Monday 13 July 2020

Book Review - The Little Teashop in Tokyo by Julie Caplin

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Title: The Little Teashop in Tokyo
Author: Julie Caplin
Format reviewed: Ebook
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: One More Chapter
Publication Date: 11th June 2020
Rating: 5 Stars

Grab your passport and escape to a land of dazzling skyscrapers, steaming bowls of comforting noodles, and a page-turning love story that will make you swoon!

For travel blogger Fiona, Japan has always been top of her bucket list so when she wins an all-expenses paid trip, it looks like her dreams are coming true.

Until she arrives in vibrant, bustling Tokyo and comes face-to-face with the man who broke her heart ten years ago, gorgeous photographer Gabe.

Fiona can’t help but remember the heartache of their last meeting but amidst the temples and clouds of soft pink cherry blossoms, can Fiona and Gabe start to see life – and each other – differently?

How wonderful it was to be transported to Japan, at a time where there isn't really any international travel.   

I literally felt as though I was there alongside Fiona, as she takes in the sights, traditions, culture and way of life of Tokyo for the first time.  Although I've never been from what I do vaguely know of the country, this all seemed incredibly authentic, and very well researched. 

There were spatterings of Japanese words and their meanings, various practices, the Japanese tea ceremony and so much variation in the food that I was practically salivating at the descriptions.  I could totally identify with Fiona's issues with chopsticks to eat with! 

Yet between the clear love of Japan in this book, at its heart there is what could be a romance between Fiona, and her reluctant photography mentor Gabe. 

Gabe who appears to be tired of life, and only doing a half hearted job at anything, is supposed to be helping Fiona, but rather needs an initial attitude adjustment. 

I could completely sympathise with Fiona, about her mother, mine isn't quite as bad, but can be similarly frustrating, so I very much empathised with her there.  

And the host family Fiona stays with, three generations are fabulous, and teach us all so many wonderful things about life in Japan, and the blending of the traditional with the modern.   I would have loved to have gone to the digital art museum that the grand daughter takes Fiona too - it sounded amazing. 

Such a fabulous story, I was loving every single second of it, and it was a shame to then realise I was in my garden and not actually in such a different country.  Another top notch book in this romantic escapes series from one of my favourite authors, Julie Caplin. 

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,. 

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