Exactly what you want it to be.

Listen, how could someone read the title of this series or see the cover and NOT want to immediately read this?!!?

I Am a Cat Barista is exactly the book you think it is. Hachi is the owner of Hachiware, a cafe tucked away that attracts weary souls who need to find it. The series is very much a slice of life quick read in which there’s a new interaction with a customer every 15-20 pages or so. Hachi is incredibly likable and well-spoken and runs the cafe as if he is everyone’s therapist. Often, customers stumble upon the shop because they’ve had something terrible happen during the day. Hachi and his all-knowing, somewhat otherworldly powers combine to read the customer and give them the food and drink they need most, whether they know it or not.

This is a really sweet series and a GREAT recommendation for anyone who needs something soft and enjoyable that makes them feel warm and fuzzy inside. Most of the struggles the customers are having are very universal problems; things like setting boundaries, looking for parental approval, and trying to break out of their shells in order to form relationships. This is basically an advice book in a manga cat cafe setting. We also get some backstory on Hachi, including how he came to own the cafe and why he can only be seen by certain people.

Also, he has a friend named Tama who is a dog patissier, so life is beautiful. Absolutely loved this and I felt so cozy when it was finished!

Title: I Am a Cat Barista (Vols. 1 & 2)
Author: Hiro Maijima
Format: Paperback
Pages: 180 // 130
ISBN: 9781648274244 // 9781648274527

Three Descriptors: Adorable, Heartwarming, Inspiring