Before Your Memory Fades cover art

Before Your Memory Fades

The Japanese TikTok favourite that will break your heart

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Before Your Memory Fades

Written by: Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Narrated by: Kevin Shen
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Buy Now for ₹323.00

Buy Now for ₹323.00

About this listen

The million-copy bestselling series.

Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s touching Before Your Memory Fades, translated from Japanese by Geoffrey Trousselot, explores the age-old question: what would you do if you could travel back in time? More importantly, who would you want to meet, maybe for one last time?


On the hillside of Mount Hakodate in northern Japan, Cafe Donna Donna is fabled for its dazzling views of Hakodate port. But that’s not all. Like the charming Tokyo cafe Funiculi Funicula, Cafe Donna Donna offers its customers the extraordinary experience of travelling through time.

From the author of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and Tales from the Cafe comes another heartfelt story of lost souls hoping to take advantage of the cafe's time-travelling offer. Among some familiar faces, readers will also be introduced to:

The daughter who begrudges her deceased parents for leaving her orphaned
The comedian who aches for his beloved and their shared dreams
The younger sister whose grief has become all-consuming
The young man who realizes his love for his childhood friend too late . . .

Featuring Kawaguchi's signature wistful storytelling, Before Your Memory Fades is full of heart and emotion.

Catch up on the rest of the series with Before the coffee gets cold, Tales from the cafe, Before we say goodbye, and Before we forget kindness.

**Before I knew I loved you, the sixth book in the series, is available to pre-order now!**

City Life Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Magical Realism Science Fiction Time Travel Urban World Literature

Critic Reviews

The third novel in the international bestselling Before the Coffee Gets Cold series. Having read the first two, we can attest it will be just the thing to curl up with on a rainy afternoon.
All stars
Most relevant
I have read the previous two book in this series and loved both. It’s one of my fav magical realism book i ever read. It’s cozy, emotional, and heartwarming. I cannot recommend this enough. Loved this

Loved it! 💖

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I have read three so far and I love it. Such a wonderful concept and beautifully woven stories.
Excited to read the next one.

Loving the series

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This book had a different style from the previous books. The setting was new and a new approach was taken to tie all stories. The storyline was in continuation and it was lovely to see the old characters growing and bearing witness to the time travel of 4 visitors. The last story was absolutely heart-warming + heart-breaking!

Simply profound

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Deep understanding of simple emotions and the importance of expressing one's feelings as one may not get another chance later.

You may not get another chance......

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Before Your Memory Fades by Toshikazu Kawaguchi continues the heartfelt, time-traveling tales from his Before the Coffee Gets Cold series. Set in a new café in Hakodate, it follows four individuals seeking closure with loved ones through a magical but unchangeable journey to the past. The stories explore grief, love, and regret with Kawaguchi’s signature warmth and simplicity. While touching and reflective, the book follows a familiar structure, making it feel slightly repetitive for returning readers. The emotional depth remains strong, but some characters could have been explored further. Still, it’s a comforting read that invites introspection. Fans of the series will find it soothing, like a warm cup of coffee. If you enjoy sentimental, slow-paced stories, this one is worth picking up.

You might shed a tear after reading this one

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