The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen by Yuta Takahashi

In a seaside town in Japan there is a place called Chibineko Kitchen. People come to the restaurant to eat a meal that reminds them of someone they were close to who has died. They are also able to see and communicate with that special person for one last time. In the novel, the reader meets Kotoko, whose brother died in a car accident, a boy named Tajii who was unkind to a classmate before she passed, and a widower named Yoshio who longs to see his wife again. With similarities to the Kamogawa Food Detectives series, this novel focuses more on the interpersonal relationships between the characters--including mother and son Nanami and Kai (the owners of the cafe)--and moving their stories forward. A poignant start to the series.