Book Review: Matcha on Monday by Michiko Aoyama
I was recently given the opportunity by Netgalley to listen to an audiobook version of Matcha on Monday by Michiko Aoyama. While the book was originally published in 2021, the English translation version was recently released on July 7, 2026. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this novel, but I’m really glad I was able to listen to the audiobook. It wound up being a comforting story that gave me a lot to reflect on.
In today’s blog post I’m going to share a few thoughts and opinions, so keep reading for my full book review of Matcha on Monday by Michiko Aoyama.
What is Matcha on Monday by Michiko Aoyama About?
Across a bridge in a quiet neighborhood in Tokyo, a charming little matcha café – open only on Mondays – offers a beacon of light and healing to all who pass through its doors.
All throughout the week, customers flock to the Marble Café that’s tucked away behind the trees – except when it’s closed on Mondays, when the Matcha Café opens in its place, offering its clientele a warm cup of matcha and restoration to start the busy week ahead.
On this one day of the week, people from all walks of life frequent this cozy haven and experience the joys of human connection. Among them include:
- A singer who has just broken up with his lover
- An unsociable young owner of a tea wholesaler
- A husband who has made his wife angry
- A designer and owner of a lingerie shop
- A Kamishibai artist who doesn’t get along with his grandmother
This heart-warming story spans Tokyo and Kyoto over twelve months, bringing together a community of untold unfolding lives – all starting with a cup of matcha. (from Amazon.com)
My First Thoughts on Matcha on Monday
I need to confess something.
I have never tried Matcha.
So with that in mind, I was very curious about the Marble Cafe and it’s Pop Up Matcha Store. I was not aware of the flavor, the process for making it, or anything else. It was very fascinating to me as each character had their different reasons for visiting the store or interacting with it in some way.
The Structure of the Story
Each chapter focuses on a different character, and yet one thing always remains the same. The Marble Cafe. So in a way, the cafe really felt like the main character of this story, and everyone else was side characters.
I enjoyed this set up. To me, each chapter felt like a short story. I became so immersed in the different characters. Each person had a backstory, a career, a set of relationships. It made me think about my own town that I live in. Each person has their own life and their own story. And although we might interact with them for a moment, there is so much else going on that we will never know.
My Biggest Takeaway
I liked the structure of this story, and I liked the way that it was written. I imagine part of it is the English translation, but the writing style just really worked for me. It was very simple and honest. I felt that I was really getting a glimpse into the character’s world.
My biggest takeaway from this book is that we are all connected. The world is big, but it can also be very small. Each interaction we have is not just about ourselves, but about others.
It reminds me to be kind, because you never know what someone else is going through.
Would I Recommend This Book?
Yes. I listened to the audiobook and I liked that they had different narrators. It helped me to separate the different characters in my mind. It was a very peaceful story. I liked how each chapter blended seamlessly into the next.
In Conclusion
Thank you for checking out today’s book review of Matcha on Monday by Michiko Aoyama. It was a really interesting story that kept me entertained on a long car trip. This is book 2 in the Marble Cafe series and I want to go back and read book 1 if I can.
And also… I would like to go to a cafe and try Matcha! If you have any recommendations of places to go to try it, let me know. I’m going to start scouring the menus of cafes in the area.
