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book cover for Café. Waiting. Love.

Café. Waiting. Love.

The nostalgic 2000s Taiwanese classic - for the first time in English!

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Pub Date 27 Aug 2026 | Archive Date 10 Sep 2026

Headline | Wildfire


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Description

A coming of age story about growing up and finding love - perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

In a small café in Hsinchu, Taiwan, everyone is waiting for something. Whether it's love, a second chance or a sign of something greater. More than just an ordinary coffee shop; this is a place for serendipitous encounters.

Si-ying, a young woman working at the café, harbours a secret crush on the handsome Tse-yu, who regularly visits with a new girlfriend in tow. However, her life takes a turn when she befriends the quirky and earnest Ah Tuo. He takes her on adventures and introduces her to an eclectic mix of people who aren't what they seem to be - a triad boss who is a cinephile and a laundrette owner who whips up exquisite dishes worthy of Michelin stars (but only on a Sunday!).

Feelings are complicated, Si-ying learns.

Within the café's walls, moments of reflection reveal profound truths. Amidst the wait for someone else, Si-ying makes her most significant journey: the one to discovering herself.

** Translated from the Chinese by Shanna Tan **

Readers love Café. Waiting. Love. . .

'A cosy old school love story' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This book is one of those that has stuck itself to my heart and brain' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Loved the nostalgic early 2000s atmosphere' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A coming of age story about growing up and finding love - perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

In a small café in Hsinchu, Taiwan, everyone is waiting...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781035434237
PRICE £14.99 (GBP)
PAGES 288

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Average rating from 44 members


Featured Reviews

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This book is one of those that has stuck itself to my heart and brain, and I started reading it again two minutes after my first read. This is a book that grabbed me, with beautiful prose, and one of the most important storylines I’ve read in a long time. I felt like my whole body decided to relax all at once, and just enjoy the story. I've previously written that Shanna Tan is the only translation I have come across that can dictate my next read if she has a finger in it. And I stand by it. I know how she loved this novel, and how hard she worked to be able to translate it. It shows her respect for the story, how she makes the author be in light. Giddens Ko has written a spectacular story about the importance of being alive in the moment. I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s the way a single moment is described, a moment that means more to some than to others, and how important it is to just be there for each other. I felt like I could be Si-ying. This was just so good, and I am glad to have it in my library.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me give my honest opinions.

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