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Before the Coffee Gets Cold: A Novel (Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series Book 1) by [Toshikazu Kawaguchi]

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Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Before the Coffee Gets Cold: A Novel (Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

13,697 ratings

Book 1 of 4: Before the Coffee Gets Cold

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If you could go back in time, who would you want to meet?

In a small back alley of Tokyo, there is a café that has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. Local legend says that this shop offers something else besides coffee—the chance to travel back in time.

Over the course of one summer, four customers visit the café in the hopes of making that journey. But time travel isn’t so simple, and there are rules that must be followed. Most important, the trip can last only as long as it takes for the coffee to get cold.

Heartwarming, wistful, mysterious and delightfully quirky, Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s internationally bestselling novel explores the age-old question: What would you change if you could travel back in time?

Meet more wonderful characters in the next captivating novel in the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, Before We Say Goodbye, releasing November 14, 2023!

Read the rest of the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series:

Tales from the Cafe
Before Your Memory Fades

Book 1 of 4

Before the Coffee Gets Cold
Print length

227 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

Hanover Square Press
Publication date

Nov. 17 2020
File size

3111 KB
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All 3 available for you in this series See full series

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Total Price: CDN$39.97

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Popular Highlights in this book

What are Popular Highlights?

“When you go back, no matter how hard you try, the present won’t change.”
Highlighted by 2,064 Kindle readers
The present hadn’t changed—but those two people had. Both Kohtake and Hirai returned to the present with a changed heart.
Highlighted by 1,213 Kindle readers
“You can’t meet people who haven’t visited this café. The present cannot change. There is only one seat that takes you to the past, and you cannot move from it. Then, there is the time limit.”
Highlighted by 235 Kindle readers

From the Publisher

The #1 international bestseller and #BookTok sensation!

A cafe in Tokyo where patrons can travel back in time. But only until their coffee gets cold...

What would you change if you could travel back in time? Don't miss the entire magical series.


	Before the Coffee Gets Cold	Tales from the Cafe	Before Your Memory Fades
Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series	Book 1	Book 2	Book 3

Product description

Review

"An affecting, deeply immersive journey into the desire to hold onto the past. This wondrous tale will move readers." -Publishers Weekly

"This is a sweet, fable-like tale about a magical seat in a cafe where you can, if you wish, go back in time… An odd read, but also a charming one."
—The Sydney Morning Herald

“A story about human relationships, missed opportunities and the enduring power of love.”
—The Gryphon

"A thought-provoking and at times tear-jerking realization about what we would say if we could go back in time.”
—Palatinate

“It is full of soul, presented through clever world building and unfolding of its characters and relationships.”
—Books and Bao
--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

About the Author

Toshikazu Kawaguchi was born in Osaka, Japan, in 1971. He formerly produced, directed and wrote for the theatrical group Sonic Snail. As a playwright, his works include COUPLE, Sunset Song, and Family Time. The novel Before the Coffee Gets Cold is adapted from a 1110 Productions play by Kawaguchi, which won the 10th Suginami Drama Festival grand prize. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B084B6VFHG
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hanover Square Press; Original edition (Nov. 17 2020)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3111 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 227 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #261 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1 in Time Travel Science Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #1 in Time Travel Science Fiction (Books)
- #1 in Workplace Processes & Infrastructure

Customer Reviews:
13,697 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5

13,697 global ratings

5 star		49%
4 star		30%
3 star		15%
2 star		4%
1 star		3%

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Top reviews from Canada

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Nadia

a quiet read

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on February 26, 2023

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This story will unfurl slowly, quietly, smoothly. And it will stir up emotions and soothe you all at once. You’ll learn about characters that seem insignificant, only to realize they’ve been centre stage the entire time. This has been one of the best books I’ve ever read. If you’re into cozy reads with a tea, this will fill you.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Joy Stalder

sweet and hopeful

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on March 29, 2022

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What a lovely story! It has a unique solution to the problems of time travel - you can’t move from the chair, you have a limited time, and nothing you do or say can change anything that has happened. Then why travel in time, you ask? Many choose not to and move on, but some just want to see someone even if nothing changes.

It took me awhile to get into the story, probably because of the translation and the fact it was based on a play (at least I read that somewhere) so it is quite a simple read. It was made into a movie as well. The action all takes place in the one cafe, the Finiculi Finicula (interesting name for a Japanese cafe).

The motivations of the time travellers are diverse and draw you in. There is something in each that you can relate to: romantic love, mature love, love of a parent for a child, familial love. I felt the yearnings of each time traveller to set something right, to say what you had wanted to say, to see that face one more time.

I’ve been looking for my own personal time machine for years, so I suppose I have to go to Tokyo and find the Finiculi Finicula Cafe!

One person found this helpful

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Loreto H.

review

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 26, 2023

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I got very emotional with this book! Loved the short stories in it and how they connect. It was also easy to read😊

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on November 21, 2022

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The cover was a bit dirty and folded on front but the story is good.

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on September 25, 2022

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The stories are well written, along the lines of the O Henry style. Sometimes it was a bit convoluted, and sometimes the end was easy to see. But I would read more by this author so went to four stars.

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on December 29, 2022

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Haven't read the book yet but just want to warn if you get the hard cover the sleeve is almost like tissue paper its extremely flimsy its just a piece of shiny printer paper basically.

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on November 8, 2022

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I liked how even though it was 4 different people’s time travelling stories, there was a bit of crossover between them. Not much, but enough that they weren’t completely cut off from each other.

I’m curious about how the time travelling came to be though, and how they figured out all the rules involved. Hoping this is all explained in the second or third book, but not holding my breath.

Helpful

Me

The CONCEPT is interesting.

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on December 31, 2022

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"A" for Concept.
"C" for simplistic unedited writing.
"D" for translation.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Audrey Haylins

A unique and charming quick read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 3, 2020

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“If you could go back, who would you want to meet?”

- You can only go once
- You have to return before your coffee gets cold
- And no matter what you say or do, it won’t change the present

These are the rules of time travel in this best-selling Japanese novel, set in a tiny, nondescript basement café in downtown Tokyo. It’s an original and beguiling read — in spite of the often clumsy translation. The café staff and regulars make quirky and interesting characters and offer a fascinating glimpse — for Westerners at least — into the Japanese psyche. The stories of the four time travellers, whose individual journeys are motivated by guilt or regret, are seductive in their simplicity.

But, I think what really captivated me was the very idea itself. Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to return to a specific moment in time? Perhaps to have a last conversation with a loved one. Or to speak, where before nothing was said. Or to take back words spoken in haste. It’s a tempting thought, and one that still plays on my mind, a week after finishing the book.

A unique and charming quick read.

Thanks for reading my review. I hope you found it helpful. You can find more candid book reviews on my Amazon profile page.

49 people found this helpful

pritika jaiswal

An engaging story with a chance to travel in time...

Reviewed in India 🇮🇳 on August 30, 2020

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This is my 2nd Japanese author after Murakami & there is something about Japan whether its culture, technology or peculiar writing style of its Authors that just fascinates me. But this time not just the writing but the plot itself gravitated me towards reading this book.

IN A NUTSHELL~ There is a cafe in Tokyo which has been serving brewed coffee for more than hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: The Chance Of Time Travel with T&D. Yes, with Terms & Conditions applied.

The journey into the past/future doesn't come without risks: customers must sit in a particular seat, they can't leave the cafe, and finally, they must return to the present before the coffee gets cold....& if they break any of these rules then it has a dangerous consequence that many give up the very idea of doing so.

This book is consist of four parts: The lovers, Husband & wife, The sisters and Mother & child, despite knowing the strange rules & it's consequence, each of them is hoping to make use of the cafe's time traveling offer, in order to confront the lover who left them, receive a letter from their husband whose memory has begun to fad, see their sister one last time & meet the daughter they never got the chance to know.

MY THOUGHTS~ It takes me a little time to slip into the story but once I am into it, I can't resist myself from what happens next!? It is a page turner for me, specially when the characters sit on the chair & about to dive into their past/future. This book is a lucid read with no fancy vocabularies. The author has provided utmost details about the characters,the cafe, the taste of coffee for each of its visitors, the various way of brewing coffee & delicacy of pouring it, which make each story of the Book interesting & engaging. Every story has touched my heart and left me with warmness.

75 people found this helpful

Louise Baillache

Not read anything like this before

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 11, 2020

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I enjoyed the fact that although there were 4 short stories within it, they all linked together which led to a very emotional ending. I’ve honestly never read anything like this before, and would urge others to pick this up too! One thing to note is that it is translated fiction that was written based on a play - I've spoken to some people who didnt like the book because of the way it was written, however, I loved it anyway.

This was written beautifully and I was moved by several of the stories. I loved the concept and the characters were described in a way that made me feel involved in each visit to the past. However, I wanted to know more! Also did you know that this book is in a series? – the third one still needs to be translated! This book really makes you think, especially about things left unsaid or feeling regret about how you’ve treated others in the past.

In a back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving specially brewed coffee for over a century. However, this coffee shop is rumoured to also be able to offer its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time.

In this book we meet the lovely café staff and 4 visitors, each of whom is willing to try the cafés time travelling offer, whether that’s to ask why a loved one left, visit a husband who’s memory has been taken by early onset Alzheimer’s, to see someone who has died in the present, or to meet the daughter they never got the chance to know. I can tell you now, the last two stories made me a tiny bit emotional.

However, this journey to the past does not come without risks. There are a strict set of rules that they have to adhere to and anything said or done will not change the present. For example, they have to sit in a particular seat that only becomes available once a day due to a mysterious presence, they can’t move from the seat, and most importantly they must return to the present before the coffee gets cold….

26 people found this helpful

Cheyanne H.

Read it in two days and sobbed at the end

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 28, 2022

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Very rarely does a book give me the inspiration and motivation to read it so quickly. Even rarer do I come across books that make me feel overwhelming sadness and hope at the same time. This book is beautifully written, tragic, hopeful and melancholy, after the first chapter I immediately ordered the other two books (the second I am half-way through already). Buy this book. Read it. Re-evaluate your life. Have a cry. Then go on to live your life full of hope for the future. I will be coming back to this book any time I need to be reminded of how beautiful life is, and when I need the motivation to keep going and push forwards.

11 people found this helpful

5t4n5 Dot Com

Very good temporal stuff

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 5, 2020

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Somewhere in Tokyo there’s a tiny basement cafe with no windows, three clocks telling different times, that sells Mocha coffee and has a special seat with a ghost that sits in it reading a book while drinking said coffee. Once a day the ghost needs to go to the toilet and while she’s away from the seat anyone who sits in it can be served a coffee and travel back in time: but there are rules.

Rule 1: nothing you do in the past will ever change the present.
Rule 2: you cannot leave the seat.
Rule 3: you can only meet people who were in the cafe at the time.
Rule 4: you only get to use the seat once, no second chances.
Rule 5: you must finish the coffee before it gets cold.

If you don’t drink the coffee before it gets cold you become a ghost. It doesn’t say whether you replace the existing ghost or if that’s how the existing ghost came to be, just best not let the coffee get cold.

The book is divided into 4 chapters, each with it’s own time travel escapade. The character list is quite small as it only involves the staff and customers of the cafe — which is a very small cafe — this gives us a much more intimate relationship with each of them and their problems.

As the book builds so does the emotional level of each journey, getting deeper and deeper until the very last journey which i found to be quite a damper of ones eyeballs.

The main point of these stories seems to be that if you could go through time to meet someone but meeting them wouldn’t change a thing in the present what exactly would be the point? This is where most temporal sci-fi falls flat on its face because we always get to the paradox of you wouldn’t have gone back in time if you changed the reason for going back in the first place: this book doesn’t make those temporal mistakes.

All in all, very enjoyable and emotionally moving.

My only gripe: why’s there a cat on the cover when there isn’t a cat in the book?

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Before the Coffee Gets Cold: A Novel (Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

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Toshikazu Kawaguchi

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