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tigerproofrock's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Lives up to its reputation.
The romance is incredibly organic, zero-drama, natural friends to lovers. It’s an important part of the story but takes up almost no airtime.
A few F bombs but otherwise very PG.
Audiobook is incredibly well done.
The romance is incredibly organic, zero-drama, natural friends to lovers. It’s an important part of the story but takes up almost no airtime.
A few F bombs but otherwise very PG.
Audiobook is incredibly well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Violence, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Transphobia, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
hazel_georgene's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia
There is one comment about a characters clothes not fitting because they have been eating lots of pastries. It’s not necessarily super negative but still present.bluedilly's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Cursing, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
maeverose's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.75
I keep going back and forth on if this is a 2.5 or a 3 for me.
It’s pretty much what you’d expect: a story about someone starting up a coffee shop from scratch in a fantasy setting. Very little happens outside of that. There’s a hint of a romance but it’s really not a big focus at all. There’s also a point of conflict mostly towards the end, but that’s it.
It was just alright for me. I wouldn’t go as far as saying I was bored, but it was just very mildly entertaining. And I’m not really someone who needs plot to enjoy a book, a lot of my favorite books are very slow paced and character focused. So idk why this one didn’t really work for me. I didn’t dislike anything. In theory I should’ve liked it more. But it was very meh throughout.
In hindsight, I think I like slow books more if there’s some sort of social commentary or message to it, rather than literally just a slow slice-of-life story with nothing to say. Becky Chambers is a good example, while her books never go very deep into the social commentary, it’s always there. Her books often explore humanity, communism and environmentalism in subtle ways alongside the slice-of-life character focused story.
It’s pretty much what you’d expect: a story about someone starting up a coffee shop from scratch in a fantasy setting. Very little happens outside of that. There’s a hint of a romance but it’s really not a big focus at all. There’s also a point of conflict mostly towards the end, but that’s it.
It was just alright for me. I wouldn’t go as far as saying I was bored, but it was just very mildly entertaining. And I’m not really someone who needs plot to enjoy a book, a lot of my favorite books are very slow paced and character focused. So idk why this one didn’t really work for me. I didn’t dislike anything. In theory I should’ve liked it more. But it was very meh throughout.
In hindsight, I think I like slow books more if there’s some sort of social commentary or message to it, rather than literally just a slow slice-of-life story with nothing to say. Becky Chambers is a good example, while her books never go very deep into the social commentary, it’s always there. Her books often explore humanity, communism and environmentalism in subtle ways alongside the slice-of-life character focused story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Cursing, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Fatphobia, Excrement, Murder, and Alcohol
*about the gore: It’s only in the prologue (which is skippable) and it’s fantasy non-human gorewebb_beb's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
A very light and comfortable read. Very immersive and cozy, like everything you probably love about a friendly adventuring party in your fav dnd media, but minus the adventure.
I was a little worried I wouldn’t like the romance element, but it was a very minor part of the story and overall it was very much about friendship love more than romantic love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Fatphobia, Violence, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
beforeviolets's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I've been begging for a book like this to come into existence and I really hope this sparks a new trend in the publishing world, because cozy fantasy/shire-core is my new everything.
This book just makes you want to grab a cup of coffee and curl up in the corner of a booth at your local coffee shop. Reading this book felt like a hug or a warm blanket on a chilly day. The atmosphere is vivid and cozy, the characters are so lovable, and the story is just so wholesome. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves a happy story about resilience, found family, and sweet treats.
Also make sure you have a snack or a coffee nearby while reading this book, because you will be CRAVING it the whole time.
(I do have an issue with a brief fatphobic line where one character slaps her stomach and mentions needing to cut down on the sweets. This is unfortunately common in food-centered media and it was entirely unnecessary. But otherwise I have no complaints!)
CW: violence, fire, fire injury, stalker, brief fatphobic comment
I've been begging for a book like this to come into existence and I really hope this sparks a new trend in the publishing world, because cozy fantasy/shire-core is my new everything.
This book just makes you want to grab a cup of coffee and curl up in the corner of a booth at your local coffee shop. Reading this book felt like a hug or a warm blanket on a chilly day. The atmosphere is vivid and cozy, the characters are so lovable, and the story is just so wholesome. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves a happy story about resilience, found family, and sweet treats.
Also make sure you have a snack or a coffee nearby while reading this book, because you will be CRAVING it the whole time.
(I do have an issue with a brief fatphobic line where one character slaps her stomach and mentions needing to cut down on the sweets. This is unfortunately common in food-centered media and it was entirely unnecessary. But otherwise I have no complaints!)
CW: violence, fire, fire injury, stalker, brief fatphobic comment
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Fatphobia