Visiting her clients, she finds the whispering wardrobe, filled with chatty clothes; the singing study, full of talkative books; the bickering kitchen with its disgruntled drawers of cutlery, and more. Each item: a book, a childhood toy, a jar of miso paste, evokes a new memory for its owner, and what starts as the simple task of tidying a room becomes something profound and life-affirming. With the help of her talking box, Hako, Miko helps people reconnect to themselves and their loved ones through the items that they find in their rooms.

As they sort through their rooms, they discover what is truly important in their lives, and what it takes to spark joy.

But Mondays are special. Each week, the café’s enigmatic owner hosts a tea tasting, inviting guests to slow down, savour a bowl of carefully prepared matcha, and discover that life’s answers can sometimes be found in life’s simplest rituals. Across twelve interconnected stories spanning the seasons, we meet people at turning points in their lives: a woman who must learn to change her outlook, a couple whose relationship is under strain, an artist searching for lost inspiration, and a young woman trying to free herself from the weight of family expectations.

Drawn together by Café Marble’s quiet magic, each finds unexpected connection, hope and the courage to begin again. Watching over them all is a mysterious white cat, whose gentle observations remind us that even the smallest encounters can transform a life. Tender, uplifting and full of quiet wisdom, MATCHA ON MONDAY is a celebration of friendship, community and the healing power of everyday moments, all beginning with a single cup of matcha.

Bullied to the point of dropping out of school, Kokoro’s days blur together as she hides in her bedroom, unable to face her family or friends. As she spirals into despair, her mirror begins to shine; with a touch, Kokoro is pulled from her lonely life into a resplendent, bizarre fairytale castle guarded by a strange girl in a wolf mask. Six other students have been brought to the castle, and soon this marvelous refuge becomes their playground.

The castle has a hidden room that can grant a single wish, but there are rules to be followed, and breaking them will have dire consequences. As Kokoro and her new acquaintances spend more time in their new sanctuary, they begin to unlock the castle’s secrets and, tentatively, each other’s.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror is a mesmerizing, heart-warming novel about the unexpected rewards of embracing human connection.

🌸🌸🌸🌸

As the last petal falls, the final page is turned…

Welcome to The Cherry Blossom Bookshop, a haven for book lovers that only appears during the fleeting cherry blossom season. Nestled amidst the bloom of delicate petals, you’ll find a sanctuary for those burdened by regrets and past sorrows. Here, Sakura, the mysterious young owner, and her wise calico cat, Kobako, patiently await the arrival of souls in need of solace and healing.

Told over four seasons, each visitor to the bookshop holds a book that bridges their past and present, guiding them towards understanding and acceptance. Within the antique charm of the shop and the soothing aroma of freshly brewed coffee, Sakura and Kobako help their guests confront their lingering sadness through the power of stories, enabling them to move forward with renewed hope.

Meanwhile Mari’s beautiful sister Eri lies in a deep, heavy sleep that is ‘too perfect, too pure’ to be normal; it has lasted for two months. But tonight as the digital clock displays 00:00, a hint of life flickers across the television screen in her room, even though it’s plug has been pulled out. Strange nocturnal happenings, or a trick of the night?WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY THE AUTHOR’A captivating mood piece, delicate and wistful’ Evening Standard

These are the directions Kotoko has been given. She arrives at the tiny restaurant, perched right by the water, early in the morning. Still reeling from the sudden death of her brother, she’s been promised that the food served there will bring him back to her, for one last time.

Taking a seat in the small, wood-panelled room, she waits as Kai, the restaurant’s young chef, brings out steaming bowls of simmered fish, rice and miso soup. Though she hadn’t ordered anything, Kai had somehow known the exact dish her brother always used to cook for her. And as she takes her first delicious bite, the gulls outside fall silent and the air grows hazy . . .

Soul-nourishing and comforting, The Chibineko Kitchen will help you remember what matters most in life.

Sumire is an aspiring writer who dresses in an oversized second-hand coat and heavy boots like a character in a Kerouac novel. Sumire spends hours on the phone talking to her best friend K about the big questions in life: what is sexual desire, and should she ever tell Miu how she feels for her? Meanwhile K wonders whether he should confess his own unrequited love for Sumire. Then, a desperate Miu calls from a small Greek island: Sumire has mysteriously vanished…

But such magnificent industry came at a price – a price paid first by Earth’s biosphere, and then by all those dependent on it. And yet the dinosaurs refused to heed all warning of impending ecological collapse, leaving the ants facing a single dilemma: destroy their allies… or perish alongside them?’Made my brain itch with its creativity and klaxon alarm…

Deceptively simple and brilliantly clever, I simply adored it’ LoveReading ‘Liu’s sense of fun is contagious’ Locus

But his mischief gets him into trouble, the Monkey King finds himself wanting to be good and strong enough to help the monk Xuanzang on his mission to bring Buddhist Scriptures—and enlightenment—to China. Readers will thrill to Timothy Richard’s retelling of the Monkey King’s exploits, whether in the Dragon King’s underwater castle, the Halls of the Dead, or the palace of Buddha himself. Featuring a detailed introduction by scholar Daniel Kane, this edition of The Money King’s Amazing Adventures is sure to delight readers of all ages.