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コーヒーが冷めないうちに #6
Before I Knew I Loved You
Win a free print copy of this book!
6 days and 07:36:11
10 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
In a special seat in a fabled Tokyo cafe, you’re offered something irresistible – not just a warm, comforting coffee, but the chance to go back in time to revisit the ones you love . . .
In Before I Knew I Loved You, Toshikazu Kawaguchi takes us back to the warm heart of the mysterious Funiculi Funicula Cafe, with another four guests whose luminous stories of love, lost and won again, will reaffirm your belief in its eternal potential. In this book, we meet:
- The girl who couldn’t call her mother, and yearns to reconnect with her
- The man who waited for a reply from his girlfriend, and never heard from her
- The woman, anxious to travel ahead to know what her future holds
- The student who travels back to meet his father again, who passed away many years before
Yet the same rules always apply – you must return before the coffee gets cold. And while it does, memories are revisited, people are changed forever, and the enduring power of love transcends the boundaries of time.
The sixth book in the phenomenal, bestselling series, translated from Japanese, Before I Knew I Loved You asks the irresistible what would you do if you were offered the chance to go back in time?
In Before I Knew I Loved You, Toshikazu Kawaguchi takes us back to the warm heart of the mysterious Funiculi Funicula Cafe, with another four guests whose luminous stories of love, lost and won again, will reaffirm your belief in its eternal potential. In this book, we meet:
- The girl who couldn’t call her mother, and yearns to reconnect with her
- The man who waited for a reply from his girlfriend, and never heard from her
- The woman, anxious to travel ahead to know what her future holds
- The student who travels back to meet his father again, who passed away many years before
Yet the same rules always apply – you must return before the coffee gets cold. And while it does, memories are revisited, people are changed forever, and the enduring power of love transcends the boundaries of time.
The sixth book in the phenomenal, bestselling series, translated from Japanese, Before I Knew I Loved You asks the irresistible what would you do if you were offered the chance to go back in time?
222 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2024
About the author
Toshikazu Kawaguchi
16 books7,310 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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October 11, 2024can't wait for the english translated version in the next few years!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
┆ ⤿ 🥐⌗ started: february 20, finished: february 21
3 stars 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
⤿ arc review with some spoilers.
ⓘ thank you to netgalley and harpercollins for the early edition in exchange for an honest review.
thoughts: ⋆˚࿔
i did feel the heartbreak, the stories carry that quiet, reflective sadness that this series is known for, and there were definitely moments that tugged at me. the themes of regret, parental sacrifice, and unresolved emotions were strong, and i appreciated how gently everything unfolded.
but for some reason, it just didn’t fully connect with me. i understood what the stories were trying to convey, and i could see the emotional weight behind them, yet i felt slightly removed from it all. it was like i was witnessing the sadness rather than being completely immersed in it. the emotions were there, but they didn’t hit me as deeply as some of the earlier books in the series.
that being said, i still respect the softness of the storytelling. kawaguchi has a way of making ordinary conversations feel meaningful, and i admire the simplicity and restraint. this one just didn’t resonate with me on a personal level the way i hoped it would. bittersweet, thoughtful, but not one of my favorites in the series.
stories: ⋆˚࿔
i. the runaway
this story covers about azami kishimoto and her stepmother yumiko togo. this story hurt in the softest, most devastating way. azami was a troubled child who pushed away the one person who never stopped loving her. after losing her biological mother, she took her anger and grief out on yumiko, the stepmother who never tried to replace anyone, never forced the “mother” title, but still stayed. yumiko endured everything and continued to care for azami as her own, quietly and patiently.
what made this story even more painful was the realization that azami only truly understood her stepmother’s love years later, after yumiko had passed away. once she became a stepmother herself, she finally felt the weight of what yumiko must have carried. the guilt, the regret, the pain of telling her to never look for her again… it all came rushing back.
this chapter beautifully captured regret, guilt, and unspoken love. it shows how sometimes we only understand someone’s sacrifices when it’s too late, and how heavy that realization can be.
ii. the patient man
the patient man follows koku, who has quietly loved kazu for years, knowing she keeps everyone at a careful emotional distance. while those around her sense a wall, kōkū never pressures her to lower it. instead, he remains steady and patient, accepting her responsibilities to the café and the grief she carries from her late fiancé, goro katada.
running alongside this is the story of okishima and kanna, which explores a more innocent, youthful kind of affection. their dynamic contrasts with koku's enduring devotion, highlighting different stages and expressions of love, one built on subtle glances and growing awareness, the other rooted in years of quiet waiting.
overall, the chapter centers on themes of patience, unspoken feelings, and enduring love. it’s gentle and reflective rather than dramatic, focusing more on emotional undercurrents than major twists.
iii. the secret
this story follows rikako, who is anxious about her future with gaku, a kind but struggling comedian whose career feels uncertain and unstable. frustrated by his lack of clear success and worried she might be settling, rikako chooses to travel forward in time to see what becomes of their relationship. she wants reassurance. she wants proof that staying will be worth it.
this chapter explores insecurity, doubt, and the fear of choosing wrong. it asks whether love can survive without certainty, and whether knowing the future truly brings peace, or just exposes what we’re too afraid to face in the present.
iv. the father and son
this story follows tsuguo, who travels back to meet his late father, ryutaro, one more time. raised alone by his father after a divorce, tsuguo grew up without fully understanding the sacrifices ryutaro made. through their quiet conversation, he begins to see his father not just as a parent, but as a man who did his best with what he had.
it’s a soft, bittersweet story about parental sacrifice, misunderstanding, and finally seeing someone clearly, even if it’s too late.
3 stars 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
⤿ arc review with some spoilers.
if you could go back in time, who would you want to meet?
ⓘ thank you to netgalley and harpercollins for the early edition in exchange for an honest review.
thoughts: ⋆˚࿔
i did feel the heartbreak, the stories carry that quiet, reflective sadness that this series is known for, and there were definitely moments that tugged at me. the themes of regret, parental sacrifice, and unresolved emotions were strong, and i appreciated how gently everything unfolded.
but for some reason, it just didn’t fully connect with me. i understood what the stories were trying to convey, and i could see the emotional weight behind them, yet i felt slightly removed from it all. it was like i was witnessing the sadness rather than being completely immersed in it. the emotions were there, but they didn’t hit me as deeply as some of the earlier books in the series.
that being said, i still respect the softness of the storytelling. kawaguchi has a way of making ordinary conversations feel meaningful, and i admire the simplicity and restraint. this one just didn’t resonate with me on a personal level the way i hoped it would. bittersweet, thoughtful, but not one of my favorites in the series.
stories: ⋆˚࿔
i. the runaway
this story covers about azami kishimoto and her stepmother yumiko togo. this story hurt in the softest, most devastating way. azami was a troubled child who pushed away the one person who never stopped loving her. after losing her biological mother, she took her anger and grief out on yumiko, the stepmother who never tried to replace anyone, never forced the “mother” title, but still stayed. yumiko endured everything and continued to care for azami as her own, quietly and patiently.
what made this story even more painful was the realization that azami only truly understood her stepmother’s love years later, after yumiko had passed away. once she became a stepmother herself, she finally felt the weight of what yumiko must have carried. the guilt, the regret, the pain of telling her to never look for her again… it all came rushing back.
this chapter beautifully captured regret, guilt, and unspoken love. it shows how sometimes we only understand someone’s sacrifices when it’s too late, and how heavy that realization can be.
ii. the patient man
the patient man follows koku, who has quietly loved kazu for years, knowing she keeps everyone at a careful emotional distance. while those around her sense a wall, kōkū never pressures her to lower it. instead, he remains steady and patient, accepting her responsibilities to the café and the grief she carries from her late fiancé, goro katada.
running alongside this is the story of okishima and kanna, which explores a more innocent, youthful kind of affection. their dynamic contrasts with koku's enduring devotion, highlighting different stages and expressions of love, one built on subtle glances and growing awareness, the other rooted in years of quiet waiting.
overall, the chapter centers on themes of patience, unspoken feelings, and enduring love. it’s gentle and reflective rather than dramatic, focusing more on emotional undercurrents than major twists.
iii. the secret
this story follows rikako, who is anxious about her future with gaku, a kind but struggling comedian whose career feels uncertain and unstable. frustrated by his lack of clear success and worried she might be settling, rikako chooses to travel forward in time to see what becomes of their relationship. she wants reassurance. she wants proof that staying will be worth it.
this chapter explores insecurity, doubt, and the fear of choosing wrong. it asks whether love can survive without certainty, and whether knowing the future truly brings peace, or just exposes what we’re too afraid to face in the present.
iv. the father and son
this story follows tsuguo, who travels back to meet his late father, ryutaro, one more time. raised alone by his father after a divorce, tsuguo grew up without fully understanding the sacrifices ryutaro made. through their quiet conversation, he begins to see his father not just as a parent, but as a man who did his best with what he had.
it’s a soft, bittersweet story about parental sacrifice, misunderstanding, and finally seeing someone clearly, even if it’s too late.
June 1, 2026
reaching my 1000th read felt like a moment that deserved something extraordinary and somehow Before I Knew I Loved You became exactly that. not only did it mark such a personal milestone in my reading life, but it also solidified itself as the best book I have read this year, which is a statement I do not make lightly. Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s café series has long since become my favorite series of all time, a literary home I return to for comfort, reflection and emotional catharsis, yet this installment affected me in a way I was not entirely prepared for. by the time I turned the final page, I felt emotionally wrung out in the gentlest, most beautiful sense. I closed the book with tears in my eyes and that peculiar ache that only emerges when a story reaches somewhere deeply human inside you.
what continues to distinguish this series for me is Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s extraordinary understanding of emotional restraint. these novels never rely solely on melodrama and yet they somehow devastate me more thoroughly than books filled with grand tragedies and dramatic declarations. Before I Knew I Loved You carries the same quiet elegance that defines the previous installments, but there is an especially poignant tenderness running through this one. the emotions here feel startlingly intimate, almost fragile, as though the characters are handing the reader the most vulnerable parts of themselves and trusting them to handle them carefully.
I read the entire book in one sitting because putting it down simply never felt possible. every chapter drew me further into its emotional current until the outside world became strangely distant. Toshikazu Kawaguchi has mastered the art of creating narratives that feel deceptively simple on the surface, while containing immense emotional depth underneath. the structure remains familiar to longtime readers of the series, yet it never becomes repetitive. instead, the familiarity itself becomes comforting, almost ritualistic. returning once more to that small café felt more like revisiting a place that exists somewhere within my own memory.
what affected me most was the profound compassion with which the characters are written. Toshikazu Kawaguchi approaches human flaws with remarkable gentleness. nobody is villainized for being afraid, uncertain, regretful or emotionally clumsy. the novel understands that love often exists in imperfect forms and that some of the most meaningful emotions are the ones people fail to articulate in time. I felt such immense tenderness toward these characters because their struggles never felt exaggerated for dramatic effect, but rather painfully recognizable. their conversations carry an understated realism that lingers long after reading, filled with things left unsaid, interrupted emotions and fragile attempts at connection.
there is also something uniquely comforting about the philosophy underpinning this series. beneath its speculative premise lies a deeply empathetic exploration of grief, memory, forgiveness and human connection. Toshikazu Kawaguchi repeatedly returns to the idea that while people cannot necessarily alter the past, they can transform their understanding of it. that emotional nuance is what elevates these books beyond their premise. they are not truly about time travel so much as they are about emotional reconciliation and about learning how to carry love, regret and loss without allowing them to consume you.
this installment, in particular, felt overwhelmingly intimate to me. several moments struck with such emotional precision that I had to pause simply to absorb them. the author writes sorrow with incredible softness. even the most heartbreaking scenes contain warmth within them, as though the novel is gently reminding the reader that pain and love are often inseparable. I found myself reflecting not only on the characters’ lives but on my own relationships, my own memories and the countless things I wish I had said differently.
the prose itself remains beautifully understated. Toshikazu Kawaguchi never writes to impress; he writes to connect. the simplicity of his style allows the emotional truths of the story to emerge with startling clarity. there are no unnecessary embellishments and no excessive sentimentality and yet the emotional impact is immense. in many ways, the restraint of the writing is precisely what makes it so devastating. the novel trusts silence as much as dialogue and I admired that enormously.
perhaps what moved me most, however, was the realization that I genuinely never want this series to end. very few literary worlds have become as emotionally significant to me as this one has. each installment feels like returning to familiar company, characters, themes and emotions that somehow continue to reveal new dimensions of humanity every single time. there is comfort in that continuity, but there is also grief in knowing that eventually there may come a final visit to this café. I am not ready for that and I do not think I ever will be.
Before I Knew I Loved You reminded me why this series has become so important to me over the years. it does not shout its wisdom; it whispers it quietly through ordinary people carrying invisible emotional burdens. and somehow, in those quiet conversations over coffee, Toshikazu Kawaguchi captures something profoundly true about being human. out of the 1000 books I have read, very few have left me feeling as emotionally understood as this one did.
what continues to distinguish this series for me is Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s extraordinary understanding of emotional restraint. these novels never rely solely on melodrama and yet they somehow devastate me more thoroughly than books filled with grand tragedies and dramatic declarations. Before I Knew I Loved You carries the same quiet elegance that defines the previous installments, but there is an especially poignant tenderness running through this one. the emotions here feel startlingly intimate, almost fragile, as though the characters are handing the reader the most vulnerable parts of themselves and trusting them to handle them carefully.
I read the entire book in one sitting because putting it down simply never felt possible. every chapter drew me further into its emotional current until the outside world became strangely distant. Toshikazu Kawaguchi has mastered the art of creating narratives that feel deceptively simple on the surface, while containing immense emotional depth underneath. the structure remains familiar to longtime readers of the series, yet it never becomes repetitive. instead, the familiarity itself becomes comforting, almost ritualistic. returning once more to that small café felt more like revisiting a place that exists somewhere within my own memory.
what affected me most was the profound compassion with which the characters are written. Toshikazu Kawaguchi approaches human flaws with remarkable gentleness. nobody is villainized for being afraid, uncertain, regretful or emotionally clumsy. the novel understands that love often exists in imperfect forms and that some of the most meaningful emotions are the ones people fail to articulate in time. I felt such immense tenderness toward these characters because their struggles never felt exaggerated for dramatic effect, but rather painfully recognizable. their conversations carry an understated realism that lingers long after reading, filled with things left unsaid, interrupted emotions and fragile attempts at connection.
there is also something uniquely comforting about the philosophy underpinning this series. beneath its speculative premise lies a deeply empathetic exploration of grief, memory, forgiveness and human connection. Toshikazu Kawaguchi repeatedly returns to the idea that while people cannot necessarily alter the past, they can transform their understanding of it. that emotional nuance is what elevates these books beyond their premise. they are not truly about time travel so much as they are about emotional reconciliation and about learning how to carry love, regret and loss without allowing them to consume you.
this installment, in particular, felt overwhelmingly intimate to me. several moments struck with such emotional precision that I had to pause simply to absorb them. the author writes sorrow with incredible softness. even the most heartbreaking scenes contain warmth within them, as though the novel is gently reminding the reader that pain and love are often inseparable. I found myself reflecting not only on the characters’ lives but on my own relationships, my own memories and the countless things I wish I had said differently.
the prose itself remains beautifully understated. Toshikazu Kawaguchi never writes to impress; he writes to connect. the simplicity of his style allows the emotional truths of the story to emerge with startling clarity. there are no unnecessary embellishments and no excessive sentimentality and yet the emotional impact is immense. in many ways, the restraint of the writing is precisely what makes it so devastating. the novel trusts silence as much as dialogue and I admired that enormously.
perhaps what moved me most, however, was the realization that I genuinely never want this series to end. very few literary worlds have become as emotionally significant to me as this one has. each installment feels like returning to familiar company, characters, themes and emotions that somehow continue to reveal new dimensions of humanity every single time. there is comfort in that continuity, but there is also grief in knowing that eventually there may come a final visit to this café. I am not ready for that and I do not think I ever will be.
Before I Knew I Loved You reminded me why this series has become so important to me over the years. it does not shout its wisdom; it whispers it quietly through ordinary people carrying invisible emotional burdens. and somehow, in those quiet conversations over coffee, Toshikazu Kawaguchi captures something profoundly true about being human. out of the 1000 books I have read, very few have left me feeling as emotionally understood as this one did.
June 4, 2026
I know this will be an unpopular opinion, but I think it’s time to retire this series. The last few have been just okay, and this one felt so recycled with the same sort of stories we’ve already had. Plus, I’ll be honest that two of the cafe regulars who have become nosier and nosier as the books have progressed really annoyed me. I used to think they were a bit impertinent but with hearts of gold, but in this book it felt like they were both simply nosy for the sake of being vehicles to get the cafe visitors to spew their sad stories to the reader. When this happens over and over again, it feels repetitive and a touch uncreative.
Plus, so many of the stories felt like the women only existed to be a foil for the bland and grieving male characters. But I can’t go more into that without giving spoilers.
I think it’s safe to say this is the last book I’ll be reading in this series, which makes me really sad given how much I loved the first few! What originally felt quietly charming in the first few books now feels stifling and unoriginal.
Plus, so many of the stories felt like the women only existed to be a foil for the bland and grieving male characters. But I can’t go more into that without giving spoilers.
I think it’s safe to say this is the last book I’ll be reading in this series, which makes me really sad given how much I loved the first few! What originally felt quietly charming in the first few books now feels stifling and unoriginal.
June 1, 2026
the 6th book of the exact same premise and story and i eat it up and cry every time
June 5, 2026
"If you could return to that day, who would you go meet?"
We've finally made it to the sixth installment in the series— and once again, we're back in the bookish Jimbocho district at café Funiculi Funicula.
Before I Knew I Loved You really needs no introduction at this point. Readers of the series have thoroughly gotten to know the café's staff, it's regulars, the vast amount of saddening yet hopeful stories, and of course— the rules.
Oh, the rules.
My deduction of stars is mostly contributed to the excessive amount of times that they are repeated—literally I'm not even kidding.
It's getting ridiculous.
Yet this time around, Kawaguchi has truly expanded on the main characters outside of individual visitors and their heart-wrenching tales of love and loss.
This I did like.
A couple of books back, I was searching for the connection I once felt with characters in the earlier installments. There's enjoyment in feeling like a fly on a wall at a café that only lives in the recesses of one's mind. I love cracking open this series, slipping into one of the table seats, ordering my cup of piping hot black coffee, and observing the conversation between the staff, customers, and those hopeful time traveling guests.
That felt really good.
Kazu is one of my favorite characters. She is poised, a bit mysterious, utterly calm, and outwardly aloof. It was such a nice touch to learn something so positive and exciting about her future within these sets of stories— being that I'm always quietly rooting for her.
Fumiko can kick some rocks, just to throw that in there.
I also found it quite fun to learn about a little loophole when traveling to the past, one that will be revealed to the reader in the first story!
While Before I Knew I Loved You felt a little less heavy and a bit more sweet, I truly wish so many people would stop having to visit the café due to the death of a loved one. I found myself quite excited when a story in the book did not involve any form of death and still had a beautifully touching resolution.
Kawaguchi-san, there needs to be at least one book in this series where everyone remains alive, thank you.
Overall, you know me. None of the ranting will ever indicate that I'll stop reading this cash-grab series of overly sweet and whimsical literature. ♡
Sometimes, we just find that comfort series and it sticks like glue.
With this particular book, I've created another cute little mantra: Happiness may be temporary, but it's happiness nevertheless. 𑣲⋆
Before I Knew I Loved You is a straight-forward ★ ★ ★ star read for me today, leaning into really deep 'maybe' territory. While I love the series, the repetition can easily become tiresome. If someone chose to pick up this book without reading the other five, it could easily receive a higher rating— but overall, this one gave me a bit of fatigue.
We've finally made it to the sixth installment in the series— and once again, we're back in the bookish Jimbocho district at café Funiculi Funicula.
Before I Knew I Loved You really needs no introduction at this point. Readers of the series have thoroughly gotten to know the café's staff, it's regulars, the vast amount of saddening yet hopeful stories, and of course— the rules.
Oh, the rules.
My deduction of stars is mostly contributed to the excessive amount of times that they are repeated—literally I'm not even kidding.
It's getting ridiculous.
Yet this time around, Kawaguchi has truly expanded on the main characters outside of individual visitors and their heart-wrenching tales of love and loss.
This I did like.
A couple of books back, I was searching for the connection I once felt with characters in the earlier installments. There's enjoyment in feeling like a fly on a wall at a café that only lives in the recesses of one's mind. I love cracking open this series, slipping into one of the table seats, ordering my cup of piping hot black coffee, and observing the conversation between the staff, customers, and those hopeful time traveling guests.
That felt really good.
Kazu is one of my favorite characters. She is poised, a bit mysterious, utterly calm, and outwardly aloof. It was such a nice touch to learn something so positive and exciting about her future within these sets of stories— being that I'm always quietly rooting for her.
Fumiko can kick some rocks, just to throw that in there.
I also found it quite fun to learn about a little loophole when traveling to the past, one that will be revealed to the reader in the first story!
While Before I Knew I Loved You felt a little less heavy and a bit more sweet, I truly wish so many people would stop having to visit the café due to the death of a loved one. I found myself quite excited when a story in the book did not involve any form of death and still had a beautifully touching resolution.
Kawaguchi-san, there needs to be at least one book in this series where everyone remains alive, thank you.
Overall, you know me. None of the ranting will ever indicate that I'll stop reading this cash-grab series of overly sweet and whimsical literature. ♡
Sometimes, we just find that comfort series and it sticks like glue.
With this particular book, I've created another cute little mantra: Happiness may be temporary, but it's happiness nevertheless. 𑣲⋆
Before I Knew I Loved You is a straight-forward ★ ★ ★ star read for me today, leaning into really deep 'maybe' territory. While I love the series, the repetition can easily become tiresome. If someone chose to pick up this book without reading the other five, it could easily receive a higher rating— but overall, this one gave me a bit of fatigue.
August 8, 2025
In qualche modo piango sempre, assurdo.
May 23, 2026
I was delighted to see a new installment.
It was a quick, enjoyable read.
My main gripe though was the overuse of the character Fumiko. She was inserted very prominently into the first three stories. To me, it felt very unnessary and a little irritating.
It was a quick, enjoyable read.
My main gripe though was the overuse of the character Fumiko. She was inserted very prominently into the first three stories. To me, it felt very unnessary and a little irritating.
January 3, 2025
Cried ugly at the last story 🥲 A mix of heart warming story makes the book a nice balance. Some lines do feel like they are there to increase the word count but still okay, I guess.
One confusing bit in the book is where in the last story, Koku told Kinuyo he was going to France "the next day", but Kazu apparently received a message from him attached with his selfie in France "that very evening" 🤷♀️
One confusing bit in the book is where in the last story, Koku told Kinuyo he was going to France "the next day", but Kazu apparently received a message from him attached with his selfie in France "that very evening" 🤷♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2026
حلم العودة الى الماضي يتحقق في مقهى فونيكولي فونيكولا بشرط العودة قبل ان تبرد ☕️.
حكايات أشخاص عادوا للماضي و عبروا عن مشاعر الحب بكل أنواعه.
حكايات أشخاص عادوا للماضي و عبروا عن مشاعر الحب بكل أنواعه.
June 20, 2026
Before I knew I Loved You by Toshikazu Kawaguchi is the sixth and the final book in the Before The Coffee Gets Cold series. This series will always have a special place in my heart and on my bookshelf. No words can explain the underlying comfort this series brings.
Out of the four stories, one story travels in the future whereas other three travel back in time. My favourite one has to be the girlfriend one and the one where the son meets his father. Both of them were super heartwarming and equally emotional.
And along with that we see such a heartfelt and warm ending for Kazu. The stories in this one definitely feels extraordinary as compared to all the first five books and I am going to definitely miss reading new stories in this series.
Out of the four stories, one story travels in the future whereas other three travel back in time. My favourite one has to be the girlfriend one and the one where the son meets his father. Both of them were super heartwarming and equally emotional.
And along with that we see such a heartfelt and warm ending for Kazu. The stories in this one definitely feels extraordinary as compared to all the first five books and I am going to definitely miss reading new stories in this series.
May 27, 2026
These books are always a great way to reflect on the past and present. What if we had the chance to go back, would it be to make a change for us or for the other person?
May 30, 2026
Read for AAPI month
As far as I'm concerned, this series can go on forever ❤️❤️❤️🥰
As far as I'm concerned, this series can go on forever ❤️❤️❤️🥰
June 1, 2026
Before I Knew I Loved You
Author : Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Translator : Geoffrey Trousselot
This is the 6th novel to the "Before The Coffee Gets Cold" series & like the other books in the series, this novel also revolves around a mysterious cafe called Funiculi Funicula in Tokyo known for its rumors & that different individuals w/ sundry background stories who have heard of the cafe's rumours, come & visit to have a chance to return to the past or jump to the future.
The series begins w/ a 14-year-old runaway girl Azami Togo who was wandering the streets of Kagoshima on October of 1999 alone, still in the tracksuit bottoms & jacket she was wearing when she impulsively fled from home. Her stepmother Yumiko has been searching for her for 3 days & nights w/o sleep, while her father Genji refused to file a missing-person report trying to avoid the community gossiping & took no effort to search for her. Fastforward to January of 2019, Azami Kishimoto now sits at cafe Funiculi Funicula where the cafe's waitress Kazu Tokita & two other regular customers (one who happens to be her previous senior colleague) listen to her story. A couple of mos. ago, she had heard of her mother passing away after her father who hadn't contacted her for over a decade, suddenly called. Full of remorse & regrets, she tried to go back to the past to apologize to her stepmother. (This is my favorite story from the book!)
There were other stories included in the series : A university student aspiring to be a travelling photographer, fascinated by a particular painting titled "Mother" at his college's festival (Koku Shintani & Kazu Tokita's background story), a customer who travelled back to the past (7 years ago) to meet the love of his life back in high school who suffered amnesia due to an accident, Hirai Yaeko's flower-arranging club (Ikebana) junior back in high school who asked her for advice after her boyfriend of 2 years proposed to her but she found out also that she has cancer (I cried for Rikako here so much!) & a 14-year-old second year of junior high student who wants to travel to the past to meet his late father a chef, who died of a genetic heart condition called angina (my heart ached for Tsuguo here!).
I am so happy to know Kazu finally found her own happiness! (5 years in the future w/ Koku Shintani & their own baby) Kinuyo's dream finally comes true.
The rest of the stories were painfully heart-wrenching & emotional, & it made me such a wreck for crying 🫣 I definitely enjoyed & loved the flow of the story as well as the characters & their background stories. Will there be another book in the series? 🤔
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
P.S.
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Author : Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Translator : Geoffrey Trousselot
This is the 6th novel to the "Before The Coffee Gets Cold" series & like the other books in the series, this novel also revolves around a mysterious cafe called Funiculi Funicula in Tokyo known for its rumors & that different individuals w/ sundry background stories who have heard of the cafe's rumours, come & visit to have a chance to return to the past or jump to the future.
The series begins w/ a 14-year-old runaway girl Azami Togo who was wandering the streets of Kagoshima on October of 1999 alone, still in the tracksuit bottoms & jacket she was wearing when she impulsively fled from home. Her stepmother Yumiko has been searching for her for 3 days & nights w/o sleep, while her father Genji refused to file a missing-person report trying to avoid the community gossiping & took no effort to search for her. Fastforward to January of 2019, Azami Kishimoto now sits at cafe Funiculi Funicula where the cafe's waitress Kazu Tokita & two other regular customers (one who happens to be her previous senior colleague) listen to her story. A couple of mos. ago, she had heard of her mother passing away after her father who hadn't contacted her for over a decade, suddenly called. Full of remorse & regrets, she tried to go back to the past to apologize to her stepmother. (This is my favorite story from the book!)
There were other stories included in the series : A university student aspiring to be a travelling photographer, fascinated by a particular painting titled "Mother" at his college's festival (Koku Shintani & Kazu Tokita's background story), a customer who travelled back to the past (7 years ago) to meet the love of his life back in high school who suffered amnesia due to an accident, Hirai Yaeko's flower-arranging club (Ikebana) junior back in high school who asked her for advice after her boyfriend of 2 years proposed to her but she found out also that she has cancer (I cried for Rikako here so much!) & a 14-year-old second year of junior high student who wants to travel to the past to meet his late father a chef, who died of a genetic heart condition called angina (my heart ached for Tsuguo here!).
I am so happy to know Kazu finally found her own happiness! (5 years in the future w/ Koku Shintani & their own baby) Kinuyo's dream finally comes true.
The rest of the stories were painfully heart-wrenching & emotional, & it made me such a wreck for crying 🫣 I definitely enjoyed & loved the flow of the story as well as the characters & their background stories. Will there be another book in the series? 🤔
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
P.S.
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June 14, 2026
„Zanim zrozumiałem, że cię kocham” - Toshikazu Kawaguchi (Grupa Wydawnicza Relacja)
Przełożyła Joanna Dżdża
Książka otrzymana w ramach współpracy barterowej.
Szósty tom japońskiego bestsellera, którego chyba nie trzeba nikomu przedstawiać. To jeden z prekursorów nurtu healing novel, który skradł moje serce już od pierwszej części. W najnowszym tomie dostajemy więcej tego, za co pokochali go czytelnicy. Skoro formuła działa tak dobrze, trudno dziwić się, że autor nie próbuje jej na siłę zmieniać.
Przed nami cztery wzruszające historie, w których czas zatrzymuje się na chwilę dla bohaterów i czytelników. Dziewczyna, która uciekła z domu i żałuje zerwania kontaktów z macochą. Mężczyzna czekający, aż ukochana odzyska pamięć. Kobieta pragnąca zdobyć rozkład jazdy z przyszłości. Wreszcie gimnazjalista, który bardzo tęskni za kuchnią swojego ojca.
Nawet wśród moich znajomych pojawiają się głosy, że seria ciągle opowiada tę samą historię. Ja mam jednak zupełnie inne odczucia. Każde kolejne opowiadanie wydaje mi się świeże i wyjątkowe. Za każdym razem bez reszty wsiąkam w przedstawioną historię. Kawaguchi ma niezwykły talent do budowania emocjonalnej więzi z bohaterami w bardzo krótkiej formie. Największym zaskoczeniem okazało się dla mnie ostatnie, najkrótsze opowiadanie. To właśnie ono wywołało u mnie łzy i przyniosło poczucie swoistego katharsis. Seria „Zanim wystygnie kawa” pozostaje dla mnie czymś naprawdę wyjątkowym.
Toshikazu Kawaguchi operuje prostym i przystępnym językiem, a jednocześnie potrafi przekazać ogrom emocjonalnej głębi. Dzięki temu lektura płynie niezwykle gładko, a historie długo pozostają w pamięci. Na pochwałę zasługuje również samo wydanie. Papier jest lekki i przyjazny dla oczu, a dodatkowe elementy, takie jak mapka relacji między postaciami czy oznaczenia czasu akcji na początku scen, zwiększają komfort czytania.
„Zanim zrozumiałem, że cię kocham” to kolejny bardzo udany tom popularnej serii. Patrząc na cykl jako całość, jedynie druga część wydała mi się nieco słabsza od pozostałych. Każda następna książka rozwija jednak to niezwykłe literackie uniwersum i pokazuje, że autor wciąż potrafi wydobyć z tej koncepcji coś nowego. Jeśli pokochaliście poprzednie części, również tym razem nie powinniście być zawiedzeni. A jeśli jeszcze nie znacie tej serii, to może właśnie od niej warto rozpocząć swoją przygodę z japońskimi healing novels. Kawaguchi po raz kolejny pokazuje, że czas można cofnąć, ale najważniejsze są uczucia, które pozostają.
Przełożyła Joanna Dżdża
Książka otrzymana w ramach współpracy barterowej.
Szósty tom japońskiego bestsellera, którego chyba nie trzeba nikomu przedstawiać. To jeden z prekursorów nurtu healing novel, który skradł moje serce już od pierwszej części. W najnowszym tomie dostajemy więcej tego, za co pokochali go czytelnicy. Skoro formuła działa tak dobrze, trudno dziwić się, że autor nie próbuje jej na siłę zmieniać.
Przed nami cztery wzruszające historie, w których czas zatrzymuje się na chwilę dla bohaterów i czytelników. Dziewczyna, która uciekła z domu i żałuje zerwania kontaktów z macochą. Mężczyzna czekający, aż ukochana odzyska pamięć. Kobieta pragnąca zdobyć rozkład jazdy z przyszłości. Wreszcie gimnazjalista, który bardzo tęskni za kuchnią swojego ojca.
Nawet wśród moich znajomych pojawiają się głosy, że seria ciągle opowiada tę samą historię. Ja mam jednak zupełnie inne odczucia. Każde kolejne opowiadanie wydaje mi się świeże i wyjątkowe. Za każdym razem bez reszty wsiąkam w przedstawioną historię. Kawaguchi ma niezwykły talent do budowania emocjonalnej więzi z bohaterami w bardzo krótkiej formie. Największym zaskoczeniem okazało się dla mnie ostatnie, najkrótsze opowiadanie. To właśnie ono wywołało u mnie łzy i przyniosło poczucie swoistego katharsis. Seria „Zanim wystygnie kawa” pozostaje dla mnie czymś naprawdę wyjątkowym.
Toshikazu Kawaguchi operuje prostym i przystępnym językiem, a jednocześnie potrafi przekazać ogrom emocjonalnej głębi. Dzięki temu lektura płynie niezwykle gładko, a historie długo pozostają w pamięci. Na pochwałę zasługuje również samo wydanie. Papier jest lekki i przyjazny dla oczu, a dodatkowe elementy, takie jak mapka relacji między postaciami czy oznaczenia czasu akcji na początku scen, zwiększają komfort czytania.
„Zanim zrozumiałem, że cię kocham” to kolejny bardzo udany tom popularnej serii. Patrząc na cykl jako całość, jedynie druga część wydała mi się nieco słabsza od pozostałych. Każda następna książka rozwija jednak to niezwykłe literackie uniwersum i pokazuje, że autor wciąż potrafi wydobyć z tej koncepcji coś nowego. Jeśli pokochaliście poprzednie części, również tym razem nie powinniście być zawiedzeni. A jeśli jeszcze nie znacie tej serii, to może właśnie od niej warto rozpocząć swoją przygodę z japońskimi healing novels. Kawaguchi po raz kolejny pokazuje, że czas można cofnąć, ale najważniejsze są uczucia, które pozostają.
June 10, 2026
⭐️3.75/5
🛎️CLANG-DONG
💜 synopsis: we return to funiculi funicula for the sixth time, the mysterious café where visitors are granted a rare opportunity to travel through time, if they follow a strict set of rules.
in this 6th part, we follow (again) four new main characters while also revisiting familiar names through flashbacks from previous books. once again, the café offers its visitors a chance, not to change fate, but to find understanding, closure and peace. through these journeys, they confront their deepest regrets and unresolved feelings. in summary, this novel is a celebration of love in all its forms.
💜 thoughts: i think this might be my favorite book in the series, although I seem to say that after finishing each part:p) what i particularly appreciated was how older characters were reintroduced, making the story feel even more connected and meaningful.
this is a tender and deeply reflective novel that beautifully explores regret, forgiveness, family bonds and enduring love for those we hold closest to our hearts. it also examines how people cope with loss and the departure of loved ones. themes such as grief, healing and unresolved emotions play a major role throughout the story, making it both emotional and comforting to read.
i don’t know it this will be the final part, but i am so down to read more!
🛎️CLANG-DONG
💜 synopsis: we return to funiculi funicula for the sixth time, the mysterious café where visitors are granted a rare opportunity to travel through time, if they follow a strict set of rules.
in this 6th part, we follow (again) four new main characters while also revisiting familiar names through flashbacks from previous books. once again, the café offers its visitors a chance, not to change fate, but to find understanding, closure and peace. through these journeys, they confront their deepest regrets and unresolved feelings. in summary, this novel is a celebration of love in all its forms.
💜 thoughts: i think this might be my favorite book in the series, although I seem to say that after finishing each part:p) what i particularly appreciated was how older characters were reintroduced, making the story feel even more connected and meaningful.
this is a tender and deeply reflective novel that beautifully explores regret, forgiveness, family bonds and enduring love for those we hold closest to our hearts. it also examines how people cope with loss and the departure of loved ones. themes such as grief, healing and unresolved emotions play a major role throughout the story, making it both emotional and comforting to read.
i don’t know it this will be the final part, but i am so down to read more!
May 27, 2026
I cried, alright.
June 16, 2026
Den fikk meg faktisk til å gråte, og det skjer ikke ofte
June 9, 2026
3.5⭐️
Exactly what I expected from this series! Fun read if you're in the mood for something short that isn't too heavy!
Exactly what I expected from this series! Fun read if you're in the mood for something short that isn't too heavy!
April 13, 2026
I've absolutely loved and cherished this whole series so much!
This new installment is sadly my least favorite so far. I remember the rules being repeated a lot in previous books but it felt like it was happening way more in this one. Considering this is now the 6th book in the series it does get a little annoying having the rules of time travel explained almost every 5 pages. Then there was also way more handholding to explain exactly what characters were feeling than I remember. I know that absolutely existed in previous books but the stories were so emotional and impactful that I could overlook it. I just couldn't do that with this one as much and it stood out a lot more when reading.
Still very heartwarming, slice of life stories but not on the same caliber as previous installments.
This new installment is sadly my least favorite so far. I remember the rules being repeated a lot in previous books but it felt like it was happening way more in this one. Considering this is now the 6th book in the series it does get a little annoying having the rules of time travel explained almost every 5 pages. Then there was also way more handholding to explain exactly what characters were feeling than I remember. I know that absolutely existed in previous books but the stories were so emotional and impactful that I could overlook it. I just couldn't do that with this one as much and it stood out a lot more when reading.
Still very heartwarming, slice of life stories but not on the same caliber as previous installments.
July 29, 2025
Il tema del libro è che la vita va presa a morsi ogni minuto. ma ho trovato che alla fine è come tutti gli altri libri; nessun capolavoro, solo un libro tranquillo e carino, da leggere giusto per passare un po' di tempo.
Inoltre penso che dal terzo in poi siano troppo ripetitivi; mi ha dato l’impressione di leggere lo stesso libro.
Inoltre penso che dal terzo in poi siano troppo ripetitivi; mi ha dato l’impressione di leggere lo stesso libro.
June 13, 2026
The sixth installment of the series takes a refreshing turn. I must say, the previous two books felt a bit underwhelming in terms of the four primary narratives. However, this one aligns more closely with the high standard set by the first three, and I found it to be deeply moving. The character dynamics have reignited, and this book unfolds chronologically after the last one. A notable enhancement is the inclusion of a character map at the beginning, outlining the connections among all the characters and those from earlier books. The rules are introduced in the prologue, though they either lack relevance or are simplified within the stories. It would be beneficial to present a more comprehensive list of rules in the prologue, while relying on the assumption that readers will recall them through the narrative without restating them. At this stage, the audience has likely had their fill of reiterations. The book culminates in a cliffhanger, hinting at an exciting continuation of the series to come.
Read
May 7, 2026A massive thanks to Pan Macmillan for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
A cute and cosy addition to the Before The Coffee Gets Cold series! I love little magical realism reads, the endearing mundanity of everyday life, the way the small stories show the threads of human connection between all of us, it’s just a comforting palate cleanse. Now I’ve only read the first book of the series and nothing in between, but the simple language and simple premise mean you can easily read this one as a standalone.
By no means a life changing read, but an enjoyable one all the same, albeit less impactful than the original. I would love nothing more than to spend a day in a time travelling cafe in real life.
A cute and cosy addition to the Before The Coffee Gets Cold series! I love little magical realism reads, the endearing mundanity of everyday life, the way the small stories show the threads of human connection between all of us, it’s just a comforting palate cleanse. Now I’ve only read the first book of the series and nothing in between, but the simple language and simple premise mean you can easily read this one as a standalone.
By no means a life changing read, but an enjoyable one all the same, albeit less impactful than the original. I would love nothing more than to spend a day in a time travelling cafe in real life.
June 7, 2026
Kolejny tom z tej serii jest kolejnym, w którym się zakochałam! Te historie są tak przyjemne i komfortowe, a z drugiej strony tak łapią za serce i wzruszają, że trudno powiedzieć o nich coś złego! Jestem zakochana w tych historiach, a trzecia i czwarta historia najbardziej złapały mnie za serce!
Współpraca recenzencka z Wydawnictwem Relacja.
Współpraca recenzencka z Wydawnictwem Relacja.
June 5, 2026
“Their time, too, was moving forward moment by moment.”
Somehow these books get me every time. Tears? Of course. I found it interesting how the narrative style changed slightly in this one. I don’t think I would have noticed if I hadn’t read number 5 a couple days ago.
Somehow these books get me every time. Tears? Of course. I found it interesting how the narrative style changed slightly in this one. I don’t think I would have noticed if I hadn’t read number 5 a couple days ago.
June 5, 2026
this is the sixth book of the Before The Coffee Gets Cold serie and unfortunately, it did not gave me any new story/information...
After all these books, all i am really interested in, are the two tragedy stories of the ghosts (of the main cafe and the other one in book 3)
It is, unfortunately, a downgrade to my beloved 5-star reads :/
After all these books, all i am really interested in, are the two tragedy stories of the ghosts (of the main cafe and the other one in book 3)
It is, unfortunately, a downgrade to my beloved 5-star reads :/
June 4, 2026
I’m done. I’m so sick of this series and all the dead women.
June 4, 2026
This book was way too short FOR WHAT :((( this will forever be my favorite serie
June 6, 2026
i will forever adore this series 🥺
May 31, 2026
2.5 stars. i think it’s time to retire this concept/series
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