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portybelle's review against another edition
5.0
The 24 Hour Cafe is, as the title suggests, a book set in a cafe which is open 24 hours a day. Over the course of one 24 hour period we get to know the staff and some of the customers who visit this London eatery. The main narrators are waitresses Hannah and Mona. They also share a flat and although working in the cafe, Hannah is an aspiring singer while Mona dreams of a dance career. We learn about both women not just during the course of that day but also looking at what brought them to London, how they ended up sharing a flat and the highs and lows of their quests to fulfil their dreams. We also meet several of the customers of the cafe, some regulars, some just passing through.
Reading the book is a bit like people watching. We get glimpses into lives, sometimes getting quite a lot of the story but sometimes just brief interludes leaving the reader to decide where the story or character goes. These are characters you will really take to heart. I felt I wanted to know what happens next for so many of them such as lovers Joe and Haziq, student Dan, new mother Monique, Big Issue salesman John. So I was pleased when the epilogue revisited the cafe a year later and rounded off some of their stories.
My heart broke for so many of the characters but swelled for joy for others - sometimes I felt both emotions for the same people at different points of the book. The friendship between the two women, Mona and Hannah, was so beautifully portrayed. Their dreams and aspirations were clear and, although it's fair to say they had their ups and downs, their unfailing support for each other was touching.
The 24 Hour Cafe may seem to be just a gentle, observational story, with perhaps not much happening, but Libby Page's writing draws you in as though you are sitting in that cafe yourself and watching the customers. It is beautifully written, tender look at friendship and love and life and really, it's just a lovely, lovely book
Reading the book is a bit like people watching. We get glimpses into lives, sometimes getting quite a lot of the story but sometimes just brief interludes leaving the reader to decide where the story or character goes. These are characters you will really take to heart. I felt I wanted to know what happens next for so many of them such as lovers Joe and Haziq, student Dan, new mother Monique, Big Issue salesman John. So I was pleased when the epilogue revisited the cafe a year later and rounded off some of their stories.
My heart broke for so many of the characters but swelled for joy for others - sometimes I felt both emotions for the same people at different points of the book. The friendship between the two women, Mona and Hannah, was so beautifully portrayed. Their dreams and aspirations were clear and, although it's fair to say they had their ups and downs, their unfailing support for each other was touching.
The 24 Hour Cafe may seem to be just a gentle, observational story, with perhaps not much happening, but Libby Page's writing draws you in as though you are sitting in that cafe yourself and watching the customers. It is beautifully written, tender look at friendship and love and life and really, it's just a lovely, lovely book
francescawillow's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
2.0
bexbooksandstuff's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this one. It was a lovely look into the thoughts of different people and how ever fleeting that people can still have an effect on others.
The friendship between Hannah and Mona was strong but crumbling and it was great to read about how they had forged a place in the world for themselves yet selfish nature could still put the strength of their bond to the test.
I loved the movement between Hannah and Monas inner monologue as well as the different people visiting the cafe at all hours. It was great to get little insights to their lives and the reasons that had led them there. Oh and my heart went out to Dan, his story resolution was my favourite of them all!
This was a great character driven tale with lots of emotions throughout.
The friendship between Hannah and Mona was strong but crumbling and it was great to read about how they had forged a place in the world for themselves yet selfish nature could still put the strength of their bond to the test.
I loved the movement between Hannah and Monas inner monologue as well as the different people visiting the cafe at all hours. It was great to get little insights to their lives and the reasons that had led them there. Oh and my heart went out to Dan, his story resolution was my favourite of them all!
This was a great character driven tale with lots of emotions throughout.
cleg11's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to netgalley for a chance to read this book.
This book follows the story of a 24 hour cafe in London. The two main characters are Mona and Hannah who work at the cafe, sharing the 24 hour shift. It tells their story and the customers stories.
Brilliant book, easy read.
This book follows the story of a 24 hour cafe in London. The two main characters are Mona and Hannah who work at the cafe, sharing the 24 hour shift. It tells their story and the customers stories.
Brilliant book, easy read.
fuzzypenguin97's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mpr2000's review against another edition
4.0
Do you like coffee shops? Have you ever wondered how are the lives of the people that are serving you? Because they have been looking at you and possibly making your life much easier without you noticing it… Ready to discover the life in your favourite cafe for the next 24 hours?
I’ll say from the beginning that this had been a curious story. Shared in the perspective of two waitress, we’ll see how their lives and friendship will change forever in just 24 hours. Don’t expect tragedy, it’s a sweet story, but expect a lot of love and happiness!
The story is told in first person between all the characters that cross the cafe during these 24 hours. Their dreams, hopes and thoughts; their problems and fears… It felt like you are in the coffee shop with all of them, like another customer, feeling the smell of the coffee and pancakes! Their stories are so tender and real that I would have loved to know more about them!
Hannah and Mona are the main characters, we will discover their past and their friendly relationship till the present. I’ll admit that I didn’t like much Hannah and in the end I felt like there was something missing in her story. But, on the other side, Mona was delightful and with a big heart, I would love to discover more about her new life and how things continue with her. I hope the author reads my review and thinks about making a second part of the story!
This is a heart warming story, it will leave you with a smile for the rest of the day, don’t doubt it!
I’ll say from the beginning that this had been a curious story. Shared in the perspective of two waitress, we’ll see how their lives and friendship will change forever in just 24 hours. Don’t expect tragedy, it’s a sweet story, but expect a lot of love and happiness!
The story is told in first person between all the characters that cross the cafe during these 24 hours. Their dreams, hopes and thoughts; their problems and fears… It felt like you are in the coffee shop with all of them, like another customer, feeling the smell of the coffee and pancakes! Their stories are so tender and real that I would have loved to know more about them!
Hannah and Mona are the main characters, we will discover their past and their friendly relationship till the present. I’ll admit that I didn’t like much Hannah and in the end I felt like there was something missing in her story. But, on the other side, Mona was delightful and with a big heart, I would love to discover more about her new life and how things continue with her. I hope the author reads my review and thinks about making a second part of the story!
This is a heart warming story, it will leave you with a smile for the rest of the day, don’t doubt it!