Before the Coffee Gets Cold

by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Before the Coffee Gets Cold cover
Good Books rating 3.67
Magical Realism
Technical:
  • ID: 1094
  • Added: 2025-09-25
  • Updated: 2025-10-11
  • ISBN: 9781488077210
  • Publisher: Harlequin
  • Published: 2020-11-17
  • Formats: 36
  • Reviews: 3
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £10.99 Hardback • £14.99

Nestled in a quiet back alley of Tokyo, a century-old café offers more than just expertly brewed coffee—it provides the rare opportunity to travel back in time. However, this journey comes with stringent rules, the most crucial being that the trip lasts only as long as the coffee remains warm. Over the course of a summer, four individuals visit the café, each with their own heartfelt reasons for wanting to revisit the past. From confronting a lost love to seeing a departed sister one last time, their stories intertwine in this enchanting tale of regret, longing, and the power of second chances. /n/nToshikazu Kawaguchi's internationally bestselling novel blends magical realism with deeply human emotions, exploring the universal question of what we would change if given the chance. The café's unique time-traveling offer brings forth poignant and sometimes humorous encounters, as each character navigates the complexities of their personal histories. With its whimsical setting and profound themes, Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a captivating exploration of time, love, and the choices that define us.

Reviews
ANWhiteBooks · 2023-08-17
mixed 2.50

The reviewer finds the premise interesting but feels the execution is lacking, comparing it to a play and noting its limited setting.

The reviewer finds the premise of the book interesting and notes that it feels like a play due to its single setting, a café with a time-travel chair. However, they feel the execution is lacking and the stories do not fully live up to their potential. The reviewer appreciates the unique concept but finds the overall experience underwhelming. They suggest that the book might have worked better as a stage play, given its limited setting and dialogue-driven narrative.

Quick quotes

    It's not a bad book. It's an interesting premise, and feels a bit like a play.

    It takes place entirely in one setting: a café with a chair that allows time travel.

    The stories do not fully live up to their potential.

Potpourri2015 · 2023-08-15
heartwarming 4.00

The reviewer finds the stories bittersweet and emotionally engaging, set around a unique café with strict time-travel rules. The tales capture small, meaningful moments in time.

The reviewer enjoys the bittersweet and emotional nature of the stories, which are set around a unique café in Tokyo that allows time travel under strict rules. They appreciate how the tales capture small, meaningful moments in time, making the reading experience heartwarming and thought-provoking. The reviewer highlights the emotional depth and the way the stories explore the complexities of human relationships and the consequences of altering the past.

Quick quotes

    These (mostly) bittersweet tales set around a strange café in Tokyo, which allows one to time travel but with very strict rules.

    The stories capture small moments in time that resonate deeply with the reader.

    The emotional depth and the exploration of human relationships make this a compelling read.

Catherine Rose Gunther · Catherine Rose Gunther · 2022-09-20
emotional 4.50

The reviewer describes the book as a heartwarming and emotional experience, with stories that capture small moments in time and evoke deep feelings.

Catherine Rose Gunther finds the book to be a heartwarming and emotional experience. She appreciates the way the stories capture small, poignant moments in time, which evoke deep feelings and emotional resonance. The reviewer highlights the emotional depth and the way the stories explore the complexities of human relationships and the consequences of altering the past. She also notes the beautiful writing style that enhances the overall reading experience.

Quick quotes

    Reading Before the coffee gets cold has been a heartwarming and emotional experience.

    These stories are small moments in time that capture the essence of human emotions.

    The emotional depth and the exploration of human relationships make this a compelling read.

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