Name: Water Moon
ISBN: 9780857505330

Samantha Sotto Yambao

On a backstreet in Tokyo lies a pawnshop, but not everyone can find it. Most will see only a cosy ramen restaurant. And just the chosen ones – those who are lost – will find a place to pawn their life choices and deepest regrets.

Hana Ishikawa wakes on her first morning as its new owner to find the pawnshop ransacked, the shop’s most precious acquisition stolen and her father missing. And then into the shop stumbles a charming stranger, quite unlike other customers. For he offers help, instead of seeking it.

Together, they must journey through a mystical world to find Hana’s father and the stolen choice – through rain puddles, hitching rides on paper cranes, across the bridge between midnight and morning and through a night market in the clouds.

But as they get closer to the truth, Hana must reveal a secret of her own – and risk making a choice she will never be able to take back. 

Water Moon

Suzie

I may never get to where I want to go, but I can look back on my life and say that I did not waste a second of it being bitter that I was not someplace else. Happiness does not exist in a place. It lives in every breath we take. You need to choose to take it in, over and over again.

karina

“Because death is kind and swift. Longing is a life sentence.”

“What I’ve experienced here feels like it would overflow from just one lifetime. I feel stretched, struggling, every second that I’m here, to fit everything into a tiny room that used to be my whole world. There are times when I feel that if I breathe too deeply, speak too loud, or move too fast, I’ll crack wide open.”

Kiran Aftab

Every second he spent with Hana ripped a stitch from the fabric of all he knew. It was not going to take much more to leave him utterly undone.

Martyna Melania Anastasia

Losing your way is oftentimes the only way to find something you did not know you were looking for.

What more can a man ask for? Arriving at one’s destination is never promised. Only the journey is. Waiting is part of that journey.

Life is about finding joy in the space between where you came from and where you are going. I may never get to where I want to go, but I can look back on my life and say that I did not waste a second of it being bitter that I was not someplace else. 

Happiness does not exist in a place. It lives in every breath we take. You need to choose to take it in, over and over again. 

There is something beautiful about autumn that makes things more beautiful. Out of all the seasons, it is the most honest about time. Summer and spring blind you to its passing with their colourful displays. Winter paints over everything in white. But autumn is not shy about things coming to an end. It welcomes it, waving leafy flags of red, yellow, and gold. It celebrates its sadness. 

„I did not wake up and suddenly feel that I loved you. The only answer I can give you is that it happened gradually. Slowly, and unnoticed, the way ocean turns rocks into sand. And you are the ocean, Hana. Gentle and quiet, yet powerful enough to sweep away any man or ship. I drowned in you a long time ago and I did not even know it.“

This was the best book I have read so far. It will take you on a journey where you will see and hear the impossible things. Where nothing feels real anymore. You will travel from puddle to puddle to find the truth losing hope for the happy ending . But not every story ends when the journey is finished, it can lead to a new beginning. 

Jelena Kalmane

Started out really good, very imaginative and a fun world building exercise. Over the course of the book though it becomes more romantasy and that just didn't vibe with me. I have to say I short of checked out, because that's just not my preference. Great world building, but a little too much drama for drama's sake as it got going.

BC Hark

Wow... Just wow. This was such a magical, confusing, thrilling, and wonderful story. It was the kind you HAVE to pay attention because if not you'll get lost in its world. Both literally and figuratively. Gosh it was so lively, and fast paced, and magical. I truly loved it.

Tsu 💙

A unique, vivid novel that will stick with me. Fantastic world building, so imaginative, and a cute romance too. Should definitely be turned into a movie or limited series! Totally would've been a 5-star read, but it did drag a little bit through the middle—started to feel repetitive. Worth sticking it through to the ending which ties everything together so well.

Katelyn Caillouet

Greg K

This book was much better than expected! It was like a cross between Miyazaki and murakami novel! I was hooked the whole time and loved the characters and the sweet romance. I do feel like the ending fell a little bit flat for me, but not enough to ruin my experience!

Katie Allard

I enjoyed this book a lot. I waited a bit to write this review because I had taken notes throughout this book and wanted to sit with it.

I reccomend this book if you want a cute feel good studio ghibli coded adventure that will make you think about how to get the most out of your life. 

At first, I was afraid the themes were going to be a bit surface-level, but that didn't stop me from immediately enjoying it. Characters showcase and say lessons that we (or maybe just I) tend to forget going through the everyday hussle n bussle of life: your life is made of choices that make up who you are, you give meaning and value to the things you focus on or give your time, things aren't always as they seem. However, as you keep reading the novel you see that though these things are said and acknowledged in plain sight, Yambao finds different ways to showcase it symbolically and through the journey these characters have. 

The whole book is centered around choices defining who one is and their life trajectory, and it opens up with a line that declares "time has no borders except for what people make." Hana also shortly follows up and says her only reason for living (Ikigai) is to run the pawn shop. Though she doesn't know it yet - she is the product of choice and perceived constraints. Hana was a choice that was never born in the human world because her "would be mother" worked 24/7 and never had her. Hana was born in this other world because her mom "stole" a choice that let her be born. She's physically and metaphorically trapped in two worlds. It's ironic to me that her whole being depends on choices, yet until the end of the book she almost is following her "would be mother's fate" confined working in her cubical like pawn shop.

We all can fall into this trap. Make little choices that compound here or there that can give the illusion of lack of choice. Don't get me wrong, you can't just change everything in life by believing or making a choice - but our lives aren't fated by some designed plan. At every turn, Hana rebels against the "fate" tattooed on her skin even if she doesn't realize it: rescuing her father, trusting Keishin, and questioning the fate of her community (and subsequently working to rebuild it). 

Two additional scenes really drove these messages home for me and really made my heart warm: 

1. When Keishin and Hana run into the elderly man at the train stop who's family had left without him and his train has yet to come, he reminds the two "sometimes life comes and goes and roles you play and who stays in it" change, " you may not go where [you] want but [you] can look back and say [you] did not waste a second of it being bitter someplace else. Happieness doesn't exist in place. It lives in every breath we take." We may not all achieve exactly what we want in life, but we have the choice to make the most of every moment we're given. We may not get that high paying job or ever buy a house in this economy (ha ha !) but you can choose to take in every second and do the most you want with life. You will change and your relationship with those around you shift, but they can bring you meaning. 

2. The museum of mistakes was a bit chilling and awe-inspiring. The currency to get in is a memory - and it runs to teach others choices, even a small one made in a split second, can have an impact on many others and change the course of history. No choice is too small. They are powerful enough to define you and your impact the trajectory of those you don't even know. Big choices are easy to recognize they'll have an impact, but we can't take small choices for granted. They compound to truly define who you are.

I had a bunch of more notes - like how interesting it was imagery focused on reflections and potentially its symbolism of one's desires being seemingly out of reach (even if it isn't the whole picture) - but I'll stop there since these were the top things I remembered. 

Ashley Denktas

I enjoyed this book a lot. I waited a bit to write this review because I had taken notes throughout this book and wanted to sit with it.

I reccomend this book if you want a cute feel good studio ghibli coded adventure that will make you think about how to get the most out of your life. 

At first, I was afraid the themes were going to be a bit surface-level, but that didn't stop me from immediately enjoying it. Characters showcase and say lessons that we (or maybe just I) tend to forget going through the everyday hussle n bussle of life: your life is made of choices that make up who you are, you give meaning and value to the things you focus on or give your time, things aren't always as they seem. However, as you keep reading the novel you see that though these things are said and acknowledged in plain sight, Yambao finds different ways to showcase it symbolically and through the journey these characters have. 

The whole book is centered around choices defining who one is and their life trajectory, and it opens up with a line that declares "time has no borders except for what people make." Hana also shortly follows up and says her only reason for living (Ikigai) is to run the pawn shop. Though she doesn't know it yet - she is the product of choice and perceived constraints. Hana was a choice that was never born in the human world because her "would be mother" worked 24/7 and never had her. Hana was born in this other world because her mom "stole" a choice that let her be born. She's physically and metaphorically trapped in two worlds. It's ironic to me that her whole being depends on choices, yet until the end of the book she almost is following her "would be mother's fate" confined working in her cubical like pawn shop.

We all can fall into this trap. Make little choices that compound here or there that can give the illusion of lack of choice. Don't get me wrong, you can't just change everything in life by believing or making a choice - but our lives aren't fated by some designed plan. At every turn, Hana rebels against the "fate" tattooed on her skin even if she doesn't realize it: rescuing her father, trusting Keishin, and questioning the fate of her community (and subsequently working to rebuild it). 

Two additional scenes really drove these messages home for me and really made my heart warm: 

1. When Keishin and Hana run into the elderly man at the train stop who's family had left without him and his train has yet to come, he reminds the two "sometimes life comes and goes and roles you play and who stays in it" change, " you may not go where [you] want but [you] can look back and say [you] did not waste a second of it being bitter someplace else. Happieness doesn't exist in place. It lives in every breath we take." We may not all achieve exactly what we want in life, but we have the choice to make the most of every moment we're given. We may not get that high paying job or ever buy a house in this economy (ha ha !) but you can choose to take in every second and do the most you want with life. You will change and your relationship with those around you shift, but they can bring you meaning. 

2. The museum of mistakes was a bit chilling and awe-inspiring. The currency to get in is a memory - and it runs to teach others choices, even a small one made in a split second, can have an impact on many others and change the course of history. No choice is too small. They are powerful enough to define you and your impact the trajectory of those you don't even know. Big choices are easy to recognize they'll have an impact, but we can't take small choices for granted. They compound to truly define who you are.

I had a bunch of more notes - like how interesting it was imagery focused on reflections and potentially its symbolism of one's desires being seemingly out of reach (even if it isn't the whole picture) - but I'll stop there since these were the top things I remembered. 

4.5/5: oh how i love magical realism and escapism. the plot of this book seemed very promising. however, i got a bit turned off by the insta love in this book. despite that, their love for each other was written in such a tender manner that i couldn’t be too upset. you’re taken on an adventure in this book to explore something so otherworldly. 

we always wonder if we’re making the right choice. being able to make a choice at all is a privilege in itself isn’t it? you never know how it’s going to impact you. 

i’ve been exploring this theme in my 20s. i started investing my time into dancing 2 years ago not realizing how much it would impact the trajectory of my life. i can’t really imagine what life without it so in relation to theme of this book, make your choice and don’t look back. you’ll always find your way

the ending of the book had me glued to my seat and i was very satisfied with how everything tied together. i don’t normally say this but i could see it being adapted into a movie, an animated one would probably be better though 

p.s. these days i want to sit with my thoughts more as ai related content continues to be pushed out

4.5/5: oh how i love magical realism and escapism. the plot of this book seemed very promising. however, i got a bit turned off by the insta love in this book. despite that, their love for each other was written in such a tender manner that i couldn’t be too upset. you’re taken on an adventure in this book to explore something so otherworldly. 

we always wonder if we’re making the right choice. being able to make a choice at all is a privilege in itself isn’t it? you never know how it’s going to impact you. 

i’ve been exploring this theme in my 20s. i started investing my time into dancing 2 years ago not realizing how much it would impact the trajectory of my life. i can’t really imagine what life without it so in relation to theme of this book, make your choice and don’t look back. you’ll always find your way

the ending of the book had me glued to my seat and i was very satisfied with how everything tied together. i don’t normally say this but i could see it being adapted into a movie, an animated one would probably be better though 

p.s. these days i want to sit with my thoughts more as ai related content continues to be pushed out

Pacing was a little wacky to me, and I wish we had gotten more world building+denouement at the end — however, it’s a beautifully written book, and feels very dreamy and rainy and all wondrous things.

Elizabeth

˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶

a wonderful world to live in… all the twists and turns (and the love)

Wow wow wow. This is the best book I have read in a good while. I devoured it in days! What an incredible and intricate story - What an incredible world this author has built. I cannot recommend it enough. 

Liv Wukasch

Would you understand if I said Ghibli-esque, down to the twists and turns of the plot and the gorgeous weaving of regret and choices? 

cee 

“When you spend your life dreading your future, you learn to welcome anything that makes you wait.”

There’s every possibility that this book will wind up being in my top 5 reads of the year. This one’s for all my fellow daydreamers and for anyone obsessed with two innocuous words and a question mark.

 is a mind-bending journey that takes place in a world devoid of choice—where all citizens must follow the map of their life or face the consequences. There’s no room for doubt. No room for mistakes.

Hana has tried to make her peace with that. Remembering her mother’s ghastly fate has helped her curb her curiosities and fold them down until she can hide them in her pocket.

But when a man from another, wilder world steps through the door of Hana’s impossible pawnshop on the morning of her father’s disappearance, the steady tributary of her life splits in a million unknown directions.

Hana and this determined newcomer go on an epic quest to find Hana’s father and the choice he stole.  Traveling inside of songs, visiting tea shops that only exist at midnight, drawing doorways in the sand, and exploring villages whose sole purpose is to create the sky each night.

Every moment they spend together pulls them both further and further away from the very fabric of their respective worlds. Until neither one of them is sure where they belong, or who they belong to.

Samantha has scooped up a dream, laid it out on paper, and pressed it down into supremely enchanted lines that will carry you to a place where wishes can be made real with the stroke of a paintbrush and choices are birds in a cage that—when set free—possess the ability to turn back time and rewrite a life.

In conclusion, I would pay an obscene amount of money to spend five minutes inside of Samantha’s head.🌊🌙

Catherine

“When you spend your life dreading your future, you learn to welcome anything that makes you wait.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There’s every possibility that this book will wind up being in my top 5 reads of the year. This one’s for all my fellow daydreamers and for anyone obsessed with two innocuous words and a question mark.

What if?

Water Moon is a mind-bending journey that takes place in a world devoid of choice—where all citizens must follow the map of their life or face the consequences. There’s no room for doubt. No room for mistakes.

Hana has tried to make her peace with that. Remembering her mother’s ghastly fate has helped her curb her curiosities and fold them down until she can hide them in her pocket.

But when a man from another, wilder world steps through the door of Hana’s impossible pawnshop on the morning of her father’s disappearance, the steady tributary of her life splits in a million unknown directions.

Hana and this determined newcomer go on an epic quest to find Hana’s father and the choice he stole.  Traveling inside of songs, visiting tea shops that only exist at midnight, drawing doorways in the sand, and exploring villages whose sole purpose is to create the sky each night.

Every moment they spend together pulls them both further and further away from the very fabric of their respective worlds. Until neither one of them is sure where they belong, or who they belong to.

Samantha has scooped up a dream, laid it out on paper, and pressed it down into supremely enchanted lines that will carry you to a place where wishes can be made real with the stroke of a paintbrush and choices are birds in a cage that—when set free—possess the ability to turn back time and rewrite a life.

In conclusion, I would pay an obscene amount of money to spend five minutes inside of Samantha’s head.🌊🌙

Water Moon is a novel that weaves elements of magical realism with a poignant exploration of love, loss, and self-discovery. It follows a character's journey through a richly imagined world, drawing on cultural themes and personal experiences.

Yambao's writing is lush and evocative, creating vivid imagery that you could get easily immersed in the story. Her descriptions of settings and emotions are particularly striking and commendable. The exploration of grief and healing is handled with sensitivity, allowing you to connect with the protagonist’s journey, struggles and growth. What sets it apart from other works is it is steeped in cultural elements that add authenticity and depth, enriching the narrative and providing a unique perspective and depth to the characters’ backgrounds.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the immersive quality of Yambao's writing, its pacing and thematic complexity may not resonate with everyone. Some characters felt distant, and the ending left me yearning for more closure, the ending is not as satisfying as I hoped. 

Overall, despite its pacing issues and ambiguous ending, Water Moon is a beautifully crafted novel that captivates with its rich language and emotional depth. It’s a must-read for anyone seeking a thought-provoking and immersive experience.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for providing the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

mikee ♡

Water Moon is a novel that weaves elements of magical realism with a poignant exploration of love, loss, and self-discovery. It follows a character's journey through a richly imagined world, drawing on cultural themes and personal experiences.

Yambao's writing is lush and evocative, creating vivid imagery that you could get easily immersed in the story. Her descriptions of settings and emotions are particularly striking and commendable. The exploration of grief and healing is handled with sensitivity, allowing you to connect with the protagonist’s journey, struggles and growth. What sets it apart from other works is it is steeped in cultural elements that add authenticity and depth, enriching the narrative and providing a unique perspective and depth to the characters’ backgrounds.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the immersive quality of Yambao's writing, its pacing and thematic complexity may not resonate with everyone. Some characters felt distant, and the ending left me yearning for more closure, the ending is not as satisfying as I hoped. 

Overall, despite its pacing issues and ambiguous ending, Water Moon is a beautifully crafted novel that captivates with its rich language and emotional depth. It’s a must-read for anyone seeking a thought-provoking and immersive experience.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for providing the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Ishikawa Hana (21) takes over her dad Toshio’s pawnshop. The pawnshop trades in choices for the “normal” world and takes them to her world.

Keishin (scientist) accidentally comes into the pawnshop and decides to selflessly help Hana in looking for her parents. In a fantasy world where the reflection of the moon can transport you to other places and you can walk through a book, making you made of paper as well. 

The pacing is really good, mostly narrated by Hana and Keishin.

The worldbuilding is really interesting and unique in ways I haven’t read before so that was delightful. While there is a current running through the book of tension, it covers a lot of moral quandaries and philosophical ideas.

The writing is beautiful and a very speedy read. This review honestly isn't covering how magical and beautiful I found this book, but I hope readers give it a chance. For readers who enjoy East Asisan magical realism, this is the book for you. I highly recommend this book. 

Suzanne

Ishikawa Hana (21) takes over her dad Toshio’s pawnshop. The pawnshop trades in choices for the “normal” world and takes them to her world.

Keishin (scientist) accidentally comes into the pawnshop and decides to selflessly help Hana in looking for her parents. In a fantasy world where the reflection of the moon can transport you to other places and you can walk through a book, making you made of paper as well. 

The pacing is really good, mostly narrated by Hana and Keishin.

The worldbuilding is really interesting and unique in ways I haven’t read before so that was delightful. While there is a current running through the book of tension, it covers a lot of moral quandaries and philosophical ideas.

The writing is beautiful and a very speedy read. This review honestly isn't covering how magical and beautiful I found this book, but I hope readers give it a chance. For readers who enjoy East Asisan magical realism, this is the book for you. I highly recommend this book. 

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

Water Moon

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