Before the Coffee Gets Cold is mostly conventional, and a little rough around the edges. This willingness to play with the form shows how deeply Kawaguchi has explored his own conventions, and the nuance he is capable of bringing to the table. The first story of four in the novel, about a woman who didn’t discourage her boyfriend from moving to America, is perhaps the weakest of the book, but only for the heights of what’s yet to come. Kawaguchi’s characters are the real stars here, and their empathy for one another is powerful.
And yet, this is only a minor blemish on the book. Exposition seems to be a particular struggle for Kawaguchi, and he often resorts to authorial asides, in which he lays bare the weight of his situations and the depth of his characters. Beyond the in-depth description of the cafe itself and of the customers and staff, the action of the book is written in a way deeply reminiscent of stage direction.
Kawaguchi’s more prolific medium should come as no surprise to readers of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, and his growing pains in adapting to the novel form is the great shortcoming of the book. Kawaguchi’s greatest contribution to the genre, and perhaps his highest accomplishment in the novel, is the strictness of the rules he imposes on time travel. At times, Kawaguchi’s hand is a bit too prominent, but despite the occasional clumsiness, the narrative is deeply moving. may explore similar ground to its predecessors in the genre, but it inventively limits the mechanics of its time travel to the confines of a small cafe, and is all the more resonant for it. Before the Cofee Gets Cold is perfect for anyone who wants to feel connected right now. I appreciated how short and sweet both the novel and the time-travel trips were. Although a bit slow at times, the story is gold and brought me to tears multiple times. In the absence of a magical café in real life, Kawaguchi encourages readers to value the time they have with their loved ones. They have their own troubles and joys, and each relationship is unique and heartfelt.
The novel takes place in the same café over a continuous time period, so you really get to know the regulars and the staff. However, I recognize that the book was adapted from a play, where it is easier to differentiate the players (thanks to the visual cues).
Also, the names are very similar, which made it challenging to identify the characters until much later on in the story. At the very beginning, Kawaguchi throws all of these personalities at the reader in rapid succession, and it was difficult for me to keep track of who was who.
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