Cats and Japanese fiction always go well together. It's normally a recipe for something sweet. It certainly sounded as though The Travelling Cat Chronicles would be another adorable read. A cat goes on a journey with his owner to visit three people from his past. I was prepared for it to be cute. I wasn't as prepared for the sheer emotional journey we'd also be going on. There is much more to this book than just a man and his cat driving around the country. It discusses the impact that people and animals can have on our lives. This is a story of how we show love and how little acts of kindness stick with people. It's such a layered and beautiful story that it ended up exceeding my expectations. Expectations that were petty high going in.

Nana was a stray cat until he got hit by a car. When he realised how serious his injuries were, he went to the one person he thought he could trust. Satoru had been feeding the cat for a while, so the injured animal went to find him. After his recovery, Nana decided to stay with his saviour and the pair enjoyed a happy few years together. Until Satoru started travelling the country to find a new owner for his beloved pet. The pair went on a road trip to visit three of Satoru's old friends. Three childhood friends that he lost touch with over the years but who are part of some treasured memories. Three people that Satoru believes would be good owners for Nana. On their journey, Satoru relives his childhood and Nana learns more about his owner.

I loved the fact that Nana narrated the book himself. The cat's voice is perfect and speaks in exactly the same tone as you'd expect. He is sarcastic and sardonic. Nana knows he's better than everyone he meets and isn't afraid to offer his opinions on people. What is also abundantly clear is that Nana loves Satoru. It holds the same emotional weight as any other relationship in fiction. Nana is also a pretty perceptive cat and reads people very well. Although, he can't work out why Satoru is giving him away. It's something that will click with the reader far quicker than the creature, which just heightens the inevitable heartbreak.

There is way more to this book than meets the eye and it was a fantastic read. It's a great mix of sweet, funny and sad. You don't have to be a cat lover to enjoy this book because everyone can understand the relationship at the heart of this story. It's a different kind of soul mate but the connection is still deep. Nana and Satoru have built a great rhythm and there is companionship on both sides. It's a story that proves even the smallest gesture can affect someone. Not only does Satoru touch Nana's life by leaving him a few treats but we learn about the people that helped Satoru during difficult times. It shows that showing love can take many forms and that you don't need to do anything special to show someone you care. It's a definite feel-good book despite the sadness.