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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Now I was looking for love and maybe to know about sweets but what is this plot? And the boyfriend what is that thing? Just no nope nope
Really enjoyed this. Bought it as a 'buy one get one half price' at my local Waterstones and it was a happy purchase (not all of them are - I struggled for months to read Game of Thrones). Loved Rosie, Stephen and the rest of the villagers. I found her first boyfriend rather odious and definitely useless and though it was obvious she struggled with adjusting, the relationship she built with her aunt was so clearly affectionate that the move was worth while.
I put off reading this for a while, but am happy I still had something to savour.
I put off reading this for a while, but am happy I still had something to savour.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Another cute and light read... there were several typos throughout the book though, which were a bit distracting - there was even one point where the name referenced was Rosie although it definitely should have been Lilian! (It occurred during one of the 1942 sections.) Oh well, it still was an entertaining read that I got through in a Sunday afternoon. There's something about Colgan's books... although similar storylines prevail through each and every one of them, I can't seem to get enough!
The Sweetshop of Dreams by Jenny Colgan is a perfect sweet-filled getaway to the English countryside in the small town of Lipton. Following Rosie, as she moves from the big city to take care of her ailing elderly great-aunt and deal with her estate and dilapidated sweetshop. Told in dual timeline narratives between present day Rosie and her great-aunt Lilian in the 1940’s, the story slows effortless and you can’t help but being swept up in the nostalgia of Lilian and the self-discovery of Rosie.
Of course, in true Colgan fashion, there is a charming romance to be discovered. The romance can only be realized of course once Rosie comes into her own and undergoes character growth. I enjoyed all the townsfolk, the small town dramas, and the levity of Rosie’s big city ways clashing with farm life.
The one relationship that gave me pause was between Rosie and Stephen.. as a nurse myself I’m not really a fan of relationships that start out like this. I’ve seen it time and again in various novels and it always feels uncouth.
Overall a very enjoyable, pleasant novel that is an escapist read, featuring strong female characters who overcome challenges and grow as characters.
Thank you very much Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for access to an e-copy of this book in exchange for review. It publishes April 13, 2021!
3.5⭐️
Of course, in true Colgan fashion, there is a charming romance to be discovered. The romance can only be realized of course once Rosie comes into her own and undergoes character growth. I enjoyed all the townsfolk, the small town dramas, and the levity of Rosie’s big city ways clashing with farm life.
The one relationship that gave me pause was between Rosie and Stephen.. as a nurse myself I’m not really a fan of relationships that start out like this. I’ve seen it time and again in various novels and it always feels uncouth.
Overall a very enjoyable, pleasant novel that is an escapist read, featuring strong female characters who overcome challenges and grow as characters.
Thank you very much Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for access to an e-copy of this book in exchange for review. It publishes April 13, 2021!
3.5⭐️
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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!
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!
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:
Complicated