Reviews

Sweetshop of Dreams: A Novel with Recipes #1 by Jenny Colgan

jess_mango's review against another edition

4.0

This was my first Jenny Colgan book. I always see her name popping up on lists of cozy, easy-breezy reads. Well, this definitely fit that description. This book was originally published about 10 years ago, but I was offered a review copy with a recent re-release. So here goes...

Rosie Hopkins life was stuck in a rut in London, She'd been dating the same guy for seven years and it seemed to be going nowhere. She worked as a nurse auxiliary and was between jobs when her mom called and asked her to go help out her great aunt Lillian and to prep her sweet shop for sale. So, Rosie packs her stuff and heads for the small village of Lipton that Lillian calls home. There, Rosie sticks out like a sore thumb but learns to appreciate the slower life style offered in the village and is quickly charmed by the old sweet shop. She spends her days sprucing it up and restocking the shelves. Meanwhile, she meets several charming village blokes who make her wonder if there could be more to life. The story alternated between Rosie and Lillian's perspective with Lillian's parts being set in the time around WWII. Lillian is a proper, well put together woman while her grand niece is more of a bumbling figure a la Bridget Jones.

This was indeed a sweet read but wasn't overly saccharine. It is perfection for someone looking for an escapist read with no great tragedies or heavy hitting social issues. The setting of the book. made me think of my 2019 trip to the UK where we visited a few old charming villages and even stepped into some sweetshop and these villages.

What to listen to while reading...
Plastic (Mid-City Island Version) by Moses Sumney
Live Well by Palace
Good News by Mac Miller
Still by Daughter
Chocolate by The 1975
Home by Now by Bombay Bicycle Club

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!

simmonsmry's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

brianne_k's review against another edition

3.0

*3.25/5*

this was quite cute!
I liked the sweet shop, I want to visit it.
I think my favourite character was Lillian in all her sassy glory.

I've read 2 books by Jenny now, and they both seemed to have followed the same type of trajectory..
I am going to read more by her, I wish I had another book right now.. I'm just in the mood for this cute stories now.

danileighta's review against another edition

During these times of COVID-19, this was a sweet and fun audiobook read by a charming narrator. For all the fluff, the characters felt real and I really cared for them. Lillian is such a delightful old grouch and Rosie is so much herself that she doesn't know how likeable she is.

This is a cozy, quick read that will make you feel warm at heart.

dichap's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

whalesharkandme's review against another edition

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

luciearan's review against another edition

4.0

Tahle kniha má jedno obrovské úskalí... a tím je nepřekonatelná chuť na sladké, po dobu celého jejího čtení. =D
A tak jako u ostatních knih J. Colgan, i tento příběh je čtivý, milý a nenáročný. Čtenář si u něj příjemně odpočine a příběh sám prostě pohladí. Vyprávění je vtipné, místy lehce ironické, plné lásky, s lehkou příchutí smutku i nostalgie. Kniha jako stvořená pro trochu unavené odpoledne pozdního léta.

freckleduck's review against another edition

2.0

I wanted to like this book and I love how Jenny Colgan write about settings but the characters felt meh, unrealistic and not authentic.

katrenia's review against another edition

4.0

I give this a 3.5. A sweet story. A good lesson in living to not have regrets.

thurchan's review against another edition

relaxing medium-paced

3.0