This is such a cute, sweet story. This would’ve undoubtedly been my favourite book at 13, as I resonate so strongly with Nanami’s experience of the world. A 13 year old asthmatic who loves the library and books, who gets to go on an adventure to save the novels she loves so dearly? This is brilliant. I loved this.

It is a heartwarming tale of the effects books can have on our lives - as well as censorship and self.

Disappointing. I really enjoyed The Cat Who Saved Books but this seemed lacking. Nanami realises that a lot of books are missing from the library so when a talking cats asks for her help she eagerly follows it through a portal. The book philosophizes on the need and benefit of reading. Even when she is trying to escape the portal, the story is as grey and bland as the grey soldiers chasing her. I hope Sosuke will return to form with her next book.

“When it came to her beloved library, she was confident that her memory was at least more accurate than the head librarian’s and possibly even more brilliant than a detective’s.”

The Cat Who Saved the World gave me contradictory feelings. This book brings us into a world as whimsical as it’s dark and scary. I loved how it was pictured and believe that it has an unbelievable visual potential. It truly felt easy to imagine (and to imagine how it could be depicted on a screen), and was very beautiful. “Seeing” this world, the characters taking life felt truly enchanting.
That very pictorial side, and the 13 YO main character made me believe, however, that this book would fit more to a younger audience. Don’t get me wrong, I read YA (and middle grade) books. I love them. But the initiation story is almost a coming of age (but Nanami is a bit too young), and she lacks a bit of nuances –and knows a bit too much for a girl of her age. That would make this story a great one for younger readers, but adults non used to reading that kind of book might feel frustrated.
I loved how the author hints at the “fast fashion” phenomenon in publishing, how he enhanced the power of stories and of empathy. But here too he hints at a lot of things and doesn’t go deeper most of the time.

Thank you to the author and Pan MacMillan/Picador for the eARC. My opinions are my own.

3.5/5

A sweet follow-on to the first book, The Cat Who Saved Books, in this novel we get to see more of our sassy furry friend, Tiger, and do get to see some other familiar characters too.

I really enjoyed this. As with the first book, this was an easy-going and cosy read exploring the importance of reading and literature in general, woven into a fantastical and fun plot involving a talking cat.

While the style of these novels may not be for everyone as they’re very to-the-point and simplistic, for me this was just such a laidback and relaxing book and I had a wonderful time reading it.

Can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

AD/PR: thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel.

I really love this series!

I loved this new adventure with a new character Nanami and the returning talking cat as she has to save books from disappearing from her local library and as it turns out, all over the world too. The grey man was a dark and scary character who does everything in his power to destroy books because they are 'dangerous'.

I also loved that Rintaro returned in this second book too who is now a young man as they all try to fight the grey man and stop him from burning books. The overall message of the book is about censorship and what happens when people stop reading and instead turn to money and success. This book perfectly shows the power that books have!

Loved this book! It definitely gives off Studio Ghibli vibes (big fan btw). Nanami is a lovely character who adores books and who doesn’t love a talking cat.
I wanted a book that would be easy, magical and comforting, and this ticked all those boxes. Gorgeous!

This is the follow up to The Cat who saved books, but I feel this can be read as a stand alone - though the first book is fabulous and I recommend it, and the book does link into the previous book, revisiting a bookshop and of course, the Cat is the same!

As with the previous book, this is gentle, heartwarming, and full of human goodness, Louise has done the translation of the book justice.

Our main character (other than the Cat of course), is Nanami, a headstrong young lady who is held back physically by asthma, but who finds joy in the library. When books start to go missing, she is swept up with who is stealing them and why.

A heartwarming tale, and beautifully written and translated.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Picador Team for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

A very apt storyline in the present climate I thought.
This is a follow up to The Cat Who Saved Books, however, it reads perfectly on its own. Nanami, an eleven year old, spend her time between school and the library, necessitated by her father’s working and her asthma. Nanami doesn’t see this as a hardship as she loves books and the library. One day she notices that books are disappearing from the library, the librarian offers no help. One day she observes a strange man and sees that he takes a number of books, following him she finds herself confronted by a light filled doorway and a cat.
A wonderful book full of meaning, a delight for all ages.
My thank to NetGalley and the publishers for this arc.

Sosuke Natsukawa’s *The Cat Who Saved the Library* enchants readers in a delightful sequel that seamlessly blends whimsy with wisdom. This uplifting tale unfolds through the eyes of Nanami Kosaki, a passionate young reader who finds solace in the cozy corners of her local library. When a suspicious figure begins to steal the very books that fuel her imagination, she teams up with an audacious talking tabby named Tiger, leading readers on an adventure that is as thrilling as it is heartwarming.

Natsukawa’s prose sparkles with a genuine love for literature, reminding us of its profound ability to change lives. The vibrant characters and enchanting storyline capture the essence of childhood curiosity and the brave spirit of inquiry, encouraging us to always seek the truth, no matter the odds. The narrative is peppered with humor, charm, and poignant messages—proof that this is more than just a children's story; it's a celebration of the written word's power.

With themes that resonate on multiple levels, *The Cat Who Saved the Library* is a must-read for both young adventurers and the young at heart. It affectionately underscores the importance of community, the joy of reading, and the courage to stand against injustice. In a world where literature often faces challenges, this book serves as a beautiful reminder to cherish and protect our stories. A truly enchanting read!

I had a hard time finishing this book, maybe because the topics covered are not completely new, but seen and read many times. However, for young readers it can be a good approach to certain themes such as censorship and power.

THE CAT WHO SAVED THE LIBRARY - SOSUKE NATSUKAWA

If you read The Cat Who Saved Books, I'm sure you're keen to know whether the follow-up lives up to the magic of the original. In my opinion, it does. It also manages to feel different enough so that the main storyline and themes don't become repetitive.

This time, the protagonist is a 13-year-old girl called Nanami; she suffers from asthma and has found comfort in her almost-daily visits to her local library. On a personal level, I related to Nanami so much, as I used to visit the library just as regularly after high school finished for the day.

While the first book consisted of short story-style chapters, where the characters would meet a new adversary and challenge in each chapter, the second book is different. Instead, Nanami is trying to solve the mystery of books disappearing from the library, and comes up against a villain and magical setting that represent values that are threatened by or oppose books and readers.

With each visit to that world, Nanami and Tiger (our favourite talking cat) face bigger dangers and, for me, the stakes felt higher than the first book. In addition, there are some familiar faces in the second book, which still helps to give the book heartwarming and cosy vibes.

Book lovers, you won't want to miss this one. Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this eARC.

Release date: 10 April 2025

Review score: 4/5

Trigger warning: fire, animal injury and cruelty, bullying, chronic illness

I really really enjoyed this book. I thought that Nanami was a great FMC and I really enjoyed the dynamics between Tiger, the cat and herself. The book flows really nicely and I loved the touches the book had to a lot of classic literature that we are all fond of.

The book was easy to follow and is definitely thought provoking.

Warm, wise and wonderful. I can’t help but echo that last paragraph of the blurb. This is a wonderful book, and absolutely appropriate for this time. People are in danger from those who have forgotten what really matters. It may be just me, but it strongly evokes the news of the moment. We have to fight whatever is making people forget what really matters.

From this you understand that I was totally absorbed into this world and its strange events. It’s beautifully written, and argued between the characters. I suppose I should class it as ‘literary’ but somehow it’s more accessible than what ‘literary’ means to me.

If you have not yet read The Cat Who Saved Books, then do so, as a matter of priority. I don’t think this would be a good place to start, but it’s an excellent place to continue. And I don’t think it’s for children, although kids these days have such different experiences to cope with, maybe it would help.

don't know what to say, I'm not sure I enjoyed it. It centres around a young, asthmatic girl who spends a lot of time in the library. She realises books are going missing and a talking cat takes her to rescue them.

It's similar to book 1 - an interesting story on the power of books, but didn't really grip me like other Japanese translations.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

The second instalment of 'The Cat Who Saved...' series, The Cat Who Saved the Library can quite easily be read as a stand-alone novel, with the story this time following a young junior high girl, who has been leading a pretty sheltered life of just going to school and the local library for books, due to an overprotected dad worried about her poor health (asthma) due in part to her taking after his late wife.

The story is ultimately about growth as a person with the girl gaining independence, and developing more of a social life after the cat takes her on a trilogy of magical realms ruled by an overlord described as being a grey man who has warped beliefs that books are too dangerous to be read.

Thank you netgalley & picador for the e-arc, I'm looking forward to buying myself a copy once it is formally published.

This is a typical, episodic, Zen/Buddhist book from Japan. It could be used in school libraries.

The heroine is very likeable, an asthma sufferer with an absent parent. This ticks a number of boxes for plot and character developments. It is a book about a girl pushing the boundaries and finding her feet rather than missing out on activities at school and in her social life.

The cat is as enigmatic as in the first book (this second book does stand alone).

It is an excellent adventure/fantasy story with wonderful but not over long descriptions which discusses the ‘damage’ books can do and how important for developing empathy books are.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan McMillan for this ARC
this book is cosy reading for the fantasy lovers, if you are looking for a quick, fast paced, cosy read, look no further
I enjoyed the first book but think this second one really expanded the fantasy elements and as an avid fantasy reader, it brought more depth into it for me!
I would 100% recommend

I was expecting that this book will heartwarming as its predencessor. Turns out, it was so intense and a bit heavy for me who experiencing reading slump. I think, author tend to focus on its fantasy plot rather than the meaning of books in library itself.

It's not that this is not a good book. It just not meeting my preferences. However, if you like kind of fantasy cartoon story like Caroline, you might like this one.

The Cat Who Saved the Library is a tender-hearted sequel to its first book - I really enjoyed the coming of age story centered around Nanami, whose chronic illness prevents her from activities peers her age usually do. The library is a familiar and comforting haunt for her, and books as her salve was such a warm way to describe her resilience against the outside world.

Tiger the Tabby makes a return alongside Nanami's adventure to stand up to some sinister figures, and I loved reading about her steadfast beliefs in the face of doubt. It shows us that relying on others isn't such a bad thing, and the world is still better off. The writing is meditative but fast paced, and classic literature peppered along the way really made Nanami's love for books shine through.

A wonderful reminder that humanity and kindness can go a long way, and is still worth fighting for. A book for turbulent times, it was a cozy and reflective read that allows us the space to indulge in compassion a little while longer.

Thanks to netgalley for giving me early access to a digital copy. It was a good story and I might check out the first book as well-