I love this genre of translated Japanese, gentle books. This one has books and cats in, so how could I not love it? It's a sequel to The Cat Who Saved the Books and I did borrow this book from the library to read first.
This story follows Nanami, a 13 year old high school student, who spends as much time as possible in the library. Nanami doesn't have many friends as she's asthmatic and can't join in with everything, so books are her friends and comfort. Because she's at the library all the time, she notices that books are vanishing and not being returned. Then she spots a man dressed in grey taking some books, whereupon Tiger the orange tabby cat appears.
Nanami and Tiger follow the grey man to rescue the books. Will Nanami have the physical strength for this important mission? Rintaro from Natsuki Books in the first book also helps out. It's several years later, so we catch up on how he's doing.
As in the first book, we also get to read about the joy of stories, books and how they help our wellbeing.

I really enjoyed this story and the message it gives.
I loved reading more into our mischievous orange tabby cat Tiger.

I would love to read another in this series as I feel like Tigers story isn't finished there.

This is definitely one I'll recommend to friends who need a good heart warming story about a girl who faces struggles on a day to day basis, and doesn't allow that to stop her.

I do like Japanese literature and this didn’t disappoint. I love books and I love cats ,so it’s a winner for me. Books start to go missing from the library and Nanami starts to investigate a suspicious looking man who seems to be taking the books. What then happens is an adventure involving Tiger the talking cat , and together they find a way of getting the books back . It has great literature references and thrives on the love of reading and what would happen if we couldn’t read what we wanted to. I loved the relationship Nanami has with the librarians and how she will risk anything to get to the truth. It’s an adventure story , it’s a story about relationships and a talking cat who is just wonderful.

Thank you too Picador, Sosuke Natsukawa and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Cat Who Saved The Library follows Nanami (a thirteen year old child) and Tiger (a talking tabby cat.)

For clarification, I will be referring to Tiger as 'the cat' or 'Tiger' throughout this review - Tiger doesn't have a specificed gender in the book, only referred to as 'it'.

Our protagonist Nanami goes to the library a lot, basically everyday. Over time she starts to notice some books go missing—she tells the librarian, although he doesn't entirely believe her claims.

One day Nanami is greeted by Tiger, our talking cat. Tiger tells Nanami about this place where the stolen books are taken, although they have to work together to help change the mindsets of the stealer.

One thing I loved about this book compared to the first one ("The Cat Who Saved Books") is that there is no romance in this; it focuses on the impacts books have on people and our minds. It's a powerful lesson never to underestimate the value of great literature. To think for ourselves instead of blindly following the leaders of this world.

Nanami is so young, but she uses her knowledge from books to power through the adventures she's brought into.

We also see some characters from the first book 👀

I truly adored reading this. It was cosy, but it was also hard-hitting and it really shows the power of incredible books. I had a great time reading this, would definitely recommend it if you like cosy books.

When I saw that The Cat Who Saved Books was getting a sequel, I was quite excited. However, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations as much as I’d hoped. The storyline was a bit hard to get into/stick with, and it felt like the characters needed further development. Ultimately, it was a charming read, with a reasonably satisfying ending, but I found I had to push myself somewhat to keep going at points.

We follow Nanami, a young teenager who’s quite lonely due to having asthma and having to spend much of her time indoors, away from others her age. She finds solace in books and spends much of her time in her local library; because of this, she notices when more books than usual are missing from its shelves. Upon investigating further, she’s drawn into a mysterious world that exists in parallel to ours, when she’s visited by Tiger the tabby cat - an aloof character that fights against dark forces that wish to distort our world and turn them against books entirely.

I found Nanami to be a likeable and enthusiastic protagonist - she’s quite young, but the only real indication of this was the author telling us that she didn’t understand certain topics. This assertion didn’t feel genuine to me, as she was able to stand up to the dark forces and proudly proclaim her love of books without many issues. Her character was a little shallow, and I’d have liked to have seen more development of her throughout the book, as well as some more detail around her mother and her friend (whose name I forget). The inclusion of the main character from the first book was a nice touch; however, it felt more like an afterthought - someone for Nanami to talk her thoughts through with - instead of providing much substance to the story.

The ending (without giving anything away) is heartwarming and encouraging; I wish this theme had been perpetuated throughout the entire book, not just in the last chapter. Much of the story felt like it lack depth and I think repetition of this theme would’ve given more of a reason for the character’s determination, and something for us as readers to buy into.

Definitely check out the first book, if you haven’t already, and see what you think of it. I’d probably only recommend this one if you’d read the previous edition.

I was provided an ARC of this book via NetGalley, but my review is of my own opinion.

One Hundred Flowers is a brilliantly translated book about the ever looming presence of loss and how to look for joy of every moment as well as the cathartic healing that sometimes can only be achieved by letting go. With this said it is still a beautiful novel. The themes may have a darker undertone of loss but running within is the presence of love. How love can be beautiful but also cause pain when loosing those we care for. I am not ashamed to say this was a rather emotional read.

I do think this may have more of an impact on those who have lost a family member, particularly to something like dementia but at the same time I found myself reminiscing about my nan-nan as I read and enjoying the memories despite the sadness of knowing she was no longer here.

Beautifully translated and beautifully written this is a must read, although it may be difficult a times.

As always thank you to Bonnier Books for the advanced copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

This is I suppose the sequel to The Cat Who Saved Books but you don’t need to have read this one. Nanami is a young girl who is cosseted because she’s asthmatic. Her father - when he isn’t working all the hours he can - is very protective. Unable to join her peers in the usual activities young people get up to after school, Nanami goes everyday to the library. She adores books and reading. But one day she finds that books are going missing. The elderly librarian just says ‘it’s a library - people borrow books all the time’ but Nanami knows this is something different. There are too many gaps on the shelves and she keeps seeing a shadowy figure wandering along between the book stacks. Then she comes across Tiger, the talking ginger cat and together they embark on a journey, following the blue light that appears at the end of the book stacks. And so we are taken on a magical journey to a dystopian world where books are being destroyed because of the influence they have. This grey man that Nanami has seen in the library wants to burn all books. Reading allows a person to have imagination, it allows feelings and understanding of others. And when he wants to fill the world instead with meaningless empty volumes - well, isn’t that almost like our world today - a world where there is so much misinformation and we are not encouraged to think for ourselves. This world behind the library is frightening because it is forever changing and Nanami and Tiger find themselves in peril at times. There is a lot within this little book which on the surface is just about a girl and a cat saving a library. It’s about the power of the written word, how it gives us hope, how it gives us ideas and strength. And it also reminds me, in the character of Nanami’s father, that sadly, once adult life takes over and our time is taken up with work, the time that we have for reading is lost. Without our books, it is almost as if a light goes out and our hearts and minds are plunged into darkness.
A super book that makes you think - and that reminds us to keep always thinking for ourselves - and it was nice to meet Tiger again and even Rintaro from the first book.

This was such a wonderful follow up to The Cat Who Saved Books. I enjoyed the change in main character and their journey. Often times I find sequels in series like this a little too repetitive, ideas from the first book being reused slightly too closely. But I felt the plot here varied enough for it to feel fresh and allowed for growth with some existing characters. I loved the discussion around books and the importance of libraries and access to reading. More books about books!

This book was a delight from start to finish! I really enjoyed The Cat Who Saved Books so much and I was a little worried that this one wouldn't meet the previous ones standards but it so did!

Firstly I was very happy to see Rintaro again but was happier when he wasn't the main focus, instead he takes on the wise secondary character and does it very well.

Now Nanami inspired me so much. As a fellow lover of libraries when I was a kid I adored her spirit and her adoration for books since due to her asthma she could not participate in much physical activity like the rest of her friends; so stories became her companions instead. And it's her fondness of them that helps prove why books are important and helps her fight against those who are stealing them from the library she holds dear.

This was such a heartfelt tale that made me realise how books are important to people!

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the e-arc in exchange for a free honest review.

I was pretty pleased with The cat who saved books, but TCWSTL was a little… gauche?

We know it: book banning is all the rage. Extremely topical. Much contemporary. But if you’re going to write a book about it, a didactic fantasy that is extremely on the nose is… probably going to a be a best-seller, and probably be annoying.

Listen, I love a cat book. I love a tabby. I love books.

Give me all the cat books!

But this saccharine business of the little girl with asthma (christ, why is a girl’s asthma so poorly controlled in 21st century Japan) who is a wildly heroic adventurer, paired with a constant reminder that in “this place” the strength of your heart/mind matters more than that of your body, makes for a book that would maybe make a good kids’ animation.

I am sad. I really like that tabby.

SPOILER:
At least he doesn’t die.

🪀 The Encounter
The email notification only blinked once. Or maybe it was me who did. In disbelief. I had one email I somehow missed and which made my heart skip a beat. Pan Macmillan greeted me with an invitation to meet a ginger and a child with eyes full of wonder. I grabbed on to the opportunity with thankful hands, and jumped through the Netgalley portal right into a cozy library.

It all felt like a dream. Until the guardian awoke me.

📘 Her Story
Nanami Kosaki is a thirteen-year-old who loves reading. Given her interest in books and her spending most of her time at the public library, she starts noticing the stories disappearing from the shelves. When she tries to warn old Hamura, the librarian, everything takes a turn for the unexpected: she meets a talking cat. Together, they set on an adventure to defeat the grey man and retrieve all the missing books.

🧭 First explorations
I got shackled by a thought: I will enjoy this greatly. After all, it’s not everyday I get to explore the pages of a book that tells the story of a girl and a talking cat. Even more so one where books take center stage and the library acts as a portal to another world. I let my expectations lead me with the enthusiasm of a child who rides the bike on her own for the very first time.
Except for the fact that I might have rode the wrong bike.

🚦 Green Light
What stood out to me the most was the author including a young girl who struggles with asthma, allowing children who were less favored by Asclepius to identify themselves with a strong main character. I liked that the girl was brave and took on the adventure together with Tiger, the talking tabby.

Secondly, as this was a story steeped in magical realism, all I could say was count me in! And since there was the added bonus of a portal to a world where books were held prisoners awaiting to be rescued, I made it double. I also enjoyed the reminder to keep reading in order to enrich our world and the stark contrast between the cozy world of the library and the gun-loaded reality of the grey castle.

⚠️ Warning Signs
I felt as if I was click-baited. On the one hand, there was the plotline—very simple and to the point: books were stolen, we go grab ’em back. It all felt way too easy for Nanami and the cat. And since we’re on the cat topic, I wish I could have seen more of this furry little partner. Tiger was as elusive as a pink elephant. Why?

There were a lot of missed opportunities: Nanami was under-challenged, the Grey Man was like a fly on the wall—we see it, but we never know what it thinks, and the books were just a couple of enumerations (except at the end). Overall, I felt as if I was running a marathon while my opponents were a bunch of snails. There was a world of potential within their shells, entire universes to be explored, and then… nothing.

I think my last straw was the connection between the title and the plot. I still don’t understand how the cat saved the library. Was it just because it brought Nanami in? But that’s so unpretentious!

🤫 The Final Remarks
It all began with the enthusiasm of a firework. It was all nice and colorful until it exploded and made me want to hide. Or, worse, it fizzled out before it even got to show the world its full glow. Although the story invited me with promises of a bookish adventure together with a witty cat, I ended up with a series of expectations that crumbled like a castle made of sand.

📜 The Envoy
For readers who’d love meeting a talking cat and take a chill ride to the grey castle.
Avoid if you’re looking for depth and more elaborate characters and plot lines.

I felt that this book was targeted more for older children than for adults and for this reason I didn't find it very engaging. However some of the themes were thought-provoking and it highlighted the power and importance of books.

I Loved this book. It set my imagination on fire. I love the characters. Both this and The Cat Who Saved Books are little gems. I need more.

Loved this book - very quirky and enjoyable. Another but worthwhile addition to the growing list of Japanese fiction with a feline theme!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC

Another Japanese magical realism treat. Tiger now goes round with a new MC, Nanami; again to save not just few books, but a library of books!!! It was a pleasant surprise to see Rintaro and Sayo, the OG couple as well. Enjoyed swooshing through it, though I think I enjoyed the first book more.

Nanami is in junior high, but lives quite a sheltered life because of her asthma. She spends a lot of time in the library and loves reading. Anything and everything. When she notices a strange man in grey taking books it starts a whole chain of events involving Tiger, a talking cat, some strange grey people and Rintaro, the proprietor of a bookshop.
Nanami has to stop the grey people destroying books and overcoming people with selfishness, will she do it or will the darkness overcome her?
A lovey short read

Thank you to Pan Macmillan, Picador and NetGalley for a copy of The Cat Who Saved the Library.

I raced through the first one of this series, The Cat Who Saved Books, so I was excited to read this one.

It’s a cosy, mysterious adventure, that was heartwarming and thought provoking. I find Japanese fiction so unique and creative and this story was just that.

Would recommend to anyone looking for an uplifting, cosy read.

3.5 ⭐️
The sequel to The Cat Who Saved Books brings our beloved tabby cat back for another mission to rescue endangered stories this time alongside a new hero, preteen Nanami. Living with asthma and being raised by her widowed father, Nanami finds joy and comfort in the books at her local library. But when she notices certain titles mysteriously disappearing and her concerns are dismissed by the staff, she soon crosses paths with the enigmatic tabby, Tiger. Together, they embark on a whimsical literary adventure after the appearance of a mysterious man in gray.

This delightful follow-up captures the same charm and sense of wonder as the original, though with a slightly more playful tone that makes it especially appealing for younger readers. Nanami’s journey is quite different from Rintaro’s, but her magical quest with Tiger is equally enchanting. Rintaro also makes a brief yet meaningful appearance, connecting the two stories in a thoughtful way. Once again, Tiger is sure to steal your heart.

DNF @ 25%. I somehow didn't gel with this book, I usually love a book within this genre but somehow The Cat Who Saved the Library didn't hit the mark for me. I couldn't really get into it and I found that it was a lot of telling the reader, rather than showing. I really wanted to like this but I everything felt very surface level and I sadly wasn't captivated by the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sōsuke Natsukawa for this review copy!

I loved how I went into this expecting a “cosy read” and came out appreciating how an approachable book can sometimes deal with some really difficult topics. The way that dystopian themes were weaved into this books, dealing with topics like banned/burned books and the importance of freedom of thought in a way that younger readers can understand. Pleasantly surprised by this one.