THE LITTLE TEASHOP ON MAIN
by
Jodi Thomas
Genre: Contemporary Literary Fiction / Coming of Age
Publisher: HQN
Publication Date: May 7, 2019
Number of Pages: 336 pages
Scroll down for the giveaway!
Scroll down for the giveaway!
A deeply moving novel about the family that raises us, the hearts that nurture us, and the great friendships that define our lives.
A rainy-day ritual—a tea party between three little girls—becomes the framework of not only their friendship, but their lives. Blonde, 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 rainy-day ritual—a tea party between three little girls—becomes the framework of not only their friendship, but their lives. Blonde, 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.
PRAISE FOR THE LITTLE TEASHOP ON MAIN:
“Heart-wrenching as well as heartwarming, the book reflects the experiences of these seven multifaceted and compelling characters as they journey through challenging years together.” — NY Journal of Books
“A comforting treasure for regular Thomas readers who enjoy the easy flow of her writing, a little steamy romance to spice things up, and the development of vulnerable, realistic characters.” — Booklist
“Heart-wrenching as well as heartwarming, the book reflects the experiences of these seven multifaceted and compelling characters as they journey through challenging years together.” — NY Journal of Books
“A comforting treasure for regular Thomas readers who enjoy the easy flow of her writing, a little steamy romance to spice things up, and the development of vulnerable, realistic characters.” — Booklist
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I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.
Having had the opportunity to read another of her books, I must say that Jodi Thomas continues to weave such heartfelt stories that truly touch the soul. From the mysterious and intriguing foreword to the full circle conclusion, this one stands above the rest!
The Little Teashop on Main follows the enduring journey of friendship between three girls as they navigate the course of their lives from early childhood to young women. Spanning decades and alternating perspectives, readers begin to feel a part of the inner circle that is forged between Zoe, Emily, and Shannon. Their pledge of forever friendship over a tea party bonds them to one another in a way that I find incredibly fascinating to read about. While the tea set may mature from plastic to fine china, the ceremony remains steadfast, and as someone who was not graced with the gift of a strong, lifelong friendship, I have increasingly become captivated by the experiences of people who have. But ultimately what I found made this a compelling, multilayered, and delightfully complete work of art was becoming privy to the worlds surrounding the girls as seen through the eyes of important secondary characters, including a few young men, Shannon’s father, and Zoe’s mother. Each woman is rendered so distinctly that there is a sense of either knowing one of these ladies in your own walk of life or actually being one of them yourself!
“‘Watching them like this, I can almost telescope their whole life. The little girls, the young women, the mothers.'”
I was charmed to discover that although this story brings us back to Laurel Springs, Texas, we were in fact following events years ahead of Mornings on Main, making them well done companions. This continues to be an idyllic place to be transported to that certainly creates an inspiring and everlasting image.
As an Army veteran, I would be remiss to mention that a minor gripe I had was the use of the word “soldier” in its many word forms to describe characters who are in the Air Force. These individuals would be Airmen. While I feel that its use is strictly to provide a reference point to describe someone in the military that any reader would largely understand, it would definitely be a noticeable error in description to service members across the branches. Additionally, Shannon’s father, Mack, was given the rank of “Master Chief” when the actual rank is Chief Master Sergeant. Unfortunately, this should not have been missed. In the end, however, the spirit of the story and its larger meaning left a far greater impact on my reading experience and overall enjoyment.
With all its highs and lows, this story will remind you of life, so grab a cup of tea, settle in, and sip away to the lives we’ve led, the lives we lead, and the lives yet to be lived!
With millions of books in print, Jodi Thomas is both a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 45 novels and 14 short story collections. Her stories travel through the past and present days of Texas and draw readers from around the world.
In July 2006, Jodi was the 11th writer to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. With five RITA’s to her credit, along with National Readers’ Choice Awards and Booksellers’ Best Awards, Thomas has proven her skill as a master storyteller.
Honored in 2002 as a Distinguished Alumni by Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, Thomas enjoys interacting with students at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas, where she currently serves as Writer in Residence.
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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
ONE PRINT COPY OF MORNINGS ON MAIN,
THE FIRST LAUREL SPRINGS BOOK
May 8-18, 2019
(US ONLY)
a Rafflecopter giveaway Best of luck!
Many thanks to Lone Star Book Blog Tours and Jodi Thomas! It was an absolute pleasure reading, reviewing, and hosting!
And be sure to check out the other stops on the tour for more opinions and extras!
And be sure to check out the other stops on the tour for more opinions and extras!
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That's What She's Reading 
I really like when books share the same setting but stand alone. Laurel Springs sounds like my kinda place. Great review, as always!
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