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The Nine Lives of a Bookshop Cat
In his third life, Kinnosuke belonged to a famous author.
Now, in his ninth, he goes to live in the Big Dipper Bookshop, owned by a woman called Erika Kitahoshi, which is already home to brood of fellow cats - Lulu, Kinu, Kaa, and Chibi - who all once belonged to writers too.
Soon Kinnosuke begins to notice some of the bookshop's more curious there are few customers, but it never goes out of business. No stock is ordered, but it never seems to run out of books. But if he wants to know more of its secrets he will have to exchange some of his own - about the life he shared with the author.
Meanwhile, once so disinterested in the lives of humans, Kinnosuke becomes close to a young customer with ambitions of becoming a writer herself. When misfortune befalls her and imperils her dream, Kinnosuke must confront the secret history behind the bookshop and fight to keep her hopes alive.
Now, in his ninth, he goes to live in the Big Dipper Bookshop, owned by a woman called Erika Kitahoshi, which is already home to brood of fellow cats - Lulu, Kinu, Kaa, and Chibi - who all once belonged to writers too.
Soon Kinnosuke begins to notice some of the bookshop's more curious there are few customers, but it never goes out of business. No stock is ordered, but it never seems to run out of books. But if he wants to know more of its secrets he will have to exchange some of his own - about the life he shared with the author.
Meanwhile, once so disinterested in the lives of humans, Kinnosuke becomes close to a young customer with ambitions of becoming a writer herself. When misfortune befalls her and imperils her dream, Kinnosuke must confront the secret history behind the bookshop and fight to keep her hopes alive.
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 19, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
August 29, 2026
This book, narrated by a cat who’s living his final life, is heartbreaking 😭 but also a beautiful tale of an emotionally scarred cat finally finding the home and love he deserved but had missed for a very, very long time. It is about a cat, but this book reminded me that it’s never too late to open up your heart…
📕 The Nine Lives Of A Bookshop Cats
By Kentaro Utsugi
The premise of the book is that a cat gets nine lives (nine cycles of life), and there is a bookstore where cats who used to live with Japan’s literary masters in their previous lives gather and live together to help out the bookshop owner. A cat who is on his final life stumbles upon the shop. Because of his past, he is wary of forming bonds with humans and other cats, but he slowly warms up to them. I found the story full of heartbreaking moments, but equally full of heartwarming and charming ones.
What was most exciting to me was that the protagonist cat used to belong to Soseki Natsume, a novelist whose books I hold close to my heart (he wrote Botchan, I Am a Cat, Kokoro, etc.). I’d be happy to read anything associated with Soseki. If you are not familiar with Japanese classic writers, don’t worry. There is a list of names and introductions at the back of the book. I recommend referring to it as you read and meet the cats.
I also loved how we see Japan’s history and how the country has changed over centuries and decades, as the cats’ previous lives and backstories are unfolded. There is some animal cruelty, but it is relevant to the story’s central theme of trauma, so I could handle it. However, you might want to be prepared for that.
A beautiful Japanese translated fiction I can recommend to translated fiction fans!
My enjoyment level:
4.5-5/5 🌟
📕 The Nine Lives Of A Bookshop Cats
By Kentaro Utsugi
The premise of the book is that a cat gets nine lives (nine cycles of life), and there is a bookstore where cats who used to live with Japan’s literary masters in their previous lives gather and live together to help out the bookshop owner. A cat who is on his final life stumbles upon the shop. Because of his past, he is wary of forming bonds with humans and other cats, but he slowly warms up to them. I found the story full of heartbreaking moments, but equally full of heartwarming and charming ones.
What was most exciting to me was that the protagonist cat used to belong to Soseki Natsume, a novelist whose books I hold close to my heart (he wrote Botchan, I Am a Cat, Kokoro, etc.). I’d be happy to read anything associated with Soseki. If you are not familiar with Japanese classic writers, don’t worry. There is a list of names and introductions at the back of the book. I recommend referring to it as you read and meet the cats.
I also loved how we see Japan’s history and how the country has changed over centuries and decades, as the cats’ previous lives and backstories are unfolded. There is some animal cruelty, but it is relevant to the story’s central theme of trauma, so I could handle it. However, you might want to be prepared for that.
A beautiful Japanese translated fiction I can recommend to translated fiction fans!
My enjoyment level:
4.5-5/5 🌟
August 30, 2026
The Nine Lives of a Bookshop Cat
Author : Kentaro Utsugi
Translator : Sylvia Gallagher
Trigger Warnings : Animal cruelty & abuse, animal death, trauma, & grief.
The story is told from a black stray cat's POV who spent his third life under a certain eccentric writer's roof who never gave him a name. In desperation, the feline protagonist decided to take his (Kinnosuke) & lived his life wastefully, distancing himself from humans, until in his ninth & final life, something unexpected happened. As he was looking for something to sate his hunger & thirst, he came to a halt outside an independent second-hand bookshop called the Hokuto-do Bookshop run by a strange woman in her mid-thirties named Erika Kitahoshi. What entranced him was not an old run-down building which one might think that the owner had entirely given up on fixing it, but the puzzling number of felines surrounding the whole store!
Like most cats are, his wariness turned into curiosity, & gradually found out the truth about the proprietress also known as the "witch" (at least that's how the cats call her) & eventually her curse --- how they were actually fated & destined to meet. To add to the mystery : the books replenish themselves every weekend, as long as the woman does not go out, she will never fall ill, & that the felines' previous owners were all authors. Somehow the shop works all sorts of magic on her & keep her imprisoned here.
What an absolutely surreal read! I mean I have read a number of books narrated by a cat, but listening to Kuro rambling about life & how humans are irritatingly annoying was another level of whimsicality. The other felines too are no better! 🤣
How his life journey started was no joke too : the harsh reality of being born into the world & being forced to survive hell the moment one opens their eyes. Philosophical? Maybe. But moments like these are very real especially when living on the streets: poverty & survival of the fittest is the mirror situation humans experience too. In all of his previous lives, I could understand from his perspective as to why he hated humans. It made me think how hard it was for animals like him to learn to trust again after how many times he was hurt & let down.
An overall slow-paced slice-of-life novel & a poignant & challenging read. There will be moments that it will be repetitive because of Kuro's past experiences and that he is difficult to love, but, I think it is worth to give this book a chance, especially seeing how Kuro gradually "warms up". Don't be fooled by the cover though, this is no typical cozy healing fiction book!
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
P.S.
The famous novelist Natsume Soseki is mentioned in the story & you will eventually know why.
Follow me for more book reviews on:
❥ Instagram @bookwormdenz
❥ Threads @denz.kaye
❥ Meta @bookworm.denz
❥ Goodreads @bookwormdenz
Author : Kentaro Utsugi
Translator : Sylvia Gallagher
Trigger Warnings : Animal cruelty & abuse, animal death, trauma, & grief.
The story is told from a black stray cat's POV who spent his third life under a certain eccentric writer's roof who never gave him a name. In desperation, the feline protagonist decided to take his (Kinnosuke) & lived his life wastefully, distancing himself from humans, until in his ninth & final life, something unexpected happened. As he was looking for something to sate his hunger & thirst, he came to a halt outside an independent second-hand bookshop called the Hokuto-do Bookshop run by a strange woman in her mid-thirties named Erika Kitahoshi. What entranced him was not an old run-down building which one might think that the owner had entirely given up on fixing it, but the puzzling number of felines surrounding the whole store!
Like most cats are, his wariness turned into curiosity, & gradually found out the truth about the proprietress also known as the "witch" (at least that's how the cats call her) & eventually her curse --- how they were actually fated & destined to meet. To add to the mystery : the books replenish themselves every weekend, as long as the woman does not go out, she will never fall ill, & that the felines' previous owners were all authors. Somehow the shop works all sorts of magic on her & keep her imprisoned here.
What an absolutely surreal read! I mean I have read a number of books narrated by a cat, but listening to Kuro rambling about life & how humans are irritatingly annoying was another level of whimsicality. The other felines too are no better! 🤣
How his life journey started was no joke too : the harsh reality of being born into the world & being forced to survive hell the moment one opens their eyes. Philosophical? Maybe. But moments like these are very real especially when living on the streets: poverty & survival of the fittest is the mirror situation humans experience too. In all of his previous lives, I could understand from his perspective as to why he hated humans. It made me think how hard it was for animals like him to learn to trust again after how many times he was hurt & let down.
An overall slow-paced slice-of-life novel & a poignant & challenging read. There will be moments that it will be repetitive because of Kuro's past experiences and that he is difficult to love, but, I think it is worth to give this book a chance, especially seeing how Kuro gradually "warms up". Don't be fooled by the cover though, this is no typical cozy healing fiction book!
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
P.S.
The famous novelist Natsume Soseki is mentioned in the story & you will eventually know why.
Follow me for more book reviews on:
❥ Instagram @bookwormdenz
❥ Threads @denz.kaye
❥ Meta @bookworm.denz
❥ Goodreads @bookwormdenz
September 12, 2026
We follow Kuro in his ninth and final life. The book isn’t structured like a typical ‘here’s what happened in each life…’ kind of story, which I did like, but things in his present life trigger memories of his past, and we gradually learn how he spent and died in each. All of which have accumulated to create the cat we meet narrating the story.
I quite enjoyed the ideas and the fantastical elements, and also how I quickly started to care about and understand Kuro. That said, I didn’t like some of the avenues this book explored, or the execution at times. The author’s sentence structure and style felt very repetitive, and I found many contradictory statements throughout the entire book.
This book is quite distressing at times, and there are a lot trigger warnings, particularly around animal cruelty, so check them out if you need to. Those scenes were blunt rather than gratuitous, and they hit hard because it felt like the cat rarely caught a break. I just didn’t anticipate it from the cover, which I find has quite a playful nature. The book is more serious and less whimsical than others in its genre.
That said, it is a story that I’ll remember. Thematically, it’s a story close to my heart—one about connection. There’s a lovely message about the importance of stories and sharing yours with trusted humans, which almost makes me want to give it that fourth star.
I quite enjoyed the ideas and the fantastical elements, and also how I quickly started to care about and understand Kuro. That said, I didn’t like some of the avenues this book explored, or the execution at times. The author’s sentence structure and style felt very repetitive, and I found many contradictory statements throughout the entire book.
This book is quite distressing at times, and there are a lot trigger warnings, particularly around animal cruelty, so check them out if you need to. Those scenes were blunt rather than gratuitous, and they hit hard because it felt like the cat rarely caught a break. I just didn’t anticipate it from the cover, which I find has quite a playful nature. The book is more serious and less whimsical than others in its genre.
That said, it is a story that I’ll remember. Thematically, it’s a story close to my heart—one about connection. There’s a lovely message about the importance of stories and sharing yours with trusted humans, which almost makes me want to give it that fourth star.
October 4, 2026
Just finished reading this...💔
Heart-wrenching but ultimately comforting🥰
I'm still gathering my thoughts on this one. Full review to come 🌸🌸🌸
Heart-wrenching but ultimately comforting🥰
I'm still gathering my thoughts on this one. Full review to come 🌸🌸🌸
September 27, 2026
This book made me emotional within the first 10 pages. 🥹 The story follows a cat who has reached his ninth life and wants nothing more to do with humans, believing that all they’ve brought him is trouble and suffering. And honestly, that premise alone broke my heart.
As I was reading, I kept thinking about my own pets and wishing that I could somehow know that they were happy throughout their lives, wherever they may be. The idea of being reborn and having to go through the same experiences all over again made me so sad, and it definitely made this a more difficult read for me than I expected.
What I loved most about this book is how reflective it is. Told from a cat’s perspective, we get to see humans and our nature through Kuro’s eyes. His observations about people, the things we do, and the way we treat others were probably my favorite part of the entire book. There were so many little moments that made me stop and think.
I will admit that the bookshop and Kitahoshi’s storyline didn’t appeal to me quite as much, but Kuro’s perspective more than made up for it. His perceptiveness and the way he sees the world gave the story so much depth.
This was such an emotional and thought-provoking read, and definitely one I’ll be thinking about for a while. If you love books about cats, books that make you reflect on human nature, or gentle stories with a little bit of heartbreak, I highly recommend this one. 🐾
As I was reading, I kept thinking about my own pets and wishing that I could somehow know that they were happy throughout their lives, wherever they may be. The idea of being reborn and having to go through the same experiences all over again made me so sad, and it definitely made this a more difficult read for me than I expected.
What I loved most about this book is how reflective it is. Told from a cat’s perspective, we get to see humans and our nature through Kuro’s eyes. His observations about people, the things we do, and the way we treat others were probably my favorite part of the entire book. There were so many little moments that made me stop and think.
I will admit that the bookshop and Kitahoshi’s storyline didn’t appeal to me quite as much, but Kuro’s perspective more than made up for it. His perceptiveness and the way he sees the world gave the story so much depth.
This was such an emotional and thought-provoking read, and definitely one I’ll be thinking about for a while. If you love books about cats, books that make you reflect on human nature, or gentle stories with a little bit of heartbreak, I highly recommend this one. 🐾
September 26, 2026
Big Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the Publisher for the advanced copy! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
'The Nine Lives of a Bookshop Cat' is a cozy fantasy book about a cat who, on his ninth life, comes to live in a bookstore unlike any other.
The story had many interesting elements, like discovering the previous lives of the cats, his relationship with the little girl in the neighborhood, and the mystery of the store's owner.
However, there were some other elements that were not that great. The pace was messy, and the time jumps were not well handled. There were some repetitions in the story as well.
The presentation of the cats was, on the other hand, pretty accurate!
'The Nine Lives of a Bookshop Cat' is a cozy fantasy book about a cat who, on his ninth life, comes to live in a bookstore unlike any other.
The story had many interesting elements, like discovering the previous lives of the cats, his relationship with the little girl in the neighborhood, and the mystery of the store's owner.
However, there were some other elements that were not that great. The pace was messy, and the time jumps were not well handled. There were some repetitions in the story as well.
The presentation of the cats was, on the other hand, pretty accurate!
July 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
This is not one of those easy, cosy reads that it appears to be- it is very much a look at the things that people do to animals, and just how cruel they can be. I know that some people will think that this book is unrealistic in respect of how it tackles animal cruelty, but unfortunately it is very real.
There are a few situations in this book that push things a little too far, but for the most part, it’s pretty accurate to what street cats experience.
In terms of the substance of the story, I really liked the narrator cat (avoiding his name to dodge spoilers here). He was definitely a little tough to love, but I feel anyone would be with his history, and his way of coming around was very well done.
I didn’t love the human characters in this story, but I also feel like they were intentionally a little bare bones as they’re seen from the perspective of, well, cats. I did want to see a little bit more about the cats as well, but it was clearly a book trying to keep itself somewhat short.
Overall, I enjoyed this one, but I do wish it just had a little bit more in it as a whole. I do think it is well worth the read, and it will definitely warm your heart if you’ve ever rescued a cat, loved a cat who takes their time to come around, or if you’ve every been in the rescue world as a whole.
This is not one of those easy, cosy reads that it appears to be- it is very much a look at the things that people do to animals, and just how cruel they can be. I know that some people will think that this book is unrealistic in respect of how it tackles animal cruelty, but unfortunately it is very real.
There are a few situations in this book that push things a little too far, but for the most part, it’s pretty accurate to what street cats experience.
In terms of the substance of the story, I really liked the narrator cat (avoiding his name to dodge spoilers here). He was definitely a little tough to love, but I feel anyone would be with his history, and his way of coming around was very well done.
I didn’t love the human characters in this story, but I also feel like they were intentionally a little bare bones as they’re seen from the perspective of, well, cats. I did want to see a little bit more about the cats as well, but it was clearly a book trying to keep itself somewhat short.
Overall, I enjoyed this one, but I do wish it just had a little bit more in it as a whole. I do think it is well worth the read, and it will definitely warm your heart if you’ve ever rescued a cat, loved a cat who takes their time to come around, or if you’ve every been in the rescue world as a whole.
September 23, 2026
"The Nine Lives of a Bookshop Cat" is a very Japanese story about books and cats. About independent cats who live their lives experiencing both the kindness and cruelty of people. Each life teaches the black cat something, which he takes with him into his next life, hoping that this life will be better, because now he is wiser. But every life is different, some longer, others shorter.
His last life takes him to a bookshop. A strange bookshop. There is one adult here and one child who comes to visit. And there are other cats here too. And this adult talks to the cats. And the child loves books and writing stories.
The black cat stays here for years, remembers his previous lives, experiences new things, learns about the lives of others. But he does not want to talk about his own lives, they are his alone.
This is a book for those who love cats and books. But this story is not only about books and cats. At the same time, it is not only about relationships and loneliness either. This story makes you think, remember, long for things. And if you have a vivid imagination, then most likely an animated film in the style of Studio Ghibli will also start running before your eyes while you are reading.
A wonderful book!
His last life takes him to a bookshop. A strange bookshop. There is one adult here and one child who comes to visit. And there are other cats here too. And this adult talks to the cats. And the child loves books and writing stories.
The black cat stays here for years, remembers his previous lives, experiences new things, learns about the lives of others. But he does not want to talk about his own lives, they are his alone.
This is a book for those who love cats and books. But this story is not only about books and cats. At the same time, it is not only about relationships and loneliness either. This story makes you think, remember, long for things. And if you have a vivid imagination, then most likely an animated film in the style of Studio Ghibli will also start running before your eyes while you are reading.
A wonderful book!
September 19, 2026
This book is told entirely from a cat’s perspective, which makes it feel super unique and cozy. The story follows Kinnosuke, a cat in his ninth life, who ends up at a quiet secondhand bookshop full of secrets. Every cat here used to belong to a famous writer, and the shop itself seems to run on magic.
The pacing is quite slow, and the sudden perspective jumps between chapters can get a bit confusing. The first half focuses heavily on one storyline, and then it suddenly shifts focus toward a young girl’s writing journey, which felt a little rushed.
Still, it is a lovely, comforting, and refreshing read if you want something different.
The pacing is quite slow, and the sudden perspective jumps between chapters can get a bit confusing. The first half focuses heavily on one storyline, and then it suddenly shifts focus toward a young girl’s writing journey, which felt a little rushed.
Still, it is a lovely, comforting, and refreshing read if you want something different.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
While not quite what I was expecting, this turned out to be a really good read. It was painfully sad and Kinnosuke has had a very hard time in some of his nine lives, so be prepared for a lot of animal death and some cruelty. He has suffered. But the tone of this book is very much hopeful and heartwarming even if some of his deaths were sad. It shows a world that’s harsh to cats, but also one that very much loves them. There’s not too much detail in his deaths, but if you’re sensitive to animal cruelty, I would very much advise you to read a different book. There are plenty of much happier cat books out there. I’ve reviewed a bunch on this site and would be happy to recommend some to you.
Kinnosuke is a hard character to like at the start, but I was surprised at how quickly I warmed to him. He’s lived such a hard life and it’s left him so shut off from the other cats and the Witch he lives with. I loved the personality of all the cats though. This author has obviously spent so much time around cats, and could really show the nuance of different personalities.
This book very much made me want to read Sōseki’s I Am a Cat as I’ve never read it and Kinnosuke is very much based on Sōseki’s titular cat. This definitely was an ode to that book and writing and writers in general.
It really was beautifully written.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Cross-posted to thewhisperingofthepages.co.uk
Kinnosuke is a hard character to like at the start, but I was surprised at how quickly I warmed to him. He’s lived such a hard life and it’s left him so shut off from the other cats and the Witch he lives with. I loved the personality of all the cats though. This author has obviously spent so much time around cats, and could really show the nuance of different personalities.
This book very much made me want to read Sōseki’s I Am a Cat as I’ve never read it and Kinnosuke is very much based on Sōseki’s titular cat. This definitely was an ode to that book and writing and writers in general.
It really was beautifully written.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Cross-posted to thewhisperingofthepages.co.uk
June 30, 2026
Często zupełnie się rozmijałam ze stylem pisania.
Ale abstrahując: powieść miejscami bardzo okrutna, ale generalnie utrzymana w kocio-healingowym klimacie.
Ale abstrahując: powieść miejscami bardzo okrutna, ale generalnie utrzymana w kocio-healingowym klimacie.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Content advisories: animal cruelty, animal death
I felt like this book was too ambitious in scope and suffers from a short attention span, jumping around in focus, time, and emphasis resulting in a story that feels scattered and underdeveloped.
One of my biggest issues with this story is around pacing. The story was super slow and the non-linear telling bogged it down further. The chapter breaks felt random, as we'd often have skips forward and back multiple times within a chapter (sometimes within a paragraph).
Another issue was character. Look, I know our narrator cat suffered greatly, but he was SO hateful and judgemental, which made him hard to connect with. While I appreciated the commentary on human:pet dynamics, particularly the non-consensual nature of pet 'ownership' and how humans exploit pets, it got super repetitive. It's hard to find fault with a lot of the cat's perspectives on how awful people are, but it makes for depressing and bleak reading... particularly as he recounts as the ways he died at the hands of people.
I wished we'd had more in the way of historical landmarks over the course of the cat's life. There are glimmers -- like how he refers to Hokkaido as Ezo, his commentary on wars, his time on cat island -- but it cold have been so much more! Instead, the focus is on how he died in each lifetime. The cat's personal history feels repetitive and I started to dread having to read paragraphs of the cruelty and pain he suffered before each death. His relationship with Natsume Sōseki was so underdeveloped, and played really no part in the story, I wondered why it was included. I also couldn’t figure out if the cat loved or hated Sōseki.
The lore around the witch was underdeveloped too. For the first section of the book, the bookshop and mystery around the witch was the focus. Then, around the halfway point, we switch gears and focus on the kid writer's story. As such, the witch lore felt rushed when that was addressed (almost as an afterthought) later on. All the handwringing about being 'worthy' of books or writing felt ridiculous, especially when juxtaposed with the cat's (entirely valid) critiques of humanity's bigger problems.
The writing felt soulless and bland; it felt mechanical, devoid of heart and feeling. There was nothing tethering me emotionally to the story so reading felt more like an exercise in endurance rather than enjoyment. For a relatively short book, it took me ages to get through. This was partly due to the pace and repetition, but mostly because reading it made me feel bad. I didn't enjoy spending time with these characters or in this world.
I'm not loving how Japanese translations seem to come in two flavours: saccharine fluff or trauma-porn.
Thanks for the invitation to review this title, Quercus. I'm disappointed this was a miss for me.
I felt like this book was too ambitious in scope and suffers from a short attention span, jumping around in focus, time, and emphasis resulting in a story that feels scattered and underdeveloped.
One of my biggest issues with this story is around pacing. The story was super slow and the non-linear telling bogged it down further. The chapter breaks felt random, as we'd often have skips forward and back multiple times within a chapter (sometimes within a paragraph).
Another issue was character. Look, I know our narrator cat suffered greatly, but he was SO hateful and judgemental, which made him hard to connect with. While I appreciated the commentary on human:pet dynamics, particularly the non-consensual nature of pet 'ownership' and how humans exploit pets, it got super repetitive. It's hard to find fault with a lot of the cat's perspectives on how awful people are, but it makes for depressing and bleak reading... particularly as he recounts as the ways he died at the hands of people.
I wished we'd had more in the way of historical landmarks over the course of the cat's life. There are glimmers -- like how he refers to Hokkaido as Ezo, his commentary on wars, his time on cat island -- but it cold have been so much more! Instead, the focus is on how he died in each lifetime. The cat's personal history feels repetitive and I started to dread having to read paragraphs of the cruelty and pain he suffered before each death. His relationship with Natsume Sōseki was so underdeveloped, and played really no part in the story, I wondered why it was included. I also couldn’t figure out if the cat loved or hated Sōseki.
The lore around the witch was underdeveloped too. For the first section of the book, the bookshop and mystery around the witch was the focus. Then, around the halfway point, we switch gears and focus on the kid writer's story. As such, the witch lore felt rushed when that was addressed (almost as an afterthought) later on. All the handwringing about being 'worthy' of books or writing felt ridiculous, especially when juxtaposed with the cat's (entirely valid) critiques of humanity's bigger problems.
The writing felt soulless and bland; it felt mechanical, devoid of heart and feeling. There was nothing tethering me emotionally to the story so reading felt more like an exercise in endurance rather than enjoyment. For a relatively short book, it took me ages to get through. This was partly due to the pace and repetition, but mostly because reading it made me feel bad. I didn't enjoy spending time with these characters or in this world.
I'm not loving how Japanese translations seem to come in two flavours: saccharine fluff or trauma-porn.
Thanks for the invitation to review this title, Quercus. I'm disappointed this was a miss for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As a fan of Japanese literature, especially when they feature cats, this was always going to be on my radar. Unlike other Japanese novels that I have picked up there wasn’t really a cosy feel to this one. Our main character, our narrator is a black cat, Kinnosuke, who is on his ninth life. In his previous lives he has grown to distrust humans and so has decided that for his final life, he will have no more to do with them. Finding his way to the city, looking for food and shelter, he finds the Hokuto-do Bookshop. This is a rather run-down place and is owned by an almost reclusive woman who has taken in four cats who seem very contented. Kinnosuke gradually moves in, keeping his distance from the woman and the other cats. His distrust and stubbornness stop him from letting his guard down. But he begins to notice that the shop does not attract crowds of customers and although books are sold, the woman never seems to go out book buying but the shelves almost magically get replenished. Another strange thing is that the other four cats in one of their lives, were all ‘owned’ by an author, just like Kinnosuke was in his third life. He would love to know the woman’s story but she will only reveal it if he tells her his story, and reveals his true name. Something he will never do. Another element is his friendship with Madoka, a young girl who loves reading and writing her own story. His friendship with her over the years is touching, how she becomes important. The book seems to cross long periods of time but this is not really expanded on. We, the reader, get to know the story of Kinnosuke’s nine lives, and his eight deaths. We get to understand his distrust of humans and I must give a trigger warning for animal cruelty here. Some of Kinnosuke’s lives and deaths were awful. When he talked of his author, a little bell went off in my mind. I knew exactly who he was talking about and the book he was describing. I had read that author’s book last September but won’t give his name in case of spoilers. There is also a magical element to this story that gradually is revealed in the woman’s story. There is darkness and cruelty in here but there is also a glimmer of hope. Not the cosy read i was expecting but still enjoyable and I loved getting to see how Kinnosuke changed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
he Nine Lives of a Bookshop Cat (e-ARC)
Pub date: 27 Aug 2026
Content warnings: animal cruelty, trauma, and grief
My thoughts:
A bittersweet exploration of trauma that is beautifully written and utterly heartbreaking. The Nine Lives of a Bookshop Cat follows Kinngsuke, a cat living his ninth and final life, who finds himself at a mysterious bookshop filled with other cats, strange magic, and stories from the past. And I have to say, don’t be deceived by the title and cover. At first glance, this looks like the typical cosy and healing Japanese translated fiction I expected, but this book starts much heavier and darker than I anticipated. Some parts were genuinely difficult to read, especially the harrowing experiences from Kinnosuke’s previous lives and the depictions of animal cruelty. I was honestly so caught off guard that I even considered stopping. Yet, at the same time, I couldn’t stop thinking about how raw and emotionally honest it felt. What surprised me most was how much I connected with Kinngsuke’s struggle with trust. After everything he has experienced, his reluctance to trust humans felt painfully understandable, and I found some of his feelings surprisingly relatable, especially when it comes to trusting people who are close to you. The beginning is a little slow and definitely darker than expected, but the beautiful bookshop atmosphere, Japanese mythology, glimpses of history, and the different cats’ stories kept me reading. The story gradually shifts towards a more familiar healing and cosy feeling, and even the ending caught me off guard. Overall, this was such an unexpectedly emotional read for me, heartbreaking, raw, strange, but ultimately comforting. I definitely recommend it, just don’t go into it expecting a purely fluffy cosy read.
Overall rating:
⭐️: 4.25/5
Thank you to @netgalley and @quercusbooks for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub date: 27 Aug 2026
Content warnings: animal cruelty, trauma, and grief
My thoughts:
A bittersweet exploration of trauma that is beautifully written and utterly heartbreaking. The Nine Lives of a Bookshop Cat follows Kinngsuke, a cat living his ninth and final life, who finds himself at a mysterious bookshop filled with other cats, strange magic, and stories from the past. And I have to say, don’t be deceived by the title and cover. At first glance, this looks like the typical cosy and healing Japanese translated fiction I expected, but this book starts much heavier and darker than I anticipated. Some parts were genuinely difficult to read, especially the harrowing experiences from Kinnosuke’s previous lives and the depictions of animal cruelty. I was honestly so caught off guard that I even considered stopping. Yet, at the same time, I couldn’t stop thinking about how raw and emotionally honest it felt. What surprised me most was how much I connected with Kinngsuke’s struggle with trust. After everything he has experienced, his reluctance to trust humans felt painfully understandable, and I found some of his feelings surprisingly relatable, especially when it comes to trusting people who are close to you. The beginning is a little slow and definitely darker than expected, but the beautiful bookshop atmosphere, Japanese mythology, glimpses of history, and the different cats’ stories kept me reading. The story gradually shifts towards a more familiar healing and cosy feeling, and even the ending caught me off guard. Overall, this was such an unexpectedly emotional read for me, heartbreaking, raw, strange, but ultimately comforting. I definitely recommend it, just don’t go into it expecting a purely fluffy cosy read.
Overall rating:
⭐️: 4.25/5
Thank you to @netgalley and @quercusbooks for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
I personally really enjoyed this book, it's dark and pessimistic a lot of the time, but when the cat's - Kinnosuke's- previous lives and negative experiences with humans are revealed you can understand his hesitancy to trust again and his view on humans. Saying that, there's an underlying, hopeful feel to it if you search within what the characters say and do.
Black cat Kinnosuke is cynical and sour, and is on his ninth life, but slowly as time passes in the bookshop he finds himself in, we begin to see him remember his past and learn from it. He acts different, begins to reluctantly act out of character and finds himself going out of his way for the young aspiring author who visits the shop between school hours. I really liked his relationship with Madoka, and how it becomes more important as the book progresses.
Even though this book is short, the pacing does seem a bit slow. I didn't mind, I liked the atmosphere of time passing and lessons being learnt. We see Kinnosuke bond with the other cats and the owner of the shop. We see Midoka grow and face struggles. We also learn context of Kinnosuke's dislike of humans, and his changing views on how humans 'waste' time on nonsensical things.
There were a lot of quotes in this book that reminded me of Osamu Dazai's work, in fact Kinnosuke the cat felt like he belonged in one of his novels.
Overall, I found this book meaningful yet slightly sad, in a bittersweet way. I would recommend trying it if you're a lover of literature and what it means to pour your heart into something even when it's hard, or if you're just looking for something slightly whimsical with a nostalgic feel.
4/5 🌟
I personally really enjoyed this book, it's dark and pessimistic a lot of the time, but when the cat's - Kinnosuke's- previous lives and negative experiences with humans are revealed you can understand his hesitancy to trust again and his view on humans. Saying that, there's an underlying, hopeful feel to it if you search within what the characters say and do.
Black cat Kinnosuke is cynical and sour, and is on his ninth life, but slowly as time passes in the bookshop he finds himself in, we begin to see him remember his past and learn from it. He acts different, begins to reluctantly act out of character and finds himself going out of his way for the young aspiring author who visits the shop between school hours. I really liked his relationship with Madoka, and how it becomes more important as the book progresses.
Even though this book is short, the pacing does seem a bit slow. I didn't mind, I liked the atmosphere of time passing and lessons being learnt. We see Kinnosuke bond with the other cats and the owner of the shop. We see Midoka grow and face struggles. We also learn context of Kinnosuke's dislike of humans, and his changing views on how humans 'waste' time on nonsensical things.
There were a lot of quotes in this book that reminded me of Osamu Dazai's work, in fact Kinnosuke the cat felt like he belonged in one of his novels.
Overall, I found this book meaningful yet slightly sad, in a bittersweet way. I would recommend trying it if you're a lover of literature and what it means to pour your heart into something even when it's hard, or if you're just looking for something slightly whimsical with a nostalgic feel.
4/5 🌟
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this. I’m not sure this should be the first translated Japanese fiction you pick up, but if you already enjoy them, this is a slightly darker, but still, in my opinion, delightfully cosy take on the genre. It had a lovely fantasy element highlighting aspects of Asian mythology I was unfamiliar with.
I always love being from the perspective of a cat, this one was a little cranky, and very (rightfully) disillusioned with the world and humans. He’s had a difficult time throughout his previous lives, but finds a soft place to land in his ninth. There are fairly graphic scenes of animal abuse depicted, but it is also a heart-warming tale about resilience and the importance of stories.
The setting and the atmosphere of the bookshop were lovely. The story spans a lot of time, and I enjoyed the glimpses into Japanese history throughout many eras. Seeing the changing of the seasons was lovely, both literally and the seasons of our main cat’s life.
Some other reviews made me nervous to get into this, that it’d be too dark and not cosy enough for me. I was hooked by the blurb, and the reviews made it seem as though this wouldn’t be accurate. I don’t tend to enjoy darker books. But a book does not need to be all happy fluff to be cosy. Yes, there are reminders of how cruel humans are, and it is valid to avoid this or to have not enjoyed it because of that, but it still felt cosy to me, and I’m so glad to have read it.
If you've enjoyed books like The Travelling Cat Chronicles or The Cat Who Saved Books, I’d recommend this! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
I always love being from the perspective of a cat, this one was a little cranky, and very (rightfully) disillusioned with the world and humans. He’s had a difficult time throughout his previous lives, but finds a soft place to land in his ninth. There are fairly graphic scenes of animal abuse depicted, but it is also a heart-warming tale about resilience and the importance of stories.
The setting and the atmosphere of the bookshop were lovely. The story spans a lot of time, and I enjoyed the glimpses into Japanese history throughout many eras. Seeing the changing of the seasons was lovely, both literally and the seasons of our main cat’s life.
Some other reviews made me nervous to get into this, that it’d be too dark and not cosy enough for me. I was hooked by the blurb, and the reviews made it seem as though this wouldn’t be accurate. I don’t tend to enjoy darker books. But a book does not need to be all happy fluff to be cosy. Yes, there are reminders of how cruel humans are, and it is valid to avoid this or to have not enjoyed it because of that, but it still felt cosy to me, and I’m so glad to have read it.
If you've enjoyed books like The Travelling Cat Chronicles or The Cat Who Saved Books, I’d recommend this! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
September 27, 2026
There is an unusual bookshop run by a witch who can never leave and inhabited by cats who have all been owned by famous authors in their previous lives. For a cat has nine lives in which to gain wisdom… or to nurture a deep grudge against people after having witnessed the worst of humanity. Kinnosuke, having once inspired a great literary work, has a chip on his shoulder, and doesn’t intend to change. But a peaceful last life might be just what he needs to learn to trust people again.
I will devour any books of this type, just try and stop me, so of course I was going to pick up The Nine Lives of a Bookshop Cat. I expected to enjoy it… and did. I didn’t expect to become so emotionally involved with its characters, but maybe I should have! I felt immediately attached to Kinnosuke, the feline narrator, though it feels weird to refer to him by name. Possibly because I’m a grudge-holding grump too. A mystery develops throughout but what really stands out is the dual development of Kinnosuke and “the witch”. It’s quite a moving read by the end. And now I really do need to read I Am a Cat, which I’ve had loaded on my Kobo for months lol
I will devour any books of this type, just try and stop me, so of course I was going to pick up The Nine Lives of a Bookshop Cat. I expected to enjoy it… and did. I didn’t expect to become so emotionally involved with its characters, but maybe I should have! I felt immediately attached to Kinnosuke, the feline narrator, though it feels weird to refer to him by name. Possibly because I’m a grudge-holding grump too. A mystery develops throughout but what really stands out is the dual development of Kinnosuke and “the witch”. It’s quite a moving read by the end. And now I really do need to read I Am a Cat, which I’ve had loaded on my Kobo for months lol
September 8, 2026
If you're expecting a cosy read then this isn't the book for you! But I blooming loved it!! It's quite a melancholic read that doesn't sugar coat the reality of the life, or lives!, of a cat!! Kinnosuke as the narrator, and cat at the heart of the story, does a wonderful job of conveying his despair at the world and the humans he's encountered so you understand his defensiveness when he stumbles across this weird bookshop, where a number of other cats hang out!
I adored his narration and you feel the weariness in his ninth life, where he expects nothing from anybody, and as he reflects on his previous reincarnations where his experience of humans has been varying, but mostly horrific! He becomes fascinated with the bookshop and its' owner, and it was wonderful to meet the other cats and the bookshop owner as you got to find out more about them as well. This is a story that's a little bit different and I loved that about this crazy cast of cats, and secretive human! Highly recommended!
I adored his narration and you feel the weariness in his ninth life, where he expects nothing from anybody, and as he reflects on his previous reincarnations where his experience of humans has been varying, but mostly horrific! He becomes fascinated with the bookshop and its' owner, and it was wonderful to meet the other cats and the bookshop owner as you got to find out more about them as well. This is a story that's a little bit different and I loved that about this crazy cast of cats, and secretive human! Highly recommended!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I got this book via Netgalley for a complimentary review.
I got this book via Netgalley for a complimentary review.
Trigger warnings: death, animal cruelty.
I just couldn't get into this book sadly but thank you for the experience of getting to read it, I love the cover of the book
Its sad in parts. Loved the descriptions of all the cats at the book shop.
The main character cat was kind of judgemental would have been nice if he could have made friends more easily or appreciated things
Sorry but thank you for letting me read this book but just wasnt for me.
I just couldn't get into this book sadly but thank you for the experience of getting to read it, I love the cover of the book
Its sad in parts. Loved the descriptions of all the cats at the book shop.
The main character cat was kind of judgemental would have been nice if he could have made friends more easily or appreciated things
Sorry but thank you for letting me read this book but just wasnt for me.
I got this book via Netgalley for a complimentary review.
Trigger warnings: death, animal cruelty.
I just couldn't get into this book sadly but thank you for the experience of getting to read it, I love the cover of the book
Its sad in parts. Loved the descriptions of all the cats at the book shop.
The main character cat was kind of judgemental would have been nice if he could have made friends more easily or appreciated things
Sorry but thank you for letting me read this book but just wasnt for me.
I just couldn't get into this book sadly but thank you for the experience of getting to read it, I love the cover of the book
Its sad in parts. Loved the descriptions of all the cats at the book shop.
The main character cat was kind of judgemental would have been nice if he could have made friends more easily or appreciated things
Sorry but thank you for letting me read this book but just wasnt for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5
In his ninth life Kinnosuke finds himself at the Hokuto-Do Bookshop which is inhabited by a strange owner, lots of cats and very few customers. Used to fending for himself the cat dismisses the other cats as soft and refuses to act as they do but as time goes on he finds the beauty and strangrness of the book shop too much to resist and, after all, he must try to help a lonely girl who just wants to be a writer.
Nine Lives Of A Bookshop Cat is a surreal story about the lives of all cats and those who care (or don't) about them.
This is not just some cutesy story but has some quite harrowing scenes when the cat is telling the story of his previous eight lives. There are gods and myths and difficult lives in this book so don't be fooled into thinking it is just another cosy Japanese Bookshop story. It is much more than that.
I would recommend this novel.
Thankyou to Netgalley and MacLehose Press for the digital review copy.
In his ninth life Kinnosuke finds himself at the Hokuto-Do Bookshop which is inhabited by a strange owner, lots of cats and very few customers. Used to fending for himself the cat dismisses the other cats as soft and refuses to act as they do but as time goes on he finds the beauty and strangrness of the book shop too much to resist and, after all, he must try to help a lonely girl who just wants to be a writer.
Nine Lives Of A Bookshop Cat is a surreal story about the lives of all cats and those who care (or don't) about them.
This is not just some cutesy story but has some quite harrowing scenes when the cat is telling the story of his previous eight lives. There are gods and myths and difficult lives in this book so don't be fooled into thinking it is just another cosy Japanese Bookshop story. It is much more than that.
I would recommend this novel.
Thankyou to Netgalley and MacLehose Press for the digital review copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A gorgeous, cozy and emotional book that I read in one day.
Told from the point of view of a cat on his ninth life. He knows it is his final life and just wants to keep himself to himself. But he finds himself being drawn to the Hokuto-do Bookshop, where there are already several cats.
He reminisces on his past lives. It was quite emotional reading all the things he had been through. There were different parts of Japanese history included too.
He gradually warms up to life at the bookshop and forms a special connection with a young girl who visits regularly.
It was a lovely, cozy book that I really enjoyed. This is my first time reading Japanese translated fiction, I would definitely read more based on my experience of this book.
I would recommend this for cat lovers, but be warned there are mentions of animal cruelty and death.
Told from the point of view of a cat on his ninth life. He knows it is his final life and just wants to keep himself to himself. But he finds himself being drawn to the Hokuto-do Bookshop, where there are already several cats.
He reminisces on his past lives. It was quite emotional reading all the things he had been through. There were different parts of Japanese history included too.
He gradually warms up to life at the bookshop and forms a special connection with a young girl who visits regularly.
It was a lovely, cozy book that I really enjoyed. This is my first time reading Japanese translated fiction, I would definitely read more based on my experience of this book.
I would recommend this for cat lovers, but be warned there are mentions of animal cruelty and death.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I found this to be a really interesting book. The usual "cat has nine lives" is assumed to mean they have lucky escapes, but this book literally took it that a cat will live 9 different times. The book is written from the point of view of a cat on his ninth life, having lived at various times through history, with different types of humans, having different ways of passing, and holding a firm idea of how his ninth life should be lived. He arrives at a bookshop as a kitten, and here he stays, learning to understand the other feline inhabitants and the mysterious woman who runs the shop.
I really liked the different cats and their stories, and the way they understood humans and could figure out how to help and how to communicate was lovely. A really sweet and thought provoking read.
I really liked the different cats and their stories, and the way they understood humans and could figure out how to help and how to communicate was lovely. A really sweet and thought provoking read.
Read
July 17, 2026A beautiful story told from the perspective of a cat. This follows Kuro, who is a cat living his ninth life, he finds himself at a second hand book store where all is not what it seems.
The magical realism and coziness of this book made it immediately appealing to me, not to mention the slightly grumpy cat, who did have a resemblance to my own cat.
This story touches on the cruelty and beauty of human lives and their furry companions.
I would happily have read a longer book, as maybe this was a bit too short. It would be nice to hear about other cats stories in the future.
A must for all cat and book lovers.
The magical realism and coziness of this book made it immediately appealing to me, not to mention the slightly grumpy cat, who did have a resemblance to my own cat.
This story touches on the cruelty and beauty of human lives and their furry companions.
I would happily have read a longer book, as maybe this was a bit too short. It would be nice to hear about other cats stories in the future.
A must for all cat and book lovers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A meandering narrative of the 9 lives of a cat with the predominant focus on the 9th life which the cat lives in the bookshop. The cat's had a bleak existence in most of its lives and met its death at the hands of humans a number of times so it's pretty cynical and keeps its distance from people. The cosy aspect of this is the warming up of this cat towards one or two humans. It's not a cosy read overall though due to some of the bleakness., The last parts lost me as the narrative takes a turn into the mythical god realms and I started skimming.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 13, 2026
It's my first time reading something like this and to sum up my thoughts, it is not one of my favourite reads but it is not bad in any way. It's probably my first time reading the fantasy genre and i found it a bit childish. I still love the fact that it is so well narrated by a cat. Everytime I went out and saw a cat while I was reading this book, i thought about Kuro. The book becomes a bit slow in between and I kind of lost interested but the ending was interesting enough to keep me hooked. Also, I think, instead of a novel, this could be a short story. 9th graders would learn a lot from stories like these in their curriculum
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Gatti e librerie: ingredienti che mi rendono entusiasta di iniziare un libro.
Peccato che questo romanzo non fosse per me, nonostante le premesse: il protagonista felino era insopportabile, la vicenda noiosa, l'attaccamento al precedente proprietario (Soseki, anche se non è mai nominato) ingiustificato dall'indifferenza fondamentale dell'uomo.
Confesso, l'ho abbandonato: leggere era diventato un dovere, e quando capita non mi sento in obbligo di finire un libro prima di recensirlo.
Con un giusto caveat: semplicemente non faceva per me.
Peccato che questo romanzo non fosse per me, nonostante le premesse: il protagonista felino era insopportabile, la vicenda noiosa, l'attaccamento al precedente proprietario (Soseki, anche se non è mai nominato) ingiustificato dall'indifferenza fondamentale dell'uomo.
Confesso, l'ho abbandonato: leggere era diventato un dovere, e quando capita non mi sento in obbligo di finire un libro prima di recensirlo.
Con un giusto caveat: semplicemente non faceva per me.
September 6, 2026
I found the idea of this book refreshing. Kuro had 9 lives, most of which were difficult, and they shaped who he became in his final life. As we experience various degrees of unkindness or even cruelty in various stages of our lives, what eventually heals us enough to trust or help another being again?
Overall I really liked the idea of bringing together a story based on the cats of famous authors, as well as the themes in the book of animal cruelty, purpose and the defining memories that shape one’s life.
Overall I really liked the idea of bringing together a story based on the cats of famous authors, as well as the themes in the book of animal cruelty, purpose and the defining memories that shape one’s life.
September 13, 2026
I love cats but I'm always wary of cat books, just in case the cat dies (and the cat usually dies).
This time, it's in the title! The cat dies multiple times (I don't think that's a spoiler, the book is literally about the 9 lives of a bookshop cat).
Reading this was masochistic because I cried every time there was a cat death.
HOWEVER it was still a pretty good read. There was strong character development and, although it was a little outlandish in places, it was poignant and touching.
If you like cats, bookshops and crying a lot, you will probably like this book.
This time, it's in the title! The cat dies multiple times (I don't think that's a spoiler, the book is literally about the 9 lives of a bookshop cat).
Reading this was masochistic because I cried every time there was a cat death.
HOWEVER it was still a pretty good read. There was strong character development and, although it was a little outlandish in places, it was poignant and touching.
If you like cats, bookshops and crying a lot, you will probably like this book.
October 6, 2026
My first Kentaro Utsugi book, and this was such an emotional read for me. As a cat lover, some parts were genuinely difficult to get through. Kinnosuke had such a hard life, and whenever I read about him being hurt or mistreated, I had to put the book down because I just couldn’t take it. I cried more than once.
But I’m glad I continued. The ending was incredibly bittersweet,sad, but also strangely satisfying and beautiful. And yes, of course I cried again.
Definitely not the light, cosy cat story I thought I was getting, but one that will stay with me for a while.
But I’m glad I continued. The ending was incredibly bittersweet,sad, but also strangely satisfying and beautiful. And yes, of course I cried again.
Definitely not the light, cosy cat story I thought I was getting, but one that will stay with me for a while.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A lovely translated book about a cat who ends up in a bookshop. It's not any bookshop, there is an enchantment to it. We discover what has happened to this cat in his previous eight lives and why he doesn't trust humans or interact with other cats very much.
This is also the tale of Kitahoshi who runs the bookshop and why she is there and won't leave.
As with all these translations, the flow is different to the western style of book and makes a refreshing change to read,
This is also the tale of Kitahoshi who runs the bookshop and why she is there and won't leave.
As with all these translations, the flow is different to the western style of book and makes a refreshing change to read,
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