Share your thoughts in a quick Shelf Talk!
The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa
A reclusive teen, a mysterious talking cat, and a labyrinth of forgotten shelves—together they set out to rescue books that have lost their readers. Gentle, quirky, and deeply bookish, The Cat Who Saved Books is a love letter to stories and the people who carry them forward.
Have you read this book? Share what you liked (or didn’t), and we’ll use your answers to recommend your next favorite read!
Love The Cat Who Saved Books but not sure what to read next?
These picks are popular with readers who enjoyed this book. Complete a quick Shelf Talk to get recommendations made just for you! Warning: possible spoilers for The Cat Who Saved Books below.
In The Cat Who Saved Books, did you enjoy ...
... a wise, opinionated animal companion who nudges a quiet teen toward courage?
The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
If Tiger’s no-nonsense guidance pulled you out of Natsuki Books and into those labyrinths, you’ll love Nana’s dry, affectionate narration as he rides across Japan with Satoru. Where Tiger prods Rintaro to rescue stories from the collector and the speed-reading evangelist, Nana quietly helps Satoru face past friendships and bittersweet choices. It’s tender, funny, and—like Rintaro’s bond with his grandfather—deeply about how love and loyalty shape the journeys we take.
... gentle, bookish magic wrapped around a small, welcoming community?
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
You enjoyed the warm, tucked-away feel of Natsuki Books and the soft-spoken magic that lets Rintaro and Tiger slip into hidden trials. In this café’s back seat, patrons can revisit a moment in time—so long as they return before the coffee cools. Like Rintaro confronting the publisher chasing only bestsellers, each visit asks what truly matters in the present. It’s cozy, rule-bound magic, intimate stakes, and a lovingly drawn cast you’ll want to linger with.
... a reflective, book-centered fable that asks what reading is for?
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
If Rintaro’s debates with Tiger—about speed-reading, locked-away collections, and the purpose of books—got you thinking, this will too. Nora Seed steps into a library between life and death where each book opens a life she could have led. As Rintaro learns to honor stories as living conversations rather than trophies, Nora learns to read her own life differently. It’s a heartfelt, idea-rich tale that treats books as doors to meaning, not just objects.
... a shy boy’s inward journey toward purpose, sparked by a grandfather’s legacy and strange quests?
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
Rintaro’s tentative steps from Natsuki Books into the labyrinths echo Kafka Tamura’s self-directed odyssey. Talking cats, mysterious guardians, and uncanny tasks—like Rintaro confronting the hoarder of sealed books—become mirrors for growing up. You’ll find the same mix of vulnerability and courage as Kafka navigates surreal trials to understand who he is and where he belongs.
... stepping through hidden doorways from a bookstore into otherworldly trials?
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
Those secret passages Tiger leads Rintaro through—each a test about how to treat stories—find a lyrical counterpart here. January Scaller discovers a book that reveals real, world-hopping Doors and a conspiracy to close them. As Rintaro fights those who cage books or strip them of heart, January fights those who would lock away wonder itself. It’s adventurous, bookish, and brimming with the same reverence for stories as living, liberating things.
Unlock your personalized book recommendations! Just take a quick Shelf Talk for The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa. It’s only a few questions and takes less than a minute.