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I MAY have gone a little crazy this week with $2.99 and under ebooks.

“Or maybe, all this time, it‘s been trying to tell us something else.” Hana held his rain-streaked face.
“Like what?” Keishin brought his lips next to hers.
“That we belong to each other.”
#MoonWater #SamanthaSottoYambao #lastline #closingline #book #books #bookshelf #bookshelves #bookshelfie #bookshelfies #bookstack #bookstacks #stack #stacks #bookstore #Fantasy #Romance #MagicalRealism #Fiction #Mystery #Adult #Audiobook #Cozy #Japan #BookClub

This book had a lot of potential. It has a very unique sci-fantasy world and a very interesting premise. The problem is the book tries to shoehorn in a romance with two incredibly bland and boring main characters. I really probably would have DNF‘d this if it wasn‘t for my personal bookclub. I think this could have been longer to develop characters more or have just not bothered with the romance. 2.5⭐️
March #bookspin finished a bit late.

This was a pleasant fantasy. The world building was fun and imaginative. I even made it through the romance.

Im giving this a pick although not normally the sort of book I read. I very much needed a light read and this was a cotton candy sort of read that required minimal thought or emotional energy. It‘s fluff and cutesy and the writing is okay but it certainly transported me to a fun adventure and was a distraction from life and the darker books I‘ve been reading.

Good

Audio. The whimsical tone of this book made it difficult for me to keep up with as an audiobook. As such, may have rated differently. It‘s a cozy show book, with a Studio Ghibli type atmosphere. Enjoyed hearing about the Otherworldly places; though the characters went through them too quick to fully appreciate them. The romance felt forced throughout, unnecessary. Even with the ending twist - which was well placed.

I thought this was a beautiful book — inside and out. Whimsical in some ways, terrifying in others, thoughtful and thought-provoking. The imagery was bright and real, the journey engrossing, and Kei and Hana‘s developing relationship was lovely. I didn‘t see the final twist in the tale coming, and the plot moved at a good pace to a satisfying conclusion. But I‘m a sucker for a happy ending. Also, I loved folding the cover into a wee boat😍

My next read — seems like a good premise for a quiet Sunday…

Water Moon, by Samantha Sotto Yambao (2025)

Premise: The new proprietress of a magical pawn shop teams up with an unsuspecting physicist to track down her missing father.

Review: I was really excited about this one, but I have to say it completely let me down.
Cont.

This was very magical and lyrical but a little bit lacking in substance. The world building was great and I enjoyed my time in the world I just wanted a little bit more than what I got. Very Studio Ghibli vibes.

This was a truly amazing read. It had so much whimsy and emotion in it. The ending had me on the verge of tears. I strongly recommend reading this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#WaterMoon #SamanthaSottoYambao #book #books #bookyourself #bookunion #bookutopia #bookunicorn #bookunicorns #bookunhaul #bookish #bookishfeature #bookishfeatures #bookishlife #booksoflitsy #Fantasy #Romance #MagicalRealism #Fiction #Mystery #Adult #Cozy #Audiobook #Japan #Romantasy 💝💝

#WaterMoon #SamanthaSottoYambao #book #books #bookworm #bookworms #bookwormlife #bookwormproblem #bookwormproblems #bookworld #bookword #epicreads #bookend #bookends #bookending #bookendings #bookedit #bookedits #bookeditor #reading #bookrecommendation #bookrecommendations #recommendation #recommendations

My OwlCrate edition of Water Moon came today 📚

#OwlCrate #WaterMoon #SamanthaSottoYambao #book #books #bookrecommendation #bookrecommendations #recommendation #recommendations #bookreport #bookreports #bookreview #bookreviews #bookriot #TBR #ToBeRead #booktattoo #booktree #bookthief #booktopia #booktoday #bookyourself #bookunion #bookutopia #bookunicorn #Fantasy #MagicalRealism #Romance #Fiction #Mystery #Adult #Cozy #Audiobook #Japan #Romantasy

March Book Spin 📚

#WaterMoon #SamanthaSottoYambao #BatmanOneBadDayCatwoman #TheIslandOfDoctorMoreau #PrettyGuardianSailorMoonVol3 #Dracula #TheFallingInLoveMontage #TheLittleMermaidsVoice #BeautysRose #WrittenInTheStars #ASwordInSlumber #TheParty #TheIsland #TheDare #TheLake #BookishAndTheBeast #TheLostBoy #NineteenEightyFour #TheGirlWhoFellBeneatgTheSea #ThisIsWhereItEnds #UnderTheMoonACatwomanTale #Fantasy #Romance #MagicalRealism #Fiction 🤎

This is such a wistful, whimsical ride. Magical and so atmospheric of a place. Very intriguing!

My latest book haul 📚

#WaterMoon #SamanthaSottoYambao #ACourtOfThornsAndRoses #SarahJMaas #book #books #bookyourself #bookunion #bookutopia #bookunicorn #bookunicorns #bookish #bookishfeature #bookishfeatures #bookishlife #booksoflitsy #bookobsessed #bookobsession #bookoholic #bookoholics #bookperson #bookpeople #bookpassion #bookpicture #bookpictures #Fantasy #Romance #MagicalRealism #Fiction #Mystery #Cozy #Adult #Japan #Audiobook #Romantasy

On the morning that Hanna takes over running her family‘s magical pawnshop, she wakes to find it ransacked and her father missing. With real-world physicist Kei in tow, Hanna sets off to find her father, find the truth about her mother, and return what her father stole.
Traveling by puddle, dream, paper crane, boat, among others, the pair follow her father‘s path through different worlds while being chased by the Shiikuin who also seek her father.

Putting all other books aside because this one finally came in at the library. I‘ve been (im)patiently waiting for it!

A pawnshop where clients can exchange their regrets. A missing father. & a visitor from another world. Hana‘s world gets turned upside down.

I‘ve seen this described as Studio Ghibli vibes, which is true! & it‘s also a moving story about letting our fears control us, & the purpose of regret & acknowledging our choices. & a sweet love story. I just wish we could have spent more time in the locations, especially the Library of the Lost!🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

I went to Barnes and noble to buy the new Okorafor which they didn‘t have 😭. How is it they don‘t have it in store but I can buy 500 copies of fourth wing? 😑

I was annoyed but I left with three other books.

This was my last book of '24 Pub Date Jan 14 '25
I think this is going to be so big this year! What a gorgeously written and magical story. Hana is taking over her family's pawnshops and her first day her dad goes missing and the shop is tossed over. A man from the normal world stumbles in and they traverse Hana's magical world together. This reminded me a bit of What Dreams May Come, and a bit Ghibli
Beautifully written & something for everyone

If you are looking for a cosy read that gives you Studio Gibli vibes, this is the book for you.

A hidden world behind the mundane reality, full of magic and wonder, and poetically described. A young pawnbroker brought up in this magical world and a young physicist from the 'real' embark on an adventure to find the pawnbroker's father.

I liked the whimsical nature of the book, it reminded me of The Starless Sea. ⬇️

#NetGalley #ARC #MountARC