“I was so absorbed in the things that I couldn’t change, I forgot the most important thing.”
Here at What We Reading, one of our unofficial New Year’s Resolutions is to broaden our horizons a little bit with the sorts of stories we read this year. We’re always going to be gluttons for suspense, tension and the odd tragic hero, but a little blue sky thinking never hurt anyone, and sometimes diving into a life-affirming piece of literary fiction can be a welcome respite from gut-punchers like The Secret History. Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s Before the Coffee Gets Cold has naturally been on our radars for a long time now, and we thought it was about time we paid a visit to Funiculi Funicula ourselves to see if this time travel story about life, love and loss was worth the hype. How did this book club staple stand up? Join us today at What We Reading as we run through our Before the Coffee Gets Cold book review to find out!
Date Published: 2015
Author: Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy
Pages: 213
Goodreads Rating: 3.67/5
Before The Coffee Gets Cold Premise
Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a story set in a unique Tokyo cafe where customers can travel back in time – under strict and specific conditions. The catch is that they must sit in a particular seat, nothing they do in the past can change the present, and the time travel only lasts for as long as it takes for a cup of coffee to cool.
The story follows four characters, each with their own emotional burdens and desire for closure, as they experience moments from their past, hoping to change or understand their lives. With themes of love, regret, and second chances, Kawaguchi’s novel explores the power of human connection and the importance of accepting the present, even when the past cannot be altered. Before the Coffee Gets Cold delicately intertwines moments of nostalgia with profound insights about life, reminding readers of the fleeting nature of time and the impact small, seemingly insignificant decisions can have.
What Worked
Before the Coffee Gets Cold offers a refreshing and thought-provoking take on time travel. The novel’s unique premise – where time travel is limited by the cooling of a cup of coffee – presents a fresh approach to this subgenre, and makes us readers reflect on the significance of past moments and the inescapable reality of the present. The symbolism of the cup of coffee as life itself wasn’t lost on us, and it serves as an effective metaphor for the story’s wider message.
The cafe itself, an open secret in the heart of Tokyo, serves as a perfect backdrop for the novel’s exploration of regret, acceptance and closure. The characters’ struggles with their pasts and the lessons they learn create a deeply emotional and impactful narrative.
Each of the four short stories we get in Before the Coffee Gets Cold is touching, heartfelt, and seamlessly woven into the larger themes of the book. No story feels out of place; each one delivers a strong emotional punch and reinforces Kawaguchi’s ideas about time, memory, and the importance of accepting the present. Our personal favourites were Husband and Wife and The Sisters. Kawaguchi excels in crafting poignant moments of anguish and heartache but, ultimately, the stories are a testament to the quiet power of personal growth.
There’s a comforting stillness to the narrative, which is almost entirely character-driven. The relationships and developments between characters speak volumes, allowing the emotional depth to unfold naturally. We love it when characters and callbacks from other chapters pop up, it really helps ground the story in its own universe.
The book also has some solid female representation, with each of the main characters we follow being shown as independent, headstrong and compassionate, which undoubtedly helps make the emotional resonance in Before the Coffee Gets Cold so impactful.
What Didn’t
While Before the Coffee Gets Cold is undoubtedly an emotionally powerful read, there are a few aspects that detract from the overall experience. We should say that we read a translated version of the book from its original Japanese, which may go some way to explaining some of the moments where the prose feels especially clunky. We’re also nowhere near qualified enough to comment on Japanese norms and culture, which also may impact how the book came across.
One aspect that did stick out, however, was the repetitive nature of the writing. For a short book, there is an abundance of repetition when it comes to explaining characters’ feelings, thoughts and motivations. This repetitive approach tends to lean towards ‘telling’ rather than ‘showing’, which can make the narrative feel somewhat sluggish and take away from the emotional impact.
Additionally, the dialogue is not a strong part of the book. Several characters frequently respond with one-word replies such as ‘What?’ or other similarly closed-off responses, which at times makes the conversations feel stilted and difficult to engage with.
Finally, while the book shines with its positive female representation, the male characters all feel underdeveloped in comparison. Every male character in Before the Coffee Gets Cold is portrayed as gruff, emotionally stunted and unavailable to their family or lovers. While Kawaguchi does try to hint at deeper layers beneath these cold exteriors, the consistent use of this character archetype across all the men in the book soon becomes repetitive. As a result, their portrayals lack the same depth and nuance, making their presence feel somewhat one-dimensional.
Verdict
Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a brilliantly quiet, life-affirming read with strong messaging about the importance of accepting both the past and present. The novel delivers solid emotional resonance through its heartfelt and poignant stories, with well-crafted female characters who are independent, headstrong and deeply caring. Kawaguchi’s fresh take on time travel is unique and offers plenty of thought-provoking moments.
However, the repetitive and occasionally clunky prose – perhaps influenced by the book’s translation – prevents the novel from reaching its full potential. Despite its powerful themes, the writing style can make the story feel sluggish at times, and the underdeveloped supporting cast adds little depth to the narrative. Overall, it’s a touching read, but the repetitive elements hold it back from becoming the timeless, punchy classic it could have been for us.
Our Rating: 4/5
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
