This definitely reminded me of "Before The Coffee Gets Cold" which was one of my reads last year. I thought the translation itself was really good in this read. I love the different references to other books when each story takes place. Overall, it was very cozy read but did not standout as my pickup for a magical realism book.

As with many other translations I've read, this is individual stories that connect at the end. The ending was a surprise, looking back, there were definitely some hints.

I've been thinking about the ending for a few days, before I wrote this review. It's one that will stick with me for a while.

I can see the comparisons to 'Before the coffee gets cold' but I preferred this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

The gorgeous cover of this book was what first caught my eye, and I’m happy to say the story inside matched its beauty. The author’s vivid descriptions of the scenery brought each setting to life—I could see it all so clearly, as if I were walking right alongside the characters.

The magical bookstore at the heart of the story made it even more enchanting. I also appreciated the way Japanese culture was woven naturally throughout, adding depth and charm without ever feeling forced.

At its core, this is a story about hope and the quiet, transformative power of books—how stories can reach into our everyday lives and bring healing. I especially loved how everything came full circle in the end, offering a satisfying sense of closure for each character.

It’s a gentle, heartwarming read that reminds us why we love stories in the first place.

A wholesome book in a beautiful setting with a magical Sakura bookshop and Kabuko the calico cat. The book easily balances on life struggles and differing self or situational reflection. The scenes in the shop are written the most beautifully and the delicate endearing way sakura tree’s beauty and blooms are emphasized. I love calico cats and lucky cats. This totally gave that vibe.

The title and the cover art caught my attention as well as the mention of being good for readers who love Before the Coffee Gets Cold. It exceeded my expectations and was a whimsical tale that felt like a warm hug.

This is a story about grief and healing. There was something so human and deeply real about it. A beautiful and tender story for readers who love a reflective and character driven tales.

To be transported to a bookstore/coffee shop when certain conditions are met to experience something magical or perhaps a miracle that helps heals and soothe the soul.

Characters dealing with loss and grief find themselves in a magical bookshop that helps them work through regrets. This is a sweet book in the healing fiction genre, that will make you want to check in with family and friends, and not leave things unsaid. Perfect for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for The ARC!

The cover of this book really drew me in. It's super pretty and really fits for the time period of when the bookstore appears. The pacing is a bit off at time, but overall I really enjoyed their flow of it. Each visitor had their own curiosities and griefs that we see them heal. It was such a reflective and beautiful experience that even made me reflect on my own grievances. Overall, I really loved it and definitely recommend it!

Similar to the Kamogawa Food Detectives, but with books instead of food, we get something delightful here. Stories about loss, love, and family all intertwined in a magical bookshop. It's lovely.

Magical and perfect, this book transports you to japan during the spring, where you can smell fragrant flowers, sit in the bookshop window and ponder about life. I absolutely loved the vibes of this book and its encouraged me to pick up more translated fiction.

Absolutely beautiful. So well written, I found myself wanting more. An amazing escape book. Takuya makes you feel as if you are there in Japan. I was highly impressed with this book. Such a breath of fresh air. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this arc in exchange of my honest review.

4.7/5 ⭐️

I am reviewing this book voluntarily as I received an Advanced Readers Copy*
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Besides the whole concept of stumbling upon a Vanishing Bookstore in itself, while the Peaceful Cherry Blossom petals sway wildly in the wind, is something that I hope everyone is lucky enough to experience for themselves someday. Of course, I’ve never experienced it outside of this lovely novel. -
I’ve found that reading this book was very helpful in ways I never imagined, so to see those same emotions displayed that of which I now experience daily, to validate those traumatic experiences that are portrayed with delicacy and care that have encapsulated these times with empathy and wholeheartedly, when it comes to a life lost.
This book has become extremely important to me for those reasons. So yes, I do hold a place in my heart for this novel.
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I knew to expect death and loss in this novel, yet it surprised me every time, because I never knew who Kobako and the girl in the burgundy Pinafore dress would encounter.
I think it's the fact that the bookshop follows an Intuitive Reading System that resembles, to me, like the Tardis disguised as a Police Box used in Doctor Who.
I also thought it was clever that while we learn who the shop owner is, we end up discovering more about how its existence as a shop has come to be and the backstory around it. Which surprised me, I think it's also because a specific character who lost a parent as well is what hit me with a deep and more direct emotional impact
Also, the idea of possibly meeting up with those you lost again, just for simple things like a conversation for closure, or even spending time with those who you have lost. I think that’s what brought tears to my eyes.
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That, and the very real thoughts that cross your mind without thinking of it, you know, those thoughts of being unable to see that person or hear their voice again.
It is distinctly because these are very real feelings which do not and would not dissipate overnight, for nothing is preventing them from shouting inside your mind, screaming that “they are here to stay” inside your head, gnawing at you until they’re not.
However, that does not mean that the person you lost is forgotten about. But I believe that's for each individual's journey to find out for themselves while navigating the steps of grief and unexpected loss.

I’ll be honest—the cover of The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop was what first drew me in. It’s absolutely gorgeous and gave me the impression of a cozy, magical read, which was exactly what I was in the mood for.

The story itself has a lovely premise. The bookshop that appears only during cherry blossom season is such a whimsical idea, and I really enjoyed the way the characters’ stories wove through themes of grief, loss, and healing. Each visitor’s reason for being there felt heartfelt and meaningful, and I appreciated how the book explored the way stories can guide us through difficult emotions.

That said, I struggled a little with the pacing. The narrative is very gentle and slow-moving, which I know will be perfect for some, but it didn’t quite hold my attention the way I’d hoped. At times I even found myself forgetting what the main focus of the book was supposed to be.

Overall, this is a beautiful and tender story, especially for readers who love reflective, character-driven tales with a touch of magic. While it wasn’t quite the right fit for me, I can see how others would really connect with its quiet charm.

3.5 cherry blossoms out of 5.

I enjoyed this magical story where people who read the same book as the bookshop owner would be transported there. Addressing their grief or unanswered questions that they have been holding on to. I liked that the books involved were a mix of Japanese and non-Japanese authors. As I personally live in Japan, I'm happy to see some exposure for it's authors. The 4 short stories within the book were heartwarming and made me smile. However, I do think that the book could have been longer. I would have liked more time with each story. The epilogue threw me a bit, but overall, it was a cute book. Great for fans of Japanese translated fiction. And the book cover itself is beautiful!

I came for the gorgeous cover, and stayed for the feels.
Straight away from the first page, we are transported in a Japanese courtyard, and you can feel the peace through the words, taking you away, like you are an observer in a Miyazaki animation.

The Cherry Blossom Bookshop only appears if a person opens the same book as the owner and her calico cat, at the same time, on the same day, and during a sunny spring day where the cherry trees are in full bloom.
In that way, it appears to 4 different people throughout the book whom we get to know and their struggles, very much in need of healing a part of themselves they haven't accepted yet.
Their stories felt very emotional for me while being guided, probably because I did feel it in myself too. But also, we are talking about feelings that will happen to every human being on this planet: loss, grief. Whether of a person, a connection, or an ability, or even all of them at the same time.

Being an aficionado of Japanese culture and language, I could say this was a very easy to read translation which felt very natural, and every potential unknown element was either explained within the text without heaviness, or in the translator's note. It is also a short book!

This is a book for you if you like:
🌸 Japanese culture
🐾 an adorable cat
🌸 peaceful challenge towards healing
🐾 books about books
🌸 magical realism
🐾 Miyazaki's world

Beautifully translated, this book is a warm hug. The publisher calls this genre healing fiction because the story within provides healing or reconciliation to a situation for the protagonist. Wonderful stories of a magical bookshop hidden under an unusual cherry blossom tree that welcomes those in need. A young woman who is devastated by the sudden loss of her mother is allowed a vision into certain incidences in her mother's life that help her understand better how much her mother loved her. Twins who visit find that a childhood death of a friend had lasting affects on their lives and their relationships. Each story is heartwarming and lead the reader full circle. The translator has included at the end an explanation of Japanese wording, languages and customs that further explain the flow of the book. This is a cozy , comfortable read.

The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop is a gentle, luminous novel that lingers in the heart long after its final page. Takuya Asakura weaves a story of quiet magic, grief, and healing that feels both timeless and deeply human.

The bookshop itself is more than a setting; it’s a sanctuary where sorrow softens and regrets are reframed. Guided by Sakura and her wise calico cat, Kobako, four visitors step into this hidden haven carrying grief, longing, and unanswered questions. Each story unfolds with tenderness: Mio revisiting her mother’s love through memories she had misunderstood; Shingo clinging to fading recollections as illness steals them away; twin sisters struggling with the bittersweetness of growing up and apart; and Kozue, whose aching search for her absent mother finds no neat resolution, but instead a path toward acceptance.

Asakura writes with remarkable restraint, letting silence and small gestures carry enormous weight. Rather than erasing pain, these stories show how grief can be transformed into something bearable, woven into who we are, rather than something we must leave behind.

This is a book for quiet evenings and reflective moods, for anyone who has loved and lost, and for those who believe in the quiet miracles hidden in everyday life. Like its fleeting bookshop, The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop feels ephemeral yet unforgettable, a story that meets you exactly when you need it most.

Just finished this book on my kindle. and it was gorgeous!!! Whimsical, magical and heartwarming. Loved all the short stories and characters in this book. Told over four seasons, each visitor to the bookshop holds a book that bridges their past and present. The Cherry Blossom Bookshop only appears during Cherry Blossom season so it’s extra special! Sakura, the mysterious young owner, and her wise calico cat, Kobako (love a cat!) await the arrival of souls in need of solace and healing. Beautiful! Perfect for fans of Before The Coffee Gets Cold. Thanks One Chapter for the early kindle access.

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for this arc!

5/5 stars

This was a delightful read. I went into this thinking it would be similar to most books of this genre (ie before the coffee gets cold) but to me it has much more heart and substance than those novels. It felt like this book possessed what I always thought the other similar books lacked. We meet the proprietors of the mysterious cherry blossom bookstore - a young woman named Sakura and her cat Kobako. Together, they help people with things that have been heavily weighing on their minds. Each story about a different person was really sweet and touching, and made me tear up a couple of times! I know these books are usually quite short, but I would really have loved for it to be longer, I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye yet! And I know there are more stories here 👀 I love the direction the book took, and I really hope there will be further installments.

This is made me cry, be happy, and just think of the little things in my life. It is very similar to Before the coffee gets cold. Short stories of regrets, memories, and wanting to see those who we miss. I love that the stories are short, you can read it in between cooking dinner or breakfast. I love the idea of a book, plus a song that you can listen too while reading this. The second story was my favorite with the older man and his wife. Great read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a very cute and cozy read that I enjoyed overall. The writing style was light and easy to fall into, making it the kind of book you can curl up with on a quiet afternoon. The setting and atmosphere gave it that comforting, feel-good vibe, and there were plenty of sweet moments that made me smile.

That said, I didn’t fully connect with the story in the way I’d hoped.

If you’re looking for something simple, heartwarming, and cozy, this is a lovely option. It’s not necessarily a book that will stay with me for a long time, but it was still an enjoyable read and I’m glad I picked it up.