This was enjoyable and whimsical. It took me a while to get into the book. But afterthat it was delightful. at times it felt like a Studio Ghibli movie. I did not feel a deep connection to the characters (in the sense that I was not rooting for them for success or anything) and i found the chemistry lacking. Those who enjoy whimsical tales will enjoy the magic in these stories

Rating: 2.5/5, ok
Thank you, Samantha Sotto Yambao Random House UK and Transworld Publishers, for the digital copy via NetGalley.

Japanese magical realism has gained increasing attention in recent years, thanks to excellent translations. Samantha Sotto Yambao's debut, Water Moon, embraces this style with a whimsical, Ghibli-esque atmosphere. However, despite its charm and well-execution, the book didn’t stand out to me.

Hana's family has owned a pawnshop for generations. However, this is no ordinary pawnshop—it’s a place where people can pawn their deepest regrets, sealed over a warm cup of tea. To reach the pawnshop, you must go through the ramen shop door, but only a select few can find their way through. When Keishii returns to Japan, he decides to eat at the ramen shop. Meanwhile, it’s Hana’s first day as the owner of the pawnshop, following her father’s retirement. Upon waking, she finds the shop ransacked and her father missing. It’s then that she encounters Keishii, standing in the middle of the chaos. Together, they embark on a magical journey to uncover her father’s whereabouts.

Yambao's prose is whimsical, leaning heavily on dialogue. The story's pacing is somewhat inconsistent, with a lull around the midpoint. While the narrative offers some satisfying action, a few moments feel too easy and convenient. Nonetheless, the book presents great ideas and imagery, with interesting concepts woven throughout. In my opinion, the relationship between Keishi and Hana feels childish for two adults; perhaps they would have worked better as friends or simply as a customer. The characters are too one-dimensional and could have benefited from a more nuanced portrayal. The plot had the potential to serve as a powerful vehicle for deeper character study but instead felt like a series of filler sub-quests.

Overall, Water Moon is a charming and cosy read that embraces the whimsy of a Ghibli-esque story. With its imaginative premise and dreamy atmosphere, it offers a gentle escape into a world of magic and folklore. While the pacing can be uneven, the book’s warmth and creativity make it an enjoyable experience. Readers looking for a light, comforting fantasy will likely appreciate its charm, though those seeking a deeper story might choose to look elsewhere.

Three words to describe Water Moon: magical, mystical, and charming! Reading this felt like falling into my favourite Studio Ghibli movie. The world-building in Water Moon is absolutely breathtaking – ever-evolving and twisting a dreamlike world full of enchanting imagery and fantastic richness. Samantha Sotto Yambao's writing weaves this captivating world from mesmerizing descriptions and lyrical prose paired with an enticing plot full of action, wonder, and whimsy that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last page.

A beautiful concept lies at the heart of this story, questioning the power of choice, fate, and purpose in our lives. I loved that the characters' arcs challenged them to process complex emotional states of grief, loss, and trauma and how it changed the two main characters, Hana and Kei. Both represent opposite states of looking at existence – one of choice and one of fated destiny. Hana's purpose and destiny are inked into her skin. Kei was a scientist who was born to question and explore and was full of limitless possibilities. Their magical adventure brings them through the joys and pains of life and sows the seeds of a sweet, fragile love found within the breath of a dream.

Perfect for readers who love cozy magical realism, beautiful imagery, and an incredible emotive journey of self-discovery and healing. If you love books by Stephanie Garber, Elizabeth Lim, and Sue Lynn Tan and Studio Ghibli anime movies, I can't tell you how much you are going to love getting swept away into Water Moon.

Thank you so much to Bantam Books and Samatha Sotto Yambao for approving my Netgalley request for a digital eARC of Water Moon. I adored this adventure. I would love for @StudioGhibli to apply their magic touch to bring Water Moon to life as a movie.

I gave Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao two stars because, unfortunately, it didn’t captivate me at all. I found the pacing incredibly slow, and by the time I was about a third of the way through, I just couldn't keep going. The premise had a lot of potential — a mystical pawnshop in Tokyo where people can "pawn" their regrets and life choices — but the execution felt underwhelming and uninteresting.

The story felt more like a meandering journey than an engaging plot, with slow-moving action and an almost dreamlike quality that never quite hooked me. Hana’s quest to find her missing father and uncover the stolen life choice was meant to be mysterious and magical, but I just couldn’t connect with the characters or the world-building. The mystical elements, like hitching rides on paper cranes and traveling through the bridge between midnight and morning, had promise but didn't feel fully developed or compelling enough to hold my attention.

Overall, Water Moon didn’t grab me in the way I had hoped. The slow pacing and lack of emotional engagement made it hard to stay invested, and I found myself wishing the story had more excitement or depth. If you're looking for a slow-burn magical journey, this might appeal to you, but for me, it just wasn’t the right fit.

I did not finish this book. This book finished me.

The plot twist at 96% had me screaming and I almost hurled my kindle into the wall. At 96%!!!

This book was pure magic, a beautiful beautiful story. The plot, the prose, the ending - ✔️.✔️.✔️. So many emotions and plot twists, I could barely put this book down. It completely blew me away. And I absolutely loved Samantha Sotto Yambao's writing style. I haven't read any of her other works but will most definitely check them out now.

I really wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book but what a journey, so whimsical so unique, I want to read more like this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for a review.

This book has a truly incredible first line, and it just keeps flying. The concept is absolutely fascinating and explained enough for you to understand the story, but not so much that the magic disappears. I love this kind of story where the magic is so built in that you have no choice but to accept it with minimal explanation.

The characters are a grown up version of the magical and wacky characters from a Studio Ghibli film with the soft, ruminative, magic world of Before the Coffee Gets Cold.

Hana and Keishin take us on a beautiful journey with a delightful, dark, and contemplative cast of supporting characters.

I don't want to spoil too much but I heartily reccomend diving into Water Moon and finding out for yourself.

Five stars.

Water Moon is a beautifully whimsical and emotionally rich fantasy that transports readers into a dreamlike Tokyo, where regrets take the form of caged birds and a hidden pawnshop can alter fate. Hana Ishikawa, raised among these traded regrets, finds herself thrust into a mystery when her father vanishes, leaving behind a ransacked shop and unanswered questions. Alongside the enigmatic Keishin, a scientist with his own ghosts to confront, Hana embarks on a journey that unravels secrets about her past, her family, and the strange forces shaping her world.

Sotto Yambao’s writing is lyrical and immersive, painting vivid, almost ethereal settings that feel straight out of a Studio Ghibli film. The novel balances magic with deep emotional themes—loss, choice, and the weight of regret—creating a story that lingers long after the final page. While the pacing can be slow at times and some elements feel deliberately abstract, the intricate storytelling and heartfelt character dynamics make Water Moon a mesmerizing and deeply rewarding read.

Very Ghibli-esque. The setting is quite whimsical, and it makes you feel like you could just open a door somewhere and find your very own fantasy.

It’s not often I read a book that has me completely uninterested in the plot but completely enamoured with the world in which it takes place. Water Moon is a gentle ride through numerous dream like worlds in pursuit of a missing father and a long lost mother.

Kudos for worldbuilding to Samantha Sotto Yambao; in fact, although certain plot points necessitate darkness (lies, betrayal), Hana and Keishin’s quest excited me mostly for its resemblance to Polly and Diggory’s adventures from the Wood between the Worlds in ‘The Magician’s Nephew’.

Perhaps the fact that my closest comparison is a children’s book qualifies the type of enjoyment I took from ‘Water Moon’ – overall, it was a bit corny. The writing was intimate in style, but it didn’t hold my attention during the central slump, even though it did engage me again towards the end. The love interest, for me, was just too cheesy to be convincing.

Hidden within a ramen restaurant in Tokyo lies a pawnshop that trades in choices and regrets. Hana wakes up on her first morning as the pawnshop’s new owner to find it ransacked, a choice stolen and her father missing. Then, in stumbles a charming stranger offering help rather than seeking it. Together they embark on a magical journey to find Hana’s father and the stolen choice.

The best thing about this book is the imagery and imagination – it really is like stepping into something from Studio Ghibli. It positively overflows with creativity, and I would say that the plot only suffers slightly under the weight of the bizarre and beautiful world building.

The plot is a little bit hectic, jumping from location to location with new, minor characters being introduced in each chapter, but it isn’t too difficult to follow and isn’t overly complicated despite the fast pace and constant scene changes.

Water Moon is a magical adventure with twists and stunning imagery. I appreciated the pure escapism of it.

A very cosy fantasy!

Broken things have a unique kind of beauty, don’t you think?

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao is so cute. It felt like I was in a Studio Ghibli movie. It's easy to get into, and the twisty plot grips you from the beginning.

Imagine walking through the door of a ramen restaurant in Tokyo just to find yourself in an old pawn shop. That's what happens to Keishin when he walks through the door of the ramen restaurant just to find himself in a ransacked pawn shop where he stumbles upon Hana, the owner of the pawn shop. Beware, this is no normal pawn shop. This pawnshop deals in choices. Choices that could change the course of your whole life.

What I love about this book is the distinctive plot and world-building. I have never read any fantasy book that has such a one-of-a-kind plot. Every character was memorable. I loved the adventure that I was taken on.

If you are looking for a cosy fantasy with a good plot and adventure, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU!

Water Moon is whimsical and heart wrenching in the most beautiful way!

“She had cradled countless bright, glowing choices and carefully set them inside their cages, but this was the first time she had held anything that felt so free.”; “No matter how close they stood, Hana was always a universe away. Without thinking, he reached out to touch her cheek, his oldest instincts compelling him to know the unknowable.”

This story was incredibly immersive and had such a nostalgic feel to it. I loved being swept away into the other world with Hana and Kei. I adored both characters and loved watching them explore and learn more about one another. Samantha Sotto Yambao has lush prose with wonderfully flawed characters. I honestly can’t praise this highly enough.

What a beautiful book!

This is such a beautiful read and just the type of fantasy I love - not too otherworldly but magical and with lots of heart. Water Moon is beautifully written and easy to get swept away with. I highly recommend this to all!

I adored this! I was kept guessing as to what would happen from page to page, the pacing was great. The characters were amazing and so easy to connect with. The world building was stunning! The plot was solid, super interesting and engaging whilst being simple and profound in it's message. The prose and tone were just really beautiful, I could of stayed in this world exploring a lot lot longer, mesmerising reading experience.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the arc, all thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.

I am trying to expand my reading horizons and my favourite genre is SFF, I had never read anything from the Philippines, so when I was offered Samantha Sotto Yambao's latest book I jumped on the opportunity with curiousity and interest.

There is a lot I liked in this book, particularly at the beginning: the idea of a pawnshop for regrets is interesting and, to me, original; the magical devices introduced during the main adventure are novel and their emotional connection to the story work well. On the other hand, way too many times explanations are handwaved as "things work differently here" and I found the main characters rather unidimensional. Neither would be a deal breaker, when balanced with the excellent worldbuilding, but too soon the plot veered into romantasy which is not a subgenre I particularly enjoy, and the relationship between the two main characters occupied so much of the remaining of the book that I found myself muddling through the pages just to get to the next little bit of adventure and was relieved when the book reached its conclusion.

All in all, I still think it's a book worth recommending if you're a fan of romantasy, as you will find yourself immersed in a magical world full of surprises.

Note: I received this book for free as an ARC from #NetGalley but the opinions above are mine and unbiased.

"I don't know why your world works the way it does or why it needs mine to exist, but I know this: you've given me more than you've taken. And made me feel things I never thought I could."

Watermoon follows Hana - newly appointed pawnshop owner, where clients can pawn off their regrets. When her father mysteriously disappears, Hana sets off to find him and, with the help of an unlikely ally, Kei, they enter a world of wonder.

If you enjoy setting-driven books, this is the story for you. The setting was phenomenal, and I drank each chapter up. The vivid scenery, quirky characters, and deep meaning messages were amazing. I cannot recommend this enough for its setting alone. Each location in the magic world felt like its own little arc, and creative spins like paper cranes carrying memories and kites representing hope and wishes were beautiful. I particularly loved the scene where, to cross safely, Kei had to anchor himself and Hana inside his memory, where they shared a few tender and emotional moments.

Unfortunately, the actual plot and characters fell a bit short, and at times it felt like we were on a wild goose chase with little progress. Hana and Kei were an interesting couple, and I enjoyed Kei’s character so much. His curiosity as a physicist to unravel this magical world was the perfect juxtaposition to Hana’s. I really connected with his past, his worldview, and his unconditional kindness. Hana, on the other hand, felt like a bystander in her own story. For a book centered on finding your missing parents, I cared very little about them. They seemed selfish, and I couldn’t connect with Hana’s motivation to save them.

While there were emotional scenes between Hana and Kei, the romance felt like an afterthought. Hana’s naivety about her feelings towards Kei felt awkward. One half-open door scene hit me like whiplash and added nothing to their relationship development. And the love triangle? Haruto deserved WAY better. The plot development is slow and repetitive. Hana and Kei run from the big bad Shiikan, Hana introduces a new magical place, Kei asks how they’ll get there, and Hana gives a cryptic answer. Rinse and repeat. While the world was beautiful, it became exhausting with each new location.

We meet wonderful characters and explore a stunning world, but the actual mystery fizzles out when we finally get to it. The last 30% of the book dropped my rating to a generous 3.5 stars. That said, I would 100% recommend Watermoon for its dreamlike vibes, easy readability, and gorgeous magical realism.

This started off so promising and I was absolutely obsessed at the beginning. But then they introduced another character and this book just totally flopped for me.

this book omg! it was absolutely brilliantly written, I was utterly immersed from the very first pagethis book omg!
it's utterly fantastic, filled with rich description, complex characters and an incredible plot! I absolutely adored the folklore and mythology in it, it was all stuff I've never read before and it was just incredible to see all this world-building and the range of side characters introduced!

definitely a 5 star read for me and I'll absolutely be on the lookout for any other books written by Samantha! 🥰🩵