Reviews with content warning for Terminal illness - Amics i llibres a Jinbocho

More Days at Mirosaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa is such a solid follow-up to Days at Mirosaki Bookshop. I didn’t expect to feel so much, but the way this book pulls you in—it’s like, you can’t help but get emotionally invested. The vibe of the second book feels familiar, almost like the emotional tone of the first chapter of the first book, but it hits harder this time. Maybe it’s because I could relate so much to what the characters were going through—like, I wasn’t just reading, I was feeling everything they felt.

What I loved about this one is how it brings so many different kinds of people to the bookshop. There are collectors, casual readers, people looking for something to fill their time, and even those who just want to escape. It made me realize that people see bookshops differently, and I honestly never really thought about it that way before. One thing that really stood out to me, though, was Satoru’s perspective. He says he’s not there to interfere with people’s lives—he just creates a space for them to find what they need, and to let them be in their own little world. That hit me because it’s so true. Sometimes, people just need a space to be themselves, no judgment.

I also really enjoyed catching up with the characters from the first book. It was like meeting up with old friends again, and I appreciated that sense of continuity. But I have to be honest, Takako, who’s one of the main characters in this book, didn’t exactly click with me. It’s not that I can’t vibe with her—there’s just something about her attitude that doesn’t quite sit right with me. It’s hard to explain in detail, but it’s kind of like this feeling I get when reading her actions. Maybe that’s how the author intended to portray Takako, and I’m not sure, but yeah, that’s just my personal take. Everyone’s gonna have their own opinions on the characters and that’s what makes it interesting.

What really stood out, though, was how Satoshi Yagisawa talks about reading. Like, it’s not just about picking up a book. For some, it’s about entertainment, for others, it’s about filling time, and for some, it’s a way to escape reality. It really made me think about how personal reading is. It’s different for everyone, and the way we connect to stories says a lot about us.

If you’ve already read the first book, then you definitely need to check out More Days at Mirosaki Bookshop. It ties everything together in a way that’s just so satisfying. But if you haven’t read the first one yet, I’d say start there. The characters and the story develop so much, and you’ll get so much more out of it if you follow the whole journey.

Content Warnings

lesliekate's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

The beginning felt really pointless but after around 50 pages the story finally began. I cried in the end. But unfortunately the characters just seem really distant. They are all so overly polite that they never seem to show their true emotions. The romance lacked everything a romance needs and the randomness of some characters was more annoying than endearing.

Content Warnings

sylexlibris's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition

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emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

“People forget all kinds of things. They live by forgetting. Yet our thoughts endure, the way waves leave traces in the sand.”

- Satoshi Yagisawa

A beautiful and sad continuation of the Morisaki Bookshop. As readers, we still get all the cozy bookshop vibes but we also get Takako and her uncle Satoru’s sadness. They both must get through hard times and relearn how to live their lives.

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