2 Magical Realism Novels to Read

by MK French

It's Halloween! Are you going to spend it eating candy and reading? How about a couple of books of magical realism? 

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Best Wishes from the Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki

October 2025; Ballantine Books; 978-0593726846
audio, ebook, print (224 pages); magical realism

Cats are a symbol of good luck in Japan, and being kind to the right cat can get someone invited to a mysterious coffee shop under a Christmastime Kyoto moon. In this book, Satomi is torn between her job in Tokyo and the possibility of a quiet life in the country if her long-distance boyfriend proposes. Satomi’s colleague Koyuki feels disconnected now that her mother has remarried, and she can't quite bring herself to be happy for their new family. Satomi's sister-in-law, Junko, is heading to care for her estranged father with her daughter, Ayu. All three women are at a crossroads, and the cats of the cafe may have some information to help them make decisions.

This is the sequel to The Full Moon Coffee Shop. This book is just as adorable as the first, a quick and cozy read that makes me crave a good cup of tea and a sweet treat. The three women are all busy with their daily lives, yet there's something still missing. They each get drawn to the coffee shop and think it's a pop-up café that has the cat theme as a gimmick. We are introduced to the astrology in the beginning, and see how it explains part of the drive each woman has in their life, as well as the hidden desire that will bring the sense of fulfillment in their lives. Satomi is most comfortable with work, Koyuki is a people pleaser, and Junko is estranged from her family of origin. 

The cats take on human form to interact with these women, and either by explaining the horoscope or bringing up memories, they can point out those hidden desires that they didn't realize they needed. It's bringing all three to the realization of what they need, and it's their own choice whether to go after it or not. Most people aren't naturally introspective, so it takes a little help to look for meaning. Whether it's a horoscope or supernatural cats, a little help can make you realize what you need and how to get there.

Buy Best Wishes from the Full Moon Coffee Shop at Amazon

The White Octopus Hotel by Alexandra Bell

October 2025; Del Rey; 979-8217091799
audio, ebook, print (368 pages); magical realism

In 2015, London, art appraiser Eve Shaw seems to recognize Max Everly, who has the same as her favorite composer born 116 years ago. In 1935, at the White Octopus Hotel, Eve and Max are lost in time and dealing with their past traumas. Healing is available if they have the courage to find it.

Eve appears cold, but it's a way to ensure she doesn't get hurt. After all, if no one is close, there's no chance of more emotional damage. It isn't accurate, and an old man she somehow recognizes encourages her to return to the hotel. This makes her search for the hotel itself, which she has memories of despite its closure in 1935. Artifacts from the hotel have magical properties, and a key to the nonexistent room 27 allows Eve to return to 1935, just days before the hotel abruptly closes. She and Max both have traumas, from family discord and death to World War I. Both are haunted by it, to some extent literally, and have a hard time moving past it. We see the pain they carry, the loss, and the experience of fighting in the trenches, and the ways they connect. 

The novel uses time travel to get characters in certain places, and it's a great analogy for grief. The magic items draw in Eve so that she hopes to undo past mistakes, but the time-traveling Keys shift people backwards and forwards in time. It allows for paradoxical events and the influence of personal ghosts on the other characters in Eve and Max's life. It's all explained at the end, another circular loop getting closed. Once upon a time, shell shock was considered cowardice. But we know it's a different kind of bravery to keep going in the face of loss and not give up when life gets hard. Both Eve and Max have that kind of determination. 

Buy The White Octopus Hotel at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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