Before We Forget Kindness

Before We Forget Kindness by Toshikazu Kawaguchi transports readers back to the enchantingly melancholic café where time travel is not just a mere fantasy. In the fifth instalment of the beloved Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, the enigmatic café once again becomes a portal to bittersweet journeys into the past. This time, it opens its doors to four unique visitors, each harbouring their own heartaches and hopes.

The story introduces a father who struggles with his daughter's impending marriage, a woman tormented by the missed opportunity to express her love on Valentine's Day, a young boy yearning to share his joyous smile with his estranged parents, and a wife bearing an unnamed child, burdened by poignant secrets. These individuals are drawn to the café, seeking solace and a second chance to alter their yesterdays.

The café's time-travel comes with its own set of stringent rules. Customers must drink their coffee before it gets cold, ensuring their return to the present. They are guided by the understanding yet firm staff, who emphasize the importance of following the rules to make their temporal pilgrimages meaningful and safe.

In Before We Forget Kindness, Kawaguchi masterfully weaves a narrative where each trip to the past is a heartwarming quest for closure. Through beautifully crafted prose, readers witness how these trips shape the visitors' present, offering them the comfort and resolution they need to step into a brighter future. The author's storytelling is a gentle reminder of the ephemeral nature of time and the enduring power of kindness and understanding.

Through the stories of these new visitors, Kawaguchi continues to explore themes of love, regret, and forgiveness, making Before We Forget Kindness a moving addition to the series. Fans and new readers alike will find themselves captivated by the charm of the timeless café and the deeply human tales that unfold within its walls.