almost sweeping family saga that covers the lives of the three main characters, Zoe, Emily, and Shannon, as well as Shannon's father Mack, Zoe's mother Alex, and Fuller and Jack, two very different boys (men) who have a history with the girls, each in their own way. This is a very character driven story, and Jodi Thomas' strength is in creating compelling characters are each well-developed, complicated, perhaps infuriating at times, and definitely ones that make you feel invested in the story.

The story is told from the perspectives of each of these seven people, but the bulk of the story focuses on the trio of girls - each very different in personality, but clearly very close to each other. This is a story about finding yourself, finding love, and of enduring friendships.

The breadth of the story - about thirty years - was unexpected, but it was lovely to follow characters for such a long time. This was a quiet book, one that deserved to be digested slowly. It was not a book with twists and turns, but steady pacing and mostly (no spoilers here) happy outcomes.

The Little Teashop on Main had the small-town vibe of a Debbie Macomber novel mixed with the feel of a Danielle Steele saga - minus the perfect people. Zoe, Emily, and Shannon are not polished wealthy perfection; they are down-to-earth (even head in the clouds Zoe), believable and relatable characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Little Teashop on Main! It was the perfect book to curl up with on a rainy afternoon and sink into.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for advance copies of the book. All opinions are my own. ( )

4.5 stars.

The Little Teashop on Main by Jodi Thomas is a heartwarming novel which spans thirty years of a childhood friendship between three women.

Zoe O'Flaherty, Emily Waters, and Shannon Morell meet for the first time at a tea party when they are five years old. Despite their differences, they remain close friends throughout their lives. Raised by her single mom, Alex, Zoe is energetic and craves the spotlight. Emily is quiet, unassuming and unbeknownst to her friends and family, suffering from depression. Shannon lives with her Air Force dad Mack and she is off to the Air Force Academy after high school. Jack Hutchinson is friends with each of the women and he is also going to the Air Force Academy. He is close with Emily and Zoe, but his relationship with Shannon is fraught with tension as he hopes she will one day see him as more than a friend. Although their lives take them in different directions, their small hometown of Laurel Springs anchors them and brings them together throughout their lives.

After high school graduation, Zoe moves to New York to pursue her dream of becoming a Broadway star. She is self-confident, free-spirited and enthusiastic living in New York and acting in plays. She is not ready to settle down and she never stays with one man for long. But her loyalty to her friends is unshakable and Zoe will drop everything when she is needed.

Emily leaves for college after high school, but she quickly drops out and returns home. Suffering from headaches from a car accident, she is not eating or sleeping. The youngest child in the family, Emily's overbearing mother is relentless as she tries to bend her daughter to her will. After a short hospital stay, Emily's friends rally around her and help her strike out on her own. But it is her close friendship with Fuller Wilder that lifts her up and sustains her. But will a secret he is keeping destroy their budding romance?

Shannon is a planner and she has her life mapped out. She and Jack are both at the Air Force Academy and she is both attracted to and irritated by him. These mixed signals act as a potent shield and Jack soon grows frustrated with her. Is there any chance he and Shannon will find a way to bridge the gap that keeps them apart?

Unfolding from multiple perspectives, The Little Teashop on Main is a truly captivating novel about family, friendship and love. Each of the characters are vibrantly developed and extremely likable. Although mostly a light read, Jodi Thomas deftly touches on sensitive topics with ease. I highly recommend this warmly inviting and endearing novel to readers of the genre.
( )

(This review will be on my blog All the Ups and Downs soon.)
-
I'd been wanting to read The Little Teashop on Main by Jodi Thomas for awhile. When the opportunity presented itself, I jumped at the chance. I must say this book really packs a punch when it comes to emotions!

The plot for The Little Teashop on Main was done brilliantly! Jodi Thomas has written a beautiful story that really sucks you in and makes you feel every single written word. Zoe, Shannon, and Emily meet for a tea party whenever they can starting from when they were little. As the story progresses, the reader gets to watch each of the girls grow into strong women. The reader gets to grow up with all of the girls through all of the ups and downs of life. Each chapter in the book is focused on a certain character so the reader gets to gain that character's perspective on things. While there are similar story lines to The Little Teashop on Main, Jodi Thomas does such an excellent job of making this one feel unique. I felt like I was instantly transported to the small town of Laurel Springs whenever I was reading The Little Teashop on Main. While there weren't any major plot twists, I felt as if this was the type of book that doesn't need to rely on plot twists to keep it interesting. The emotional pull is all it needs. I loved how there were no cliffhangers and all of my questions were answered by the end of the book.

The characters in The Little Teashop on Main were so well written and such a delight to read about! I loved every one of them. Usually I have a favorite, but I would hate to be forced to choose just one favorite. I loved Zoe's zest for life. Her larger than life presence was such a joy to read about. I would have loved to have a friendship like Zoe's and Jack's. Shannon had such a great work ethic that was admirable. Just how focused she was was an inspiration. I kept on wanting things between her and Jack to work out. I don't think I've ever wanted to a couple to be together more than Jack and Shannon. Shannon was such a planner and so focused. Sometimes I wanted to just grab her by the shoulders until she realized how great she'd be with Jack! I just wanted to hug Emily. She had struggled with depression for so long. I could relate to her the most. Emily was such a sweet girl that blossomed into a sweet woman. I was always cheering Emily on when I would read about her. I loved how much Jack cared about all three girls and how much he loved them all. He was such a loyal friend. I'm glad I got to read and get to know Fuller. What a sweet boy/man he turned out to be! Alex and Mack were also great characters and great parents. The love for their daughters was so obvious. The way the townspeople of Laurel Springs came together was so heartwarming to read about.

I will admit that the first 45 percent or so of The Little Teashop on Main was a little slow. I did wonder if I had made a mistake with this book. However, I'm glad I persevered. The pacing quickly picked up after that, and I could not put this novel down. I hungered for more, yet I would become sad because I realized that this story would be over soon. When I did finish The Little Teashop on Main, I was disappointed only because I wished it didn't have to end!

Trigger warnings for The Little Teashop on Main include depression, suicide attempts, cancer, a car accident (wounds aren't described too graphically), and sex (although not graphic).

All in all, The Little Teashop on Main is such a heartwarming read. This book makes you feel as if you are one of the characters. It is written so beautifully, and I can't gush enough about how great it is! I would definitely recommend The Little Teashop on Main by Jodi Thomas to those aged 16 . This book gets a 4.5 out of 5 stars from me.
--
(Thanks to HQN for providing me with a paperback of The Little Teashop on Main by Jodi Thomas in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.) ( )

It's most definitely a character driven novel, so there's truly no way to discuss it other than through its characters. We've Emily...slight, shy, and troubled, but when given the chance to truly bloom with the rays of love on her side, she comes into her own magnificently. Then there's Zoe...a live by the seat of her pants dancing through life sort of gal who had her heart set on stardom. She could have done anything she set her mind to, I've no doubt...but sometimes we're called for something, follow something even we don't understand, and I think that's why I loved her character. Last of our trio would be Shannon...strong willed, straight forward, no time for dalliances that don't fit into the organized schedule of life as she saw it, Shannon. Don't get me wrong, her ways were severely influenced by her father (a man of the military through and through, but with a heart of gold, and a fierce love for his daughter, her friends, and his chosen family), but at some point, we can't extend the finger of blame to past guidance; we have to take ownership for the decisions we make, the life we choose, the hearts we however unintentionally break.

Yes, it's a cast of leading ladies that we get to follow from princess dresses through graduation/wedding gowns...but they aren't the only ones that make the story. There's Mack (Shannon's father) that we previously mentioned...Alex (Zoe's mom) with a penchant for baking, but a past that would bring you to tears...Fuller who's connection to one of the ladies was unusual to say the least, but his devotion to her, astounding...and Jack, who we honestly can't say enough about. What can I say? He loved them all in their/his own way, and his eventual ever-after was most deserved.

All in all, a rather moving novel reminding us of the importance of friendship, forgiveness, and knowing when to let go. Recommended for Women's Fiction and Contemporary Fiction fans.


*ARC received for review; opinions are my own ( )

The Little Teashop on Main by Jodi Thomas
Source: NetGalley and HQN Books
Rating: 5/5 stars

From the moment they met just weeks before entering kindergarten, Zoe, Shannon, and Emily were bound together through a love of tea parties, tiaras, tutus, and a friendship that will never be broken no matter the circumstances.

Through the years, the friendship between the three girls grows stronger as they share all the ups and downs of life as teenagers and then as young women. Living in a small town has kept the girls close together until just after graduation from high school. Though the girls know they must go their separate ways, they also know the distance and life choices won’t alter their friendship. For Zoe, she is finally able to spread her wings and fly; her flight takes her straight on the New York City where she plans to become a famous actress. For Shannon, the path to the Air Force Academy has always been clear and her strength and enthusiasm are exactly what she’ll need to succeed. Though Zoe and Shannon are excited about their respective future, they are both terribly worried about the third member of their trio, Emily.

Emily has always been the quietest, shiest member of the group but in the years leading up to graduation, she has also been exhibiting troubling behaviors following an accident that nearly claimed her life. Where once Emily was simply shy and quiet, now she is withdrawn, unfocused, and seemingly depressed. To make matters far worse, Emily’s mother is wildly overprotective and when every element combines it is a recipe for disaster that will bring Zoe and Shannon running home to help their beloved friend. What Zoe and Shannon find when they return home chills them to the bone and leaves them wondering if they ever should have left Emily behind.

Though Emily is certainly in bad shape, she has no interest in losing her life nor disrupting the budding future of her friends. With assurances and a plan in place, Emily convinces her friends to return to their lives with the knowledge that she has indeed turned a corner. As the weeks, months, and even years go by all three girls continue to live their lives and pursue their dreams. Though Zoe never makes a huge breakthrough, she is successful enough in her acting pursuits to live comfortably in New York, Shannon not only graduates from the air Force Academy but does with honors and moves on to her ideal job. Back home, Emily not only turns a corner but finds love and her place in the world and that most certainly brings her friends great comfort.

The Bottom Line: I think this book had me hooked from the very beginning as its very hard to resist three little girls in tiaras having a tea party 😊 The friendship forged between Zoe, Shannon, and Emily is one that transcends time and place and that sense of connection is carried throughout the entire read. When one of the girls is hurting, troubled, or celebrating a life achievement, they turn to one another for love, comfort, support, and, of course, a tea party. One of the things I very much appreciated about this book is the emphasis on real life; that is, the situations, both good and bad, are believable and realistic and reacted to in ways I found to be so very human. An additional like includes the evolution of the characters: from start to finish one gets to watch as three young girls become fine young women and then adults, women with their own lives, loves, trials, tribulations, and triumphs. Above all else, I found this emotionally challenging read to be beautifully written and completely satisfying. It is an engrossing read I completed in a single sitting and would heartily recommend to readers of this particular genre.

P.S. If you have read Jodi Thomas’s Mornings on Main, you will be pleasantly surprised to find a few familiar names in this book 😊 ( )