The fourth novel in the internationally bestselling Before the Coffee Gets Cold Series, following a new group of customers in a magical time-traveling Tokyo café.
The regulars at Café Funiculi Funicula are well acquainted with the whimsical ability it grants them to take a trip into the past—as well as the strict rules involved, including that each traveler must return to the present in the time it takes for their coffee to get cold. In Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s previous novels, patrons have been reunited with old flames, made amends with estranged family and visited loved ones. Now readers will once again be introduced to a new set of visitors.
The Husband with Something Important Left to Say
The Woman Who Couldn’t Bid Her Dog Farewell
The Woman Who Couldn’t Answer a Proposal
The Daughter Who Drove Her Father Away
In Last Chance to Say Goodbye, which is translated from Japanese by Geoffrey Trousselot and features signature heartwarming characters and wistful storytelling, Kawaguchi once again invites the reader to ask themselves: What would you change if you could travel back in time?
The final(?) book of the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, or at least the fourth installation in the series. I definitely had trepidations about every sequel in this series, as I think the emotional impact of the first book is really hard to replicate. However, I think I was overall pleasantly surprised with this fourth book. I think it did manage to touch on a slightly new topic, though I’d say it was still a variation on a previously-explored theme.
Before We Say Goodbye once again takes place in the lovely special cafe in Japanese, capable of taking a person back in time once. However, there are five rules upon returning, each of which are more restrictive than the last. Most importantly though, the present facts can never be changed no matter what you do in the past. So just why would anyone seek to return? Once again this book is a collection of short tails detailing different customers coming in to seek something from the past.
I thought the four stories were less connected than in the last few books, but maybe this is just to break apart from the pattern a little. I still really enjoyed the various characters that showed up, and I liked that in this book the characters came from different stages in their life and from different perspectives (spouse, parent, daughter, etc.), but for the most part they really shared the same grievance from the past. In that way the stories were connected, and I think the title of this book is really quite apt for the story. The characters themselves and their idiosyncrasies kind of fell away from the spotlight for me in this book, but I really enjoyed placing myself into their shoes and thinking of how I’d face all the difficult decisions that each character had to face. The book really drew me in in this manner.
What was also interesting is that I didn’t like many of the characters at first glance. They all came off a bit overly superior, and a little bit unbearable. However, as the story progressed for each character, I found that I could really relate to their situation, even if I still didn’t fully buy into their characters. For the most part, unsurprisingly, the characters are dealing with family members/friends who have since died, leaving the cafe the only option to truly to talk to that person. Almost all of the characters are desperate to change the present, however, each time Kazu (of course!) shuts them down saying that the rule is absolute and cannot change.
One story actually got to me again, and I definitely teared up while reading it. Going back even when the present won’t change, and knowing the risks and going back anyway…the series always gives me a lot to think about themes like regret, family, and changing your own mindset. I would definitely recommend this one if you enjoyed the first two books in the series!
Overall Recommendations
Whether this is the last book in the series or not, Before We Say Goodbye is an aptly named title for the short stories encapsulated in the book. The characters were not the most relatable and had rather wild temperaments, but I found that it was very easy to put myself into their shoes. Full of heart-wrenching decisions and situations to (maybe) bring you to tears, I definitely recommend this one if you were a fan of the rest of the series. As always, the book always gives you something to think about, and it’s a very short and sweet read!
Down the Rabbit Hole 