone. I kind of liken it to the vibes of Stardust, with some Ghibli whimsicality sprinkled on top. If you’re a dreamer or lover of quieter tales, this one is for you!

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Random House for the advanced copy!

What an entirely unique book—from the premise to the world, I was hooked from the first page. Water Moon was mesmerizing and dazzling, and I absolutely agree with the Studio Ghibli connections folks are drawing. I honestly reccomend going in blind, so I’m going to keep this review short: read this book.

Alongside the praises I’m singing, I do have two gripes. I wish the pacing would have been a hair slower—I would have appreciated a bit more descriptions of the incredible world and people we were meeting. I also had a negative taste in my mouth about a reveal at the end but I won’t go into it here to avoid any spoilers.

TYSM to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC, I can’t wait for my physical copy to arrive!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for the opportunity to read and review Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yamboa. All opinions are my own.

The premise for Water Moon was intriguing to me as something I had not read before and wanted to give a try. A young woman and her father run a pawnshop in an alternate world that handles peoples regrets. Not long after the book begins her father disappears on the same day a handsome stranger finds himself in the pawnshop as a possible customer. The remainder of the book is part romance, part adventure trying to find her father. It is true that you will definitely get the same vibes of "When the Coffee Gets Cold." Unfortunately, for the life of me I could not get involved in this story. As you can see from the reviews, there are lots of 4 and 5 stars, many individuals love this book. Again, unfortunately, I DNFed it at 53%. I found it kind of boring. Even though this book is not for me it will be for many others. Water Moon will be available January 14th at all major book retailers. Happy Readings!

This is definitely the most whimsical book I have ever read. I was very intrigued with the storyline and the writing style and every element felt like it was coming out of a dream. That being said, and while I was down for the ride for a while, the whimsey did get old. It felt like there was nothing concreate to lead the story along and it relied only on the fantastical elements. I felt that same way about the characters, that even though we learn a certain amount of information about them, because they are so rooted in whimsey they do not feel real and therefore are detached and I was unable to connect with them.

I'm super disappointed because I really thought I was going to love this, the endless journey with task after task to complete did just happen to get old. It still is a three star read because I did enjoy it for the most part, and it felt like I was watching a Studio Ghibli film, it was just not something that will stick with me or I will want to return to.

I would still absolutely recommend these to people who are fans of Studio Ghibli and who want a true escapism filled, fantastical and nonsensical novel. Fantasy at it base form, but missing a lot of key elements to really make it super strong.

I left the novel with answers but still feeling unsatisfied. However, this is a novel I would love to explore more of if there was ever a sequel.

Reading Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao felt like stepping into the enchanting world of a Studio Ghibli film—lush with magic, mystery, and heart. The imagery and atmosphere were so vivid that I wanted to immerse myself in a Ghibli marathon just to relive the same whimsical feelings.

The story follows Hana Ishikawa as she takes over her family’s extraordinary pawnshop—a place where people can sell their regrets. Hidden and accessible only to those who truly need it, the pawnshop becomes the setting for a deeply personal and magical adventure. On the day Hana assumes responsibility for the shop, her world turns upside down when it is ransacked, her father vanishes, and Keishin, a physicist, arrives, setting the stage for a thrilling journey to uncover her father's fate.

The worldbuilding in Water Moon is nothing short of breathtaking. I’ve always been captivated by stories set in Japan, and this book elevated that fascination by weaving in an alternate world that felt both familiar and utterly surreal. As the characters frequently note, nothing is quite as it seems, and that sense of wonder permeates every page.

The characters, too, were a highlight. I found myself deeply invested in their journeys and felt a surprising sense of healing through their experiences. This book arrived in my life at just the right moment, sweeping me away when I needed an escape most.

On a personal note, I couldn’t help but wonder if I would sell my own regrets. Even after reading this, I’m tempted—it might just be worth it.

My only minor critique is that some parts, particularly toward the end, felt a bit confusing. The transitions between events, especially during the time jumps, were occasionally hard to follow. However, I suspect this may have more to do with the whimsical, otherworldly nature of the story than any flaw in the writing. My rigid reading style sometimes struggled to keep up with the fluidity of the narrative.

Overall, Water Moon is a stunning, twist-filled journey that will leave you enchanted. I loved every moment, and I only wish there had been more exploration of the “in-between” spaces during the final chapters. Highly recommended for anyone who loves magical realism, heartwarming tales, and stories that transport you to another world.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for allowing me to read the eARC in exchange for an honest review~

NOTE: Retail reviews will be published on publication date~