Before Your Memory Fades Before the Coffee Gets Cold

A gentle reminder wrapped in a novel

Stefi (Mitglied der Orell Füssli Book Circle Community) am 12.06.2026
Bewertungsnummer: 3166366
Bewertet: Buch (Taschenbuch)

I really enjoyed Before Your Memory Fades. Although it is part of the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, it can also be read as a standalone novel. Through four interconnected stories, the book explores different kinds of regret and different expressions of love within relationships. Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s writing style is simple, warm, and incredibly readable. The pages seem to fly by, making this a book that is easy to finish in just a few sittings. Yet beneath its quiet storytelling lie reflections that stay with you long after you’ve closed the book. At times, I wondered whether the purpose of this series is to remind us of truths that should be obvious but are so easy to forget: to express our feelings while we still can, to cherish the people around us, and to live with fewer regrets. In that sense, it almost feels like a self-help book disguised as a novel. For readers looking for a gentle, comforting story with emotional depth and life lessons hidden in everyday moments, this book is a lovely choice.

magical, in more ways than one

Stephanie aus Othmarsingen am 20.03.2024
Bewertungsnummer: 2158830
Bewertet: Buch (Taschenbuch)

Just as the two other books in this series this one also made me tear up quite a bit and had me grapple with some deep and interesting questions. I LOVE the simpleness and authenticity which are transportet through this story even though there's the element of time travel. The characters are just people. Human like you and I. This makes it just the easier for the reader to think about what they would do if they found themselves in a similar situation as the characters. What I've noticed in this book was that some things (that didn't need it) were mentioned or explained twice or sometimes even three times. This was a conscious choice, I'm sure, but it's just not something I enjoy if it happens too much.In addition, I found that the individual stories (there are 4 short stories which are connected) were too similar in tone and plot. However, my reading experience didn't suffer greatly from these two points of criticism and I'd instantly recommend this book to anyone who's read and enjoyed book 1 and 2 :)