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コーヒーが冷めないうちに #4
Hasta el próximo café
En Japón se oculta un lugar legendario. Muchos van en su busca, pues creen que allí pueden encontrar las respuestas que necesitan. Tan solo hay que dejarse llevar por el intenso aroma del café, cruzar la puerta del local, sentarse y pedir una taza.
Antes de que su bebida se enfríe, los clientes podrán revivir el pasado y revisitar aquel momento en el que tomaron una decisión que les atormenta, en el que callaron cuando querían decir la verdad, en el que se equivocaron.
Entre ellos están el profesor Kadokura, que ha descuidado a su familia por el trabajo; Sunao y Mutsuo, afligidos por haber tenido que despedirse de su querido perro; Hikari, arrepentida por no haber aceptado la propuesta de matrimonio de su novio Yoji; y, por último, Michiko, que ha regresado al sitio donde vio a su padre por última vez.
Si demuestran ser lo bastante valientes como para mirar al pasado, podrán verlo bajo una luz diferente y vivir el presente con serenidad. ¿Serán capaces de aprovechar la oportunidad?
Antes de que su bebida se enfríe, los clientes podrán revivir el pasado y revisitar aquel momento en el que tomaron una decisión que les atormenta, en el que callaron cuando querían decir la verdad, en el que se equivocaron.
Entre ellos están el profesor Kadokura, que ha descuidado a su familia por el trabajo; Sunao y Mutsuo, afligidos por haber tenido que despedirse de su querido perro; Hikari, arrepentida por no haber aceptado la propuesta de matrimonio de su novio Yoji; y, por último, Michiko, que ha regresado al sitio donde vio a su padre por última vez.
Si demuestran ser lo bastante valientes como para mirar al pasado, podrán verlo bajo una luz diferente y vivir el presente con serenidad. ¿Serán capaces de aprovechar la oportunidad?
200 pages, Paperback
First published September 20, 2021
1959 people are currently reading
81666 people want to read
About the author
Toshikazu Kawaguchi
11 books6,866 followersToshikazu Kawaguchi (in Japanese: 川口 俊 和) 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,346 reviews
June 19, 2023
man, he got me again
July 14, 2024
I read another beautifully written and heartwarming novel by Toshikazu Kawaguchi.
I read Toshikazu Kawaguchi's Before The Coffee Get Cold Series:
Before the Coffee Gets Cold #1
Tales from the Café #2.
Before Your Memory Fades #3
Before We Say Goodbye #4
4 unique and heartwarming stories regarding husband, farewell, proposal, and daughter in this book.
I had moist eyes with tears when reading these stories.
What would you do if you could travel back in time?
"Before We Forget Kindness #5 is expected published in English on September 19, 2024."
I read Toshikazu Kawaguchi's Before The Coffee Get Cold Series:
Before the Coffee Gets Cold #1
Tales from the Café #2.
Before Your Memory Fades #3
Before We Say Goodbye #4
4 unique and heartwarming stories regarding husband, farewell, proposal, and daughter in this book.
I had moist eyes with tears when reading these stories.
What would you do if you could travel back in time?
"Before We Forget Kindness #5 is expected published in English on September 19, 2024."
July 27, 2023
Although I initially loved the series and enjoyed the first two books, the third book left me feeling like I was encountering repetitive storytelling. Despite this, there were still some enjoyable moments, particularly when the narrative focused on the café's family.
However, my disappointment grew with the fourth book as it failed to provide the development of the café family's storyline. Instead, the book presented four more stories following a similar pattern, all leading to the same predictable ending. This lack of originality and failure to explore the family's background left me really unsatisfied.
However, my disappointment grew with the fourth book as it failed to provide the development of the café family's storyline. Instead, the book presented four more stories following a similar pattern, all leading to the same predictable ending. This lack of originality and failure to explore the family's background left me really unsatisfied.
November 28, 2023
AHHhHhHHhHh when will we get the English translation?!?!?! I need it
February 6, 2024
Listen, I truly appreciate the sentiment of this book about being good to those we love so that we won't have any regrets, etc.
But I don't think it's necessary to read hundreds of pages of (essentially) the same content throughout four little novels with the coffee place's characters repeating the same time-travel rules to different customers that react the very same way. It goes something like this every single time: "*gasps* Nothing I do can change the past?! What even is the point of going if I can't change anything?"
Everything was repeated so many times, it got tiring.
Also the writing was so awkward. I sincerely hope that it's because of the translation or something.
But I don't think it's necessary to read hundreds of pages of (essentially) the same content throughout four little novels with the coffee place's characters repeating the same time-travel rules to different customers that react the very same way. It goes something like this every single time: "*gasps* Nothing I do can change the past?! What even is the point of going if I can't change anything?"
Everything was repeated so many times, it got tiring.
Also the writing was so awkward. I sincerely hope that it's because of the translation or something.
December 10, 2023
4.5⭐️
“There are many crossroads in life. All regrets stem from what happened at one moment we never imagined would happen to us. When our own action brings about an unexpected result, how can we not experience huge regret? After all, do we ever get another shot?”
Before We Say Goodbye by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (translated by Geoffrey Trousselot) is the fourth installment of the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series and personally one of my favorites (along with Book #2, Tales from the Café ).
Set in Café Funiculi Funicula in Tokyo, we meet an interesting cast of characters (both old and new) – café regulars, owners and staff and first-time visitors who come to the café for the unique experience of time travel. The rules are the same and no one can change their past. Then why go back? Love, regret, nostalgia, guilt, the need to say goodbye and to share what was left unsaid. In four interconnected stories we meet a former professor who spent most of his life busy with his career desires to speak to his wife who is now bedridden after an accident; a husband wants his wife to take the opportunity to say goodbye to their beloved dog Apollo who passed on while she was dozing; following a cryptic message left by her deceased former boyfriend a young woman visits the café to meet him for the last time and finally a young woman hopes to say goodbye and apologize to her deceased father for her behavior toward him during their last meeting.
The beautifully written, insightful and heartwarming stories inspire pause and reflection. This short novel left me with a lump in my throat and a smile on my face. Definitely recommended for fans of the series and can be read as a standalone.
Many thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Before We Say Goodbye was published in the United States on November 14, 2023.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
“There are many crossroads in life. All regrets stem from what happened at one moment we never imagined would happen to us. When our own action brings about an unexpected result, how can we not experience huge regret? After all, do we ever get another shot?”
Before We Say Goodbye by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (translated by Geoffrey Trousselot) is the fourth installment of the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series and personally one of my favorites (along with Book #2, Tales from the Café ).
Set in Café Funiculi Funicula in Tokyo, we meet an interesting cast of characters (both old and new) – café regulars, owners and staff and first-time visitors who come to the café for the unique experience of time travel. The rules are the same and no one can change their past. Then why go back? Love, regret, nostalgia, guilt, the need to say goodbye and to share what was left unsaid. In four interconnected stories we meet a former professor who spent most of his life busy with his career desires to speak to his wife who is now bedridden after an accident; a husband wants his wife to take the opportunity to say goodbye to their beloved dog Apollo who passed on while she was dozing; following a cryptic message left by her deceased former boyfriend a young woman visits the café to meet him for the last time and finally a young woman hopes to say goodbye and apologize to her deceased father for her behavior toward him during their last meeting.
The beautifully written, insightful and heartwarming stories inspire pause and reflection. This short novel left me with a lump in my throat and a smile on my face. Definitely recommended for fans of the series and can be read as a standalone.
Many thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Before We Say Goodbye was published in the United States on November 14, 2023.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
September 17, 2023
Toshikazu Kawaguchi, you're obliged to pay for my therapy bills. once again.
P.S: the second chapter about Apollo hit WAYYYY too close to home......... I miss my bunnies😭😭😭😭
P.S: the second chapter about Apollo hit WAYYYY too close to home......... I miss my bunnies😭😭😭😭
December 7, 2024
Before We Say Goodbye is my favorite installment of the series by far. Some of stories approach the premise from a new angle and all really resonated with me.
1-The Husband- Five stars. Loved everything about this one. The Curse. A husband’s love for his wife. The source of happiness.
2-Farewell - FIVE is NOT enough stars. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ As a first time dog owner, this one hit on every level.
3-The Proposal - 4 Stars - This one involves a Clue Solving group that become friends. There is a proposal and decisions to be made. This one explores the stories we tell to ourselves and the stories we tell others. I found this one a little repetitive.
4- The Daughter- 5 stars. This one also resonated with me and I could strongly connect to the plot. Teens leaving home to go to college, teens pushing parents away as they try to make their own way in the world, and ways how grief is navigated differently by those in different roles and ages.
I love this series. I loved this installment. I strongly recommend it.
1-The Husband- Five stars. Loved everything about this one. The Curse. A husband’s love for his wife. The source of happiness.
2-Farewell - FIVE is NOT enough stars. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ As a first time dog owner, this one hit on every level.
3-The Proposal - 4 Stars - This one involves a Clue Solving group that become friends. There is a proposal and decisions to be made. This one explores the stories we tell to ourselves and the stories we tell others. I found this one a little repetitive.
4- The Daughter- 5 stars. This one also resonated with me and I could strongly connect to the plot. Teens leaving home to go to college, teens pushing parents away as they try to make their own way in the world, and ways how grief is navigated differently by those in different roles and ages.
I love this series. I loved this installment. I strongly recommend it.
July 5, 2025
3.5 stars
In this 4th book in the 'Before The Coffee Gets Cold' series, four 'time travelers' want to make amends. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
On a side street in Tokyo there's a little coffee shop called Funiculi Funicula that has a very unusual feature. It allows people to travel back in time. There are rigid rules for time travelers, however, as follows:
- Whatever you do, you CANNOT change the present.
- You can only interact with people who have visited Funiculi Funicula.
- You must sit in one specific chair in the café to time travel, and you can't leave the chair for any reason. The catch is, a ghost - in the form of a woman reading a book - occupies the chair and only leaves once a day to go to the toilet.
- A cup of coffee starts the journey, and you MUST return to the present before the coffee gets cold. If you don't return in time, YOU become the ghost in the chair.
Regular denizens of the coffee shop include:
☕︎ Nagare Tokita - the owner of the café; he's over six feet tall and wears a white cook's uniform.
☕︎ Kazu - Nagare's cousin, who works as a waitress in the café; she pours the coffee for the time travelers.
☕︎ Nana Kohtake - a nurse in a local hospital; she drops into the café every day after work.
☕︎ Fumiko Kiokawa - a university graduate who knows six languages; she also visits the café every day after work.
*****
In each of the four vignettes in this book, someone is haunted by something that happened in the past, and feels compelled to go back. The four time travelers are:
⏲️ The Husband
Monji Kadokura is a husband, father, professor, and adventurer who traveled extensively for his work. Over the years, Kadokura spent little time with his family, and left the task of raising the children to his spouse.
A few years ago, Kadokura's wife Mieko had an accident, and she's been in a vegetative state ever since. Now, the professor wants to go back and speak to his wife one more time.
⏲️ The Dog Owner
Sunao Hikita and her husband Mutsuo never had children, but they had a beloved golden retriever named Apollo. When Apollo was approaching the end of his life, Sunao and Mutsuo took turns staying with the dog around the clock, so Apollo wouldn't pass alone.
Sadly, Sunao was dozing when Apollo went to his reward, and she feels terrible about her lapse. Thus Sunao wants to return to the past.
⏲️ The Girlfriend
When Hikari Ishimori's boyfriend, Yoji Sakita, asked her to meet him in Funiculi Funicula, Hikari knew Yoji planned to propose. Hikari, who just got a job as a wedding planner, explained she wasn't ready to wed, and Yoji promised to wait for her.
Now, half a year later, Hikari says he's become interested in another woman. This spurs Hikari to visit the past.
⏲️ The Daughter
Michiko Kijimoto decided to attend university in Tokyo to get away from her father, Kengo, who was always telling her what to do. When Kengo visited his daughter at school, she was rude and disprespectul.
Shortly afterwards, Japan experienced the 2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami, in which Kengo perished. Thus Michiko wants to go back and speak to her father once again.
*****
The stories are quirky, touching, and illuminating.
If you could go back in time, who would you choose to see?
Thanks to Netgalley, Toshikazu Kawaguchi, and Hanover Square Press for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
April 6, 2025
I wonder what the rules of going back to the past are
May 5, 2024
"𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥."
you probably know that i wasn't fond of this series when i first read the first book but now this series is growing on me ugh, the last story in this one touched my heart, i love the concept of the whole series, it serves as a reminder to all of us of the importance of spending our time happy and loving to one another, I'm just a little bit confused why was this one set before the third book?, btw the third book is my absolute favourite in this series, bye now gotta drink my cup before the coffee gets cold ☕
you probably know that i wasn't fond of this series when i first read the first book but now this series is growing on me ugh, the last story in this one touched my heart, i love the concept of the whole series, it serves as a reminder to all of us of the importance of spending our time happy and loving to one another, I'm just a little bit confused why was this one set before the third book?, btw the third book is my absolute favourite in this series, bye now gotta drink my cup before the coffee gets cold ☕
October 17, 2023
3.5
When you've read one you've read them all. They typically follow a very very similar formula that's made to elicit emotions from the reader, but after a while the gimmick gets a bit repetitive. Not to say it's a bad book. but doing it four times over like....Toshikazu babe put the pen DOWN.
When you've read one you've read them all. They typically follow a very very similar formula that's made to elicit emotions from the reader, but after a while the gimmick gets a bit repetitive. Not to say it's a bad book. but doing it four times over like....Toshikazu babe put the pen DOWN.
April 2, 2024
reading vlog: https://youtu.be/b82234AUi40
sadly this series just went downhill for me enjoyment wise. I felt that the stories in each subsequent book weren't unique enough from what has come before.
sadly this series just went downhill for me enjoyment wise. I felt that the stories in each subsequent book weren't unique enough from what has come before.
June 25, 2025
Much of Japanese culture is what is not said. This book uses time travel to wonder how it might be if they were said.
October 30, 2022
As good as the other 3 books. Going back into the past just to not regret anything you did、even when you can't change anything with just nice stories. Your tears will come a little bit. For people who like emotional stories I can only recommend it.
September 19, 2023
I'm not crying, ofc I'm not, why do you ask???😭
December 11, 2023
he does it again. so good.
November 14, 2023
Same old same old, but I think the portrayal of women is worse in here than in the others. Still cozy vibes, but they really are just there as a help to men and there was literally one quote where a husband describes his wife as "having no personality", which after twenty years of marriage is questionable.
May 18, 2025
Where time travel is possible, but changing your fate is strictly off the menu!
A heartwarming addition to the "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" series. Set once again in the magical Café Funiculi Funicula, this book offers four new stories that explore themes of love, regret, and the desire for closure.
The strength of Kawaguchi's writing lies in his ability to create deeply relatable characters. Each story, whether it's about a husband wanting to convey a final message to his comatose wife or a woman grappling with the guilt of not being able to say goodbye to her pet, is filled with emotional depth and poignancy. The café's unique time-traveling premise continues to provide a fascinating backdrop for these personal journeys.
However, while the stories are touching, they sometimes feel repetitive, echoing the themes and emotional beats of the previous books in the series. The strict rules of time travel in the café, which prevent any changes to the present, add a layer of bittersweetness but also limit the narrative possibilities.
Overall, Before We Say Goodbye is a comforting read for fans of the series, offering familiar warmth and introspection. It may not break new ground, but it delivers the heartfelt moments that readers have come to expect from Kawaguchi.
A heartwarming addition to the "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" series. Set once again in the magical Café Funiculi Funicula, this book offers four new stories that explore themes of love, regret, and the desire for closure.
The strength of Kawaguchi's writing lies in his ability to create deeply relatable characters. Each story, whether it's about a husband wanting to convey a final message to his comatose wife or a woman grappling with the guilt of not being able to say goodbye to her pet, is filled with emotional depth and poignancy. The café's unique time-traveling premise continues to provide a fascinating backdrop for these personal journeys.
However, while the stories are touching, they sometimes feel repetitive, echoing the themes and emotional beats of the previous books in the series. The strict rules of time travel in the café, which prevent any changes to the present, add a layer of bittersweetness but also limit the narrative possibilities.
Overall, Before We Say Goodbye is a comforting read for fans of the series, offering familiar warmth and introspection. It may not break new ground, but it delivers the heartfelt moments that readers have come to expect from Kawaguchi.
February 8, 2024
5/5 🌟
3/5 ❤️🩹
3/5 🥰
0/5 🌶️
0/5 🔎
0/5 😰
5/5 🎭T
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
Earthquake
Tsunami
Loss of Life
Grief
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
The fourth novel in the internationally bestselling Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series
The regulars at the magical Café Funiculi Funicula are well acquainted with its famous legend and extraordinary time-travel offer. Many patrons have reunited with old flames, made amends with estranged family and visited loved ones. But the journey is not without risks, and there are rules to follow.
In the tradition of Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s sensational Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series, readers will once again be introduced to a new set of visitors: the husband with something important left to say; the woman who couldn't bid her dog farewell; the woman who couldn't answer a proposal; and the daughter who drove her father away.
Featuring signature heartwarming characters and wistful storytelling, in the beautifully haunting Before We Say Goodbye, Kawaguchi asks: Who would you visit if you could travel through time?
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
This final book of the series was quite a bit shorter but equally emotional and poignant.
This book was also more tragic due to mentions of the 2011 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck Japan. This catastrophe while catastrophic by itself also led to a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Not as bad as Chernobyl but easily could have been. This was Japan’s largest earthquake and 1 of the 5 largest in the world. The wave was over 77 feet tall and easily cleared 18 feet tall sea walls. Over 28,000 people were dead or missing just from the earthquake and tsunami.
It is simply tragic beyond my brains comprehension. If you haven’t read about this natural disaster or heard of it, I recommend doing some research and watching some videos.
https://youtu.be/oWzdgBNfhQU?si=EctIx...
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
3/5 ❤️🩹
3/5 🥰
0/5 🌶️
0/5 🔎
0/5 😰
5/5 🎭T
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
Earthquake
Tsunami
Loss of Life
Grief
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
The fourth novel in the internationally bestselling Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series
The regulars at the magical Café Funiculi Funicula are well acquainted with its famous legend and extraordinary time-travel offer. Many patrons have reunited with old flames, made amends with estranged family and visited loved ones. But the journey is not without risks, and there are rules to follow.
In the tradition of Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s sensational Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series, readers will once again be introduced to a new set of visitors: the husband with something important left to say; the woman who couldn't bid her dog farewell; the woman who couldn't answer a proposal; and the daughter who drove her father away.
Featuring signature heartwarming characters and wistful storytelling, in the beautifully haunting Before We Say Goodbye, Kawaguchi asks: Who would you visit if you could travel through time?
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
This final book of the series was quite a bit shorter but equally emotional and poignant.
This book was also more tragic due to mentions of the 2011 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck Japan. This catastrophe while catastrophic by itself also led to a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Not as bad as Chernobyl but easily could have been. This was Japan’s largest earthquake and 1 of the 5 largest in the world. The wave was over 77 feet tall and easily cleared 18 feet tall sea walls. Over 28,000 people were dead or missing just from the earthquake and tsunami.
It is simply tragic beyond my brains comprehension. If you haven’t read about this natural disaster or heard of it, I recommend doing some research and watching some videos.
https://youtu.be/oWzdgBNfhQU?si=EctIx...
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
December 16, 2023
Podnosząca na duchu i jak zawsze urokliwa.
December 17, 2023
4.75, rating from me.
A great book full of beautiful messages. Nice way to finish the series 📚I took off a little because it didn't answer everything but then again, maybe it wasn't supposed to. Time Travellers will really enjoy the series of 4 books. However, you don't have to be a Time Traveller to enjoy these books. They can be read as a stand alone as well.
1. Before The Coffee Gets Cold
2. Tales From The Cafe
3. Before Your Memory Fades
4. Before We Say Goodbye 🫂
Thanks ever so much, Elisabeth for reading this series with me!! It was a lotta fun 😀📖☕⏲️🕦🕰️
Beware Time Travellers, and remember to drink your coffee before it gets cold.....or you face dire consequences!!!
Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫✨✨💫
A great book full of beautiful messages. Nice way to finish the series 📚I took off a little because it didn't answer everything but then again, maybe it wasn't supposed to. Time Travellers will really enjoy the series of 4 books. However, you don't have to be a Time Traveller to enjoy these books. They can be read as a stand alone as well.
1. Before The Coffee Gets Cold
2. Tales From The Cafe
3. Before Your Memory Fades
4. Before We Say Goodbye 🫂
Thanks ever so much, Elisabeth for reading this series with me!! It was a lotta fun 😀📖☕⏲️🕦🕰️
Beware Time Travellers, and remember to drink your coffee before it gets cold.....or you face dire consequences!!!
Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫✨✨💫
December 29, 2023
I loved this book more than the previous installment. Yet again the experience was like meeting with the friends I haven't seen for a whole year!
It left me pondering for hours. I love the message of this series. Makes me understand that it's in our power to make our life more beautiful than the image we create of it at times, avoiding and hurting close people for no reason. It showed me how powerful the family bonds can be and how dangerous a path sometimes our mind takes, causing hurt to our loved ones we often for some reason take for granted, depriving them from the love they always and all the time deserve - in the now, future and - if we would have a chance to travel back in time - in the past. Funicula Funiculi gives that opportunity, a chance to mend the past, the hurt one caused, leaving the happiness in its stead. Every and each book in this series shows that we need to try harder in order to become better and to be more emotionally responsive. Thank you!!
The question I was left pondering was: What if? And the end of the book shows that it's not such strict a rule that, while being in the past, you can't change present no matter how hard you try. At least, that was what I thought after finishing the last page - the present did change for some of this book characters. All the stories were interesting, squeezed my heart too. The last one left me with most the questions:
Dreamworlds by Lily (Sugarmints Artwork)
January 27, 2024
The last short story in the book, "The Daughter," truly moved me to tears 😭
“Before We Say Goodbye,” the fourth installment of the “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” series, is genuinely heartwarming, with its simple yet beautiful short stories that provide great takeaways for reflection on life 🫶
While some parts of the book may seem a bit repetitive - for example, the descriptions of the café's rules - the stories themselves are simply beautiful. The simplicity of each story is what makes it so powerful, and you'll be left feeling inspired and uplifted after reading it.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading all four short stories in this book, with "The Daughter" and "The Farewell" being my top picks. As for the repetition in this book, it was to be expected and couldn't have been avoided. I believe it was an intentional literary technique and added to the overall impact of the stories. However, on the positive side, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. Also, the repetition can serve a purpose in which people could read this series not in order. Furthermore, the relationship maps of the characters at the beginning of the book are beneficial.
If you're worried that the concept of the book might be getting old, don't be. Reading this book still provides a great deal of comfort and joy, and I highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for a light read that's full of wisdom and great takeaways. 💛
“Before We Say Goodbye,” the fourth installment of the “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” series, is genuinely heartwarming, with its simple yet beautiful short stories that provide great takeaways for reflection on life 🫶
While some parts of the book may seem a bit repetitive - for example, the descriptions of the café's rules - the stories themselves are simply beautiful. The simplicity of each story is what makes it so powerful, and you'll be left feeling inspired and uplifted after reading it.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading all four short stories in this book, with "The Daughter" and "The Farewell" being my top picks. As for the repetition in this book, it was to be expected and couldn't have been avoided. I believe it was an intentional literary technique and added to the overall impact of the stories. However, on the positive side, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. Also, the repetition can serve a purpose in which people could read this series not in order. Furthermore, the relationship maps of the characters at the beginning of the book are beneficial.
If you're worried that the concept of the book might be getting old, don't be. Reading this book still provides a great deal of comfort and joy, and I highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for a light read that's full of wisdom and great takeaways. 💛
June 29, 2025
Toshikazu Kawaguchi's "Before We Say Goodbye" is the enchanting fourth chapter in his "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" series, inviting readers once again into the mystical embrace of Funiculi Funicula cafe. Here, the impossible becomes briefly possible: a journey back in time, with a catch – you must finish your coffee before it goes cold, or risk becoming one of the cafe's spectral, permanent residents.
This installment introduces four new souls, each drawn to the cafe by the undeniable pull of their past. We meet a husband with an unspoken message for his wife, a daughter yearning to show more kindness to her father, a woman seeking clarity with an old flame, and, most tenderly, a woman desperate for one last glance at her beloved canine companion. These narratives, while following the familiar, comforting rhythm of the series, are anything but stale. They're woven with such care that each story feels fresh, capable of reaching into your chest and giving your heart a gentle, poignant squeeze.
"Before We Say Goodbye" isn't about rewriting history, because the past, in this cafe, remains stubbornly unchanged. Instead, it's about the profound power of connection, the lingering sting of regret, and the quiet grace of finding peace. It’s a reminder that even without altering events, revisiting moments can mend fractured emotions and offer a much-needed sense of closure.
The Enduring Magic of Funiculi Funicula
Despite the series' consistent premise, the magic of Funiculi Funicula shows no signs of fading. While the detailed explanations of the cafe's unique rules are less prominent this time around, the heart of the books—the compelling, heartfelt stories of its patrons—continues to captivate. This book is a warm embrace on a cool evening, perfect for devouring in one go or savoring chapter by chapter. Just be sure to have a box of tissues nearby; these tales of love, loss, and the bittersweet beauty of goodbyes are sure to leave a lasting, tear-tinged impression.
So, when you have a quiet evening to yourself, perhaps with a warm cup of your own, let "Before We Say Goodbye" transport you. You'll find yourself quickly lost in its pages, emerging with a heart a little fuller, and perhaps, a new appreciation for every precious moment.
This installment introduces four new souls, each drawn to the cafe by the undeniable pull of their past. We meet a husband with an unspoken message for his wife, a daughter yearning to show more kindness to her father, a woman seeking clarity with an old flame, and, most tenderly, a woman desperate for one last glance at her beloved canine companion. These narratives, while following the familiar, comforting rhythm of the series, are anything but stale. They're woven with such care that each story feels fresh, capable of reaching into your chest and giving your heart a gentle, poignant squeeze.
"Before We Say Goodbye" isn't about rewriting history, because the past, in this cafe, remains stubbornly unchanged. Instead, it's about the profound power of connection, the lingering sting of regret, and the quiet grace of finding peace. It’s a reminder that even without altering events, revisiting moments can mend fractured emotions and offer a much-needed sense of closure.
The Enduring Magic of Funiculi Funicula
Despite the series' consistent premise, the magic of Funiculi Funicula shows no signs of fading. While the detailed explanations of the cafe's unique rules are less prominent this time around, the heart of the books—the compelling, heartfelt stories of its patrons—continues to captivate. This book is a warm embrace on a cool evening, perfect for devouring in one go or savoring chapter by chapter. Just be sure to have a box of tissues nearby; these tales of love, loss, and the bittersweet beauty of goodbyes are sure to leave a lasting, tear-tinged impression.
So, when you have a quiet evening to yourself, perhaps with a warm cup of your own, let "Before We Say Goodbye" transport you. You'll find yourself quickly lost in its pages, emerging with a heart a little fuller, and perhaps, a new appreciation for every precious moment.
April 5, 2025
Poruszająca lektura. Książeczka o niewielkiej objętości - z treścią skłaniająca do refleksji nad życiem. Lubię, gdy autor nie jest nachalny i nie stara się na siłę zmieniać czytelnika, ale bardziej zacheca go do "zatrzymania się" i wzięcia kilku głębokich oddechów. Na plus rownież, że 4 tom nie przypomina odgrzewanych kotletów 😉
April 16, 2024
There's not much to say here. Usual collection of cozy short stories by Mr. Kawaguchi: I like the background idea enough to continue reading them year after year, but that's about it.
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Non c'è molto da dire qui. Solita raccolta di racconti intimi di Kawaguchi: mi piace abbastanza l'idea di fondo da continuare a leggerli anno dopo anno, ma questo è tutto.
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Non c'è molto da dire qui. Solita raccolta di racconti intimi di Kawaguchi: mi piace abbastanza l'idea di fondo da continuare a leggerli anno dopo anno, ma questo è tutto.
May 25, 2024
প্রথমে ভেবেছিলাম এটাতেও হয়তো ক্যাফে ডন্না ডন্নার গল্প পাব। কিন্তু না, এবারে প্রথম এবং দ্বিতীয় বইয়ের মাঝের সময়ে হঠাৎ ফিরে গেছেন লেখক। সেই সময়ের চারজন বিশেষ অতিথির গল্প নিয়েই বিফোর উই সে গুডবাই সাজানো। সবগুলোই ভালো লেগেছে, তবে শেষেরটা হয়তো আরেকটু ভালো হতে পারত। সাড়ে তিন তারা।
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