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.

Nanami is a young book lover who, because her father is a single parent and works long hours, spends much of her time in the library. She noticed that books are disappearing from the library shelves. Not unusual as they may be loaned out to readers. But these books are not being returned.
Nanami tries to talk to Old Ham the librarian about her concerns but he brushed her off. Then one day she sees a bright light at the end of a corridor of bookshelves. More oddly there is also a cat which speaks to the girl.
So starts an adventure with parallels with dark periods of history and frightening adversaries for Nanami to confront and, hopefully vanquish.
A delightful book for children from Nanami's age (early teens) to people even older than me (60+).

The talking cat returns, this time to help a 13-year-old save stolen library books. They have been taken because they have too much power and must be burned, which makes the book relevant to this day and age, when book banning is an unavoidable topic within bookish spaces.

This book is the second in the series but can be read as a standalone. A few characters from the previous book appear in the story, but there aren't any major spoilers.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for giving me access to an e-arc for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Nanami loves to read. Books open worlds and offer escapism, ideas, and adventure. When books start to disappear from the library, she decides to find out what is happening..Alongside, a talking cat, she finds herself in a dystipian world where a shadowy figure is talking and burnin books that inspire thinking - freedom of thought is considered dangerous. Rather than cower or ignore the danger to her beloved books, Nanami takes action. It is an interesting book to read in the face of books being contimually banned across the world. #thecatwhosavedthelibrary #netgalley

Nanami is a young teen with a deep love for reading, but when she notices more and more books disappearing from the library, she embarks on an adventure with Tiger, a talking cat, to uncover the mystery behind the missing books. This captivating story is a fantastic choice for middle-grade readers. I’m giving it a solid 4 stars (rounded up from 3.5), thanks to its superb translation and the meaningful life lessons it imparts by the end.

Although the novel is set in a dystopian world, its themes resonate strongly with the troubling reality in some parts of the world today, where books are banned, burned, and free thought is suppressed. This book serves as an important reminder of the value of imagination, freedom of expression, and the power of ideas, making it a must-read for pre-teens. It’s a thought-provoking tale that offers not only moral lessons but also fosters a sense of social responsibility when it comes to protecting freedom of choice and thought.

A truly insightful read for young readers, and I highly recommend it. Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan | Picador for providing the ARC. This is my honest review.

Just like its predecessor, The Cat Who Saved The Library is a sweet, light-hearted adventure with a lot of heart and charm. It feels like a love letter to literature and the joy of reading, and reminds you at times of why we fall in love with books and form special connections to them. I absolutely flew through this book, and already know it won’t be my only read through.

Stylistically, this novel feels like a direct continuation of The Cat Who Saved Books, albeit with a new protagonist and plotline. This can be read as a standalone, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend doing so - mostly, because of how good the first book is! You would miss out on knowing a few recurring characters from the first book, whose inclusion feels just like greeting an old friend.

While the story has the same philosophical tone as the first book, I personally feel this one doesn’t feel as deep. The story of the first book had a very clear goal and purpose, whereas here the plot feels a little more vague and less profound. The internal journey was still lovely to witness, particularly protagonist Nanami’s relationship with her Father, but her progression didn’t feel intrinsically linked to her dealings with the book's antagonist. I’d definitely recommend this novel to those who loved The Cat Who Saved Books and want a second glimpse into that world, but I’m not sure the sequel is as strong a package in its own right.

Rating: 4-4.5 ⭐

Review:
✨Thank you to Pan Macmillan & #NetGalley for this #ARC! This review was voluntarily written by me!
✨As a sequel of #TheCatWhoSavedBooks, I would say that #TheCatWhoSavedtheLibrary managed to reach my expectations.
✨Set around 10 years after the first book, our Tiger the tabby is back with a new mission with a more assertive companion, Natsumi. For those who already read the prequel, Rintaro and Sayo also appeared here with (spoiler alert!) Rintaro became a kind of mentor and older brother-figure for Natsumi.
✨In terms of adventure, I would say that the line between our world and the labyrinth (I mean the fantasy world) is more blurred than the first book.
✨Differing from the prequel, the labyrinth was the same for every showdown but with more room unlocked in each showdown. Plus, a character other than Tabby and Natsumi can travel between both worlds (yes, the man with the grey suit).
✨I was actually quite shocked with the event that happened after the last showdown. Thankfully, everything ended on a quite good note.
✨Actually until now, I still cannot fathom what Grey Man personifies even though it was the focus of this book. Emm that’s my bad. But I really like each showdown!
✨The story was easy to understand in terms of writing and plot and there’s a quite number of classics mentioned throughout this book. Hence, I indirectly do get some recommendations for my TBR (I don’t really read classics).
✨I do recommend this book to anyone who wants to read something about readers and books with a touch of magical realism in the story. I would also say that this book is a slice-of-life story with subtle romance (don’t worry, it’s really subtle). If you decide to read it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Book bans and censorship meet a brave 13-year-old and a talking tabby cat in this sequel to a Japanese bestseller. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, with its new protagonist who brings a different kind of courage to the series. Please see my full review.

Following on from 'The Cat Who Saved Books', this story features some old favourite characters and newcomer Nanami, a lonely schoolgirl who loves books and notices that they are mysteriously disappearing from her library.
Much like the first book, 'The Cat Who Saved The Library' is broken up into 4 main chapters each with a form of quest, set by Tiger the talking cat, that Nanami has to win in order to bring balance back to her world.
This is a story for book lovers, for those who love whimsical fantasy and those who love sassy talking cats. It's thought provoking, moving and a comforting read with just enough peril to keep you invested but ultimately retaining its cosy vibes.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan | Picador and Netgalley for inviting me to read an eArc of "The Cat Who Saved the Library" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.