The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen by Yuta Takahashi ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Your table awaits at the Chibineko Kitchen, where a soul-nourishing meal in the company of the resident kitten will transport you back in time to reunite with departed loved ones.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

November 2025; Penguin Books; 978-0143138617
audio, ebook, print (192 pages); magical realism

If you are a fan of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and Kamogawa Food Detectives, then you don't want to miss The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen.

This book is kind of a blend of the two. The chapter vignettes are more like Before the Coffee Gets Cold in that the person visiting the restaurant hopes to meet a person from their past. It is like the Kamogawa Food Detectives in that a special meal is prepared for the person. The big difference is that the person they hope to see is dead. 

As I've mentioned in a previous review, I don't know anything about Japanese cuisine. In this book, a recipe is provided with each chapter. I'll have to look up some of the ingredients and hope that the local international grocery store has them. 

Now you might be thinking that stories about someone being visited by their dead loved one would be sad. But these stories are more heartwarming, and it provides closure to the person. Have you ever wanted to say one more thing or perhaps take back something said after a person is gone?

If you have been enjoying these Japanese stories of magical realism, then you definitely want to add this one to your bookshelf. Book 2 in the series comes out in February, so it is the perfect time to read it. Plus, it is great for the busyness that comes with the holidays, as the chapters read more like individual short stories.

Buy The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

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