Toshikazu Kawaguchi wrote books that play with time and emotion. His stories often explore what people would do if they could go back to the past, even for a short time.
If you find yourself drawn to stories with a similar gentle pace and focus on human connection, you might be interested in discovering other authors.
Fredrik Backman is a Swedish author known for writing stories that explore human emotions and connections. One of his books, “A Man Called Ove,” tells the story of a grumpy old man named Ove who lives in a quiet neighborhood.
Ove has strict routines and a sharp tongue, but his world starts to shift when a lively family moves in next door. Their unexpected friendship leads to moments that reveal Ove’s softer side and the pain he has carried for years.
The book balances humor and heartfelt moments in a way that makes it unforgettable.
Hiromi Kawakami is a Japanese author known for her quiet and reflective storytelling. Her novel “The Nakano Thrift Shop” centers on Hitomi, a young woman working at a tucked-away secondhand shop owned by the eccentric Mr. Nakano.
The shop is filled with odd items and equally peculiar customers, each with their own secrets and stories.
As Hitomi navigates her relationships with her co-worker Takeo and the people drawn to the shop, the narrative gently explores human connections and the beauty in ordinary moments. It’s a book that lingers on simplicity and emotion in a way that feels intimate and touching.
Kazuo Ishiguro is known for stories that explore deep emotions and human connections through quiet, reflective narratives.
His novel “Never Let Me Go” follows three friends who grow up at an English boarding school, slowly uncovering the unsettling truth about their purpose in life. The characters wrestle with questions of love, memory, and what it means to truly live.
If you enjoy Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s tender and bittersweet approach to human stories, Ishiguro’s works might strike a similar chord.
Mitch Albom is an author known for stories that touch the heart and explore the bonds between people. In his book “The Five People You Meet in Heaven,” Albom tells the story of Eddie, an amusement park maintenance worker who dies in an accident.
After his death, Eddie meets five people in the afterlife, each revealing how their lives were connected to his in ways he never realized. Through these encounters, the story reflects on life, regret, and the unseen connections that shape us.
Albom creates a sense of wonder and emotion that makes his books memorable.
Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author known for blending everyday life with unusual and dreamlike twists. His book “Norwegian Wood” follows Toru Watanabe, a university student whose routine shifts when he reconnects with Naoko, the girlfriend of his late best friend.
The story explores the deep connections people share and the pain that often lingers after loss. Murakami writes in a way that feels personal, pulling readers into the quiet moments of his characters’ lives while surprising them with unexpected turns.
Liane Moriarty is an Australian author who writes stories about the complex lives of ordinary people, often weaving in secrets, relationships, and unexpected twists.
One of her popular novels, “The Husband’s Secret,” follows Cecilia, a woman who finds a sealed letter from her husband meant to be read after his death. When she opens it, the contents shake her world and connect her life to two other women in ways she never imagined.
The book explores how one choice or revelation can ripple through a community and change everything.
Celeste Ng writes stories that explore family dynamics and the complexities of relationships. Her book, “Little Fires Everywhere,” revolves around two families in a suburban town.
One family is wealthy and picture-perfect, while the other is led by a single mother trying to stay afloat. Their lives become intertwined when a custody battle over an adopted child forces everyone to question loyalty, privilege, and what makes a family.
If you enjoy Kawaguchi’s reflective and heartfelt style, you might connect with Ng’s way of revealing humanity through her characters.
Ruth Ozeki is a writer who weaves unique connections between people, time, and memory. Her book “A Tale for the Time Being” tells two intertwined stories.
One follows Nao, a teenage girl in Tokyo, who writes in her diary about her life and her bond with her great-grandmother, a Buddhist nun. The other focuses on Ruth, a woman in British Columbia who finds Nao’s diary washed up on the shore after a tsunami.
The book explores how their lives become unexpectedly connected. It’s thoughtful and full of emotion, with moments that stay with you long after reading.
Jojo Moyes is a storyteller who often focuses on human connections and emotional journeys. Her book, “Me Before You,” introduces Louisa Clark, a quirky young woman who takes a job caring for Will Traynor, a once-active man now confined to a wheelchair.
The story explores how two people from very different worlds come together, changing each other’s lives in profound ways. Fans of Toshikazu Kawaguchi might enjoy Moyes’ ability to create heartfelt moments and meaningful relationships between her characters.
Rachel Joyce writes stories that feel warm and heartfelt, often focusing on ordinary characters who embark on unexpected journeys.
One of her books, “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry,” tells the story of a retired man named Harold who sets out to mail a letter but ends up walking hundreds of miles across England instead. Harold believes his journey might save the life of an old friend.
Along the way, he meets strangers, hears their stories, and begins to reflect on his own life and regrets. The book captures the small moments and connections that shape a person’s life, making it a gentle and reflective read.
Yoko Ogawa is a Japanese author known for her quiet but deeply emotional storytelling.
One of her standout books, “The Housekeeper and the Professor,” tells the story of a brilliant mathematics professor whose memory only lasts 80 minutes, and the housekeeper who looks after him.
Their unlikely bond develops through shared moments over math problems and daily life. The professor’s love for numbers offers a unique way of connecting with the world, showing how even fragmented memories can’t erase human connection.
Matt Haig is an author who explores time, life, and human emotions with a thoughtful touch. His book “The Midnight Library” centers around Nora Seed, a woman who stumbles upon a magical library filled with books that let her step into different versions of her own life.
Each book represents a choice she could have made, showing how her life would have turned out if she’d chosen differently. Through her journey, Nora discovers truths about regrets and what truly makes life meaningful.
Fans of Toshikazu Kawaguchi might enjoy the way Haig blends ordinary moments with a touch of the extraordinary.
Antonio Iturbe is a Spanish author known for blending historical events with deeply human stories.
One of his books, “The Librarian of Auschwitz,” is based on the real-life experiences of Dita Kraus, a young girl who risked her life to protect books in a secret library inside a Nazi concentration camp.
Iturbe highlights the power of books and the courage it takes to protect ideas in the face of unimaginable danger. His writing brings history to life with a focus on personal resilience and the impact of small acts of defiance.
Peter Høeg is a Danish author who blends emotional depth with unique storytelling. One of his most well-known books, “Smilla’s Sense of Snow,” follows Smilla Jaspersen, a woman with an unusual ability to read snow.
When a young boy she cared for dies in what seems like an accident, Smilla begins to suspect something more sinister. Her investigation takes her from the streets of Copenhagen to the icy wilderness of Greenland.
The story explores human connections, loss, and the vast, cold beauty of the Arctic. Høeg’s writing has a way of drawing you into both the landscape and the inner lives of his characters.
Colleen Hoover writes stories that focus on relationships and emotions, often exploring the struggles and beauty in human connections. One of her books, “It Ends with Us,” tells the story of Lily, a young woman who falls for a charming neurosurgeon named Ryle.
As their relationship deepens, Lily starts to uncover truths about Ryle that challenge her feelings and force her to confront her past. The book mixes moments of love, heartbreak, and hard choices, offering a window into how complicated and impactful love can be.