The Book I Finished on a Heavy Day : Days at the Morisaki Bookshop

This book was one of my farewell gifts when I left my previous organisation. It’s a short read, so I decided to start it as soon as I got my hands on it.

Honestly, it wasn’t the length that drew me in—it was the cover. It feels like an aesthetic Pinterest image. It doesn’t give you any sneak peek of what’s inside, but it definitely compels you to open it. That’s exactly what it did to me. Crazy. That’s when I realised how important a cover page really is.

Coming to the content, the story follows Takako, a young girl dealing with heartbreak, who finds comfort in a bookstore. The opening hooked me instantly. We’ve all experienced heartbreak—and we all deal with it differently. I was curious to see what it was about this bookstore that helped her heal.

Satoru, her uncle and the owner of the bookstore, is such a warm and positive character. His dialogues are simple yet endearing.

The bookstore setting is described so beautifully that you almost feel like sitting there, reading quietly—like being in Café Saveur yourself. The book also gently highlights the importance of closure. Personally, I feel that if you don’t get closure, you should stop dwelling on it—but if that’s impossible, then get the closure you need. In Takako’s case, confronting her ex gave her peace.

The second part of the book, when her aunt enters, had me completely hooked. Her character is lively, cheerful, and a little mysterious. By the end, you truly understand her strength. I found myself relating to her—I, too, try to stay cheerful even when something feels heavy inside. I believe things eventually fall into place.

This book didn’t change my life dramatically, but it stayed with me in a quiet way. On a day when I was feeling low, I decided to finish it—and I did. That small sense of completion lifted my mood. Sometimes, that’s all you need.

My Take:

• Mood : Calm

• Read if : You’re dealing with chaos

• Skip if : You want a fast-paced story