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jo_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
The 24 Hour Cafe, known as Stella's is a window to another world, another world where everyone is going about their own business, with their own past, their own present and their own decisions to their own future.
Libby Page, lets us as readers, drop into the cafe to see exactly the people that might cross the cafe doors in 24 hours and what their stories might be.
We need a vehicle for all these people and their stories - Mona and Hannah, waitresses who work double shifts, would be dancer and singer respectively, housemates and best friends. Stella's Cafe is simply where they fill their time whilst waiting for that once in a lifetime opportunity. It seems to be taking a long time to arrive.
As we learn more about Mona and Hannah and how they came together, we also see into the lives of the young student with nowhere to live, the honeymooners in later life, the relationships blossoming and breaking, the lonely, the workers, the parent escaping the child, the random acts of kindness, the future, the past and everything in between.
These little scenes of life show you how so much is going on around you and that all that you are really interested in and aware of is your own little world. Reflected in Mona who was aware of Hannah, but Hannah's actions shrink her world and it ends up testing their friendship.
How often do you stop and wonder about those around you - what their story is and whether it is happier or more troubled than your own? Whether there are people looking at you thinking the same, just for 24 hours Libby Page gives us that insight and as you finish the book, you go back to your own life and carry on.
An excellent observational read that makes you stop and think - no doubt a book that will much talked about during 2020.
Libby Page, lets us as readers, drop into the cafe to see exactly the people that might cross the cafe doors in 24 hours and what their stories might be.
We need a vehicle for all these people and their stories - Mona and Hannah, waitresses who work double shifts, would be dancer and singer respectively, housemates and best friends. Stella's Cafe is simply where they fill their time whilst waiting for that once in a lifetime opportunity. It seems to be taking a long time to arrive.
As we learn more about Mona and Hannah and how they came together, we also see into the lives of the young student with nowhere to live, the honeymooners in later life, the relationships blossoming and breaking, the lonely, the workers, the parent escaping the child, the random acts of kindness, the future, the past and everything in between.
These little scenes of life show you how so much is going on around you and that all that you are really interested in and aware of is your own little world. Reflected in Mona who was aware of Hannah, but Hannah's actions shrink her world and it ends up testing their friendship.
How often do you stop and wonder about those around you - what their story is and whether it is happier or more troubled than your own? Whether there are people looking at you thinking the same, just for 24 hours Libby Page gives us that insight and as you finish the book, you go back to your own life and carry on.
An excellent observational read that makes you stop and think - no doubt a book that will much talked about during 2020.
younggirlsavedbywords's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
henrymarlene's review against another edition
3.0
Time for a coffee and a cookie at 'The 24-Hour Café by @libbypagewrites. This was a bright and quirky story about Hannah and Mona, the cast and crew of the cafe set just across from Liverpool Street station, and a menagerie of customers who enter it stores within one 24-hour period. It's a big ask to fit the activities of a full day in detail, not to mention covering all the back and main stories that are weaved together. Every chapter covers each hour that goes by, primarily around Hannah and Mona. Yet some of the other characters really steal the scene when their time (or hour) comes to shine: Dan, the young student, had such a sad story, the hard-shelled Polish cook, the moment that John, the Big Issue seller, was given the umbrella in the rain was exquisite, and the story of the older couple, so bittersweet. There seemed to be so much to fit in about each of these characters and they seem to be stretched a little too thinly in some places but they were all necessary. It was their stories and interactions that kept the momentum of the cafe going as much as Hannah's and Mona's tales. Hannah herself was a little hard to warm to, and Mona also seemed to lack a lot of depth. This made it hard to get to know her as well as Hannah. This book seems so fitting to read, sitting in a warm cafe nursing a pot of tea or a cappuccino; a distraction to entertain and think about all those around you and the intersections of life in one place and time.
abbier0ad's review against another edition
5.0
Love love loved. Such a uplifting book. I loved reading about all the different characters, hearing all about their lives. Perfect rainy day kinda read
btpbookclub's review against another edition
5.0
After loving The Lido last year and it making my top twenty reads of last year I could not wait to get my hands on this one, I knew I was in for a treat. I was not disappointed. Another brilliant read from Libby.
For me this is a long book at just under 400 pages but I flew through it in a weekend. I loved it. I enjoyed it. One I won't forget for a long time. Within the story is a powerful message which the author talks about at the end of her book which is the importance of female friendships and how powerful and needed those relationships are.
This book has the perfect setting a 24 hour cafe! A place where hundreds of people pass every day and night. Many entering the cafe for different reasons. Each customer has their own story to tell. I loved the way the book was told over a 24 hour period and how we got to see more than just the two main characters lives Hannah and Mona, we got a glimpse and look in to the customers lives too. The way it is written makes you feel like you know each and every person personally.
Mona and Hannah have the perfect friendship one they both really needed to survive the London life and their dreams for the future. But after a huge argument will they rekindle that friendship? A beautiful story. A beautiful setting. Made me think about how I've never seen a 24 hour cafe before either. A well deserved five stars. Highly recommend. It may just end up in my top twenty reads of 2020. Libby never disappoints me. Brilliant.
For me this is a long book at just under 400 pages but I flew through it in a weekend. I loved it. I enjoyed it. One I won't forget for a long time. Within the story is a powerful message which the author talks about at the end of her book which is the importance of female friendships and how powerful and needed those relationships are.
This book has the perfect setting a 24 hour cafe! A place where hundreds of people pass every day and night. Many entering the cafe for different reasons. Each customer has their own story to tell. I loved the way the book was told over a 24 hour period and how we got to see more than just the two main characters lives Hannah and Mona, we got a glimpse and look in to the customers lives too. The way it is written makes you feel like you know each and every person personally.
Mona and Hannah have the perfect friendship one they both really needed to survive the London life and their dreams for the future. But after a huge argument will they rekindle that friendship? A beautiful story. A beautiful setting. Made me think about how I've never seen a 24 hour cafe before either. A well deserved five stars. Highly recommend. It may just end up in my top twenty reads of 2020. Libby never disappoints me. Brilliant.
carolineg77's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the very detailed descriptions throughout the story, especially as they all built on all 5 senses. Nonetheless, I felt like it could have been more plot- driven as I would have enjoyed more connexions between the different (and intriguing) characters we meet. Some sections such as the many flashbacks are unnecessary long and not as stimulating as others, and do not add anything substantial to the story. However, I must say that this book certainly filled the gap left by so many missed coffee shop outings over the past year.
kerryanna2709's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A gentle and easy to read book with heart-warming stories. It was a bit too long and Hannah's story became a bit monotonous but it's a good cosy read.
jo_dd's review against another edition
1.0
*audiobook*
Disappointing. Didn’t seem to go anywhere & despite usually liking the author Libby Page & the narrator Clare Corbett, I didn’t finish. I was sadly rather bored by the continual exploration of the thoughts & feelings of the 2 protagonists who just didn’t interest me.
Disappointing. Didn’t seem to go anywhere & despite usually liking the author Libby Page & the narrator Clare Corbett, I didn’t finish. I was sadly rather bored by the continual exploration of the thoughts & feelings of the 2 protagonists who just didn’t interest me.
cliobemuzedbookworm's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5