Before the Coffee Gets Cold - Toshikazu Kawaguchi

I read this book back in 2020. And, I remember completing it in two days! It’s a heartwarming and imaginative tale, set in a small café in Tokyo. It has a magical element in it along with love, and regret. The story explores the passage of time - all so beautifully. 

The story revolves around a small café in Tokyo, where there is a chair that allows the visitors to travel to the past, but with a catch: they must return before their coffee gets cold. The book follows the stories of various characters who visit the café seeking to change a moment in their past. Each character, while traveling to the past - ultimately ends up learning important life lessons. 

The book connects with the reader on a deep emotional level. Written about the most complex emotions & truths about life in the most simplistic form. Some stories are relatable while some are tragic, a beautiful exploration of the human experience. 

My favorite part about the book is that time travel, for me, is like a metaphor for how we, in our minds, think & explore our past memories and emotions!