Before I Knew I Loved You
Published on 21. May 2026
Book
Hardback
240 pages
978-1-0350-4629-4 (ISBN)
Description
The sixth book in the multi-million-copy bestselling series about a cosy Japanese cafe that offers its visitors the chance to travel back in time.
In a special seat in a fabled Tokyo cafe, you're offered something irresistible - not just a warm, comforting coffee, but the chance to go back in time to revisit the ones you love . . .
In Before I knew I loved you, Toshikazu Kawaguchi takes us back to the warm heart of the mysterious Funiculi Funicula Cafe, with another four guests whose luminous stories of love, lost and won again, will reaffirm your belief in its eternal potential. In this book, we meet:
- The girl who wishes to make amends with the mother she never accepted
- The man who waited for a reply from his girlfriend, and never heard from her
- The woman anxious to travel ahead to know what her future holds
- The student who travels back to meet his father again, who passed away many years before.
Yet the same rules always apply - you must return before the coffee gets cold. And while it does, memories are revisited, people are changed forever, and the enduring power of love transcends the boundaries of time.
The sixth book in the phenomenal, bestselling series, translated from Japanese, Before I knew I loved you asks the irresistible question: what would you do if you were offered the chance to go back in time?
In a special seat in a fabled Tokyo cafe, you're offered something irresistible - not just a warm, comforting coffee, but the chance to go back in time to revisit the ones you love . . .
In Before I knew I loved you, Toshikazu Kawaguchi takes us back to the warm heart of the mysterious Funiculi Funicula Cafe, with another four guests whose luminous stories of love, lost and won again, will reaffirm your belief in its eternal potential. In this book, we meet:
- The girl who wishes to make amends with the mother she never accepted
- The man who waited for a reply from his girlfriend, and never heard from her
- The woman anxious to travel ahead to know what her future holds
- The student who travels back to meet his father again, who passed away many years before.
Yet the same rules always apply - you must return before the coffee gets cold. And while it does, memories are revisited, people are changed forever, and the enduring power of love transcends the boundaries of time.
The sixth book in the phenomenal, bestselling series, translated from Japanese, Before I knew I loved you asks the irresistible question: what would you do if you were offered the chance to go back in time?
Reviews / Votes
A global phenomenon . . . Kawaguchi certainly has crafted a perfect recipe; may his resonating reunions live on and on and on -- <i>Booklist</i> The narrative is deeply moving -- <i>Chicago Review of Books</i> on the <i>Before the Coffee Gets Cold</i> series Heartwarming, whimsical . . . offering comfort at a time when the world seems off-kilter and chaotic -- <i>The New York Times</i> on the <i>Before the Coffee Gets Cold</i> series Endearing -- <i>New York Times Book Review</i> on the <i>Before the Coffee Gets Cold</i> series A complete page-turner from the start to the end -- <i>Buzzfeed</i> on the <i>Before the Coffee Gets Cold</i> series Heartwarming, quirky, and wistful -- <i>Huffpost</i> on the <i>Before the Coffee Gets Cold</i> series Interwoven into what initially feels like a whimsical escape are existential conundrums of love and loss, family and freedom, life and death -- <i>Christian Science Monitor</i> on the <i>Before the Coffee Gets Cold</i> series Charming -- <i>Star Tribune</i> on the <i>Before the Coffee Gets Cold</i> seriesMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pan Macmillan
Dimensions
Height: 200 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
299 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-0350-4629-4 (9781035046294)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Before I Knew I Loved You
The heartwarming new novel in the cosy Japanese multi-million selling series
E-Book
05/2026
Picador
€19.49
Available for download
Persons
Toshikazu Kawaguchi was born in Osaka, Japan, in 1971. He formerly produced, directed and wrote for the theatrical group Sonic Snail. As a playwright, his works include COUPLE, Sunset Song and Family Time. The novel Before the coffee gets cold was adapted from a 1110 Productions play by Kawaguchi, which won the 10th Suginami Drama Festival grand prize. It was followed by Tales from the cafe, Before your memory fades, Before we say goodbye, Before we forget kindness, and Before I knew I loved you.