One Old, One New features two books – one old, one new, which are connected in some way. Today I am featuring two books by Michiko Aoyama.
Published by Hannover Square Press on February 17, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Rating:
Goodreads
Across a bridge in a quiet neighborhood in Tokyo, a seasonal cherry blossom sits on the river. Nearby is the Marble Cafe, where a woman writes in a notebook and a young waiter prepares her favorite hot drink. Both wonder about each other and about the other lives of the clientele who frequent this charming little cafe behind the trees...
Without even realizing it, we may touch and change someone else's life.
Taking a walk along the river, cooking the best tamagoyaki, ordering hot chocolate, forgetting to remove our nail polish... The small, everyday acts that we do can lead to unexpected encounters and reverberate far beyond your own circle and ultimately make a difference in the world.
Hot Chocolate on Thursday is a tapestry of slice-of-life moments that each open and close with a woman ordering her regular hot chocolate at the mysterious Marble Cafe. What happens in between will touch and swell your heart, as we connect with a community of untold unfolding lives.
Without even realizing it, we may touch and change someone else's life.
I think this is such a beautiful idea, that we could bring about a change without even knowing it, and that is what I saw play out, over and over again, in these interconnected vignettes. I thought this was going to be a bunch of stories about the people who visit this cafe, but the connections took me to many different locations, expanding the world, and I reveled in looking for the ways these people's lives where linked.
I am thrilled that we are getting so many of these translations because I have grown to adore Asian lit. The stories are so gentle, warm, and wonderful. These tales tend towards slice-of-life, and I always find so much solace in their quiet nature as they are a balm in this noisy world. Hot Chocolate on Thursdays is a perfect example of why I will not hesitate to pick up Asian lit. It reminded me how sweet life can be, and to celebrate those small joys which I think is something we sometimes forget in this chaotic world.
*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
Published by Hannover Square Press on September 23, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Rating:
Goodreads
The enchanting new novel by the multimillion-copy bestselling author of What You Are Looking For Is in the Library, about five strangers who each seek comfort from a healing hippo ride.
Nestled at the bottom of a five-story apartment block in the community of Advance Hill is the children's playground in Hinode Park, where you will find a very special age-old hippo ride named Kabahiko. According to urban legend, if you touch the exact part of the hippo where you have an ailment or wound, you will see swift signs of recovery. They call it "Healing Hippo."
In The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park, the apartment residents each find their way to Kabahiko, confessing their troubles and drawing upon the hippo's rumored abilities. From a struggling student who pets the hippo's head to reverse his poor academic performance to the lonely new mother who hopes that touching the hippo's mouth will allow her to better express herself, this heartwarming, eclectic cast of characters will all come to Kabahiko for healing in their lives—though they may not always find it in the ways they expect.
With Aoyama's classic charm and emotional power, The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park is a deeply moving celebration of kindness, community and understanding.
The Healing Hippo of Hinode Park is a collection of short stories focusing on a group of people who live in a new condominium community, each struggle with a personal issue.
This is my third book by this author, and her warm and gentle tales continue to delight me. I adore the way the authors builds in connections between the short stories and find the strength of the storytelling lies in the thoughtful exploration of the characters' issues.
The book features a multi-generational cast with issues ranging from the challenges of moving from junior high to high school to growing old. Each character's personal journey felt complete and well thought out, and I found myself able to glean something from each story. As expected, each tale was heartwarming and left me dosed with happiness.
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