This book sweeps you into a magical realm where choices and regrets hold transformative power. Hana's journey to uncover the truth behind her father's disappearance becomes a poignant exploration of love, loss, and self-discovery, with each twist revealing deeper emotional stakes. Beautiful world-building and lyrical prose will transport readers into a vivid, dreamlike adventure that stays with you long after the last page. I could not put this book down! I will be recommending this book to everyone! Especially fans of Studio Ghibli!

Whimsical, disorienting, emotional experience. This book is something else, a twisting turning journey that gets very dark as it explores cause and effect across two very different worlds. Hana has always known her fate, and has an important if disturbing role to play in her own world, But that changes when her father disappears and Kei, a stranger from another world, appears at her door.

Hana and Kei's fates become tied together as they journey through a series of incredible adventures and revelations as they search for Hana's father . After a slowish start, I found myself becoming more and more invested in what was happening as the reader is taken breathlessly from scene to scene in search of a truth that is always more complicated than it at first seems. Totally fascinating and absorbing, this is a very visual book on a grand scale and yet is also able to manipulate the smallest of emotions.

Thank you to Random House UK and Netgalley for an arc of Water Moon! Publishing date 16th January 2025!

If you're into cosy fantasy, whimsy prose and Studio Ghibli- you will adore this book!

This book follows Hana who has just inherited her family's magical pawnshop and a physicist who wants to answer all of science's mysteries. They are thrown into an adventure when Hana awakens on her first day as the owner of the shop to find it has been ransacked, an important item has been stolen and her father is missing. The story then goes from there and we are thrown into the Studio Ghibli-esque "Other World" as the pair first meet and then have go on an adventure to solve what has happened!

The world building was whimsy, atmospheric and was complemented by a lyrical writing style that matched the story perfectly (I highlighted so many quotes). I enjoyed the sprinkling of humour throughout- the perceptions of items/customs in our world were fun and the humour was weaved into the storyline so seamlessly that it did not feel out of place. The mix of vibes✨ and plot are well balanced!

I also love that this is a cosy fantasy but with high stakes- the story never seemed slow and I would suggest this to anyone trying to get into the cosy fantasy sub-genre!

Now on my list of my top fantasy reads of this year!

Water moon is such a breath taking experiencing taking you through a magical fantasy. I loved the descriptions so much it felt as though I was Hanna and I was the one going along the journey. I feel like this book is meant to be dissected and cherished individually because it just has that effect. The studio ghibli reference had me kicking my feet and going 'YES THIS THIS'.
I went into this book completely, utterly blind and I rarely do that but I was left awestruck at how such beautiful concepts were dealt with expecially the concept of regret.
Overall such a wonderful exprience, it was fast-paced and unlike most japanese set reads, this wasn't boring at all.

The dedication had me sit there and stare at the wall, because it touched me so deeply. Although just a dedication I feel like Samantha knew exactly what she was doing.
This book is definitely for anyone having a hard time with regrets and for someone who is searching for new beginnings in life<3

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc!!

Huge thank you to netgalley for allowing me an eARC cooy of Water Moon. I love books set in japan and just japanese fiction in general so seeing this and reading the synopsis i was straight to request it and i am so glad i did. I loved the element of magical realism, and i especially love books where its just like a little glitch in the world. As the story progressed it was just getting better and better, it was so atmospheric and i lived the character work and you coukd really feel for the characters. Absolutely delicious book and im so interested in reading more work by this author

Water Moon is one of those books that as soon as you start reading it’s so hard to put down. This book was so whimsical and I loved how it had Studio Ghibli vibes as I could picture every single moment and description so vividly and visually in my mind. The writing is so beautiful and made it such a joy to read.

This is a story of love and life steeped around a lot of mystery and though the pacing is a little up and down and where it moves fast in some scenes in others it slows down considerably I personally didn’t find this too much of a problem as the story takes you on an adventure and it suits it perfectly. I would have loved maybe a little more development in the romance but again that is probably more of a me thing as it really was a sweet romance and I loved how satisfying the ending was.

Water Moon is a delight of a book that asks thought provoking questions about choices, regrets and where we belong and will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the gift of reading this arc.

Unfortunately I DNF'ed this at 43%. The writing style kept me at arms length so I felt quite disconnected from the characters. I also found how the MMC dropped absolutely everything to go on this journey with a woman he'd just met a little odd.
Just unfortunately wasn't the book for me but I'm sure many others will love it.

Water Moon is a precious read, it’s beautiful and reads like a fever dream. I loved how cozy and mystical it is. Definitely has those Studio Ghibli vibes as it was visually stunning in my mind. The story is full of mystery and life questions. The pacing is a bit up and down and this suited the adventure. The end is sweet as we get a year after and then five years after the events. I adored the characters and their relationship was generally quite sweet but I would have maybe preferred a deep friendship. Overall a delight of a book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

It's difficult to condense my love for this book, Hana and Kei into a readable sized review, but I will try.

As main characters, they are brilliant, and I warmed to them instantly. They're just so believable, and the chemistry fizzes.

The world setting is exciting - you never know where you're going to end up next, and it is now one of my all-time favourite fantasy realms. I really want to read more stories set here.

Brillaint pacing, lots of suspense, and a few twists will have you page-turning and keeping you from whatever you should be doing for hours.

A Doctor Who joke made me laugh out loud, as well as several other jokes scattered throughout the book. There is plenty of humour in it.

I'm going out on a limb and placing this in my top 10 of 24. A beautifully written adventure tale.

I really need to read more of Samantha's books.

Thank you to @bantambooksuk for sending me a proof. (Ad/PR)

I loved Water Moon so much I pre-ordered the special edition from Goldsboro. It has a nice, cosy but full of adventure feeling. I liked how it combines science with out of our common world things and the writing style made it feel real.

4.5 Stars

Water Moon is about a pawnshop like no other in Tokyo, one you will not be able to find if you look for it, but that will show itself to you should you need it. Instead of pawning something material, here you can let go of choices and regrets of the past, the burdens on your should that you just can’t seem to let go on your own. We follow the new pawnshop owner on her first day, after inheriting the job from her father and things don’t go quite as planned so she has, for the first time in her life, to make a choice, something that is reserved usually for the shop customers.

This was a beautiful story about the choices we make and the regrets we live with and those that crush us under its weight. To all of us that think “what if” or sometimes would like to just forget the choices we made just to rid ourselves from its burden. It’s about feeling like you don't belong anywhere and expanding our beliefs and horizons to actually see what is right in front of us.

The premise of this book made me have have high expectations but they were all surpassed. The writing resonated with me to a point that I wanted to highlight the entire book, the references to Japanese mythology and folklore made this cultural rich and Sotto Yambao's world building is just exquisite, filled with breathtaking detailed magical elements: papercranes and a Nightmarket existing on the clouds held up by crows.

The only reason I’m not giving this book 5 stars is because I was not able to actually connect to the characters. I’m a character driven reader, so while I was able to relate to Kenshin at times, most of the times this book was playing as Ghibli movie in my head. I would have loved to be a part of it too.

Overall, this is a magical book that makes you think on one of those existential questions of our lives: What if?
And where do I sign to kindly request Hayao Miyazaki to turn this into a Ghibli Movie?

Thank you so much Bantam and NetGallery for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The idea of a door opening only to those in need, who have made a choice they regret, is tantalising. What happens to those choices, which are redeemed for a special tea, is intriguing, Throw in an evocative title, some sterling characters, time travel, all the elements of folklore and fantasy, with plenty-plenty action, elegant and often delicate writing courtesy of Samantha Sotto Yambao, and it becomes a really good idea to read ‘Water Moon’.
I was very taken with Keishin, his imaginary friend in the real world, and his dilemma as a scientist with the astonishing world he wanders into, filled with mind-bending events which challenge his experiences. Meeting Hana, who has inherited the shop behind the tantalising door takes him on a wild search that awakens deep love. And forgiveness.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

I have absolutely fallen in love with Samantha Sotto Yambao's writing.
This whimsical book feels like an ode to Studio Ghibli works
It has the most beautiful writing and it feels like getting back home. Like I've read it a thousand times but was also discovering it for the first time

A ramen shop door does not always lead into a restaurant, sometimes it opens on to a magical pawnshop. There are quite a few Japanese novels that have a similar premise - a place that can only be found when you need to visit, but the magical realism remains fairly light. This book leans more into the fantastical elements.

When Keishin returns to Japan for new job, he goes to the ramen shop and the door opens on to the pawnshop. But rather than arriving during normal hours, he stumbles on to the new owner, Hana, in the middle of a crisis. Her pawnshop takes peoples choices/regrets and they leave with no memory of them. Hana has just taken over after her father’s retirement but when she wakes up the shop has been trashed, a choice has been stolen and her father is missing. Keishin and Hana journey through her world (a kind of spirit realm) trying to find her father, visiting strange places -like the night market that floats on clouds- while trying to avoid the creepy Shiikuin.

This is very Studio Ghibli - not just because it's a fantastical Japanese world but because it has those elements of whimsical peril and otherworldly wonder combined with the sometimes sinister - think magical origami that can transport you or squish you down into nothing.

This would make an amazing animation or movie. As a book, I would personally have liked more details and descriptions. Keishin and Hana skip between places quite quickly at times and I'd have liked to soak in the atmosphere of this magical place more. I also think that slowing it down would have allowed us to get to know the characters better and feel more attached to them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was easy to read, magical, whimsical but with a slightly darker side - it would make a good book for those not used to fantasy or moving from younger books to more adult fiction.

I get why this book is described as a cozy mystery. While it is definitely a mystery, it's also very... mellow. Calm. Maybe a bit too much so.
The beginning honestly kind of bored me. I felt very disconnected from the characters and while stakes do exist, I failed to really care about them. The plot wasn't even bad or boring, but nothing mattered to me.

But it got better. Once I had accepted that this book is more atmospheric and slow, I actually started to enjoy some parts of it. The world building was really nice. Not just the Japanese hints that I quite enjoyed, but the magical part of it. There were some really nice thoughts behind it, things that aren't that commonly used in fantasy books. I appreciate it.
Some parts could be slightly confusing - I recommend not to question anything and just let it happen. There aren't many explanations, you just take it as it is.
I also started to at least kind of like the characters. They aren't that deep - I would honestly struggle to characterize them. But they were nice.
I wasn't a big fan of their relationship though. While it does make sense after everything, it felt a bit too much like "destiny" instead of honest emotions and I prefer the relationship to actually slowly build up. That didn't stop them from actually being kind of cute, though.

Unfortunately, even after it got better, it didn't end up actually being good. It was a bit repetitive - Keishin and Hana follow a breadcrumb trail and everything was always just about finding the next destination and figuring out how to get there. There is a bit of excitement, but even that was nothing new.
The grand finale offers some plottwists - some of them were nice and I enjoyed them, some of them were a bit too much for me.

I was also confused about the passing of time. There is a deadline and it's quite a short one. I have no idea how everything that happened in this book would be able to fit into this deadline. Does time flow differently in the places they went to? They slept multiple times and things they did took up quite some time as well, so I have no idea how it could've worked out. To be fair, the linearity of time does play a role, but I was still confused.

As for the ending - I'm also not a fan. The solution seemed too easy and I also wished the author had committed to her choices more, instead of breaking some things down again.

Overall - a couple of very nice ideas, but it wasn't for me. The writing failed to capture me, the characters weren't interesting enough and the plot didn't make up for that. Still, a fine read if you're looking for something calm and thoughtprovoking.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a whimsy of a book. A magical adventure with a sense of wonder and enough cozy twists to keep anyone guessing. It feels perfect for the colder months.

"A sleepy whimsical magical read that feels like a Ghibli film is coming to life within its pages."
This was the vibe that I was being sold just from the cover and blurb alone, and it seemed like that was the general impression from others too.

I'm a huge Ghibli fan so I was overly intrigued to read this, however it didn't quite live up to my expectations sadly (and I think that one's on me!)

We follow two characters, Hana, a daughter of the owner of a magical pawn shop and Keishin, who does scientist related things.

The morning after her father tells her he will be retiring and she will be inheriting the shop, she wakes up to discover he has vanished into thin air. The store has been ransacked and one of the acquisitions is missing, and yet there's no sign of her father.

But she starts to question whether the incident in the store is all staged by her father, and starts to confide in an intriguing stranger named Minatozaki Keishin, a man who still has imaginary conversations with the ghost of a man who had previously saved his life.

Despite at first refusing his help, Hana realises she can't figure all this out alone and agrees to work with him to get some answers. But the journey she takes leads her to discover secrets about her life she never could have imagined.

This is a beautiful well executed fantasy but for some reason I struggled to really find myself captivated the way I had expected to. I have seen this book compared to The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, and that was also another book that I couldn't get into, no matter how much I tried. Personally, though the world building is there, and it certainly lives up to its fantastical whimsy expectations, I found the initial plot hard to connect with and I wasn't altogether sold on the instalove relationship that formed between Hana and Keishin, it just never took the time to really develop - which I admit is a matter of preference as I prefer a good slow burn romance.

I also think the writing style may have also been something that didn't quite flow for me. I found it quite slow to kick off and really get into the meat of things, but also I just found I couldn't read it without getting distracted.
I do believe I'm in the minority though as this book seems quite popular with others.

I may have to re-read this at a time when I might be more in the mindset for cosy mystery fantasies with whimsical storylines lol.

This was not what I was expecting at all to be honest, it’s really different to the usual Japanese translated books I love. It takes you on a wild, bizarre, mind bending adventure - it gives Matrix vibes. I’ve honestly never read a book like this before - I just didn’t know what was going to happen next or how anything would turn out.

I enjoyed this book but I did find myself getting a bit lost in places- it’s a book that requires concentration - and I just wasn’t fully present for all of this - so that is on me to be honest.

Overall, a great read! Something different!

My thanks to Netgalley and Transworld, Penguin Random House for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

water moon is a magical realism story set in the backdrop of tokyo, about a hidden pawn shop that only those who need it find and the father-daughter pair who run it, the story was beautifully paced, with fleshed out characters and a writing that made me forget that i was reading completely, i will definitely get a physical copy once it comes out and reread it <3

for everyone who loves cost japanese fiction, and a book that makes them feel whole again

Finally a book that captured me in right from the beginning! I loved it! The story was beautiful and heart-warming yet surprising.
It's a mixture of romance and fantasy, of questioning everything you thought you knew and discovering the undiscoverable.
I loved the characters, although I would have put a little more thought in the world building as there were some passages where I didn't really understood how they ended up in a specific place. But maybe that was done on purpose.
I wish this could be adapted for a Studio Ghibli film as it has all the potential.