The Full Moon Coffee Shop - Mai Mochizuki

DESTINY HAS NINE LIVESBased on the Japanese myth of cats returning favours to humans who are kind to them, "The Full Moon Coffee Shop" is the name of a peculiar cake cafe that is run by talking cats, which has no fixed location and instead materialises unpredictably on the night of a full moon. The protagonists of this story - a successful female scriptwriter in crisis, a heartbroken tv director, and two male entrepreneurs - all end up there in the middle of the night, in a semi-dream-like state, and receive life-changing advice on love, work, and relationships from a charismatic tortoiseshell cat who interprets his guests' astrological chart.The Western horoscope comes into play, as well as the life phases, one for each planet, that guide what lessons we have or haven't allowed ourselves to learn. Meanwhile, the customers are served a selection of drinks and sweet treats tailored perfectly to their needs: a Lunar Chocolate Fondant for Aching Hearts, a Planetary Ice Affogato, an Ice Coffee with Sunrise Syrup, or a Bitter Coffee for Mature Souls.'The Full Moon Coffee Shop is officially one of my favourite books of the year'Goodreads review'Fans of magical realism and feel-good narratives will find themselves enchanted by this tale.Mochizuki has created a story that not only entertains but also inspires reflection on the power of understanding oneself. This is a must-read for anyone seeking a cozy low-stakes escape into a world of magic and astrology'Goodreads review'Let me just say, this book is amazing. It's not my usual type of read but it grab my attention from the very beginning.It was a quick quirky little book that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. The Full Moon Coffee Shop surrounds a group of adults that aren't fully satisfied with how their lives turned out. When each one encounters a coffee shop full of cats they realize what needs to change to feel the fulfillment and joy life can bring.I'm very glad that I had the privilege of reading this wonderful book'Goodreads review'I'd recommend the book to anybody who is stuck in a rut, or anybody who feels like their life just has something missing from it, because I think the characters can inspire people to take their own chances and make their own changes in life'Goodreads review'This book has given me that beautiful warm hug feeling'Goodreads reviewThe Cult New Japanese Bestseller in July 2020.