Title : Before We Forget Kindness
Author : Toshikazu kawaguchi
Published date : 5 November 2024
Genres : Magical realism, literary fiction, contemporary fantasy, and time-travel drama
Length : 224
Favorite Character : ___
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
☕ Before We Forget Kindness — A Gentle Reminder Wrapped in a Cup of Coffee
By Toshikazu Kawaguchi | A quiet, emotional reflection on memory, regret, and kindness
🌿 What It’s About (No Spoilers, I Promise)
Once again, we’re back at the little Tokyo café where time travel is possible—but only under very specific rules. You have to sit in one particular chair. You can’t leave it. You only have until your coffee gets cold. And no matter what you say or do, nothing in the present will change.
Still… people keep coming.
Because even if they can’t change the outcome, they just want a moment. To apologize. To thank someone. To say goodbye. Or just to be kind—one last time.
In Before We Forget Kindness, the fifth book in the series, we meet four new people:
- A father who never accepted his daughter’s choices
- A woman who never gave her Valentine’s chocolate
- A boy who wants to smile for both of his divorced parents
- A mother who wants to hold her baby before naming her
It’s soft. Sad. Beautiful. And honestly? It just makes you want to pause and breathe.
💭 My Thoughts
Reading this felt like curling up with a warm drink on a rainy day.
There’s nothing big or flashy about this story. It’s quiet. It takes its time. And yet, it reaches straight into your heart. I didn’t expect to get emotional, but I did. A few times, actually.
The thing that stuck with me the most? Kindness. Not just toward others—but toward ourselves. That kind of kindness that forgives, even when it can’t fix anything.
We all carry things we wish we’d said or done differently. This book doesn’t promise to erase that. It just gently reminds you: it’s okay. You did your best. And maybe now’s the time to let go, and be kind—to yourself, and to the people around you.
❤️ What I Loved
- The emotions are real and relatable, even in such a short time with each character
- The café’s quiet magic feels comforting, not dramatic
- It doesn’t try to fix the past. It just helps people carry it better
- The message: kindness matters. Even the kind that comes a little too late
🌀 What Might Not Work for Everyone
If you’ve read the previous books, you’ll recognize the pattern—the rules of the café, the structure of the stories. And yeah, it does repeat itself a bit. But honestly? I didn’t mind. That rhythm is part of the charm now. It’s like going back to a familiar place and hearing new voices.
🌼 A Line That Got Me
“There are some things you can’t fix. But you can still be kind.”
Simple, but it stuck with me. It’s a reminder that sometimes, it’s not about undoing things—it’s about showing up with love, anyway.
✨ Just Wondering…
If you had one more chance—just five minutes—to talk to someone from your past… what would you say?
Would you say sorry? Or thank you? Or maybe just, “I miss you”?
This book had me thinking about that. A lot.
📚 Final Thoughts
Before We Forget Kindness is soft and emotional, like all the others in the series. But this one felt extra tender. It’s not about changing time. It’s about making peace with it. And sometimes, that’s even harder—and more meaningful.
If you’ve read the previous books, this one will feel like a warm, familiar goodbye. And if this is your first time visiting the café… welcome. You’re in for something quiet but beautiful.
☕ The Series at a Glance
- Before the Coffee Gets Cold – Where it all began
- Tales from the Café – More stories, more heart
- Before Your Memory Fades – A different café, same longing
- Before We Say Goodbye – A soft, emotional farewell
- Before We Forget Kindness – One last reminder: be gentle, be kind
💌 Thanks for Reading
This book didn’t just make me reflect on the past—it reminded me to be softer in the present. So if you’ve got someone you’ve been meaning to reach out to… maybe do it. Now’s as good a time as any.
Until next time, take care of your heart. And don’t forget to be kind. 💛
✨__Firdos_Abdul__✨