4.25*

This was another heart warming read from Satoshi Yagisawa and followed on well from the original story. Whilst not quite as instantly charming as DATMB it still hit the cosy contemporary vibe I was after and the final third of the story was what raised it up for me, it truly was a beautifully touching piece of writing and a wonderful piece of translation work by Eric Ozawa.

The story is much more a series of linked vignettes this time, rather than being a clear part one and part two like in the first book. I particularly liked the Tomu and Takano piece and of course the final third. In the vein of cosy fiction nothing truly happens in the story, until that final section and even then it's about the beauty of family, love, loss and time passing. The book as a whole is a love letter to books and reading, and this time much more about finding books and finding comfort in stories.

Overall, despite being generally melancholic in tone, this is a gentle and enjoyable sequel. It's a short and quick read, with a setting and characters beautifully brought to life. I feel like Takako and Satoru's stories have been told and finished and it's a fitting ending to our visits to the Morisaki Bookshop.

Thank you to Bonnier Books UK and Netgalley for inviting me to read an eArc of "More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.