I love cozy Japanese literature. This was once more such a good and fun read, gonna buy myself the physical copy and re-read.

This is a collection of short stories , I loved the cozy, cute theme that's present in almost all the stories, some may be a bit slower pace but I loved that, we could all do with a slower pace at times.. Overall , a lovely read and some wonderful short stories

I love japanese translated fiction and this was no exception. It gave me very similar vibes to before the coffee gets cold which is one of my favourites - very comforting.

A heartwarming book in a popular Japanese series, tenderness blends slice-of-life storytelling with a nostalgic tribute to local community hubs. Set in a quirky 24/7 convenience store run by the irresistibly charming Shiba, Sonoko Machida’s episodic novel explores the quiet struggles and connections of everyday people. Though the whimsical charm of Shiba sometimes clashes with the book’s more serious themes like isolation, school bullying, and aging, it remains a tender, engaging read that delicately balances fantasy and social realism. Translated with care by Bruno Navasky, it’s a gentle yet thoughtful addition to Japan’s “healing” fiction trend.

This was such a wonderful book. Recently I am falling back in love with japanese translated works and this one added to the list. The amazing stories of different customers kept me engaged till the last word.
It has smooth narration and amazing pace.

Thanks for my review. I immediately pick up translated fiction so this was an exciting read for me.

I wasn’t expecting the book to be more of a linked short story collection than a traditional novel, but once I settled into the rhythm, I really enjoyed the format. Each chapter offers a small, self-contained glimpse into the lives of customers and employees, all subtly intertwined. It’s a slow burn though.

It reminded me of the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, defo cozy vibes. It’s not a fast-paced or dramatic read, but rather one to savour with a cup of tea when you’re in need of something comforting.

This was another great cosy book in this trend we’re seeing coming out of Japan. Some of the happenings with Shiba felt like something out Oran High School Host Club, but in the very best way.

This book was honestly so warm. Like many of the cosy Japanese books the chapters almost felt more like short stories that naturally progressed along from each other. I enjoy this format a lot!

And the characters really stood out. Shiba and Tsugi stood out the most and I think anyone who’s watched a lot of anime could easily picture them, but not in a way that would put off readers who aren’t from an anime background.

All in all, I would love to revisit Tenderness in the future!

I have been loving this genre lately and this one came across as a sort of cosy read.

However . . .

I did find it quite hard to follow.

Between the characters and the actual plot line, for me, it just didn't flow like I thought it would.

Although I struggled to get through the first chapter, once I was in I was very much into it! I loved the simplicity of basing a book around one well-loved convenience store and the way the characters lives and stories weaved in and out of each other was so lovely to explore. I really loved the idea of so much going on in one seemingly insignificant place and the characters were all so different with different challenges to overcome that I never felt bored or uninterested. This was such an uplifting cosy and inspiring read. ✨ Thank you Sonoko Machida and Orion Books for access to the eARC in exchange for an honest review ✨

I didn't realize this wasn't a novel but actually a collection of short stories but that didn't take away from cozy, warm theme that's there. Overall this is a nice read if a bit boring

Another asian cozy literature. Actually I expected this book will entertain me and giving another warm feeling like others cozy literature, especially when the cover itself is so appealing.

However it was difficult for me to engange with the plot and characters, whether it because the writing style? Or because of its lack of storyline?

I love the premises actually, however it just not meeting my expectation. I hope the author will improve in the future :).

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC!

I had been really looking forward to reading this book, but sadly i was very disapointed. It just had nothing to keep your interet. I found it poorly written. The plot had seemed very good, it had great potential

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC

If you liked Before the Coffee Gets Cold you'll love this one. It had the same heartwarming and cozy feeling. A quite novel but an impactful nonetheless. A delightful read

A cozy Japanese slice of life novel based in a convenience store. Easy to pick up and read a chapter at a time. Characters varied and interesting.

Thank you to the Author, Publisher and NetGalley UK for a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Ah a light hearted but sensitive book and take on a magic and magical realism. I have read this at the wrong time and I’m sad I didn’t read this round the festive period as I would have lapped this up whereas now, it’s a me issue rather than the book. A good book for someone who is looking for something similar but different to other translated fiction work

3.0

Thank you NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group, and Sonoko Machida for this arc in exchange for an honest review!


Thoughts:

Slow, simple, and cute. However, I wasn’t riveted, and it took me quite a bit to finish this story.

I loved that the characters’ storylines were all for the most part interwoven, but with our repeat characters throughout, they were very one note. I wanted more depth and instead we had the same descriptions for each of those characters that were repeated several times (pretty often to be honest).

On a very positive note, I found myself really wanting to eat with each chapter, so the foodie aspects to this were a great touch. Food is emotional and a great way to connect people. It was a good way to tie our characters together.

Overall, this was cozy, but a little odd and boring.

(Azusa and Tsugi were my faves!)


Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:

E-book

Pace:

Slowwwww

Cover thoughts:

So so so pretty! Pulled me in right away!

If you're a fan of cosy and healing Japanese reads, you're going to enjoy this sweet slice of life story that's centred around a convenience store.
I was worried I might get fatigue from reading too many wholesome Japanese books that are similar to Before to Coffee Gets Cold, The Kamagawa Food Detectives and The Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, but thankfully that was not the case.
I really enjoyed The Convenience Store By the Sea and it's heartwarming nature.
I seem to have a fondness for these types of stories.
This book features multiple stories about the local konbini in Fukuoka, its workers, customers and the manager Shiba.
I enjoyed some stories more than others, but that's perfectly normal when it comes to a book like that.
All in all, this makes for a lovely comfort read.
Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Such a cosy read, I found myself very immersed in this book with characters that I really resonated with.

Where to begin?

The Convenience Store by the Sea is a cosy escape and like a lot of the books that settle in this genre the kind I personally think are great commute reads as you can dip in and out and get straight back in to the gist of it. For me it felt in a similar vein of the ten loves of mr nishino in how the customers seem to all be insatiably attracted to the convenience store manager, yet the novel itself feels more reminiscent to the cosy genre like days at the morisaki bookshop in that it is ultimately a social commentary on Japanese society and the common issues faced by those living there - you have the topic of aging, but also divorce and bullying all of which are handled sensitively yet in a whimsical at times otherworldly way especially when it came to the stories intertwined with the Whatever Guy.

Would recommend as a cosy commute friendly read guaranteed to make you reflective as well as laugh a little at times.

Thank you netgalley & Orion for the ARC.

Hugely popular in Japan, this is the first in a series revolving around the Tenderness convenience store near Mojiko Port in Kitayushu – where the author lives and works. A variation on bestselling ‘healing’ narratives, it’s comprised of interconnecting episodes centred on this quirky 24/7 shop – the kind of place once common across Japan but now rapidly closing or acquired by large corporations. The shop has a unique feature that’s made it particularly successful, it’s run by Shiba aka Phero-manager who exudes an overwhelming, indefinable charm that’s proven a massive lure for customers. Prolific author Sonoko Machida’s slice-of-life stories focus on different members of the community surrounding the store: shop assistant Mitsuri Nakao whose spare time’s taken up with devising manga based on Shiba’s life; a couple having difficulty adjusting to retirement; a cram-school tutor who dreams of a different life. Machida draws, at times, from her own experience, notably in the section featuring Azusa a teenage schoolgirl struggling to break free from an oppressive friendship group.

Overall, it’s richly detailed, fairly well observed. Although it’s clearly based on a fantasy of found friendship and connection, which is key to the appeal of this type of novel, there’s a marked emphasis on exploring concrete, societal issues in contemporary Japan: from bullying in schools to aging, isolation and the growth of ‘grey divorce.’ Sometimes the realist elements and the more whimsical ones – particularly Shiba’s bizarre appeal and growing flock of adoring fans – don’t combine as smoothly as I’d have liked but it’s still a very readable piece, an intriguing addition to this growing subgenre. Translated by Bruno Navasky.