Really enjoyed this cosy heartwarming book. The second last chapter describing an anxious character was incredibly insightful as well as relatable for me. I almost wish it was longer but that’s just me being selfish.

I will continue to watch out for this authors work. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the eARC of this book.

Michiko Aoyama has this gift of turning the simplest things into vessels of quiet magic, and The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park is proof of that. At first glance, Kabahiko is just a playground statue—teary-eyed, a little odd, maybe even overlooked. But for the community living around Hinode Park, he becomes something more: a gentle anchor, a place where hope and healing quietly bloom. Through interwoven stories of neighbors—students, new mothers, planners, workers—we see how everyday struggles find solace in small, almost invisible moments of connection.

This isn’t a loud, dramatic novel; it’s the kind that slips into your heart softly, reminding you that community isn’t built by grand gestures but by tiny acts of noticing, touching, and listening. Each character’s story feels like a vignette—intimate, wistful, but ultimately hopeful. Fans of Aoyama’s What You Are Looking For Is in the Library will recognize her signature mix of tenderness and subtle magic here. The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park is less about miraculous cures and more about the healing power of belonging, reminding us that sometimes the smallest places carry the biggest hearts.

Rating: 5/5. Comforting, luminous, and quietly unforgettable—like a warm hand resting on yours.

The book is a collection a collection of short stories which are intertwined with one another in different ways… and all are centred around the Healing Hippo. The stories have a nice touch of hope and inspiration to them - we can change even the worst parts of ourselves with a little hope (or a touch of magic!).

It was written it a very nice way with a flow that makes the reading go by very quickly. It was lovely to see the difference in the characters that were presented. Perhaps I wished that the stories were a little bit longer that they were.

This is such a tender and life-affirming book. Set around Hinode Park, where an old hippo ride named Kabahiko is believed to hold healing powers, the story brings together an eclectic mix of residents from the nearby apartment block.

Each character approaches the hippo with their own struggles, whether it be a student desperate to improve his studies, a new mother trying to find her voice, or others searching for comfort in small but meaningful ways.

What makes this book so lovely is how quietly powerful the stories are. Aoyama takes simple moments and weaves them into something moving, focusing on the importance of kindness, connection and the healing power of community. It is both heartwarming and thoughtful, leaving you with a deep appreciation for the little things in life that help us through difficult times.

A beautiful and uplifting read that reminds us how much hope and strength can be found in unexpected places.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

It is a collwction of short stories that all have in common he hippo in the park. I didn't feel the magic that ither books like these one have. The characters and stories were quite vague for me. Hoqever, I do appreciate what the authot wqs trying to do here, talking about common expectations in South Korea. It is a short book, quite essy to read!

Not quite as magical as I was expecting. Still quite sweet.

3.5 stars.

A collection of people who live/work near a park each have a problem in their lives, an internal problem ostensibly connected with a part of their body - the inability to speak up, leg pain - and each is directed to a Hippo in the local park, a children's ride, who is said to have healing powers.

Children and adults alike, one at a time we watch their stories evolve as they do see the Hippo and find they can make the changes needed to improve their lives. Though as the stories each took their turn on the page, I was getting more and more sceptical that really this was a story about the lady in the dry cleaners giving life advice and that none of them were really acknowledging that.

The translation I found very clunky, possibly both because of the Japanese original but also the way characters talk to each other felt very wrong to my ears a lot of the time, as well as how thoughts were expressed - even young children seemed very capable of self-reflection and quite complex personal action to help themselves. It just didn't flow well when I read the words. Like poor subtitles.

A sweet little multi-tale idea, but could have had more of a spark and been written in a different style that felt more like real people talking and thinking.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

Kabahiko the Hippo sits careworn in the play park, all the more endearing for his imperfections. He has sat there for many years and there is an urban legend amongst the locals that he has healing powers. We are introduced to five loosely connected people living near the park in a new apartment building. They are different ages and in different stages of life but are all in need of a little help from this charming little hippo.

This book was like a walming salve. A perfect cozy read, I felt connected to each of the characters and their journeys. It was a beautiful book about what it is to be human, of overcoming fears and internal struggles and in trying to become a better version of yourself. I would very much like to meet Kabahiko the Hippo and give him a little cuddle. If you like translated Japanese fiction such as Before the coffee gets cold I would definitely recommend this 🥰

Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for the eARC. My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I adored What You Are Looking For Is in The Library so I was excited to read the newest translated work by Aoyama. I am happy to say I was not disappointed. The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park was such a feel good read. I loved how we see the characters grow to accept or see the good in their lives, particularly Kazuhiko’s story. I also loved how the characters were all different and yet we get to see a thread that runs between the tales that show hope and friendship. Another thing I love is this novel is set firmly in everyday life and encounters, showing us how we can find happiness and hope everywhere if we just learn to look.

This is a must read for those who are looking for a feel good read but also those who enjoy translated fiction.

This is the best book in this genre. This book was such an easy book to devour. The tales were relatable, the characters were so cute, and lovely. I read this book in under 2 hours. The moral of the story was so impactful. I feel so lucky to have read this book, and I really will try to incorporate the learnings from this book and live in the present and live intentionally.

A book filled with simple and touching interconnected stories that all hold uncomplicated truths in a complicated world. heir simplicity says with you as you meet a host of characters all looking to do better and to be better. beautifully realised and heartwarming, a very comforting read.

Such a sweet book filled with some really heartwarming and inspirational short stories. I love how each story added up to build a community, and our characters were all so different with varying personalities and struggles, every story was such a breath of fresh air! I liked this more than the author's first book purely because of the inanimate "healing hippo" element, and think this would really resonate with people who are burnt out or just looking for refreshing, healing stories.

I tackled The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park as a light read composed by multiple short stories told by the POV of different neighbours who live in the same neighbourhood. These people are all very different in all aspects of life, so it comes as no surprise that despite all living in the same area, they all have different lifestyles and, consequently, different problems. But the area where they live, which is just another normal neighbourhood, except the hippo ride in the park. Rumour has it that Kabahiko is a healing hippo and if you touch the exact part of the hippo where you have an ailment or wound, you will see recover from it.

This was a lovely, positive and whimsical read, where we get to know the different people who live in the apartments close to the park: Their way of thinking, their struggles, their most intimate problems and what, in their belief, needs fixing. Kabahiko is magical, just not in the exact way that people were expecting, after all, how many of life’s problems are not just a matter of perspective or attitude?

After finishing this book, however, I found myself doing what I do best: Overthinking (Maybe I should ask Kabahiko to fix that?). And I thought to myself: If I had a hippo like this, would I ask to fix something? I think we all would. And, in reality, am I in need of fixing or is there more to it? There’s always something that doesn’t go according to plan, or that we struggle to make peace with, or… the options are endless.

In sum, whether you are feeling a light read or would like a more insightful read, I think this book is definitely worth it!

Aoyama’s work is a joy like no other. Thoughtful, insightful and deeply compassionate, the world feels a little brighter after reading The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park. There is such kindness and empathy in these stories of visitors of the park. As each visitor learns more about themself, so too does the reader. I laughed and cried and felt so deeply understood. A masterpiece.

A gentle, poetic premise that tugs at the heart—this description hints at a quiet yet powerful story about how a humble hippo statue becomes a silent witness to the lives, struggles, and hopes of its community. Warm, tender, and subtly magical, it promises a moving celebration of everyday connections.

What a lovely book. It introduces us to residents of a new condo building who are each experiencing a challenge. They seek comfort from the healing hippo in the local park. Legend has it that if you touch the part of the hippo which is causing you pain, it will help you.
This is a sweet exploration of the power of community and how opening yourself up to others and paying attention to the things around you can help you to live a happier life.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A mix of 5 individuals of varying ages tell their stories and their search for answers . These are individually told with a vague link. Each character is helped through self awareness and support from people around them

This is a collection of interlinked stories about various residents of a new condominium. Near to their homes is a small park where an orange hippo
is. The local legend is that if you touch a part of his body corresponding to where you need healing, you will heal.
This is a nice read mainly about being true to yourself and not being afraid of what other people think.

A gentle and comforting read. Each chapter focuses on a different character going through a rough patch in their life. The characters are all residents of Advance Hill, a new build residential building. Their stories are simple but meaningful.

"They say that you touch the part of your body that needs healing to the same part of the hippo, you feel better." The stationary hippo named Kabahiko at Hinode Park is the emotional centrepiece in each story and helps the characters find their way.

The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park is a sweet and uplifting slice-of-life read - definitely worth picking up.

This is not my usual sort of book, but I'm glad I chose it. I was intrigued by the premise of a tatty old hippo in a suburban playground, which local rumour has given magical healing properties.
The book is made up of a collection of linked short stories, each built around the problems of everyday life facing a set of characters living in an apartment building, and how simple solutions and kindness can bring understanding, acceptance, and happiness.
Sometimes the book feels a little too childlike, but overall I enjoyed its warm, simple, and gentle storytelling.
It's a cosy book that makes the world seem a little brighter.
With thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC

Kabahiko is a concrete hippo in a play park, he’s seen better days and his paint is faded, his eyes look like they might have tears in them, but he is always smiling, and he has a super power. According to local legend he his the healing hippo, if you run the part of the hippo where you have your pain it will get better.
This is a collection of five encounter between the people who have moved into the new apartment block and the healing hippo. There is the young mother who has lost her confidence to say what she wishes, the wedding planner whose ears echo everything she says; a charming collection I’d feel good encounters.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this wonderful book.