Before We Say Goodbye

Good

Here we go again!! The 4th book in the 'Before The Coffee Gets Cold' series by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, 'Before We Say Goodbye' finds itself placed between the events of the 1st and the 2nd book of the series.Based in the Funiculi Funicula cafe of Tokyo that lets you go back in time, the book brings you the familiar characters from the previous books along with the new ones whose stories are narrated.As the name suggests, in each story one of the new customers finds themselves wanting to go back to the past to meet someone who is dead. Each story brings you different perspectives and emotions that are beautifully narrated.That said, the best thing about this series is that each story is well detailed and lets you visualise what you read easily.

If you've been a fan of this series, emotional, simple stories about relationships are definitely your cup of coffee. So you should definitely buy it! I cried while reading the second and the last story and it was all very cathartic to me. And I'm so glad that I read it in one sitting, on a Sunday afternoon. It has all my heart.

the book quality was great and it was a nice book altogether

The last book of the series did not disappoint me.

Character building and heart touching narration, Toshikazu-san at its best again

This is the 4th (short) book in the series. The book can be read as a standalone. There are 4 layered stories which are set in the small, time-travelling, magical Café Funiculi Funicula in Tokyo (same cafe mentioned in book 1 & 2) . The stories are of : the husband (Monji & Mieko), the farewell (for Apollo - dog), the proposal (Hikari), & the daughter (Michiko & Kengo). Each story is unique, interesting, and emotional. The author has provided the relationship map of characters (before the content page - which is very good, as one can refer to the characters while reading the story). There is a ghost (as usual), who is a woman in the white dress. There are café regulars, owners and staff and first-time visitors who come to the café. In this cafe, one can find the same rules (to go into the past life and to come back in the present) as in Book 1.

Such poor quality paper for the price paid……!!! Really disappointed