Book Review: The Convenience Store By the Sea By Sonoko Machida

 This book is probably the ultimate in cozy fiction.  I picked it up because it fit with my water theme.  I've not liked a lot of this cozy fiction- (DNF the Dallergut Dream department Store, DNF Dinner at the Night Library, Did not even start We'll Prescribe you a Cat, and Just barely made it through The Kamogawa Food Detectives) So, I'm a little unclear what possessed me to check this out of the library.  Did I think it would be different? 

  I didn't actually.  Yet, this one crept right into my heart, slowly and with a bit or stealth! 

I got to about 25% through and I honestly wasn't loving it. There were a lot of gentle vignettes coming along but I was not exactly finding myself wanting to read it. It became relegated to the car audio book- which is the audio I put on when driving. I can't easily switch to a new book, so it's likely to get finished.  

   An odd thing happened about at the 55%-65% mark. I started to really enjoy the way the stories connected. I started to love how some lovely, and lonely people were finding meaning in their lives through a convenience store that was run with thoughtfulness and obvious care.  I gobbled up the rest of this book with some joy. I especially loved the story of the girl who wanted to create the delicious treats sold in these stores, and the story of the retired businessman who became a substitute Grandfather - finding himself, rekindling a relationship with his wife and supporting a lonely child all in one fell swoop. 

  For me, I didn't really love that there wasn't exactly an overarching story, instead it being kind of a jumble of interactions and slices of life with an overall theme of kindness and care.  That said, I do see the appeal and see why it has sold so so well! 

I admit also... I am a little sad that this store - being by the sea- really says nothing about the sea in general! 

Overall more enjoyable than expected, would make an excellent gift book- nothing very controversial. What it lacks in propulsion, it makes up for in tenderness. 

STATS

First Published :  2023 in Japanese/ English version July 2025

Pages: 228

Available as an Audio Book : YES

Trigger Warnings: lonely people, medical situations, bullying, parental death (not a complete list- be responsible!)

Book Review Waterline by Aram Mrjoian

 

Obviously, it is still 2025 and I am still reading on the theme of Water.  I'm not sure where this is getting me, the theme, that is, but I am definitely picking up books I might have otherwise ignored.  This one was difficult to ignore because of the bright colors used on the cover. 

Secondarily, I wanted to read this because I had a good friend in my first two years of college who was Armenian.  Her mother often discussed this genocide which, of course, I had not heard about. Her mother always reminded us that "You can't give up because you don't know what will happen tomorrow"  this is in very stark contrast to my Mom who would wonder and worry incessantly about what could happen tomorrow. So, it's stuck with me. 

The novel, however... 

Has nothing to do with my college friend beyond the fact that both my friend and the novel characters were both affected by the Armenian genocide. Or maybe, if I spoke with her today I'd find out it had EVERYTHING to do with her, who knows.  

     

    For me this is an astounding work of fiction, that I think, is advertised as something that is maybe isn't. 

What I thought I was going to get- a deep look at the generational trauma of the Armenian genocide and how it affects persons today. 

What I feel I got?- A deep look at grief  and the effects of suicide within a close knit family, with a nod to generational trauma related in this case to the Armenian genocide. 

    Both of these are things worth writing about, but as I read through this book, I definitely felt that they were two different things  and that reviewers were leaning into the historical aspect very heavily, when the book just touches on it as part of the family lore. Mrjoian says that he intended that less than 10% of the novel be focused on the genocide - which I believe he achieved. The genocide itself was like a ghostly spectre sort of hovering about throughout all of the characters we are introduced to- in one way or another.  Reviewers, however, really pushed the genocide connection which lead me to think that I would be getting chunks and chunks of history. 

For me, this was a novel of a portrait of deep grief and the way a family processed this grief in the modern era. The author explores different ways to process (or not process) grief and loss and leaves space for readers to recognize themselves in characters and processes. Some characters drink, others find release in movement (hiking, swimming, sex, exercise classes) while others power forward and only melt down when it all becomes too much. The knowledge of the genocide seeps in at the corners of their minds, and affects the choices they make in grief, but a glaring direct connection isn't present- which is likely the point. Perhaps, generational trauma isn't a sledgehammer exactly, but more of an insidious process that finds us and creates core expectations and beliefs that we'd be hard pressed to explain. 

   This is a worthy read, but I can't say it would be one if you wanted to learn exact details of the Armenian Genocide. The writing is gorgeous and to the point and I'd gladly read another work by Mrjoian any time- but I might check into the topic a wee bit more deeply before diving in!

STATS

First Published : June 3, 2025 

Pages: 288

Available as an Audio Book : yes

Trigger Warnings: suicide, generational trauma, genocide, alcohol and drug use, revenge porn, infidelity, as always this is likely not a complete list, so please read responsibly. 

 

Book Review Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings 4.25/5

Let's chat about  Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings! 

 

    My entire reading experience with this novel can be described as "FUN"!  This was made a "read now" on Net Galley a while ago and my book bestie and I decided to read it together as a buddy read, and I can say that having a person to read and react with in real time made my reading experience so much better than normal. We do not typically get the same Advanced Copies, so this was a treat. Thank you Macmillan and Net Galley for the opportunity to have this reading experience. 

Obviously, from the cover this is a Romance novel. It falls into the Rom-Com genre and it has an ultra-contemporary setting, which was realistic and relatable. Both my reading buddy and I really loved the book. I am not sure what her expectations were, but I will be the first to admit mine were kind of low. The romance genre is very saturated, so sometimes there are duds. THIS IS NOT A DUD! It really was a fun novel filled with relatable characters and experiences.  If you'd like to see my Buddy and I react to this, here's a link

In short, Eva and Riley are graduates from the same college where they had a brief, unpleasant dating experience. Post graduation they are both living their best life as social media personalities. Eva hosts a ridiculous show where low level celebs attempt to resurrect their brands. Riley podcasts dating advice to men on how to not be awful.  Eva comes across one of his shorts and - being several glasses of wine in- responds to remind him of her experience with him in college.  As Social Media is known to do- this response blows up- and their brands smell an opportunity. If you consume social media, you know this is... golden content that viewers love- and you probably also know it can be quite damaging to the actual people involved.  This is the story of a second chance romance in our modern world or How Riley re-met Eva via the power of Social Media.  

     Eddings did a fantastic job of really getting right into the perils and the joys of modern life. The story is told with some nuance that is often missing from the contemporary romance genre. Riley is not a "alpha male", but he's also not a weak character and Eva is a hard hitting difficult character, but not one that you have trouble imagining being in your inner circle.  Both could be your co-worker. These characters are relatable, and struggling with/engaging with things that ALOT of young people are encountering in that very bizarre time right after college.  Texts between my friend and I as we read this included phrases like "I feel so seen!"  and "This may be TOO RELATABLE" (it did also include some discussion of how many hot dogs one could eat in a day, and if we wanted to do hot dogs for our video review...)  Eddings leans in a bit to modern day references, but is able to balance references to popular social media site, and tropes etc, with a plot that follows through with the witty banter we all enjoy and a solid plot while gives readers a truly satisfying ending. One of the biggest lessons learned is that it's so important to not make assumptions about others behaviors in relationship. We do not always have the whole story and when we take the time to get the whole story, we can respond in a way that is most appropriate. 

So, for me, this is a cut above many romance novels and one that will be enjoyed by many when it is released in August!  I do suggest that you pop it on your list.  It would again be perfect for a beach read, lake house read, or... a staycation read.  

STATS

First Published : August 2025

Pages: 384

Available as an Audio Book : YES 

Trigger Warnings: child death, divorce, mental health, 

As always - this is not a complete list, read responsibly!