Lighthearted reads: Books set in coffee shops
Few things are more satisfying than diving into a good book while savoring a cup of coffee. Perhaps that’s why many authors, likely coffee and book lovers themselves, have been inspired to set their stories in coffee shops, making for cozy reads that feel like warm hugs on a chilly day.
One such book is “Before the Coffee Gets Cold,” a global sensation translated into 35 languages with over three million copies sold, and now spawning five sequels. Here are some similar, lighthearted reads you can check out.
‘The Full Moon Coffee Shop’ by Mai Mochizuki
This Japanese bestseller, written by Mai Mochizuki and translated by Jesse Kirkood, is set in a whimsical, mysterious cafe run by talking cats that appear only to a lucky few.
‘Legends & Lattes’ by Travis Baldree (New Edition)
Find your spot in Legends & Lattes, a newly opened coffee shop owned by Viv, an orc, retired swordhand, and Thune’s first coffeemaker. If you’re ever in the area, Viv and her magical friends who help run the shop recommend a hot cup of latte, paired with a cinnamon roll, a biscotti or a chocolate croissant.
‘Moments Like This’ by Anna Gomez and Kristoffer Palaha
In this swoony romance, Andie, heartbroken and in need of a fresh start, relocates to Oahu, Hawaii, to help run her friend’s coffee shop. There, she meets a handsome and mysterious man named Warren, and the chemistry between them slowly sparks into something unforgettable.
‘At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities’ by Heather Webber
This novel is set in a small coastal town in the south, where Maggie runs Magpie’s, a shop of coffee and curiosities passed down to her by her recently deceased mother. Beneath her cheerful demeanor, Maggie struggles with unprocessed grief. When her path crosses with Ava, a newcomer to town burdened with regret, and as Magpie’s fills with its eccentric regulars, will Maggie finally find her way to healing?
‘The Healing Season of Pottery’ by Yeon Somin
This forthcoming Korean bestseller hit is set not in a coffee shop, but in a pottery studio where coffee is also served. This cozy and comforting read (which also features four-legged felines) is now available for pre-order.
‘Norwegian Wood’ by Haruki Murakami
This worldwide bestseller, a coming-of-age and love triangle story, has plenty of coffee shop or café scenes. Most of the chapters with Toru and Midori occur either in a coffee shop (where Midori usually orders a whole meal, and Toru often just orders a cup of black coffee) or a bar that also serves coffee. In fact, the bar that the characters frequent is a real-life bar in Shinjuku called DUG, which became so popular that many tourists and Murakami fans flock to the place.
‘Fleabag: The Special Edition’ by Phoebe Waller-Bridge
The Emmy Outstanding Comedy series may have long wrapped up, but fans can relive the show and its magic through “Fleabag: Special Edition” and “Fleabag: The Scriptures.”
‘Dream Dallergut Department Store’ by Lee Mi-Ye
It doesn’t get cozier than this Korean bestseller about a department store that sells dreams in a town known for its sleep products. Across the department store is a cafe where Penny, the main character, is preparing for her job interview for a chance to work at the dream emporium.
‘Days at the Morisaki Bookshop’ by Satoshi Yagisawa
Well, just like Dream Dallergut, this isn’t specifically set in a coffee shop. But a coffee shop does play an integral role in the story. Takako, reeling from a bad breakup, moves to Jimbocho, Japan’s book district, to help manage her uncle’s second-hand bookshop. Initially reluctant and fretful, Takako finds her heart beginning to soften as she discovers a passion for books and makes new friends in a coffee shop she frequents.
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