Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi – A Thought-Provoking Read I’m Glad I Didn’t Miss | Catching Up on 2024 Reads

Hey everyone! Back with another book review as I continue working through my 2024 reading backlog. (Yes, I’m still catching up—don’t judge! 😅) This time, I finally got around to Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, a book that was highly recommended by my best friend. And honestly? I’m so grateful for the recommendation because this was such an interesting and unexpected read.

This novel is unlike anything I’ve read before. Set in a small Tokyo café, it follows a simple yet fascinating premise — there’s a particular seat in the café where, under specific rules, a person can travel back in time. But no matter what happens, the present remains unchanged. The catch? You have to finish your coffee before it gets cold.

What I loved most about this book is how it takes the idea of time travel and makes it deeply personal. Rather than focusing on grand, sci-fi-style changes to history, it’s all about emotions — regret, longing, love, and closure. The characters, each dealing with their own unfinished business, felt so real and quietly heart-breaking. The writing is simple yet profound, and it made me pause and reflect more than once.

Now, will I finish the rest of the series? Well… that’s a different question. I want to, but given my track record of picking up sequels way later than I should, let’s just say it’ll happen eventually. (I have a problem, I know.)

Overall, Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a beautifully melancholic, thought-provoking read that lingers with you. If you love character-driven stories with a touch of magic, I highly recommend it. And if you’ve read it, let’s talk — did you find it as quietly powerful as I did? 

This is officially my second blog post, and I’m really trying to stay consistent. I’ll be posting every Friday — my first step toward actually sticking to something. Let’s see how this goes! See you next week! 😊

Verity by Colleen Hoover – A Year Later, and I’m Still Not Okay

Hi everyone! Welcome to my first-ever blog post — where I overthink books, get emotionally wrecked by fictional characters, and attempt to put my thoughts into words. If you’ve somehow stumbled upon this, thanks for being here! This is my first attempt at blogging, so please don’t judge too hard — I’m just a book lover trying to put my endless thoughts into something coherent.

And what better way to kick things off than with a book that still haunts me a year after reading it?

Colleen Hoover’s Verity is the kind of book that burrows into your brain and refuses to leave. I read it last year, and even now, I find myself thinking about its chilling twists and that gut-dropping finale. Honestly, I never actually planned to write a review—maybe because I was still processing the absolute whirlwind this book put me through.

As someone who loves analyzing literature, Verity felt like a masterclass in psychological tension. Hoover takes the classic unreliable narrator trope and cranks it up to a whole new level. Lowen, the struggling writer, and Verity’s eerie, unfinished manuscript had me questioning everything. Is Verity a villain? A victim? Am I losing my mind right alongside these characters? The suspense was almost unbearable, but in the best way possible.

I won’t lie — this book was disturbing. But that’s exactly why it worked. It’s dark, unsettling, and addictive, the kind of novel that makes you second-guess every relationship, every assumption, everything. Even a year later, I can still feel its grip. If you love thrillers that mess with your head and leave you screaming “WHAT DID I JUST READ?” into the void, Verity is an absolute must.

If you've read Verity, let’s talk — did you pick a side in the Verity vs. Lowen debate, or are you still spiraling like I am? Drop a comment below! And again, first-time blogger here, so be nice. 😅