I’m that brand of librarian that is instantly drawn to books with “library” or “librarian” in the title. While most of the stories were cosy and heartwarming, I’m slightly disappointed that the librarian was a caricatured side character,

What You Are Looking for is in the Library is a beautiful and hopeful book about not being where you want to be in life and learning to make what you want more of a reality but in a realistic way. It is very down to earth and relatable, the stories are about real people with realistics dreams and goals that we can see ourselves in. It points out the fact that we may not actually be unhappy with our lives and where we are at but we might want a bit more to feel truly satisfied.

This book contains multiple stories from different characters persepctives but as they all live in the same area and go to the same library they do interlink a little bit which was nice to see! Each character was very different and at a different stage in life, I really enjoyed each of their stories and rooted for them all. I liked the library aspect of the book as it shows how important libraries are and the different things they can do for people other than just borrowing books.

This was a quick and easy read but it really is a feel good book with lots of heartwarming moments that also makes you think about what it means to be happy and fulfilled in life. I'd definitely reccommend reading this book!

A delight
A gentle,engaging and uplifting read.
A librarian at a community college assists people in finding what they are really seeking. Five people some of whom are vaguely connected visit the library for different reasons, they are helped by the library assistant then by the librarian. The enquires all receive a felted toy as well as a list of books to help them.
Thank you NetGalley and Michiko for this lovely book

Heartwarming and inspiring tales of people who find purpose or meaning from an encounter with their librarian, the books she recommends, and there experiences they have walking to people and finding out about themselves and how they can find their place in the world.

I love that all the books are real, and listed at the end - I’ll see if my own library stocks them!

My love for Japanese translated fiction continues with this quiet, simply beautiful book that will totally pull on your heart strings.

“What you are looking for is in the library” is a book of short stories loosely connected by their location and the character of Ms Komachi, a librarian in a small library in a community centre in one of Tokyo's districts. In each chapter we meet a different person who’s looking for something in their life. They always end up in the library as a coincidence, and when talking to the Librarian, they are always offered the title of one special book and a little felted toy.
Reading the stories felt to me like one warm hug, a little glimpse into someone else's life, stopping just long enough to get to know someone a bit. You come to care about the characters as you realise that they flounder, cannot make decisions, and often are at a pivotal moment in their lives. A young mother is struggling to balance the needs of her career and her family. A man is finding a space for himself. Other people come and leave, connecting with each other and with all the stories.
This is a story about the importance of books and communities – books that nourish not only our brains, but also our hearts, communities that, like the library, draw in young and old, people looking for answers, for inspiration, hope and safe space. But is Ms Komachi a magician? A benign being granting people a wish? How does she know what people rely need? Whatever the case, I think that libraries and librarians are always a bit magical.

I’m becoming a huge fan of books about Japanese library as they’re both heartwarming and multi-layered. You read a story that will make you smile but there’s also an evolution and a change.
The books, the libraries are a portal to discover who you are and what you need to change and be happy.
This is a celebration of community library as a place where you can find knowledge and librarians that act as interface.
This is a fast read and it celebrates life and the possibility of changing and getting a better life using books as tools for magic spells.
Loved it and want to read other books by this author.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

"Life is one revelation after another. Things don't always go to plan, no matter what your circumstances. But the flip side is all the unexpected, wonderful things that you could never have imagined happening. Ultimately it's all for the best that many things don't turn out the way we hoped."

This lovely, gentle book from Japan features five individual stories of people who are connected by one thing: a community library. Some are unhappy in their jobs. Some feel like they have no purpose in life. Others don't know how to connect with people around them.

All of them find their way to the library, where the expert librarian recommends books on topics that interest them, but also books that have nothing to do with what they requested. These books, however, will help them discover truths about their lives, helping them make decisions that will enrich them.

At its heart, the book shows how the library is the pillar of a community, how it enhances people's lives, and how it can help us find answers not just to practical questions but metaphysical ones such as how our lives are given meaning.

A charming comforting read! A selection of 5 integrating short stories all brought together by a library and a librarian. This gave me 'Before The Coffee Gets Cold' feel but I actually preferred reading this as it just felt abit more lighthearted and enjoyable. I will definitely be adding the paperback to my collection when it comes out.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC.

4/5 stars

Beautiful stories told from the perspective of five different people who visit their local library and the valuable lessons they learn Sayuri Komachu, the Librarian and the books recommended for them.
They’re all at different crossroads in their lives.
It’s about the magic of community libraries and the discovery of connection.
A homage to books and reading - how a book opens up a new world of possibilities.
How the perfect book recommendation can change a reader’s life.
It’s cosy, heartwarming, feel good book, with charming characters, so relatable, showing how we’re never too old to start over.
However I did find the over use of metaphors a bit too twee.
Perfect for fans of The Midnight Library
Thanks @michikoaoyama @doubledayuk & @netgalley for the eARC

A delightfully poignant little book about refinding purpose in your life and how the smallest actions or smallest moments can have a momentous impact on our everyday lives and the way we think about our daily existence. This gave me strong "When the coffee gets cold" vibes and I would strongly recommend to anyone who is at a point in their life where they are not sure what their next step should be.

The style of writing just didn’t appeal to me. I found it dull and uninspiring. The moral of every tale being heavily signposted. The repetition in each story. The fatphobic description of the librarian. Not for me.

What You Are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama can best be described as a bowl of hot, homemade soup on a cold winter day. It was so comforting. It is a hot water bottle. A big fluffy blanket. It is a deep conversation with your best friend. It is, quite simply, stunning.

To put it really simply, What You Are Looking for is in the Library is similar to Love Actually. Interconnecting stories of people who live in a specific area whose lives generally don't infringe on - but they sit on the periphery - of each others worlds. All the while, the invisible line that does connect them is Sayuri Komachi - the local librarian.

What You Are Looking for is in the Library is a celebration of the power - nay, the magic - of a librarian. It is a love story to the library and the librarians and a reminder that they have powers way beyond our ken and we should protect them at all costs.

What You Are Looking for is in the Library is likely to be in my top 10 books of the year because it is just that gorgeous.

What You Are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama is available now.

For more information regarding Random House (@penguinrandom) please visit www.penguinrandomhouse.com.

You know that feeling when you read a book that feels like it was written just for you? That is the exact feeling I got while reading “What you are looking for is in the library” by Michiko Aoyama, translated by Alison Watts. This book touched my soul and has become one of my all time favorite reads.

The story follows five separate library patrons who are all searching for meaning in their lives. We follow their journeys after meeting with quirky head librarian Sayuri Komachi. Not only is she a talented felt artist - she also has the gift of knowing exactly what books will change someone’s life forever.

Full of self-reflection, friendship, family, loss, love, hope and the magic of books; “What you are looking for is in the library” is an absolutely brilliant read. 10/10 recommend!

*This was my first time reading a book by Michiko Aoyama and I am crossing my fingers more of her works get translated into English because I want to read them all!

Thank you so much to Doubleday Books for the advanced copy.

A book about the power of books, sign me up! This is one of my favorite books of the year 💙🐈

This book is a collection of five interconnected stories that discuss this overwhelming feeling of being lost in our lives, not really knowing what our next step is going to be, but not being satisfied with the way things are. It approaches this feeling in a lot of different ways and moments in each character's lives.

What connects the stories is a library and its librarian. Sayuri, the librarian, recommends unexpected books that shift each character's perspective on their situation. However, as Sayuri herself acknowledges, it's not her who is driving any change, but the main character in each chapter who is taking their own lessons from the books.

This book highlights how every person takes different lessons from books, based on their context and experience, as well as the overall power books/literature can have.

This was such a heartwarming read. I loved all of these characters and found the message of the book so incredible. I felt like it found me just like the characters in the book found their way to the library and the books they end up reading.

Thank you so much Doubleday and NetGalley for this ARC!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC, I greatly enjoyed Michiko Aoyama's What You Are Looking For Is in the Library, which is in many ways as much a novella as it is short story (you can easily deep in and out after a chapter as it focuses on various characters from the young retail assistant looking to expand her skills, a mother who seeks to overcome a demotion on return from maternity, an accountant who dreams of opening an antique store, a neet who resparks his passion for illustration and a recently retired salaryman looking for a hobby/ purpose heading to a community library helped by Sayuri Komachi who is somehow able to sense and provide book recommendations and a free needle felted gift to each which helps change their outlook on life, and seize opportunities.

The book was very much in the same vein as other modern j-literature being published over the past few years, in its whimsical otherworldly observations of the mundane everyday of life and its challenges, often resonating in some way with the reader being able to resonate with the life of one of the characters traits. If you enjoyed the likes of Convenience Store Woman then this book is sure to hit the same scratch.

Prepare to be enchanted and uplifted! "What You Are Looking For Is in the Library" by Michiko Aoyama is an absolute gem that captures the magical essence of a library and its incredible impact on people's lives. If you loved "The Midnight Library" and "Before the Coffee Gets Cold," you're in for a delightful treat that's brimming with heart, charm, and the joy of discovery.

Meet Sayuri Komachi, Tokyo's enigmatic librarian with an extraordinary gift: she not only knows the books on her shelves, but she also understands the desires and dreams of her library guests. As you step into the library, you'll find yourself at the crossroads of life, just like the diverse characters who seek refuge and guidance within its walls. From the restless sales attendant to the ambitious working mother, each visitor is met with a conversation that touches their soul, and a book recommendation that holds the key to a new chapter.

Michiko Aoyama weaves a tale of connection, inspiration, and the transformative power of literature. Through the captivating interactions between Sayuri and her guests, the author beautifully illustrates how the right book, shared at the right moment, can spark life-altering change. It's a heartwarming reminder that libraries are not just repositories of books; they're havens of friendship, community, and the magic of possibility.

You'll find yourself immersed in this story, feeling the warmth of the library's embrace, and rooting for each character as they navigate their personal journeys. Aoyama's writing style is a delightful blend of simplicity and wisdom, making this book a true joy to read. Whether you've experienced an impasse in your life or simply love tales of inspiration, this novel will leave you with a renewed appreciation for the serendipitous encounters that shape our paths.

"What You Are Looking For Is in the Library" is a celebration of the magic within our hearts and the treasures we find when we open the pages of a book. It's a touching reminder that sometimes, all it takes is the right book to help us find what we didn't even know we were searching for. Grab this book, cozy up with your favorite cup of tea, and let the enchantment begin. It's a five-star journey that you won't want to end!

I’m back for another instalment of “Ems reading all the translated fiction about books or cats” Sorry, not sorry….😂

What You Are Looking For Is in the Library is such a wholesome book! There are five chapters from the perspective of five people all living in the same area of Toyko and each at an impasse in their lives. There is a young sales assistant who moved from the countryside, a man who aspires to own a business, a struggling working mum, an unemployed NEET and a retired man. Each story have something in common…they all visit their local library and meet Sayuri Komachi, the mysterious librarian. The conversation they have with her and the surprise book she lends them prompts life altering consequences.

There is a beautiful message of hope, friendship and community in each story, and I’m here for it! There is a lot a splash of magical realism in this as that librarian is so intuitive 😂 This book feels like a love letter to books, and how they can open you to a whole new world of possibilities.

Loved it. It felt like such a comfort read and I will definitely be rereading it 🥰

A gentle and heartwarming read that wraps its arms around you in a warm embrace. I didn’t want it to end. This is hands down one of the best reads of the year and I’m left wondering what book the librarian would have chosen for me.
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Doubleday for early access to this stunning read.

A bestseller in Japan, Michiko Aoyama’s novel combines realism with a dash of fantasy. In a series of interlinked stories, five seemingly separate people have a transformative encounter with a mysterious librarian in their neighbourhood library. Each of them is at a different stage in life, all of them are somehow stuck: from newly-retired Masao who doesn’t know what to do with his time to Natsumi who’s been sidelined at work since becoming a mother to recent graduate Tomoko dissatisfied with her dead-end job. The otherworldly librarian, Sayuri Komachi, seems to act like a kind of magical or spiritual creature, a form of benevolent yokai or perhaps a goddess, whose book recommendations lead these readers in unexpected directions.

Aoyama’s style reminded me a little of Lonely Castle in the Mirror. Her story’s simply told, a little formulaic, perhaps a little trite, but still a relatively inventive variation on the self-help/life lessons genre. It’s a calm, gentle piece that flows well, Aoyama’s characters are engaging, and their situations provide interesting insights into aspects of contemporary Japanese society, particularly when it comes to relations between self and work. Unlike many Western “inspirational” books, this is less focused on the individual and much more on the individual as part of a wider community - from family to neighbours to co-workers. I wondered whether this emphasis was meant to reflect mainstream Japanese culture or whether it was an attempt to address increasing social fragmentation – for example Aoyama’s insistence on the benefits of intergenerational understanding and cooperation. Translated by Alison Watts.

Thanks to Netgalley UK and publisher Doubleday for an ARC