Before the Coffee Gets Cold

Before the Coffee Gets Cold cover
Good Books rating 3.75
Technical
  • ID: 1094
  • Added: 2025-09-25
  • Updated: 2026-01-06
  • ISBN: 9781488077210
  • Publisher: Harlequin
  • Published: 2020-11-17
  • Formats: 41
  • Reviews: 4

In a quiet alley of Tokyo, a century-old café offers more than just a perfect cup of coffee—it provides a chance to travel back in time. But there's a catch: the journey lasts only as long as the coffee remains warm. Over one summer, four individuals visit the café, each with their own reasons to revisit the past. From confronting a lost love to meeting a daughter they never knew, their stories are woven with heartwarming and mysterious threads. Toshikazu Kawaguchi's internationally bestselling novel explores the profound question of what we would change if given the opportunity to revisit our past. The book is part of a captivating series that delves into the complexities of time, memory, and human connections. /n/nThe café's time-traveling offer comes with strict rules, adding a layer of intrigue and tension to each character's journey. As the coffee cools, so does the time they have to make amends, say goodbye, or simply experience moments they've missed. The novel's quirky and delightful tone makes it a compelling read, blending magical realism with deeply emotional narratives. Each story within the café's walls is a testament to the power of love, loss, and the enduring human desire to change the past.

Reviews
Literary Quicksand · Savannah · 2025-05-14
thought-provoking 4.00

The book is recommended for fans of translated literature and literary fiction. It offers a cozy yet thought-provoking read with a unique premise.

The reviewer highly recommends this book to fans of translated literature and literary fiction. They found it to be a cozy yet thought-provoking read with a unique premise. The reviewer appreciates the way the book explores the concept of time travel and the emotional depth of the stories. The book is praised for its ability to captivate the reader and leave a lasting impression.


Quick quotes

    Overall, I would still recommend Before the Coffee Gets Cold to fans of translated literature, literary fiction, and cozy yet thought-provoking reads.

    The book offers a unique premise that is both captivating and thought-provoking.

    The emotional depth of the stories is truly commendable.

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.