This was one of those healing books that I enjoy. I kmow there are lots out there now but this one is somehow different. I really emjoyed the last syory, which tells how the main character starts his shop. I liked the concept of the book and the overall self-awareness of the other characters.

I always love healing fiction with a dash of fantasy, and this was a great addition to this subgenre

The Amberglow Candy Store is a set of vignettes, and each story details someone going through a tough period in their lives and how they end up finding their way to the establishment in the title, a sort of magical candy store. The store is run by Kogetsu, who is described as a very beautiful, fox-like individual, and each person finds themselves drawn to a specific sweet, which, unbeknownst to them at first, is infused with magic and will help them get through their current troubles.

Even though the structure of the book is at times formulaic, I think the author manages to make all of the stories quite interesting and different from one another. I loved the descriptions of the traditional Japanese sweets the characters eat, and I especially liked reading about how Kogetsu learned to make sweets in the first place - it is my favourite of them all.

Thank you very much to Michael Joseph and NetGalley UK for the e-ARC!

Kogetsu runs the Amberglow Candy Shop, where humans in despair can get special candy to help.

There are a few characters (one per chapter)
- a high school girl worried about being too needy with her first boyfriend
- a real estate agent who wants to feel invisible
- a university student struggling with friends
- a violin player wanting to win a solo
- a new mum struggling with responsibilities

The final chapter looks at Kogetsu's story and how he opens the candy shop.

This is a look at relationships (and communication!) between different types of people.
I couldn't quite get into the first couple of chapters, but I got more intrigued by Kogetsu as the stories carried on.

At the end of the book is a glossary of the Japanese words - it might be an idea to read that first as I spent sometime pulled out of the stories looking up what the sweets were.

I enjoyed the book and the stories. I'd like to read it again, knowing Kogetsu's story to see if I spotted the hints.

It's a very cosy, slice of life, magical realism story.

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

There's a lot of these books coming out of Asia to Western audiences and they're really sweet. I liked this one overall.

The Amberglow Candy Store is always open to those in need of solace, and it's half-fox owner, Kogetsu, is a master of delicious candies that deliver more than simply a sweet treat.

This was such a cosy read! It follows the theme of mysterious shop/cafe with customers who need to learn important life lessons, but whilst it felt like a concept I'm quite familiar with, it also felt a bit fresh and different. The owner of the shop was a fun twist, and I enjoyed discovering his backstory and learning more about how he came to own the store. The stories themselves where all feel-good, low stakes tales of people struggling with something in their lives and ultimately learning a way to overcome it.

The candies gave the customers a chance to change things in their lives, from treats that made you invisible, to ones that turned your bad luck around, it added a fun 'magical realism' spin on things. Some of the characters and their issues felt a little juvenile perhaps, but a lot were younger people, some in high school, so it made sense I think. I loved the description of Gloaming Lane and the Amberglow Candy Store, although that was explained in each vignette so got a little repetitive a few stories in. Overall though, it was such a sweet read and it brought such a cosy, feel-good vibe it was hard not to sink into it and imagine what treats I would choose from the store myself!

The Amberglow Candy store follows a theme that I have enjoyed - mysterious shop/cafe that appears when the customer needs to learn a life lesson. It does this quite well. The descriptions of the tired shopping street, enticing candy store and the candies and treats within were really nice, if slightly repetitive. Some of the dilemmas faced by the customers felt a little bit insignificant. I did enjoy the last chapter the most. It was interesting to get a bit of backstory for the shop owner. The book is wholesome and relaxing. Fans of similar books would enjoy it.

I had a good time reading this. We follow numerous individuals who are dealing with different personal issues in their life who then stumble to The Amberglow Candy Store. They make a purchase which then helps them come to a realisation on how to resolve said issues.

Though the translation felt a bit robotic I was able to look past this as each story was wholesome and I felt connected to each character and their situation. I loved that this didn't cut too deep into my emotions, every story came with a happy ending.

Thank you for the arc!

What a beautiful book. The story is set in a magical candy shop run by Kogetsu, a half-fox spirit, who crafts enchanted Japanese sweets that offer more than just a sugary treat - they provide subtle, often unexpected changes to the lives of those who seek out. What truly captivates me was the book's structure. Each chapter is a standalone story featuring different customers, from a lovesick teenager to a couple grappling with unspoken tensions. These tales are rich with emotion and introspection, and the magical confections serve as both literal and metaphorical catalysts for personal growth and healing.
The writing is beautifully evocative, with vivid descriptions that transport you to the cosy, otherworldly setting of the Amberglow Candy Store. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, yet there's an underlying depth that adds a layer of poignancy to the narrative. What makes this book stand out to me is its blend of fantasy and realism. While the magical elements are enchanting, it's the human emotions and experiences that resonate most deeply. The stories are gentle, yet profound, offering reflections on love, regret and the complexities of human relationships. Such a beautiful story that lingers in your thoughts for a long time after.

One of my anticipated reads of the year, The Amberglow Candy Store is a quirky collection of Japanese shorts who all have Kogetsu's candies at their heart!

The candies are very Harry Potteresque with names like Invisible Wasabon, All-is-revealed Chestnut Monaka and Surrogate Caramels. They all come with a warning issued by Kogetsu that you must not exceed the amount he tells you...is anyone really going to just have the one?

It's a fairly short read, so was easily devoured in an hour...literally how long candies and chocolate last me...if that!

They're very much the Japanese version of Aesop's Fables and come with a lesson in morality.

Meet Kogetsu, the store’s half-fox owner of the magical Amberglow candy store which not only has very interesting opening times, but even more fascinating products!

With each type of candy offering very particular qualities to its carefully selected customer, the book provides a series of delightful stories of those who come in search of help, and leave with a sweet solution of some sort...

This is an enjoyable tale in the vein of recent offerings with similar themes, and gets 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I couldn't put this book down – absolutely loved it.

Thank you to the publisher and thank you to NetGalley for the chance to review this e-ARC. Full review will be available soon.

A solid 3.5/5 A slightly different take on what's rapidly becoming a tired trope. I was drawn in my the non-human narrator, ayakashi lore, and candy store premise. The cover illustration is beautiful too!

Characters and Story: I was underwhelmed by the first couple of chapters. As an adult reader, I don't enjoy stories where people have to learn how to communicate, practice self-awareness, or there's a heavy-handed morality lesson. The characters felt so young and their problems so inconsequential that I wondered if this was a kid's book for the first half or so. For the human sections, I found the university friend group who learned how to communicate their needs, and the young trumpet player stories the most enjoyable. The story of couple with the baby also stood out for its resolution (I love communicative people!). For me, the final chapter was the best. I loved experiencing Kogetsu's backstory and how the candy shop came to be. I particularly liked how Kogetsu's motivation for making confectionary steered away from the saccharine. I would love to know more about his world and the other occupants of Gloaming Lane.

Writing and Translation: The writing was a little simplistic/young. There were beautiful descriptions of place and food that I adored. Overall, the translation felt rushed with some clunky sentences, not-quite-right word choices, and a few glaring Britishisms that felt out of place.
Like others that came before it, this book suffers from repetition (every character seemed to find the passage to Gloaming Lane the same way and made similar comments about the street!).

This is a short book (with huge font) that was a fine way to spend a quiet afternoon. If you don't mind middle-school-esque 'problems' and characters, check this out. It's a refreshing take on healing fiction!