THIS BOOK WAS SO LOVELY. The atmosphere was ethereal, the story was compelling, the romance was sweet, the ending was beautiful. I loved every second. At first I thought this was more magical realism, but it’s definitely in the camp of speculative fiction. The descriptions and settings are vivid and you can practically feel the surroundings. I don’t have much else to add to any other lovely review I’ve read of this book, so I’ll have to share some instead. I don’t need to be an echo chamber for my fellow reviewers. If you’re looking for a cozy vibe with medium-high stakes, mysteries abound, and a precious romance - this is it.
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Adding favorite quotes here:

"'But no one ever really dines alone, do they?' Toshio said. 'Our thoughts share our meals with us. They keep us company whether we invite them to or not and are especially noisy when they are the only ones at our table. They chatter about all the things we cannot say aloud. In your case, I would guess they like to reminisce about a time when you were not the woman you are today, a time, perhaps, when you liked to share your table at the ramen restaurant with someone else.'" (p. 16)

"'Books do not find value when they are written. They find value when they are read. Every book here is both worthless and priceless at the same time. It depends on who you ask. As I have not yet had the pleasure of reading half of the library's collection, I can say that only the books that I have taken from the shelves and stored in my heart are truly precious.'" (p. 278)

"'We have been blessed with the time to think. It has allowed us to realize that life is about finding joy in the space between where you came from and where you are going. I may never get to where I want to go, but I can look back on my life and say that I did not waste a second of it being bitter that I was not someplace else. Happiness does not exist in a place. It lives in every breath we take. You need to choose to take it in, over and over again.'
[...]
'Everyone I have ever encountered, no matter how brief, has either taken something or left something behind. Rude people can rip the smile from your face. Kind ones can give it back. I have learned that there is nothing to be gained from stealing other people's happiness. No matter how much you have stolen, it is not something that you can ever use for yourself.'" (p. 288)