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! 😊