Take a second and think back on the last time you visited a bookstore. Not that moment when you opened a book to smell its pages, but that other moment when you spotted a shelf filled with books that had cats decorating almost every cover.
Have you ever heard of “healing fiction?” Globally, this new genre is becoming increasingly sought-after. However, in Japan and Korea, healing fiction has been popular for quite some time. According to The New York Times article “In Tumultuous Times, Readers Turn to ‘Healing Fiction,’” Alexandra Alter explains healing fiction books are “. . . cozy, feel-good novels that . . . typically take place in mundane locations — laundromats, convenience stores, diners, bookstores and cafes — but often have a dose of magical realism” (Alter). In addition, they contain characters who cope with feelings of grief, depression, loneliness, regret, and so on. Surprisingly, these quirky novels also tend to include magical cats with healing powers, hence the increasing presence of felines on the covers.
Readers’ responses have been highly positive despite the waterfall of tears and piles of tissues healing fiction has induced. Many readers have expressed enthusiastic comments of joy, saying these books have provided them comfort and offered them a safe place to retreat to amid the chaos of our current society and the distressing news impacting our lives.
At the forefront of this phenomenon is Japanese playwright and bestselling author of Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, Toshikazu Kawaguchi. As Alter notes, Kawaguchi originally wanted to be a manga writer, but after disappointing results, he stumbled upon his hidden talent of writing impressive dialogue, and made a name for himself in healing fiction.
In book one of the series, readers are transported into a back-alley cafe in Tokyo, Japan. On the surface, this cafe looks completely unassuming—that is until customers are offered a once in a lifetime chance to travel back in time. We follow four characters as they venture into the past, each with their own journey of potential closure. However, they must adhere to some strict time traveling rules. The most important rule being to return to the present before their coffee gets cold.
Kawaguchi’s series has not only obtained a huge fandom on TikTok but has sold “ . . . more than six million copies worldwide in 46 languages” (Alter). The latest book in the series Before We Forget Kindness, “ . . . has drawn thousands of starred reviews on Goodreads” (Alter). The list of Kawaguchi’s achievements continues to grow as healing fiction attracts more and more readers. Recently, the publishing industry is becoming oversaturated with fantasy and romance, so it’s refreshing to see new genres finally emerging. We all need a little whimsy in our lives. Publishers would agree—so much so that acquiring the translation rights for more healing fiction novels has become a game of cat and mouse to see which publisher can get their hands on the next bestseller. It’s not often that you see such a boom with translated titles. Table displays like in one of the pictures Alter provides is a perfect example of exposing readers to diverse books. The more booksellers push translated titles to the forefront, the more likely this will influence readers to broaden their reading habits and choose a book in another genre. The cute covers also factor into this. The term “cozy” has been floating around in the last year or so, from cozy fantasy to cozy mysteries. For now, it seems like readers are looking for comfort reads instead of high-stakes plots. I wonder how long this trend will last.
While adventuring through high fantasy realms or futuristic sci-fi cities is thrilling, sometimes picking up a cozy read is just as satisfying. A fascinating aspect about healing fiction is how authors are rethinking mundane spaces and transforming them into something special. In Jungeun Yun’s novel Marigold Mind Laundry, this magical laundromat has the power to wash away painful memories of the past. We all know laundry is not the most exciting chore, but when there’s magic involved, who wouldn’t be curious about visiting this place? In Miye Lee’s book The Dallergut Dream Department Store, this shop sells every type of dream you can imagine. Honestly, this store would be packed like Costco during the holidays if it were real. Fiction stories like these invite readers to have more of an appreciation for the little things in life that we take for granted. So, the next time you’re browsing through your local bookstore, do yourself a favor and pick up some healing fiction. Your future self will thank you for it.
Back Matter
Source:
- Alter, Alexandra. “In Tumultuous Times, Readers Turn to ‘Healing Fiction.’” The New York Times, November 7, 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/07/books/healing-fiction-japan-korea-before-the-coffee-gets-cold.html#:~:text=Recent%20releases%20of%20cozy%20Japanese,The%20Lantern%20of%20Lost%20Memories%2C%E2%80%9D.