This is the fifth book in Kawaguchi's series Before the Coffee Gets Cold, and as with the others I felt at home and familiar with the way the stories were poured out in cups like the previous ones. What was new for me was that I was a little jaded with it all and had to pull myself together and focus. That kind of effort is a tad troubling, taking it down from 4 stars.

The four stories presented were good, but the divorce one was . . .rather tiresome. Having gone through that experience I read more defensively than someone who hasn't - perhaps. So that may just be a me problem. My favorite story was the last one. . .about friends mending fences, facing regrets and trying to face them up and heal the hurts. There's not enough of that in this world.

*A sincere thank you to Toshikazu Kawaguchi, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review. #BeforeWeForgetKindness #NetGalley

These books always seem to tear at my heartstrings and by the end mend them. I love returning to these magical cafe's and see the stories of the patrons and staff, this book was no exception. The stories are such a great reflection of the complexities from life, from grief to new beginnings. I always appreciate each new tale, and am so looking forward to when everything comes all together, and full circle.

Before We Forget Kindness (Book 5) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi continues the beloved Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, offering readers a deep dive into the poignant moments of people's lives, all centered around the mysterious café that allows customers to travel back in time. As always, the café’s rules are strict: you must return before your coffee goes cold, a ticking clock that adds tension to each heartfelt journey.

In this fifth installment, four new visitors come seeking answers and closure, from a father struggling with his daughter’s marriage, to a wife carrying a nameless child. Each character's story is tender and relatable, with their desires for reconciliation and healing at the forefront. Kawaguchi’s writing maintains its gentle, reflective tone, capturing the delicate nature of human emotions—grief, love, regret—and the subtle beauty of second chances.

What makes this book stand out is its ability to balance nostalgia and hope. It’s a story of personal growth, where the past, though painful, is ultimately something we can learn to let go of in order to move forward. The way Kawaguchi brings his characters’ desires to life within the café’s confined space gives the book a cozy, almost magical feel, while exploring the universal theme of how small acts of kindness can create monumental changes in our lives.

Fans of the series will find Before We Forget Kindness just as captivating as its predecessors, and for newcomers, it serves as a touching introduction to the series’ quiet magic. It’s a reminder that sometimes, we must revisit our past to embrace the future fully.

This whole series is very moving and this book is no exception. I love the crumbs and connections between the cafe and all the characters. I did get lost in certain parts of the book but overall, I enjoyed!! I think this might be the saddest out of the whole series. IFYKYK

I’m honestly kind of ambivalent on this series, but despite that this one flew by... in a good way? It’s still very formulaic - someone comes to do the temporary time travel thing to talk to someone who, generally, is dead at that point, but there were a few twists this time that freshened up the formula a little.

Also, I was excited to finally get a location of the cafe - in Jimbocho!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for review!

someone PLEASE tell me why I keep reading these books when they're utterly devastating. anyway, this book was just as good as the other installments, and I will continue to hurt myself by reading them.

This was a really moving novel, I enjoyed it a lot. I found I sometimes had a difficult time keeping track of the characters, but it never pulled me completely out of the story. Thank you NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for this ARC!

I appreciated the familiar warmth of the café and the recurring themes of forgiveness and human connection. While the message about the importance of kindness was touching, I found this installment didn’t quite reach the emotional depth of the earlier books. Some character arcs felt a bit repetitive, and the pacing was slower than I’d hoped, making it harder to stay fully engaged. Still, your ability to explore quiet moments of reflection in such a unique setting remains admirable.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I think like others have said, the fifth book lost some of the initial feeling-like-I-was-just-kicked-in-the-chest momentum from being confronted with such a raw and honest view of grief, but I think this was also beautiful in its own way. Definitely worth the read, especially if this is a series you have been following through to this point.

This book was a beautiful addition to the series. We got to see more of the characters we have come to love and it felt like a hug in a time of grief. I highly recommend!

This series has been one of my favorites for a few years now. The way the characters weave together in the cafe always warms my heart. I could read a hundred more books in this series!

I think my favorite thing about this series is that it’s reliable. You know what you’re getting and you know it’s going to be good. I wouldn’t suggest reading all these at once, it’s absolutely the type of series you read and savor as it comes out. Delightful every time!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This series always gets me, and this was a cozy addition to the series. The story of the father and daughter who travel to meet each other to talk really tugged on my heart strings. My father and I have a good relationship and this even had ME reflecting on how tough I was as a teenager and how I felt the need to thank him for all he has done for me and for my family and siblings. The boy who wanted to show his parents his smile also had me thinking about parent-child relationships and how thankless of a task parenting can be,

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are mine.

This was an unexpected read! It tugged my emotions and made me reflect on my own journey. The book follows four characters: a father who forbid his daughter ro marry , a woman eho missed out on valentines , a wife with a child and a boy with divorced parents. I cannot put to words what this book did.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion!

I have loved every story in this series so being approved to read this truly was a dream come true! As with the previous books, I absolutely loved the book and am deeply appreciative of the translators of the series for all they do. Honestly, the tears are all worth it!

I am a big fan of Kawaguchi's Before the Coffee Gets Cold series. This book is no different than the other 4 that came before it; same setting, same types of stories. If you liked any of the other books, you'll like this. If you didn't you wont.

I love the warmth and emotional depth of this series, and Before We Forget Kindness delivers more of what makes these books special. The time-travel café concept still works, and the stories hit hard—grief, regret, and healing wrapped in quiet, everyday moments. That said, by book five, the formula feels predictable. Still, it’s a comforting, heartfelt read that lingers after the coffee cools.

3.5 stars. I have only read the second book in this series and now this one. I enjoyed this read as a whole. I found the content to be enjoyable but was a little bit bored of the formatting as it was identical to the second book (and I assume the other books in this series). Overall, I like Kawaguchi's writing style and I find the way they write about characters and different circumstances to be heartwarming and fascinating. I get engrossed in every character's individual stories and like how the problems are explored and resolved. The characters' closure is satisfying to read about.

I do love this series so much, but I think it gets a bit challenging with long series where each book kind of holds similar plots, messages, etc. becomes quite formulaic and a little bit tiresome to read about after a while.

The first book hit me HARD. I adore that book. But now that I’m onto the fifth one, I feel like it’s lost some of that magic. However, there’s no doubt that the author is incredibly talented and gifted at weaving with touching stories together.

Which is why I’m gifting a solid 3.5 stars, rounded up. Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Before we forget kindness

A Novel

By: Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Book 5 of Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series

Publish Date: November 4, 2024

Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing/Hanover Square Press

General Fiction (Adult)/Sci Fi and Fantasy

#BeforeWeForgetKindness#NetGalley

200 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both NetGalley and Harlequin for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

I enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars. I am surprised that the author can keep coming up with unique ideas for the series. This one was a little harder hitting than the other four in the series. As usual there are four different stories. In the first story it is about a little boy who wants to go back to the time that his parents tell him they are separating. This is the first time that a child has wanted to go back. The second story is about a woman who has just delivered a child, and she wants to go back so her husband can the baby. The third story is about a father who wants to go back to amends with his daughter it is also about the daughter who goes back. The last story is about a friend who wants to go back to make amends with her best friend.

I am being really short on what happens in each part for a reason. I want you to read the book and feel the feelings that I felt when I read it.