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Have You Tried ... Healing Japanese Fiction

Healing Fiction is a relatively new genre still finding it's place, and yet people are reaching for it without realizing, desperate for the slower, soothing stories contained in it's pages (and usually we're drawn in by the beautiful covers that 9 times out of 10 have a cat on the cover). These are the books where things go right, people have struggles just like we do but all of these become opportunities. Their stories uplift and give us all hope that with a quiet sense of community (and a cat?), everything might just turn out just fine.

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1
Tsubaki Stationery Store
New Release

Tsubaki Stationery Store

ByIto Ogawa

A fiercely contested novel from one of Japan's best-known writers for fans of healing fiction the likes of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and The Little Paris Bookshop. The beloved, heartwarming Japanese bestseller, published for the first time in English. Nominated for the prestigious Japan Booksellers' Award. Adapted into a major TV series. 440,000 copies sold in Japan. Praise for the original: 'For stationery lovers and lovers of Kamakura, this book is an irresistible treasure trove ... you can smell the scent of the ink emanating from the page.' KAORI NAKAHARA, SANKEI SHIMBUN 'A sparkling tale ... woven together by characters who are charming, characters to love.' MICHIKO WATANABE, HANAKO MAGAZINE You always told me that writing is life itself. After many years abroad, Hatoko reluctantly returns to...

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2
The Cat Who Saved Books

The Cat Who Saved Books

BySosuke Natsukawa

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa is a heartwarming tale that follows a high school student named Rintaro, who is about to close his grandfather's bookshop after his passing. Just as he decides to shut its doors, a talking cat appears and takes him on magical adventures to rescue unloved and endangered books. Together, they embark on a journey that explores the power of books in shaping our world and the importance of preserving this legacy.

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3
The Convenience Store by the Sea

The Convenience Store by the Sea

BySonoko Machida

The Convenience Store by the Sea makes magic from life's simple moments . . . an unexpected treasure revealing what's truly important in life. I will hold it close for when I need a reminder! Laurie Gilmore, bestselling author of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe If you loved Before The Coffee Gets Cold, you will love this! A perfect, feel-good story about finding joy in unexpected connections, ideal for those who love a cosy, heartwarming escape! 'Bubble bath fiction' The Herald 'A delightful tale of community and connection' My Weekly Welcome to Tenderness! A quaint seaside town in Kitakyushu, Mojiko is full of hidden delights. And one unexpected treasure is the 24/7 convenience store, Tenderness. At first glance, it's a store like any other. Sure, it's a bit odd...

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4
What You Are Looking for is in the Library

What You Are Looking for is in the Library

ByMichiko Aoyama

The irresistible hardback Times bestseller and bookshop favourite about the healing power of books and community; Time magazine Top 100 books of 2023; 'An undeniable page-turner' New York Times. THE TWO-MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING INTERNATIONAL NOVEL The Top Ten Times bestseller A Time Magazine Book of the Year 'An undeniable page-turner' New York Times 'I ADORED this uplifting, hopeful novel ' Daily Mail 'It made me laugh and cry and feel comforted' 5* Reader review 'A tribute to the transformative power of books and libraries' Irish Times An inspirational tale of the love, comfort and growth you can find in the pages of a good book. _________________ What are you looking for? So asks Tokyo's most enigmatic librarian, Sayuri Komachi. But she is no ordinary librarian. Sensing exactly what someone...

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5
The Healing Hippo Of Hinode Park

The Healing Hippo Of Hinode Park

ByMichiko Aoyama

Authentic healing fiction from the 2.5-million-copy bestselling author of What You Are Looking for is in the Library, set in a suburban community block. PRE-ORDER THE NEW NOVEL BY THE AUTHOR OF WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IS IN THE LIBRARY Readers adore The Healing Hippo Of Hinode Park: 'I wanted to discover the magical hippo in myself as I read this book' ★★★★★ 'How does Aoyama depict human emotion so vividly? I imagined myself in this book' ★★★★★ 'I almost wept on my train home from work' ★★★★★ 'It gripped my heart. I wish there was a magical hippo near my home' ★★★★★ 'Whenever I feel hurt, I want to re-read this wonderful book' ★★★★★ 'Kabahiko is an amazing hippo. People say that if you touch the...

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6
Matcha on Monday
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Matcha on Monday

ByMichiko Aoyama

Irresistible companion piece to Hot Chocolate on Thursday, set in a charming cafe, by the million-copy bestselling brand author of What You Are Looking For is in the Library. The Global Bestseller By the multi-million-copy author of What You Are Looking For is in the Library, for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold Tucked behind the trees in a quiet neighbourhood in Tokyo, the beloved Marble cafe offers a cup of warm, healing matcha to all who pass through its doors. Customers flock all week to Cafe Marble, tucked away behind the cherry trees. But Monday is a special day—the enigmatic owner hosts a tea tasting. The ritual invites its clientele to pause, reconnect with their inner peace, and rediscover the value of simplicity, allowing the bitterness...

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7
Before I Knew I Loved You
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Before I Knew I Loved You

ByToshikazu Kawaguchi

The sixth book in the multi-million-copy bestselling series about a cosy Japanese café that offers its visitors the chance to travel back in time. In a special seat in a fabled Tokyo café, you're offered something irresistible—not just a warm, comforting coffee, but the chance to go back in time to revisit the ones you love... In Before I Knew I Loved You, Toshikazu Kawaguchi takes us back to the warm heart of the mysterious Funiculi Funicula Café, with another four guests whose luminous stories of love, lost and won again, will reaffirm your belief in its eternal potential. In this book, we meet: The girl who wishes to make amends with the mother she never accepted. The man who waited for a reply from his girlfriend and...

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8
The Cat Who Saved the Library

The Cat Who Saved the Library

BySosuke Natsukawa

Nanami sees nothing wrong with a library and cat combination. But a talking cat is a whole other story. Thirteen-year-old Nanami Kosaki loves reading. The local library is a home from home and books have become her best friends. When Nanami notices books disappearing from the library shelves, she's particularly curious about a suspicious man in a grey suit whose furtive behaviour doesn't feel right. Should she follow him to see what he's up to? When a talking tabby cat called Tiger appears to warn her about how dangerous that would be, together they're brave enough to follow the frightening trail to find out where all the books have gone. Will Nanami and Tiger overcome the challenges of the adventure ahead? Warm, wonderful and wise, Sosuke Natsukawa's The...

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9
The Kamogawa Food Detectives

The Kamogawa Food Detectives

The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai weaves a heartwarming tale centred around a detective duo who solve mysteries through traditional Japanese cuisine. The story follows an eccentric father-daughter team as they investigate culinary requests to uncover forgotten memories, blending crime-solving with the joy of food. This delightful read promises an engaging and unique twist on the detective genre.

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10
The Travelling Cat Chronicles

The Travelling Cat Chronicles

ByHiro Arikawa

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa is a heartwarming tale about a cat named Nana and his owner, Satoru. Together, they embark on a road trip across Japan to visit three of Satoru's old friends, exploring themes of friendship, love, and the bond between humans and their pets. The story beautifully captures the essence of companionship and the joys and sorrows of life's journey.

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11
The Passengers on the Hankyu Line

The Passengers on the Hankyu Line

ByHiro Arikawa

From the authentic and original healing fiction author of Travelling Cat Chronicles comes a 1.4-million-copy bestseller - set in a famously scenic railway line in Japan, following key emotional dramas for five commuters. Discover your next feel-good Japanese novel, by the author of The Travelling Cat Chronicles Over 1.4 million copies sold in Japan 'You will be wrapped in laughter and tears' Reader review* 'What I love about it is its Kindness' Reader review* 'I wanted to tap the shoulders of the characters' Reader review* The contents of each traveller's heart is a mystery known only to themselves. Trundling through the scenic countryside of Kyoto and Osaka is the Hankyu line, a burgundy-coloured electric train that has been carrying its commuters to their destinations for decades. Over the...

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12
Notes from the Ginza Shihodo Stationery Shop

Notes from the Ginza Shihodo Stationery Shop

ByKenji Ueda

A touching tale of connection, healing and the magic of handwritten words from the author of Letters from the Ginza Shihodo Stationery Shop Hidden away in Tokyo's Ginza district lies Shihodo, a hidden gem known only to insiders, with an abundant selection of fine stationery. Behind its counter stands Ken Takarada, the enigmatic shop owner whose warm presence draws those seeking more than just beautiful paper and colourful inks. To this shop come more customers with worries weighing on their hearts: a young girl being bullied by her classmates, a salaryman facing the lonely prospect of retirement. With his quiet wisdom and careful attention, Ken Takarada helps each visitor fulfil their stationery needs, but also to express what lies within their hearts. In this moving second volume, readers...

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13
We'll Prescribe You a Cat

We'll Prescribe You a Cat

BySyou Ishida

For fans of The Travelling Cat Chronicles, She and Her Cat, and The Goodbye Cat - this huge international sensation with a touch of magical realism tells of a mysterious clinic where cats are prescribed to heal its ailing patients. For fans of The Travelling Cat Chronicles, discover the award-winning Japanese sensation - a charming celebration of the healing power of cats. A cat a day keeps the doctor away ... On the top floor of an old building at the end of a cobbled alley in Kyoto lies the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul. Only a select few - those who feel genuine emotional pain - can find it. The mysterious centre offers a unique treatment for its troubled patients - it prescribes cats as medication. Get...

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Messenger Cat Café

Messenger Cat Café

ByNagi Shimeno

The heartwarming, magical Japanese bestseller about grief, love, and a cat who will do anything to see his beloved owner again. After a long and happy life with a loving human family, tabby cat Fuuta has passed into the afterlife. But he is not as far from his owner Michiru as it seems. Sometimes the divide between the lands of the living and the dead can be traversed. Eager to see Michiru again, Fuuta interviews for a position at Café Pont, which sits in the liminal space between the two worlds. The café is known for its unique service—its living customers can request meetings with the person they’d most like to see again, through the specially selected spirits of messenger cats. Fuuta must investigate and deliver his messages...

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15
The Full Moon Coffee Shop

The Full Moon Coffee Shop

ByMai Mochizuki

Your NEXT BIG READ if you love BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD 'Lose yourself in a world of talking cats with this cult bestseller' GLAMOUR 'Feel-good fiction for those needing a redirection' BOOKLIST NO.1 BESTSELLER TRANSLATED INTO 20 LANGUAGES Under a glittering full moon, a Kyoto coffee shop with no fixed location or hours appears only where and when it's needed. It's run by talking cats serving the finest teas and coffees, delicious desserts and age-old astrological wisdom. The Full Moon Coffee Shop attracts customers who have lost their way in their life, from a down-on-her-luck screenwriter to a failed video game developer. In the middle of the night, the feline guides will set them on their destined paths... Heartwarming and magical, The Full Moon Coffee Shop will...

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