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Cover of Water Moon

Water Moon

by Samantha Sotto Yambao

🌶️fade to black·spoiler

Why Read This?

A gorgeous, atmospheric fantasy about a magical pawnshop in Tokyo that trades in life choices and regrets. If you love Studio Ghibli vibes, philosophical musings on fate and choices, and dreamy portal-hopping worldbuilding, this is a stunning read. The romance is secondary to the magical journey, but the emotional core is powerful.

Synopsis

**A woman inherits a pawnshop where you can sell your regrets, and then embarks on a magical journey when a charming young physicist wanders into the shop, in this dreamlike and enchanting fantasy novel.** On a backstreet in Tokyo lies a pawnshop, but not everyone can find it. Most will see a cozy ramen restaurant. And only the chosen ones—those who are lost—will find a place to pawn their life choices and deepest regrets. Hana Ishikawa wakes on her first morning as the pawnshop’s new owner to find it ransacked, the shop’s most precious acquisition stolen, and her father missing. And then into the shop stumbles a charming stranger, quite unlike its other customers, for he offers help instead of seeking it. Together, they must journey through a mystical world to find Hana’s father and the stolen choice—by way of rain puddles, rides on paper cranes, the bridge between midnight and morning, and a night market in the clouds. But as they get closer to the truth, Hana must reveal a secret of her own—and risk making a choice that she will never be able to take back.

At a Glance

3.78 ★ Goodreads
Spice Level🌶️fade to black
Endingspoiler
PairingM/F
Romance Pacinginstant attraction

Top Tropes

star-crossed loversquest romancefated connection

Mood

dreamybittersweetwhimsicalphilosophicalatmospheric

Book Details

Goodreads Rating

3.78 ★

Published

2024

Primary Genre

Fantasy Romance

Pairing

M/F

POV

Multi-POV

Romance Pacing

Instant Attraction

Cliffhanger

spoiler

Audiobook

Available

Yes

Format

Standard

Narrator

Cindy Kay

Tropes

RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

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Mood & Vibe

Mood

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Characters

FMC: the quiet observer sign in to unlock

Spice Details 🌶️

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mention of assault/druggingdeathstillbirth mentionparental lossgriefabandonmentanxiety attackspregnancy and labor scenesbloodcancer mentiondepressionmental illnessimprisonmentisolation

World & Setting

urban fantasy sign in to unlock

Reading Context

Bittersweet reunion after a five-year separation. Characters find each other again but the ending carries melancholy undertones rather than pure joy. Beautiful but emotionally complex. sign in to unlock

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