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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
hopeful
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
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A Review of "Christmas at the Cat Café"
⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 stars
If you're in the mood for a cozy Christmas read, then Jessica Redland's "Christmas at the Cat Café" might just be the purr-fect choice. The story follows Tabby, a pastry chef who fulfills her dream of opening a cat café in the charming town of Whitsborough Bay. But as the holiday season approaches, Tabby finds herself facing multiple challenges, including a broken heart and some health issues. With the support of her loved ones and a bunch of adorable feline companions, Tabby embarks on a journey to bring joy and magic to Castle Street.
Let's start with that festive cover! It's so delightful and full of Christmas cheer. Unfortunately, that's about as festive as the book gets. The story itself is cute, don't get me wrong, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. There was something missing that prevented me from fully connecting with it. However, I must admit that I couldn't help but chuckle at the fact that Tabby had a whopping fifteen cats living in her house. No wonder her boyfriend preferred living on a cruise ship! Ha!
Despite not being the most memorable or emotionally gripping holiday tale, "Christmas at the Cat Café" still offers a cozy escape into a world filled with furry friends and a determined protagonist. Tabby's journey to open her café alone is relatable and inspiring, and you'll find yourself rooting for her every step of the way. Plus, the author does a great job of capturing the special bond between humans and their feline companions, adding an extra dose of charm to the story.
So, if you're looking for a light-hearted and easy read this Christmas, "Christmas at the Cat Café" might just hit the spot. It may not be the most profound or festive book out there, but it offers plenty of feel-good moments and a sprinkle of humor. Whether you're a cat lover or simply in need of a cozy escape, this book will provide you with a warm and comforting experience.
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 stars
If you're in the mood for a cozy Christmas read, then Jessica Redland's "Christmas at the Cat Café" might just be the purr-fect choice. The story follows Tabby, a pastry chef who fulfills her dream of opening a cat café in the charming town of Whitsborough Bay. But as the holiday season approaches, Tabby finds herself facing multiple challenges, including a broken heart and some health issues. With the support of her loved ones and a bunch of adorable feline companions, Tabby embarks on a journey to bring joy and magic to Castle Street.
Let's start with that festive cover! It's so delightful and full of Christmas cheer. Unfortunately, that's about as festive as the book gets. The story itself is cute, don't get me wrong, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. There was something missing that prevented me from fully connecting with it. However, I must admit that I couldn't help but chuckle at the fact that Tabby had a whopping fifteen cats living in her house. No wonder her boyfriend preferred living on a cruise ship! Ha!
Despite not being the most memorable or emotionally gripping holiday tale, "Christmas at the Cat Café" still offers a cozy escape into a world filled with furry friends and a determined protagonist. Tabby's journey to open her café alone is relatable and inspiring, and you'll find yourself rooting for her every step of the way. Plus, the author does a great job of capturing the special bond between humans and their feline companions, adding an extra dose of charm to the story.
So, if you're looking for a light-hearted and easy read this Christmas, "Christmas at the Cat Café" might just hit the spot. It may not be the most profound or festive book out there, but it offers plenty of feel-good moments and a sprinkle of humor. Whether you're a cat lover or simply in need of a cozy escape, this book will provide you with a warm and comforting experience.
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Another great read from Jessica.
Tabby has always dreamed of working with cats. Following receiving her inheritance from her nanna she decided to open a cat cafe on Castle street with her boyfriend Leon.
Leon leaves and doesn’t know when he will return, if he ever will. Christmas is fast approaching and Tabby wants to open the cafe as soon as possible. It seems like it will never happen when her health issue hinders her plans. She is forced to take the help offered for her family and friends. Will she make the cafe work on her own or will she decide it’s not worth all the stress as someone seems determined that she won’t succeed and obstacles are put in her way.
Another great read from Jessica.
Tabby has always dreamed of working with cats. Following receiving her inheritance from her nanna she decided to open a cat cafe on Castle street with her boyfriend Leon.
Leon leaves and doesn’t know when he will return, if he ever will. Christmas is fast approaching and Tabby wants to open the cafe as soon as possible. It seems like it will never happen when her health issue hinders her plans. She is forced to take the help offered for her family and friends. Will she make the cafe work on her own or will she decide it’s not worth all the stress as someone seems determined that she won’t succeed and obstacles are put in her way.
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
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:
No
At first I thought this would be another cosy read for me but I didn't anticipate the way it would make me mad and sad and happy during various parts. (I bawled with Splodge's decoration being put at the top of the tree)
I also have Fibromyalgia although a lot milder than Tabby's, and didn't really treat it with the type of care that I should be. This book really opened up my eyes to what dealing with it is like and how I feel about it. I applaud the author for making a lovable and funny main character who happens to have a disability. I loved the book and this is my second read by this author and I intend on digging through her previous books asap, especially those on Castle Street.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author and publisher for a temporary copy in exchange for an honest review
I also have Fibromyalgia although a lot milder than Tabby's, and didn't really treat it with the type of care that I should be. This book really opened up my eyes to what dealing with it is like and how I feel about it. I applaud the author for making a lovable and funny main character who happens to have a disability. I loved the book and this is my second read by this author and I intend on digging through her previous books asap, especially those on Castle Street.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author and publisher for a temporary copy in exchange for an honest review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"Christmas at the Cat Café" by Jessica Redland is a heartwarming tale that brings together the magic of late autumn and the warmth of early winter. I extend my gratitude to Jessica Redland, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books for granting me an early look at this charming ARC.
At its core, this book is a friends-to-lovers romance, a timeless theme that always warms the heart. But what truly sets this book apart is the careful and insightful inclusion of chronic pain representation and the meticulous research about the world of opening a cat café. The depth and detail in these themes are praiseworthy and add a unique layer to the story.
The narrative gracefully tackles the challenges of fibromyalgia from various angles, shedding light on the physical and emotional struggles that individuals with this condition face. Tabby, the central character, is portrayed with authenticity as she grapples with moments of intense pain while juggling the responsibilities of her business. Her fears of becoming a burden are relatable, making her a character readers can genuinely empathize with. The way other characters learn about and respond to her condition provides a well-rounded perspective on living with fibromyalgia.
"Christmas at the Cat Café" is a delightful read for those who dream of opening their own café, have a soft spot for our feline friends, or simply seek a heartwarming romance infused with hope and the enduring bonds of friendship.
At its core, this book is a friends-to-lovers romance, a timeless theme that always warms the heart. But what truly sets this book apart is the careful and insightful inclusion of chronic pain representation and the meticulous research about the world of opening a cat café. The depth and detail in these themes are praiseworthy and add a unique layer to the story.
The narrative gracefully tackles the challenges of fibromyalgia from various angles, shedding light on the physical and emotional struggles that individuals with this condition face. Tabby, the central character, is portrayed with authenticity as she grapples with moments of intense pain while juggling the responsibilities of her business. Her fears of becoming a burden are relatable, making her a character readers can genuinely empathize with. The way other characters learn about and respond to her condition provides a well-rounded perspective on living with fibromyalgia.
"Christmas at the Cat Café" is a delightful read for those who dream of opening their own café, have a soft spot for our feline friends, or simply seek a heartwarming romance infused with hope and the enduring bonds of friendship.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Chronic illness
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Christmas, cats, baking, and small towns- this book was LITERALLY made for all tastes. And with this adorable cover I was ready to just ravenously gobble this one up like a plate of yummy Christmas cookies. And there were parts of this I really enjoyed, even if this wasn’t quite the Christmas present I’d hoped it would be.
Our story centers around Tabby (bonus points for the cat punny name), aspiring cat cafe’ owner, chronic illness sufferer, copious cat collector, and dreamer. Only her dreams are threatened when her boyfriend abruptly decides to dump her around the holidays and bow out of the cafe….and turns out someone may be also trying to sabotage her cafe. So we get a little mystery with our cat cafe romance.
As a self-proclaimed and proud cat lady when I started the story to see the chart of cats I was super excited. Finally a cat lady story with an ACTUAL cat lady. And I loved all our feline friends, though with 15 cats, I’ll admit even I was on a cat overdose…it was hard to keep all these furry friends straight. But what a fun concept, and I loved that the author really committed to this part of Tabby’s life.
The story is told from Tabby’s POV- which perhaps is a signal for where the focus of this story lifes. I went into this expecting a cozy holiday romance littered with cat fun…and the story wasn’t quite that. The story was really more about Tabby herself, her challenges with her fibromyalgia, her secrets from her family, and her quest to live her dream. These are all great aspects of the story- I really liked Tabby, the thoughtful representation of her condition, and rooting for her to win! But the result is that the romance felt really secondary, and I must admit a bit lackluster. I never quite bought into the romance, it never felt central, and the chemistry was about as warm as a melted snowball. And really I think it came down to Tabby’s own POV and the writing style- her narration meanders and covers a lot, so I never FELT the romance from her. Part of this may also be her getting over her past relationships. Her character journey really was great- the romance just didn’t quite sparkle. And, for someone who loves cats and Christmas, I needed a little bit more Christmas with my cats! It was more wintery than Christmas, so it really didn’t give me the holiday fix, despite the adorable cover and title. Christmas was not much in the story at all.
But the setting is truly fantastic, vividly portrayed and I’d love to hang out in this world, in this cafe, and talk to all the cats alongside Tabby. Glad to know I’m not the only one who has entire conversations with my babies. Overall, not quite a cozy Christmas read, but a solid read for a likable heroine and, of course, for cat lovers.
Our story centers around Tabby (bonus points for the cat punny name), aspiring cat cafe’ owner, chronic illness sufferer, copious cat collector, and dreamer. Only her dreams are threatened when her boyfriend abruptly decides to dump her around the holidays and bow out of the cafe….and turns out someone may be also trying to sabotage her cafe. So we get a little mystery with our cat cafe romance.
As a self-proclaimed and proud cat lady when I started the story to see the chart of cats I was super excited. Finally a cat lady story with an ACTUAL cat lady. And I loved all our feline friends, though with 15 cats, I’ll admit even I was on a cat overdose…it was hard to keep all these furry friends straight. But what a fun concept, and I loved that the author really committed to this part of Tabby’s life.
The story is told from Tabby’s POV- which perhaps is a signal for where the focus of this story lifes. I went into this expecting a cozy holiday romance littered with cat fun…and the story wasn’t quite that. The story was really more about Tabby herself, her challenges with her fibromyalgia, her secrets from her family, and her quest to live her dream. These are all great aspects of the story- I really liked Tabby, the thoughtful representation of her condition, and rooting for her to win! But the result is that the romance felt really secondary, and I must admit a bit lackluster. I never quite bought into the romance, it never felt central, and the chemistry was about as warm as a melted snowball. And really I think it came down to Tabby’s own POV and the writing style- her narration meanders and covers a lot, so I never FELT the romance from her. Part of this may also be her getting over her past relationships. Her character journey really was great- the romance just didn’t quite sparkle. And, for someone who loves cats and Christmas, I needed a little bit more Christmas with my cats! It was more wintery than Christmas, so it really didn’t give me the holiday fix, despite the adorable cover and title. Christmas was not much in the story at all.
But the setting is truly fantastic, vividly portrayed and I’d love to hang out in this world, in this cafe, and talk to all the cats alongside Tabby. Glad to know I’m not the only one who has entire conversations with my babies. Overall, not quite a cozy Christmas read, but a solid read for a likable heroine and, of course, for cat lovers.