While very cute, I can say that this book is inaccurately labeled. It gave me a more middle-grade vibe, which is of no criticism to the book itself. I enjoyed it quite thoroughly and found it extremely cute. Definitely a worthy read, and I can determine just from reading this and Before the coffee gets cold that I love translated texts.

***ARC
Pub date: 04/08/2025

The Cat Who Saved The Library is a heartwarming and magical tale perfect for young readers who enjoy chapter books with a touch of fantasy. Through these whimsical quests, the novel beautifully explores the power of literature, the importance of human connection, Natsukawa’s writing is simple yet profound, making it an excellent choice for children who are starting to read longer books but still appreciate a magical, fairy-tale-like narrative.Highly recommended for kids who enjoy gentle fantasy with a meaningful message!

The Cat Who Saved The Library read more like a YA novel but still very cute and cozy. The first book had more of a clear direction with the grief being the storyline, this one lacked a bit.

I remember loving the first book, so I was so excited to see this available on NetGalley! This book is so perfect for the current political climate we're in. It handled serious topics in a very cozy and hopeful way that I just adore. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would!

I'm curious as to how my reaction to this book would've been had I read it before the current EVERYTHING.

However, reading it against the backdrop of well, EVERYTHING...this was poignant. It's a needed book but the ones who need it will never read it.

4.5 / 5.0

The Cat Who Saved the Library by Sosuke Natsukawa was a beautiful cozy adventure about grief and love. I read this over a long weekend trip and had time to read it a second time the following week. It is so poignant in its imagery, the main character such a complex and relatable soul. Metaphors abound and the different chapters could be interpreted as steps in the grieving process or mini episodes on an adventure to self-discovery. I recommend it highly.

Until Next Time,
MC

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.

A sophisticated and soulful sequel to The Cat Who Saved Books Sosuke Natsukawa’s The Cat Who Saved the Library presents a new cast of characters with some familiar faces and higher stakes than the predecessor. The book is also expertly translated by Louise Heal Kawai, same as the previous book, so it retains the same cadence, consistency, and warmth. However, this is a standalone story so you would be fine if you didn’t read the first one.

The story follows Nanami, a teenager who frequents her library and notices that many of her favorite books are missing one day. When she comes across a talking cat, she makes it her mission to track down the thief and restore the missing books, embarking on a journey of magic realism, friendship, and appreciation for literature.

I thought that the themes and allegory of this book were pretty profound and contemporary. The symbolism of book burning because of the ideas that it gives people reminds me of <i>Fahrenheit 451</i> as well as the movement to ban books, whereas the later decision to fill the world with meaningless, empty books without souls to drown out the ones that do makes me think of the misinformation that is prevalent to today’s world. Overall, a cozy but thoughtful read…plus the cat is more endearing in this sequel.

Thank you to HarperVia and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are independently my own.

<i><b>"Books teach you not to lose hope, not to feel alone. They teach you how to escape the flames and find a way out."</i></b>

the book starts off with Nanami, a teenager navigating the challenges of her illness, finds her escape and adventure in books. while her peers enjoy outdoor activities and social events, she loses herself in stories—until her favorite titles mysteriously vanish from the library. this discovery sets the stage for an enchanting journey that blurs the line between fantasy and reality. her companion on this quest is Tora, a clever, wise cat whose magical presence adds warmth and intrigue to the narrative. together, they uncover the truth behind the missing books, confronting a mysterious man in a gray suit. this antagonist symbolizes censorship and the misguided belief that books are dangerous and should be eliminated to "protect" society. through this, the novel explores the critical importance of literature—not just as entertainment but as a source of knowledge, reflection, and human connection.

the writing in this book is very straightforward and accessible, balancing lighthearted storytelling with thought-provoking moments. the story highlights how literature enriches our lives, warning of the cultural and personal loss that comes with neglecting it especially in today’s fast-paced world. while it has its shortcomings, it still succeeds in celebrating the enduring power of stories. this is such a cozy and magical tale, perfect for younger readers or anyone seeking an uplifting reminder of why books matter. despite its lighter approach, it’s a heartfelt call to protect and cherish the timeless magic of literature. this book was so meaningful to me. BOOKS saved my life when i was at my lowest; they have been my escape, my source of learning, and another way to travel to the world i would love to explore but, for now, cannot. they are a way to immerse myself in dramas, reflect on my own dilemmas, shape my decision-making, laugh, cry, and share with others how important reading is.

also, honorable mention to the cat. i wish we always had a "Tora" for many adventures to save reading and inspire those who are missing out, whether for education or entertainment.

amazing. super amazing read. thank you Harper Collins!

This is a story about a young girl who loves books and finds comfort in reading in part because she has severe asthma that limits her in everyday life. She discovers that some books have been going missing at her library and finds this mystery is tied to a talking cat.
I didn't read the first story in this series, The Cat Who Saved Books, so I wasn't already familiar with the cat or the bookshop owner, but the story still made sense as a self-contained work.
I wanted a lighthearted and fun time with a talking cat and a cute little girl and in part that's what I got, but there was also some very heavy-handed messaging about why the books were being stolen and destroyed and that went on for longer than I wanted. I am feeling conflicted about my review and final rating because the last conversation with the entity that tooks the books I actually found really interesting for a middle grade story, but it was not enough to redeem the whole book, and it also felt like quite a lot to discuss with a younger reader in mind.
I also really liked the relationship the girl had with her father.
Overall, this isn't quite what I wanted it to be.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for access to this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What childhood bibliophile wouldn’t want to be led through a magical portal to rescue missing books, especially when the obtuse grown-ups in charge can’t see there is something wrong?! The Cat Who Saved the Library is, in some ways, a love story to the enduring power of reading and the connections we make with books as readers. Unfortunately, this theme is overshadowed by quite a lot of philosophical moralizing. The first book felt more purposeful in direction on the theme of grief, but this book was a little less sure of it’s footing. I found the majority of the characters rather unlikable, including Nanami’s father and supposed best friend. The highlight of the story was when Rintaro, the protagonist from book one, shows up. I additionally struggled with the dissonance between how severely Nanami’s asthma is portrayed and the physicality of her role in the some of the climatic scenes. I struggled to get through this book and while it does have some hidden gems, and I’d talk all day about the necessity and power of books and libraries, The Cat Who Saved the Library just didn’t work for me.

This had that magic that I was hoping for from a sequel to the Cat Who Saved Books, it had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed the fantasy element to this. It was everything that I wanted and enjoyed the use of a talking cat. Sosuke Natsukawa wrote this perfectly again and was excited to get back to this world. It was everything that I hoped for and was glad I read this.

I read and loved The Cat Who Saved Books and was so excited to see this sequel out there. When books begin disappearing from the library, Nanami and Tiger the talking tabby cat are determined to save them and return them to their rightful place. On the plus side, this book talked about the importance of books of all kinds, and how harmful banning books is. It also addressed the power of imagination and how those at the top often forgo empathy in order to remain there.

On the negative side, this book felt so much more YA than the first book and also felt incredibly repetitive. Plus, the translation just felt off. It felt as if the translator was trying to mimic English which resulted in the conversations just feeling stilted and awkward - and I don’t recall that being the case from the first book. I’m hoping because this was an early copy that perhaps some of that will be cleaned up in the final version because the point of these books is such a needed, important one.

I liked this book!! I think I was expecting the book to be kind of like a hallmark movie where its cheesy and so very predictable. But i was wrong. It was a good book, had good emotion and feeling throughout! I enjoyed it!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I adore this trend of literature that's being translated to English that is slice-of-life meetings slightly magical and usually involves cats! This one is so reminiscent of a Miyazaki! I wish I'd know it was a sequel so I could have understood the bookstore references first, but it was so so good!

I love reading books about books and this one has a cat. This is the second book in the series. Highly recommend!

The second book in The Cat Who series focuses on Nanami, a young girl who spends most of her life in libraries and reading books due to her love of the written word and a medical condition that keeps her mostly inside. The Cat Who Saved the Library follows a similar plot line to the first book in the series. Our heroine notices books disappearing from her local library and when no one will take her seriously the tabby cat, Tiger, shows up to take Nanami on three magical adventures to save books. But while the first book focused on the isolation of grief, this book doesn’t seem to have as clear a direction for the story.

Nanami is isolated and slightly ostracized from her peers due to severe asthma, which keeps her from most physical exertion. Thus, she spends most of her time alone reading and values the adventures she finds in the written word above trying to have adventures herself. Her magical adventures to rescue stolen books with Tiger give the author an opportunity to expound on the danger to the written word in our society today. Each iteration of the foe she faces is a clear allegory to the dangers to the written word we see today - people have stopped reading themselves and instead just parrot whatever they are told, pulp books with no soul and meaning have overwhelmed and outpaced creation of meaningful works, etc. These moralizations resonate with any literature lover, but are stated in speeches between the characters so baldly, they become heavy handed and somewhat trite.

My favorite part of the book was the reappearance of Rintaro, the main character from the first novel. While not in the book very often, it was great to see him and his bookshop pop up again.

My last issue with this book was the asthma plot line. I grew up with severe asthma as a kid and it is just not that life limiting. If her asthma was that bad, her doctors should have given her better medications to manage it. This plot point often wrenched me out of the story as I scoffed out loud at the idea that asthma would prevent Nanami from even walking down the road or feeling excitement.

I read the first book before starting this. I loved the cozy fantasy vibes and was drawn to the library theme. love anything book related.

We had a different main character in the second book which I enjoyed. But we still got the cat Tama! The plot was not groundbreaking but still entertaining. The strengths of this book lie more in the emotional impact and symbolism like that of the cat who really was more than just a pet. The book explores themes of loneliness and community and I found it very relatable. This is in some senses not an easy read but a calmer one, a cozy fantasy that won’t overwhelm you but will leave you feeling content and contemplative

A unique story that reads as a parable of modern life where too many people ignore knowledge, books and kindness for the self, power, wealth. I had not read the original story, and this read fine alone.

I gave the first in this series a 5 star and this one deserves it as well. It could be that I am biased about book banning as a Librarian but this book is just as poignant, if not more so, that The Cat That Saved Books. I highly recommend this book and its predecessor. These are times of book bans and people in power trying to tell people what they can and cannot learn/read. This story is vital and meaningful.

The definition of charming I loved this book, a nice easy read over Christmas, comforting with a good deal of world building, perfect for bookworms!