Water Moon truly shines in two remarkable ways: its vivid imagery and its extremely unique premise. Yambao takes you on a whimsical and fantastical journey through puddles, ponds, rumors, paper cranes, and more. The themes of choices, regrets, and self-discovery hit hard and leave a lasting impression. I loved how everything in this parallel world just doesn’t make sense in our own world. The originality and creative vision of Yambao's world was astonishing. Some parts of the world were so beautifully written, which is why I enjoyed the book so much. The atmospheric writing was spot on.

Here are some thought-provoking quotes I loved:
“Time is a subject that physicists love to debate. I have colleagues who can go on for hours arguing whether or not it exists, or if it increases or decreases.”
“Happiness does not exist in a place. It lives in every breath we take.”
“The only motives and actions I am responsible for are my own. How people choose to respond to that is their problem.”

However, the journey itself felt tedious. The mystery that needed solving was not that interesting, making it hard for me to stay invested the whole time because I wasn’t made to care enough about the people involved. I wish we could have gotten to know the characters better. Plus, some things were just too conveniently placed, appearing just when the characters needed them. Everything felt a little too perfectly placed, making the story seem more like a string of events rather than a smooth narrative.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this book because of the beautiful world-building and atmospheric writing. I also loved how the book ended. If atmospheric writing is your jam, definitely read this book.

I had such a good time with this book! It takes a fascinating concept- a pawnshop that buys regrets- and turns into a quest for a stolen a choice and a missing father. I love the ideas and imagery in this book- songs that turn into boats, paper cranes that hold mistakes, falling through a well into a memory, foxes made of sand. I also loved how the book explores missed possibilities and regret—and the way we can let ourselves get weighed down by what might have been.

I went into this thinking it was going to be a mystery with fantasy elements, but I was instead taken to a kind of atmospheric parallel universe. I thought the author did a wonderful job with the world-building and how everything that works in this place shouldn’t make sense in ours. As the mystery of what happened to her father unfolds, the more inexplicable (in a good way) the elements become.

One thing I wished though was that we could get to know the characters better. I figured there was supposed to be an air of mystery surrounding them and their motives, but I think it could’ve helped develop their relationship more rather than it be an instant attraction.

I loved this overall, I couldn’t believe it when I reached the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

In the spirit of Everything, Everywhere, All at Once, this novel requires multiple readings to sort it out in your mind. A cross between magical realism and all-out fantasy, a young woman is set to inherit a pawn shop from her father where you can trade your memories for magical tea. She knows she should not leave the pawn shop unattended, but when her father disappears, she feels she needs to find him. With the help of a young man who shows up at the pawns shop, she sets out on a mystical journey to find both her father and her mother, both assumed to be dead, but she knows it's not true. A little like Alice in Wonderland, she encounters many kinds of beings, some that want to control her life. It's a bit of a coming-of-age story, but in an extraordinary way. I'm still pondering the Matrix-like reality or lack thereof. If you like the stories I've mentioned, you'll be drawn into this magical/mystical tale.

I really liked this books beginning. I thought it was such an interesting idea, and it left me with so many questions.

Unfortunately, as the book continued I didn’t feel like my questions were being answered in a satisfying way.

There is romance in this book, and the two characters definitely seem to just kind of stumble into each other and commit, but the romance is fast. There is chemistry between the characters, but I wish we could have had a strangers-to friends-to lovers. I really wanted to see these two develop as friends more first.

The strongest part of this book is the atmosphere and imagery. I enjoyed the way that the author showed the world around us, but I wish the plot was more involved.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Takes a bit to get into the magic system, but once you start to understand the world building and characters, it was a page-turner for me.
The writing was beautiful and the characters were well-written. Can't wait to read this with my book club!

Water Moon had an intriguing start with interesting family dynamics, a protagonist with a lot to live up to, and a mystery. Then it became a tedious journey of solving that mystery that’s actually not that interesting and which I was uninvested in because I didn’t learn enough or was made to care enough about the people involved in it. By the end, I was happy this story was over and didn’t care at all what had happened to our protagonist and her love interest.

There are really cool ideas in the book that I loved like a museum gallery full of choices that changed history or a beach with sand made up of lost time, but we’re not allowed to spend enough time in these scenes. Instead, we had to keep moving onto something else and it felt very much like “A to B to C” but the characters weren’t interesting enough to keep that momentum.

Another big problem I had with the book was the dialogue. There are modern references like the TARDIS, but the characters talk as if they’re not from our times. There’s also zero chemistry between the protagonist and love interest and I’m confused about what he was supposed to add to the story. If anything, he made it worse.

There’s a couple twists and turns in here, but I couldn’t really bring myself to care about them. Overall, Water Moon is a jumbled bag of beautiful ideas that were all put together haphazardly with characters I couldn’t care less about.

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This review will be published on my blog (clearsummers.wordpress.com) and Goodreads on December 30, 2024.

What if you had the choice to trade away one of your life's deepest regrets. Would you take it? This premise drew me in because who doesn't have regrets that they at time wish they could forget.

"the worst thing about choices is... having to live with them."

The world in this book is like living within a dream. I loved the magical whimsy that flowed throughout the story. Examples:
- traveling via song
- puddle transportation
- trading memories

Overall, this book was a quick and enjoyable read filled with whimsy, regret, choices, and love.

The book is essentially all about the vibes.

I am completely enamored by this beautiful story and the unique universe it explores. This was such a fun surprising world to get lost into and I enjoyed every moment of it. It was unexpected and I was hooked right away. Although not unheard of, the magic is unique and makes you think. I cannot stop sharing this book with my friends and would definitely buy this as a gift for them, thank you so much for my ARC netgalley!

I have never been into fantasy reads. This book did not change that for me. As much as I thoroughly enjoyed how well the author has written it, I still found it difficult to get myself into the world building and characters. If you are a fantasy reader, it may be different for you, so still give it a chance. Just not my thing

This books is magical and beautifully written. The worlds the author created are fascinating and atmospheric. I adored this book.

If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would!
This book reads like a song.
Once I started reading, I didn't want to stop. It was so easy to get right into the story and the more it unfolded, the more I wanted to know EVERYTHING.
I love the characters. I love the creativity.
I've never read a book like this. It's new and fascinating and unique yet reminded me of a studio ghibli movie wrapped in words. I loved and appreciated the mention of studio ghibli too!
The romance was perfection. Their romance was so sweet and bloomed so naturally within the story.
They were both challenged again and again, but the ending was perfection.
All the strings of the story were tied perfectly by the end, and it felt like absolute satisfaction; and yet I don't want it to be over!
I don't think I can properly express how I feel about this book. It feels much bigger than itself. It feels like it opens the door to an entirely new world- one you never want to leave.
I'm not sure l've ever describe a book as "perfect" ... before now.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

This is a fast-paced, whimsical, Ghibli-esque fantasy standalone with a magical pawnshop - what more can a girl ask for? I am genuinely so happy I was able to get a copy of this book.

The fantasy world is unique and the story provides beautiful, lavish imagery that I think makes it easy for the reader to get lost in it. If you liked the pretty cover, you will absolutely love the world tied to it.

The plot was surprisingly weighty and I didn’t expect there to be romance - but as a romance lover with a love for high stakes, I’m not mad about it. It had a perfect combination of whimsy and depth that made it a great read for me. Highly recommend!

Beautifully written with excellent world building! Personally not in the headspace for this right now and had to put this down. I really liked the set up and premise and I’m hoping to get back into it when I have more patience for the slowness of this

"Water Moon" by Samantha Sotto Yambao is an enchanting blend of fantasy and heartfelt storytelling. Set in Tokyo, the novel revolves around a mystical pawnshop that appears only to the lost, allowing them to pawn their regrets and life choices. Hana Ishikawa, the new shop owner, wakes to find the shop ransacked and her father missing. A charming stranger offers his help, and together they embark on a magical journey to recover the stolen item and find Hana's father.

The book shines with vivid imagery and a unique premise, taking readers through fantastical realms like rain puddles and night markets in the clouds. It explores themes of regret, choice, and self-discovery in a deeply moving way. However, the pacing can feel uneven at times, and the mix of fantasy and reality might not suit everyone's taste.

Overall, "Water Moon" is a beautifully written, thought-provoking read that offers both escapism and introspection. Highly recommended for those who love a good magical adventure with emotional depth.

On a backstreet in Tokyo lies a pawnshop, but not everyone can find it. Most will see a cozy ramen restaurant. Only the chosen ones—those who are lost—will find a place to pawn their life choices and deepest regrets.

I was immediately captivated by the enchanting world of this fantasy novel, where a woman named Hana inherits a pawnshop that deals in regrets. On the day Hana is to officially take over, she finds the pawnshop destroyed and her father (the former owner) missing. At the worst possible time, in walks Minatozaki Keishin, a physicist and Hana’s first client. Despite the chaos around her, Keishin willingly offers to help. This world is not his, and many won’t take kindly to his presence. Together, they embark on an adventure through her mystical world, using amazing methods of travel, as they both seek to find the truth to the questions they have.

The worldbuilding is nothing short of magical, with vivid and intricate details that bring every aspect of the story to life. The concept of a pawnshop for regrets is unique and fascinating, creating a world where every choice and regret can be physically exchanged. Its universal themes and brilliant execution make it a must-read for anyone who enjoys thought-provoking stories, Studio Ghibli movies, or fantasy novels.

The dual perspective between Hana and Minatozaki Keishin adds a beautiful layer to the story. The seamless transition between their viewpoints made it easy to read and kept me deeply engaged. This narrative style allowed for a richer understanding of their journeys, making the story more compelling and emotionally resonant, especially in the last few chapters.

The blend of fantasy and philosophical questions is masterfully done, creating a story that is both engaging and deeply meaningful. I could honestly talk about this book for hours to everyone I know. The discussions of fate, choices, and regrets woven into this book were profound and thought-provoking. The portrayal of choices and regrets added significant depth to the story, making it much more impactful. Each character's journey and the consequences of their decisions prompted me to reflect on my own life choices.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to review this Novel. This novel has cemented itself as my favorite book so far this year. At times I didn’t want to even finish it because I was heartbroken it would be over! Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yamboa, releasing January 14th, 2025, is a must-read!

*An advanced digital copy was received from Netgalley in return for an honest review*

It's been a hot minute since I've read something that was contemporary fantasy and this book really felt like it helped me get more immersed in the genre again.

Starting off, the synopsis of a woman who inherits a pawn shop where you can sell your regrets immediately grabbed my attention. Upon originally reading the description I got the impression that the book would be very similar to the book Before the Coffee Gets Cold but this felt way more action packed and had very detailed world building.

Talking about world building, I was absolutely impressed with the world Yambao created. It was so fantastical and blew my mind at every turn. Some of the components of the world were very beautiful and poetic, and I think that's one of the reasons that I enjoyed the book so much. That being said, it did seem some things were conveniently placed, appearing just when the characters needed it. Everything felt a little too perfectly placed, and made the story seem more like just event after event happening rather than a cohesive narrative.

Regarding the characters, I enjoyed the dual perspective because it really helped develop the characters more. Hana was a little difficult for me to read at times, since her emotions seemed to arise suddenly without much build up. There was a very sudden abruptness to her main motivations, it felt like it all just happened and there was no hints in her chapters. Despite this, I was pleasantly surprised by the romance. There were a lot of romantic quotes and declarations that definitely made my heart flutter and added to the charm of the book.

I think overall I enjoyed this book because of the beautiful world building and intriguing story. It is a perfect book for fans of fantasy books and who want just a touch more magic in the ordinary.

This book gave Studio Ghibli, cozy vibes. I loved the fantasy/magical realism and the world building was everything. It felt very different and unique in the best way to anything I’ve read. I really enjoyed the authors writing.

The only thing I would say is I wish there would have been a little more description on certain characters as it was a little hard to picture them sometimes.

The cover of this book is also so cute! Can’t wait to add this book to my shelves.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for allowing me to read this eARC

Book Review Water Moon
Everyone comes to a book with a different understanding of the world. For me, I wasn't able to finish this book because many of the 'references' to Japanese culture were very on-the-nose. That's just it, they felt like references to give a japanese flair. Dialogue that had just one romanji of a Japanese word/phrase felt like the wrong choice. I think the whole line should commit to Japanese or English but not half and half--unless it is established early on that they are speaking English in the story and using Japanese titles intermittently. (But they are not as is established by Keishin's arrival)
She should have said "Arigato, Otou-san" not "Thank you, Otou-san" or just full English. Things like that felt unnatural. That is my main reason for not finishing at 25%.
It is hard to needle a book like this because I do love Japanese culture and the intentions behind the book...but ooing and aahing over "gyokuro tea" had me feeling like I was reading from a tourist perspective. Japanese culture is much deeper than otou-san, okaa-san, gyokurou tea and ramen shops. For this the story was not believable.

Although I liked the weaving aspect, it often wasn't clear when characters were falling into a past scene/memory. I had to go back a reread three different times. I would like to finish by complimenting the author's efforts. They write in lovely metaphors and the mood of this book is very dreamy. If you aren't picky about the things I mentioned before, this book could be for readers of cozy fiction and romantasy and stories inspired by Japanese mythology.

This book ended up blowing my mind. It started out slow – I thought it was going to be contemplation of regrets. It’s so much more fun. There is romance, a quest, adventure, origami, alternate realities and physics. There was lots of rooting for the characters and mind-bending thoughts to explore.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this DRC.
#WaterMoon #NetGalley