Days at the Morisaki Bookshop: The perfect book to curl up with - for lovers of Japanese translated fiction everywhere

Best Read of 2025 so far!!! 😌🫶🏻This book didn’t scream its way into my heart... it tiptoed in quietly, handed me a warm cup of tea, and sat with me in the stillness and said, “You're allowed to fall apart. And you’re allowed to rebuild"...gently.It starts with Takako, who’s just been wrecked — dumped, jobless, and emotionally flatlined. She ends up in a cramped little room above her uncle’s dusty secondhand bookshop in Tokyo's Jimbocho. Honestly? It sounds tragic. But somehow, it’s exactly where she’s meant to be.What starts as a temporary retreat slowly becomes a journey of self-discovery, connection, and quiet transformation - all set against dusty pages and the gentle rustle of old books. It's not dramatic. It's not flashy. But it's deeply human. The kind of story that whispers rather than shouts - about grief, growth, and the quiet comfort of stories and solitude. And in those quiet pages, something inside Takako starts to shift.It reminded me that healing isn’t loud — it’s slow, soft, and full of little moments. Sometimes it’s finding comfort in a musty old paperback. Sometimes, it’s standing in the sun for the first time in weeks and realizing you’re still here.And the thing that I loved the most? Not Takako, or her chaotic but adorable relationship with her uncle Satoru... it's the way the bookshop felt like a character itself — old, stubborn, and full of life and the subtle way it says, "it's okay, if you're not okay yet."

When words fail, books speak. 'Days at the Morisaki Bookshop' has been my source of solace and comfort, reminding me of the healing power of storytelling.At times, a sense of deep disappointment overwhelms us. The truth is, our inner thoughts and feelings are not always easily conveyed to others. To ensure everyone's well-being, we must wear a smile and carry ourselves forward. In this entire situation, Books help me maintain my mental well-being. Believe me, I'm still standing strong because I find solace in reading. Therefore, whenever I feel low, I begin my journey by picking up a book to read. Today, I want to talk about a book that has helped me once again in taking care of myself. The name of the book is "Days at the Morisaki Bookshop." This book is like a warm hug on a cold day. It makes you feel safe and cozy, just like the main character, Takako, who takes refuge in her uncle's bookstore after a breakup. Her uncle is also going through a tough time, trying to save the bookstore and deal with his wife leaving. The book is split into two parts: first, Takako finds herself with her uncle's help, and then she helps him and his wife. Their relationship is heartwarming and feels like a real family. The story is relatable and easy to read, and I connected with Takako's love for books and the feeling of finding one that really speaks to you. This book made me feel warm and cozy, and I'll remember it for a long time.

The book came in perfect condition with a timely delivery.My rating for the book is ★★☆☆☆To be honest, this book is overhyped and overrated. Of course this is a feel-good book. But at what cost? Did I feel good after Takako confronted her ex-boyfriend in front of his fiancé with her uncle soaked in heavy rain? Yes! But did I feel good after Satoru & Momoko's episodes? Especially the reason behind leaving Satoru for a good five years followed by an illness recovery, and then the letters saving Satoru & Momoko's relationship or Takako waiting for Wada and vice versa? Definitely not!Though this is not a bad book, the book had lost its charm once Momoko was back. Not because Momoko is an uninteresting character, but Momoko couldn't create something that Satoru and Takako had created for this book.Momoko is dominating Satoru in many places that her character didn't take this book to the next level when gelled with Takako. Did I enjoy her dominating presence inside or outside the bookshop? No. Did I admire her dominance in her marriage or with the trip to the mountain with Takako? Not more than a little.Already Takako had just come out of her bad days; now she has to deal with someone coming out of their bad days, which doesn't excite me.Honestly, the quiet Japanese book recommendations embedded through Wada, Satoru, Takako, or any other character didn't really make me search for these books for two reasons. One, the names of these Japanese books are hard to remember. Two, the reasons and themes for these books are so shallow that you won't take that extra effort to see what these books have that is so unique that you want to pick them up immediately after finishing this book.Writing about characters going into and coming out of depression definitely makes you feel good. But the strength of the character arc matters while handling such themes. Takako, navigating character after character, incident after incident, doesn't make me feel good. You need something magical in her character, like 'Ove' from 'A Man Called Ove' to make things more interesting.I enjoyed the first half of the book but not the rest. Won't recommend reading.