Water Moon feature image
|

Water Moon Review [My First Five Star Read of 2025]

It’s been a sad, tough week. My beloved cat passed away unexpectedly about a week ago, and I’ve been having a hard time adjusting to her absence. I picked up Water Moon by Samantha Sotta Yambao this past Tuesday in a half-hearted attempt to try and distract myself from my sadness, but I wasn’t overly confident I’d be able to stay focused on reading.

However, this book pulled me in, and I finished it in just three days. Water Moon is an excellent read and somehow, just what I needed right now. It’s whimsical, cozy, and fun even while it tackles melancholy topics like loss, longing, and regret. I’ve claimed it as my first five-star read of 2025, and I highly recommend it.

But if you need more convincing to add this book to your TBR, read on for my in-depth Water Moon review.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links below, which means if you make a purchase after clicking on one, I may earn a commission. Full disclosure here.

Water Moon feature image

Overview

Five Stars

Sub-genre: Cozy fantasy, romance

Judge a Book by Its Cover

I have to say, one of the things that drew me to this book was the gorgeous cover, which does a fabulous job of showing you what you’re going to get with this book: A Japanese setting and a magical world of whimsy.

Aside from showcasing origami boats on the cover, the dust jacket itself is designed to be folded into a paper boat that brings the two main characters together. The end papers even show the directions for how to fold your dust jacket into a paper boat.

The hardcover beneath is just as beautiful, showcasing the same image except without the text.

I’m not brave enough to crease up my dust jacket but perhaps one day I will. Regardless, I think it was a really cool feature and I love it when authors/publishers add things like this to make the story more interactive.

water moon book
The dust jacket can be folded into a paper boat.

Plot

This standalone story is about 21-year-old Hana as she wakes up on her first day as a pawnshop owner in Tokyo. However, it’s not like other pawnshops; it appears to the outside world as a ramen restaurant, and the only way people can get into the pawnshop is seemingly by accident.

And instead of pawning jewelry or other valuable items, Hana’s shop trades in choices – specifically, choices that lead to regret.

But as Hana awakens on the first day as the pawshop owner, she quickly realizes something has gone horribly wrong. The shop has been ransacked, her father is nowhere to be found, and a recently pawned choice is missing from the shop.

Just as she is trying to figure out what to do, her first client walks in – a scientist named Kei. Before long, they start working together to solve the mystery of what happened to her father, and Hana brings Kei into her magical world he can hardly believe exists.

I loved this story so much. I would wager that it was inspired by Studio Ghibli (indeed, Studio Ghibli is mentioned in the story itself!) and I could totally see this story being adapted into a movie in this style.

Even though the characters are essentially on the run for the entire book, it has a very calming, cozy vibe to it. Every place they travel to is beautiful and awe-inspiring in a different way, and Hana’s world is the kind anyone would be fascinated to visit.

Romance is definitely a central part of the story, but it does not read like a traditional romance, which for me is a good thing. The two main characters are drawn to each other right away, and although I normally don’t like “insta-love” type tropes, Yambao handles it very well in the way their relationship evolves.

I will say that there is something about the end of the book that didn’t quite scratch the itch. It was satisfying, but it almost felt a little bit rushed. (I am nitpicking – it’s not enough for me to take even half a star off.)

While the story isn’t quite “perfect,” it’s very close!

Characters

The two main characters, Hana and Kei, are very well fleshed out to say the book is less than 400 pages, and they each have very satisfying character arcs.

I also loved how the characters were mirror opposites of each other in many ways. Hana has spent her whole life knowing exactly what was coming next and laments that she hasn’t been able to make any of her own choices.

Kei, on the other hand, has a hunger for knowledge and would give anything to have all the answers to life up front.

The way these characters’ perspectives play off each other is one of my favorite things about the story.

While Hana and Kei are the central characters, the supporting characters are done very well also, each with their own motivations and wants. I especially liked Toshio’s character (Hana’s dad) and Haruto, Hana’s childhood friend and a master of magical origami.

World-Building

Although it is not “high fantasy” in the traditional sense, Water Moon takes place mostly in Hana’s hidden world. And the world-building Yambao does here is incredibly whimsical and creative.

In Hana’s world, you can travel by rumor, puddles, or paper doors. You can visit a market that defies gravity and visit the stalls via boats that sail through the clouds.

There are fox spirits made of sand and candle smoke that whisper prayers.

The world-building in this book contains the kind of creativity that leaves me in awe, wondering how Yambao came up with some of these things!

Writing Style

I loved the prose in this book. Yambao’s writing is poetic while still being very concise and easy to understand. For me, prose has always been about how a passage makes me feel, and I definitely felt things reading this book.

Given the emotional week I was having when I read this book, the vibe was everything I needed. It was cozy and thought-provoking – melancholy yet full of hope and joy.

Final Thoughts

Water Moon is a standalone fantasy I would recommend to almost anyone. With its mix of whimsy, romance, adventure, symbolism, and melancholic vibes, it’s one of those books that a wide audience can enjoy.

As for me, I will always remember this book as being a beautiful story that brought me unexpected comfort during a difficult time.

FAQ

Is Water Moon a romance?

I would call it more of a contemporary whimsical fantasy adventure, but romance definitely is a big component of the story.

What age is Water Moon for?

It is an adult book but it is fairly tame as far as violence, language, or suggestive themes go. It is appropriate for older teens.

Is Water Moon a standalone?

Water Moon is a standalone fantasy book that is 384 pages long.

Similar Posts