**ARC Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Publication: October 23rd, 2018
Read: August 2018
Format: Physical Book
Rating: 5 Caffeinated Stars

Summary:

Sometimes you have to leave behind everything you know to find the place you truly belong… 

Nana the cat is on a road trip. He is not sure where he’s going or why, but it means that he gets to sit in the front seat of a silver van with his beloved owner, Satoru. Side by side, they cruise around Japan through the changing seasons, visiting Satoru’s old friends. He meets Yoshimine, the brusque and unsentimental farmer for whom cats are just ratters; Sugi and Chikako, the warm-hearted couple who run a pet-friendly B&B; and Kosuke, the mournful husband whose cat-loving wife has just left him. There’s even a very special dog who forces Nana to reassess his disdain for the canine species.

But what is the purpose of this road trip? And why is everyone so interested in Nana? Nana does not know and Satoru won’t say. But when Nana finally works it out, his small heart will break.

Description has been copied from Goodreads.

My Thoughts:

When I received an email about this book, I knew I had to read it. I took a chance and requested a copy, and I was lucky enough to get a physical Advanced Reader Copy of this book. The cover is absolutely adorable, and there’s just something special about reading the physical book. I knew from the description that this book would be right up my alley and it was exactly as I expected. It was beautiful, simple, and heart-wrenching at moments.

This book follows the cat Nana and his owner Satoru throughout their lives. The simplistic narrative just adds to the story. Nana is able to capture the moment without bogging it down with complexity. Each chapter brings new characters into the story that reminded me of my childhood. They were relatable and realistic. It’s always refreshing to read realistic characters which is why this book resounded with me.

What I loved the most about this book is the simplistic nature. It reminded me of the simplicity of Parnassus on Wheels. It was beautiful in its simplicity. Even with the simplicity of the story, Hiro Arikawa was able to truly capture the moments in the stories, and it made me feel for Satoru & Nana. I was an emotional wreck at moments. I was frustrated with Nana at times, heartbroken for him too. I am not ashamed to admit that I cried at moments. Honestly, if a book can evoke an emotional response in me, it means that the author did their job and did their job well.

If you’re on the fence about this book, I highly suggest you read it. It’s tragic, beautiful, simplistic, and precisely what I needed to read. It’s going to be a book I have to reread often.

If you want a copy of this heartwarming novel, you can click on the following links to purchase it!

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Goodreads