Before the coffee gets cold - Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Where better to start than with one of my new favourite books!

I never thought I would say this, but thank god for personalised advertising! I was bombarded with adverts for this book for weeks on my Instagram and being easily persuadable as I am, the next time I headed into town I made a beeline for Waterstones knowing exactly what I wanted and I am so happy that I found it!

I don't normally venture into the realm of sci-fi and time travel, its not really my vibe. That being said this isn't like other time-travel books. Kawaguchi ignores the time-honoured rules of the genre and creates his own brand of time travel that isn't the star of the show but a mechanism used to delve into the complexity of human relationships. In his version, time travel has strict and unbreakable rules, significantly that travelling back to the past cannot change the present when you return. His characters accept the inevitable and still choose to confront difficult moments in their lives, learning and growing in the process.

This book is 213 pages of all-over-the-place emotions. There are four chapters. Four stories. Four principle characters whose lives are all beautifully interconnected. It is heart-wrenching and hopeful and if it doesn't bring you to the edge of tears then there is something wrong with you!

There is no doubt that this is now, and will continue to be one of my favourite books. Should you choose to read it, (which I highly recommend you do) you won't be able to put it down and I'm sure you'll finish it before your coffee gets cold!

H x