Tokyo Temptations by Durian Sukegawa

The first time I saw you was during my weekly stroll. I was admiring the cherry trees in the commercial street when a delicious aroma led me to discover Doraharu store. I saw you then, your face appeared so sad, just like mine in the past. That's why I stopped in front of the shop, as if irresistibly drawn to it.

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Sentaro works at a dorayaki pancake shop in the heart of Tokyo. His life is turned upside down when he hires Toki, an old lady with deformed fingers who will teach him to make the filling for his pancakes with love and perfection, turning his shop into a destination for connoisseurs of this traditional Japanese sweet.

But Toki had a secret she couldn't reveal, and disappeared without warning, leaving Sentaro with a lesson that will accompany him for life.

Tokyo Temptations is a poignant and poetic novel about the pains of bodies and hearts, about love, kindness, and resilience, but above all, it's a tale of an unexpected encounter between two people who are more alike than they think, despite their age and aspirations differences.

It's a wonderful novel, a feast to be devoured without moderation!