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A review by sophs_mood_reading
The Chocolate Factory by Mary-Lou Stephens
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Historical fiction meets romance, meets mystery, meets female empowerment.
1920’s Tasmania and Cadbury’s is setting up their factory on the banks of the Derwent River. We follow the story of two women, Dorothy a recent war widow, immigrating from the UK, who has worked her way up the ranks of the Firm. Maisie, a Tasmanian girl who needs to find work to support her ailing mother and hopes to keep her bright sister from leaving school.
Both woman are at Cadbury’s to better their life, but little did they know that they soon will be targeted as everyone wants the illusive dairy milk recipe.
This beautiful novel is so much more than a book about making chocolate. The wonderful descriptions easily put you right in Claremont, where you can almost hear the cockatoo’s flying past and smell the eucalyptus mixed with cocoa.
You are quickly invested in the lives of these woman and when threats start creeping in, want to protect them immediately.
Stephen’s has created a great depiction of the changing lives and roles of woman in the post great war era, where there are newly discovered freedoms but still very much restrictions from social expectations and glass ceilings. There is also realistic depictions of the realities of war and the mental health consequences of such brutal events.
I did find Dorothy’s romance to be more bordering on obsession which did make me uncomfortable at the beginning but as the story continued it made more sense and came together beautifully.
A wonderful novel for historic fiction lovers, but make sure you have chocolate on hand when reading as it’s all you will think about.
Thanks you HQ fiction and Mary-Lou Stephen’s for a copy of this book in exchange for and honest review.
1920’s Tasmania and Cadbury’s is setting up their factory on the banks of the Derwent River. We follow the story of two women, Dorothy a recent war widow, immigrating from the UK, who has worked her way up the ranks of the Firm. Maisie, a Tasmanian girl who needs to find work to support her ailing mother and hopes to keep her bright sister from leaving school.
Both woman are at Cadbury’s to better their life, but little did they know that they soon will be targeted as everyone wants the illusive dairy milk recipe.
This beautiful novel is so much more than a book about making chocolate. The wonderful descriptions easily put you right in Claremont, where you can almost hear the cockatoo’s flying past and smell the eucalyptus mixed with cocoa.
You are quickly invested in the lives of these woman and when threats start creeping in, want to protect them immediately.
Stephen’s has created a great depiction of the changing lives and roles of woman in the post great war era, where there are newly discovered freedoms but still very much restrictions from social expectations and glass ceilings. There is also realistic depictions of the realities of war and the mental health consequences of such brutal events.
I did find Dorothy’s romance to be more bordering on obsession which did make me uncomfortable at the beginning but as the story continued it made more sense and came together beautifully.
A wonderful novel for historic fiction lovers, but make sure you have chocolate on hand when reading as it’s all you will think about.
Thanks you HQ fiction and Mary-Lou Stephen’s for a copy of this book in exchange for and honest review.