Book Review: Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

“Losing your way is oftentimes the only way to find something you did not know you were looking for.”

Samantha Sotto Yambao, Water Moon

Review:

In a magical Tokyo pawnshop, people who find it are given the choice to pawn their regrets. Hana inherits the shop from her father, and on her first day, she wakes to the shop ransacked and her father missing. During this, her first customer, Keishin, walks in. Instead of trading one of his regrets, he offers Hana help with hers. 

I loved the book’s soft and quiet imagery. I’m picky when it comes to fantasy/magical realism, but I was absorbed into the storytelling with this one. It balances magic, introspection, and coziness wonderfully. The romance element was the only thing I felt ‘meh’ about. I think the plot was strong enough without it, and it eventually distracted from the familial themes in which I was the most interested. 

This book was a fantastic change of pace for me. I’m looking forward to reading Samantha Sotto Yambao’s upcoming book! 

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• The imagery and soft feel to the book.
• The themes of grief, family, and regret.

What I didn’t like:

• The romance felt forced. There were too many other things going on to make it feel believable.

Afterthoughts:

I listened to the audiobook version, which added to the experience for me. The narrators did a wonderful job.

Where to buy the book: