Before We Forget Kindness

Kevin Shen's narration brings warmth and emotional depth to an ensemble of characters. Through his performance, the interconnected stories of a caf's visitors unfold with clarity and resonance. Shen's delivery captures the quiet urgency of each character's desire to revisit their past--while adhering to the caf's unique rules. The individual struggles range from a father's grappling with regret to a woman's yearning for an unspoken connection, a boy's longing to bring his parents joy, and a mother's seeking of solace. Shen balances the poignancy and hopefulness of these stories, reflecting their universal themes of reconciliation and moving forward. His pacing and tone immerse listeners in the timeless atmosphere of the caf, enriching the tale and offering soothing and reflective listening. M.R. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

May 1, 2025

Kawaguchi's fifth book in his poignant "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" series (following Before We Say Goodbye) returns listeners to the comfort of Tokyo's magical caf� Funiculi Funicula, where customers can revisit the past. Four stories follow different visitors as they learn the rules of the time-traveling caf�--the woman in the white dress must leave her seat before the customer can embark on their journey, and their one-time visit must be concluded before the coffee gets cold. Kevin Shen narrates, sensitively communicating a seven-year-old boy's wish to offer his parents solace when they announce their separation ("The Son"); the heart-wrenching grief of a new widow who wants her late husband to name their daughter ("The Nameless Child"); the longing of a woman trying to make amends to her father after eloping without his blessing ("The Father"); and a young woman's need to apologize to her former best friend ("The Valentine"). Shen's narration is gentle and unhurried, allowing room for the characters' complex motivations to unfurl. Whether voicing a young mother or a gruff grandfather, his contemplative tone and nuanced depictions speak volumes. VERDICT A feel-good, reflective novel offering a comforting take on grief, separation, and regret.--Sarah Hashimoto

Copyright 2025 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

If you could revisit a moment in your life when you made an embarrassing mistake – perhaps by saying the wrong thing – knowing that, even if you could go back in time, you only had a few minutes and whatever you did differently couldn’t change the outcome, would you still take that opportunity? This is the central tenet of this beautifully written and most welcome fifth novel in the ‘Before the Coffee Gets Cold’ series. In a Tokyo café, the widowed owner, Nagare Tokita, watches over his cousin, the dour waitress, Kazu, as she serves a special time-travelling cup of coffee to patrons who wish to return to the past to try to make reparations for their own misdeeds. But there are rules: there is only one chair that will enable time travel. Patrons can visit only people who have also been served in the café ... and, of course, will be able to visit only until the coffee in their cup turns cold. There are four stories within the novel. The first story, ‘The Son’, concerns seven-year-old, Yuki Kiriyama, who wishes to return to the café in order to not burst into tears as his parents give him news of their relationship breakdown. In ‘The Nameless Child’, Megumi Sakura wants to return with her newborn baby so that her recently deceased husband can name her. Traditional familial relationships are explored in ‘The Father’, where the daughter marries against her father’s wishes and their ensuing estrangement injures them both. The final story, ‘The Valentine’, is the perfect offering, with a reunion between childhood friends, along with a surprising twist. These are beautifully written and emotionally uplifting stories offering insights into Japanese culture. Reviewed by Bob Moore   ABOUT THE AUTHOR Toshikazu Kawaguchi was born in Osaka, Japan, in 1971. He formerly produced, directed and wrote for the theatrical group Sonic Snail. As a playwright, his works include COUPLE, Sunset Song, and Family Time. The novel Before the coffee gets cold is adapted from a 1110 Productions play by Kawaguchi, which won the 10th Suginami Drama Festival grand prize. Visit the publisher's website