Title: The Little Teashop on Main by Jodi Thomas
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction, Romance
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
A rainy-day ritual—a tea party between three little girls—becomes the framework of not only their friendship, but their lives.
Redheaded, curly-haired Zoe is openhearted, kind and free-spirited, and dreams of becoming a famous actor in New York City. Shy Emily struggles with mental health but has the heart and soul of a writer. And Shannon—tall, athletic, strong—has a deep sense of loyalty that will serve her well when she heads off to military college.
As Zoe, Emily and Shannon grow into women—forging careers, following dreams and finding love—they’ll learn that life doesn’t always unfold the way they want it to, but through it all, the one constant is each other, and their regular tea parties. And when the unthinkable happens, the girls must come together to face the greatest test of all.
A deeply moving novel about the family that raises us, the hearts that nurture us and the great friendships that define our lives.
Review:
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.
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