This wasn’t what I expected. As a librarian, this book intrigued me. I also loved that we’re finally getting more translated books by Asian authors. The book was very leisurely paced, almost atmospheric and whimsy in its narrative. There was nothing complex or suspenseful. Unfortunately, the pacing was a little too slow for me. I also speak Japanese and thought the translation a bit rough to follow along.

As a librarian, this book held great appeal for me. I found myself commiserating with the library workers in the story, feeling protective of the books and also the desire to share great books with others so that they can experience the joy of a good book! This would make an ideal book club selection. While the recipes aren’t included in the book, you could easily find matching ones to prepare and enjoy during your discussion. A thoroughly enjoyable, quick read.

"Dinner at the Night Library" was about what I expected. There were no real thrills, but the translation was well done and I enjoyed the characters.

This was a really cozy, atmospheric read. I had expectations for what this book would be like but it surpassed them — the concept felt wholely original and was really well executed. I would love to visit the night library and the author painted the story so well that it almost feels like I got to.

This was a delightful story for book lovers. It was a simple story of a girl working at the Night Library and the day to day situations and events that would arise. As a fan of Before the Coffee Get Cold, I knew this would give the same melancholy and wholesome feeling while reading this book. Details about the important of book preservation and the nuances of book life was intriguing to read about.

The cast of characters are likable but complex with having their own intricate backgrounds while connecting with each other while working at this library. I was left wanting more depth to some of the characters by the end but in summary I loved this book lover’s slice of life story. I could see this being a fun slice of life anime adaptation!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy!

I enjoyed learning about the staff's backstories and what brought them to The Night Library. The concept of the nightly dinners being connected to the books was delightful. Overall, it was a cozy and feel-good read.

Thank you, NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This was a light and cozy feel good read. I love Japanese translated fiction and even though there weren't any cats, it was still great! I loved the description of a night library and having authors books they had after they pass away. The dinners didn't add much value to the overall story but they were still great to read about (I mean who doesn't want to make something that they've read from a favourite book!) I enjoyed the characters and learning about them and this is definitely a bookstore I would love to visit!

Dinner at the Night Library presents a fascinating concept, but its focus feels somewhat muddled. On the positive side, the idea of a night library is truly engaging—I enjoyed learning about its inner workings, the staff, and the various visitors who passed through its doors. That part of the story was rich and compelling.

Where it faltered for me was in the emphasis on food, especially given its prominence in the title. The dinners—meals recreated from or inspired by literature—could have been an intriguing theme in their own right. However, they felt disconnected from the main narrative, more like tangential interludes than meaningful contributions to the story. Their inclusion often disrupted the flow and didn’t seem to serve a clear purpose.

Honestly, I think the book would have been stronger if it had focused solely on the night library and the relationships and events unfolding within it, without the elaborate descriptions of the meals.

If you are someone that has been enjoying this new burst of translated literature, specifically Asian translated stories, then you will likely love this one too. It is short and beautiful. As a librarian, I may be a bit biased but this book really spooke to me and the subtle nudges into introspection that I am starting to realize are a part of this genre, are greatly appreciated. 5 stars.

3.4 stars

Otasha Higuchi knows she wants to work with books and it seems her dreams have come true when a mysterious owner offers her a job at the Night Library outside Tokyo. Open from 4 pm to 1 am (oooh, the perfect hours for me!) the Night Library stores the real life, hard copy libraries of deceased authors so scholars or other interested parties can come see and commune with the books the authors treasured during their lives.

Otasha comes to know the other employees, a delightful, varied bunch and bonds with them over book-themed meals in the cafe (I think I could read a whole book about book-themed meals. What a delightful concept!). Some strange things start happening at the Library. What is going on? And then there is what is supposed to be a temporary closure of the Library, but what if the unknown owner never reopens it?

I haven’t read any of the recent spate of books translated from the Japanese that I’ve seen that, at first glance, remind me a bit of this one. They mostly seem to be about bookstores and cats…you know the ones. Anyhow, this seems like it would fit right in among those, but it captured my attention because I love the idea that I could see the beloved books of my favorite authors. Each year I do the Book Riot Read Harder book challenge (which I love and recommend if you read a lot) and within the past couple of years one of the prompts was to “read one of your favorite author’s favorite books,” which was such a great one! This is that, writ large.

But I digress. This book is gentle, lulling, nothing really major happens. It’s a very low-stress book which may be just the thing, sometimes.

Perhaps I’m alone in thinking that Japan, or at least the urban areas have become fully Westernized, but clearly, according to this book, I’m as misguided with that thought as I am with so many, many things. There are clear strictures regarding differences in the sexes, the attention paid to rank and just general formality that wouldn’t exist if this book were set in America. So interesting!

I thought the translation was a bit stilted, in a way I’ve experienced with a few other books written in Japanese. There were a lot of sentences that started with “So…” Oh, and back to the meals, fans of AoGG will love the themed meal which sounds delicious, if simple, and, in fact, I’m craving it right now on this very warm Spring day (I’ll leave it for you to discover, no spoilers.).