The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen by Yuta Takahashi will be published February 4, 2025.

Heartbreaking short stories (all interconnected) of loss, grief and love. A delicious meal and the resident cat will bring you back in time to have one last meal and chat with a passed loved one. Kotoko loses her brother in a tragic way and she is told of a restaurant by the sea with a promised reunion that seems to good to be true.

I loved reading each chapter, their heartfelt encounters and their journey towards healing. As a Filipino, the act of offering food to lost loved ones is a familiar tradition so this was a comforting read in some ways. I particularly loved that there was a recipe shared at the end of each story.

Very reminiscent of stories from ‘Before the Coffee Gets Cold’ by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. If you’re fan, I would recommend this book for you.

I received a copy from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchanged for an honest review. All thought and opinions are my own.

Description
Your table awaits at the Chibineko Kitchen, where a soul-nourishing meal in the company of the resident kitten will transport you back in time to reunite with departed loved ones—for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and The Midnight Library.

In a remote seaside town outside of Tokyo, Kotoko makes her way along a seashell path, lured by whispers of an enigmatic restaurant whose kagezen, or traditional meals offered in remembrance of loved ones, promise a reunion with the departed. When a gust of wind lifts off her hat, she sees running after it a young man who looks like her recently deceased brother. But it’s not her brother; it’s Kai, the restaurant’s young chef, who returns her hat and brings her to the tiny establishment, where he introduces her to Chibi, the resident kitten, and serves her steaming bowls of simmered fish, rice, and miso soup—the exact meal her brother used to cook for her. As she takes her first delicious bite, the gulls outside fall silent, the air grows hazy, and Kotoko begins a magical journey of last chances and new beginnings.

The Chibineko Kitchen is a restaurant by the coast where people can order remembrance meals in hopes their loved ones may appear. If you read and enjoyed Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, you will enjoy this third person Japanese novel. This novel center grief and the loved ones left behind submerge in grief and mourning their loved ones.
I would like to thank the publisher PENGUIN GROUP Viking Penguin | Penguin Books, and the author Yuta Takahashi, and NetGalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Great for fans of Japanese translated fiction like "The Kamogawa Food Detectives", this was a sweet, fast-paced collection of interwoven storylines. Each character has lost someone and is looking for closure, and the magical nature of the remembrance meals at Chibineko Kitchen grants it to them. Like a cozy mystery, each chapter ends with a relevant recipe. Really appreciated this addition, as international dishes can be hard to imagine based on names alone and having a sense of the ingredients and preparation is helpful. There were also good explanations of Japanese mourning, burial, and remembrance traditions, which is helpful in understanding the nature of the Kitchen in the first place. The translation was well done, and - this is always the real question with translated Japanese fiction - YES, there is actually a cat!

CWs - Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Bullying, Infertility, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts

The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen is an incredibly cozy read that simultaneously deals with grief in a beautiful way. Reminiscent of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, guests of the Chibineko Kitchen are served a remembrance meal that connects them with the tribute that has moved on to the next world while the meal is still steaming.

I do wish the concept of the steam and warmth of the food was a little different than how the magic works in Before the Coffee Gets Cold, but I do think this story differs enough to be a great work on its own merit. The settings are described beautifully and puts you right into Tokyo and the prefectures included. I loved the character development we were a part of and this sets up the world for a great series.

I would recommend this quick read to anyone that love Japanese culture, slice of life stories, and anyone who needs comforting after someone important to them has passed.

Thank you to Viking Penguin for the advance copy for review!

The book is about the Chibineko Kitchen that serves remembrance meals. It is said that during a remembrance meal you may see or hear a deceased loved one. We start off following Tokoto who is grieving the loss of her brother. She is told by a brother’s friend to visit Chibineko Kitchen. There she sees her brother and decides to go into acting. We then follow Taiji who visits the Chibineko kitchen after finding out that his school friend has passed away. At the kitchen he speaks to the classmate and apologizes for treating her poorly. We then go back to Tokoto as she embarks on a journey to give Kai, the Chibineko Kitchen’s owners son a remembrance meal.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I loved the addition of the various cats in this novel and the idea of seeing your loved ones one last time.

Such a sweet book of stories that are quite touching and a reminder of how fleeting life really is. As a huge fan of “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” and “Midnight Library” I definitely want more!
Thanks to Viking Penguin and Goodreads for the advance copy for review!

Four sweet stories make up this whole book. Kotoko who lost her brother, Taiji who lost his friend, Yuito who lost his wife and Kai whose mother just passed away. Each experiences something special when they visit the cafe for a temperance meal.

This book was an interesting read with all of the characters impacted by grief - I was on the edge of tears multiple times. As the story moved along it was interesting to hear more of the history of the Kitchen.

I loved cozy, heartwarming read! If you’re a fan of Japanese fiction, cats, and a little touch of magic, this is definitely a book you need to pick up. I saw a review asking if we really need another Japanese translated book about cats. And to that, I say: Yes. Yes, we do. We need them all.

This book gave me similar vibes to Kamogawa Food Detectives and We Will Prescribe You a Cat, but it also manages to stand on its own with its unique charm. Set in Chiba, the Chibineko Kitchen is a restaurant that offers a very special service: personalized and meaningful remembrance meals for those looking to reconnect with loved ones who have passed. The restaurant’s adorable white and ginger kitten mascot, who always seems to understand exactly what’s going on, is a heartwarming touch.

Did I mention the book has recipes? As a foodie, this really delighted me. The recipes are authentic, delicious Japanese dishes that made me want to run to the kitchen and try them out myself.

The story is told through four interwoven tales, each focusing on different individuals coming to the restaurant for their own reasons. I loved how the ages of the characters vary...ranging from a high school student to an elderly man—reminding us that grief affects us all, no matter our stage in life. The episodic structure was a lot of fun, and I’m really hoping the developing romance between Kai and Kotoko continues in future installments.

On a personal note, this book hit me hard in the best way. Having lost my dad about eight years ago, I would give anything to have one last meal with him and be able to talk to him again. The theme of grief and remembering loved ones really resonated with me, and I think it’ll touch the hearts of anyone who’s experienced loss.

If the recipes don’t pull you in, the cozy, heartwarming vibes definitely will. This book was the escape I needed, and I can’t recommend it enough for anyone looking for something sweet, magical, and filled with heart.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

In the midst of great loss, a simple meal (kagezan) leads to healing for four grieving people. Throughout is the presence of the Chibineko Kitchen and the sweet kitten (Chibi) that lives there.

Here are four things I loved about this book:

🐈Each of the four chapters includes at least one cat. I do love the way the Japanese appreciate their cats.
🍜A recipe is included with each chapter. The one that I found most intriguing was the Easy Omelette Sandwich.
📚While there is a new person grieving in each chapter, the four stories are tied together by recurring characters like Kotoko (grieving for her brother in the first chapter) and Kai (the son of the Chibineko Kitchen owner).
🍵The magical realism allows the person left in this world to briefly communicate with a dead loved one -- while the meal is still steaming. I'm sure we all would love to have one last conversation with those we have lost and it is satisfying to see the relief that results.

Looks like this is the first in a series and I will be on the lookout for Book #2. Thank you to Penguin Books and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is super short, with interconnected stories. It’s deeply lovely, with stories of loss and grief. There’s a cute cat, which brought me joy, and a couple of characters that we get to know. This is the first of a series and I’m intrigued about how the future books will create connection through the stories.

This was an absolutely beautiful book. What a fantastic way to deal with grief and loss.

I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

First of all, the cover is top-notch; honestly, that is what drove me to request it. The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen was written with such care for each character's story. It was like multiple stories within one book that were all accidentally, perfectly connected. The scenes were beautifully set, with descriptive and vivid wording. The attention paid to creating the world and the characters were excellent. I felt like I was walking up to the restaurant and reading the A-frame chalkboard myself.

The story that pulled tears from my eyes was the old man, oh, to be loved so ferociously. Honestly, all of the stories pulled me down into an emotional puddle.....UGH! SO GOOD.

At the end of the book, it is so touching to understand how the quaint spot came to be and Kai's conflict regarding the future of the restaurant.

This little book really packed a punch! Yuta Takahashi will be an author that I will look for from here on out. And thank you for the recipes that are printed throughout the book; what a beautiful touch.

Who would you choose to have a remembrance meal with at this cozy little place?

Thank you immensely to Netgalley, PENGUIN GROUP Viking Penguin | Penguin Books, and Yuta Takahashi for the ARC of this beautiful book.

4⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you've ever lost a loved one and wished you could see them just one last time, this book is for you. If you enjoyed “Before the Coffee Gets Cold,” this is a book you want to read.

“The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen” is set against a sea in Japan in an inconspicuous restaurant. The restaurant kitchen serves “rememberence meals” that allow their customers to see and speak to their loved one a final time, but only while the meal remains hot.

Any questions, regrets, or sentiments that have haunted restaurant patrons can be released at the Chibineko Kitchen.The book is divided into four connected mini-stories, which made it really easy and quick to read.

I enjoyed this novel a lot. I couldn't put it down and was excited to pick it back up each time. It surprised me how relatable all the characters felt and how much empathy the author causes you to feel for them. If you enjoy reflective literary fiction, give this book a chance.

“The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen” releases this Tuesday, February 4. Thank you to Penguin Books and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Chibineko Kitchen is a small mysterious restaurant located in a seaside town just outside of Tokyo. Open only for breakfast, the kitchen will serve up a kagezen (a remembrance meal) to a heartbroken customer and potentially provide a magical opportunity to find solace and healing.

This is a heartwarming story about love, grief and food (and the memories food can bring). Through interconnecting short stories, it is a reminder that life is fragile. We often don’t realize how the time we have with family and friends may be cut short at any moment. The novella does a great job at portraying the stagnant feel of grief while still being comforting and hopeful. Personally I would have enjoyed it even more if the story was a bit longer and took a deeper dive into the subject material for greater emotional investment. It was a very quick read! I loved the magic of the restaurant, the kindness of the characters, and the cute restaurant cat. It was a fascinating experience to be so sad for the characters but also salivating at the food descriptions. I loved that it included recipes at the end of each segment. Readers who enjoyed Before the Coffee Gets Cold and The Kamogawa Food Detectives will also enjoy this one. Thank you to NetGalley for this heartfelt ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen by Yūta Takahashi - Japanese Literature // A small collection of interconnected stories that share tales of the nourishment in a small seaside café in Chiba prefecture. // ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ // ARC

🐈Charming, heart-warming, healing stories
🐈So beautifully relatable for anyone that’s exp loss
🐈Portrays the cultural & spiritual comforts that food can provide
🐈Sweet themes of love, friendship, family, & the goodness of people
🐈Can be quite emotional at times while being cathartic & tender
🐈Short & easy to read in a single sitting or day
🐈Excellent translation
🐈Lovely exhibition of Buddhist beliefs of impermanence & the constant changing or evolution of a person’s soul & spirit

Oh man, the first chapter had me bawling! I loved the concept, I loved the execution. This is so good and the length was perfect for what it is! And I loved the recipes at the end of each chapter.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin books for my copy of The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen by Yuta Takahashi in exchange for an honest review. It publishes February 4, 2025.
I loved this little slice-of-life magical realism story. I’ve come to really appreciate these translated books, and highly recommend for an emotion, yet refreshing read. I love the scenery, the food, the heart.
You will leave this with your heart warmed and your stomach hungry!

Those who are familiar with Japanese literature would know what to expect from The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen, which is filled with short stories that connect to one another.

The Chibineko Kitchen is a small restaurant that offers remembrance meals, or kagezen, which is a meal that is offered for the deceased. In this book, the restaurant has some sort of magic which actually allows the customer to reunite with the deceased who they are offering the meal for, and have one last conversation. As a bonus, the restaurant has a cat!

As someone who loves this genre, I would say this is not my favourite. It is filled with touching, heartfelt stories, but recently there have been so many good books released with similar concepts, such as The Restaurant of Lost Recipes and The Lantern of Lost Memories.

If you're a fan of Japanese literature, I would recommend this book. However, if you are not familiar with it, this should not be the first book you read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

By the sea, there is a restaurant. A restaurant where you can say a final goodbye to a lost loved one, through a remembrance meal.

This style of Japanese fabulism, examining the interconnected nature of food, family, memory, & grief is fast becoming a favorite of mine. The Kamogawa Food Detectives and its sequel were two of my favorite books in the last couple years. And here we get another lovely example of connected short stories all dealing with a unique grief, but griefs that are so relatable and poignant even in their brevity.

And the characters! This little novella did such a remarkable job making the characters feel unique and have depth in such a short time. I would have happily read 600 more pages of this.

There’s also recipes that I cannot wait to dive into. But this also made me want to dig out some old family recipes and cook something my grandmother used to make.

Many thanks to both NetGalley and Penguin Group for the opportunity to review this arc.

This story centers on a restaurant in a small, remote seaside town in Chiba Prefecture, called The Chibeneko Kitchen. Customers who eat remembrance meals (kagezen) in honor of deceased loved ones often report seeing their loved ones one last time, for a final farewell and closure. Kotoko Niki first visits the restaurant after her brother's death, and is able to come to terms with her loss. There are several more, slightly connected stories of other customers to the restaurant that follow this.

This was a gentle read, emotional and bittersweet, but also therapeutic and healing. The chapters are intertwined and include recipes at the end of each. The writing is simple and the book is short, making it a perfect palate cleanser for someone in the mood for a restorative read. Recommended for fans of The Kamogawa Food Detectives or Before the Coffee Gets Cold.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is very similar to before the coffee gets cold. I did enjoy that series and thought it was very unique. So this is not a very original idea but the story was cute.