Before the Coffee Gets Cold

If you could travel back in time, who would you want to meet—one last time?

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi is a heartwarming and gently magical novel set in a small, hidden Tokyo café where time travel is possible—but with strict rules. The most important? You must return to the present before the coffee gets cold. Over the course of four intertwined stories, visitors to the café take the chance to revisit lost moments, seeking closure, forgiveness, or a final goodbye.

As the characters grapple with love, regret, and the passage of time, this must-read fiction book beautifully explores what it means to cherish the present and accept the past. Kawaguchi’s simple yet profound storytelling invites readers to reflect on the people who shape our lives—and the words we wish we’d said.

Perfect for fans of gentle, emotional reads like The Midnight Library, Before the Coffee Gets Cold is the best book for those who enjoy magical realism, Japanese fiction, and touching stories about time, memory, and connection.