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saskiajva's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Before you start this book, definitely read the trigger warnings. Based on the summary and the tagline “the most charming and uplifting novel of 2023”, i was expecting a cozy story about a magic bookshop that filled you with warmth, hope, and childlike wonder. This book was nothing like that. Instead, it is 431 pages of three different people experiencing and processing horrific and very real-world traumas. The actual bookshop is much more the background setting of their lives, and not at all integral to the plot in my opinion, which i thought was a bummer. this book could’ve easily been set in a realistic world without the bookshop and it would change very little.
Ultimately the book was fairly captivating and i did read it to the end, but i don’t think i would’ve chosen this had i known what it was actually about. Or at the very least i definitely would have been more mindful about reading this while in a good headspace. The history was pretty cool, it’s clear the author did a ton of research and there are so many historical Easter eggs interwoven
Ultimately the book was fairly captivating and i did read it to the end, but i don’t think i would’ve chosen this had i known what it was actually about. Or at the very least i definitely would have been more mindful about reading this while in a good headspace. The history was pretty cool, it’s clear the author did a ton of research and there are so many historical Easter eggs interwoven
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Grief, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Self harm, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Child death and War
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Suicide
sea_tea_books's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
4.0
"A good story always begins with tea."
This story was more complicated than I had been expecting. There were cozy, hygge moments mingled with a darker, more emotionally heavy undercurrent throughout the story. The consequences of generational trauma are far-reaching.
Henry was funny in an unintentional yet realistic way, which made him charming. His humor helped to lighten some of the darkness in this book.
Side note: Why did Madame Bowden say a curious incident occurred "in the eighties" but Martha says "in the sixties" when she retells the story?
4 ⭐
This story was more complicated than I had been expecting. There were cozy, hygge moments mingled with a darker, more emotionally heavy undercurrent throughout the story. The consequences of generational trauma are far-reaching.
Henry was funny in an unintentional yet realistic way, which made him charming. His humor helped to lighten some of the darkness in this book.
4 ⭐
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Violence, Pregnancy, War, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Minor: Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Stalking, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts
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