The Amberglow Candy Store by Hiyoko Kurisu Book Review

The Amberglow Candy Store by Hiyoko Kurisu Book Review

The Amberglow Candy Store by Hayoko Kurisu, translated by Matt Trayvod. It is Japanese literature translated into English.

This is cozy fantasy, low stakes, and slice of life. These stories are meant to be lighthearted, dreamy, and pleasant, like a piece of candy. They are brief and fade away quickly. I do wish the chapters were a little more developed to feel more robust, but overall, it was a cute, cozy, and quick read. It is a charming book of linked stories with a sprinkle of cozy fantasy and a fable-like touch.

The Amberglow candy store in the night alley introduces a half-fox shopkeeper, Kettsu, whose magical wagashi sweets promise to change customers’ lives for the better. We follow characters from different walks of life through their encounters with Kettsu, who learns life lessons along the way and reveals his own backstory.

The book falls under fantasy, cozy fiction, Asian literature, Japanese literature, and magical realism. It is about 208 pages in hardcover. I saw it at Barnes and Noble today, already available since its release on November 11, 2025. It was tempting to buy, but I decided to hold off for now.

Glaming Lane only appears to people who need a little direction in life. The only store that opens there is The Amberglow Candy Store. Entering the lane seems to require being at a crossroads, balancing between the spirit realm and the human world. The book follows approximately five characters, and then Kettsu’s own story at the end explaining how the candy store came to be.

The first girl we meet is Kana. She is nervous about her relationship with her boyfriend, who is focused on cram school to prepare for college. She feels he doesn’t have enough time for her and wonders if she should let him go even though she likes him and worked up the courage to ask him out the year before. Their time together is good but limited, leaving her emotionally strained.

Glaming Lane appears to her, and she buys a candy called “konpeito.” Kettsu tells her to eat only one a day to receive a small joy. She begins noticing good things happening—good grades, texts from her boyfriend—so she decides to eat several to get a bigger reward. 

The next day, she learns the cram school is under investigation and believes it is her fault. She tells her boyfriend, who listens supportively and does not blame her or think she is strange. They both admit their worries, work things out, and decide they do not want to break up. The final candy from the jar returns to Kettsu, carrying Kana’s emotions and memories.

Each story follows a different character and different candies with different effects. One candy helps someone who lacks confidence and wishes to be invisible. As he becomes overlooked, he finds boldness but eventually realizes his softer personality was a strength in his career as a realtor. Each candy connects to the emotional struggle of the character who eats it.

We also learn Kettsu’s backstory. He once had to say goodbye to someone, and the candy store helps him stay connected to the human world, understanding emotions one person at a time. The book is gentle, reflective, and uplifting without being sad, and invites readers to think about whether their own lives are where they want them to be.

Thank you for tuning in. I hope you will consider reading The Amberglow Candy Store. It is available in major bookstores and likely from smaller retailers as well. If you haven’t liked and subscribed, I hope you will consider it. I will see you on the next page. Have a great day.

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