This book has all the emotions running through it - from happiness to sorrow and everything in between.  It also speaks to friendships and how important they are in our lives.

I may have thought this was going to be a light read but the book surprised me as it was so much more.  I think what engaged me the most was the friendship of Zoe, Emma, and Shannon.  They were fast friends from kindergarten on and celebrated milestones in their lives by having a tea party.  I loved the tradition especially when they would have the tea party before leaving for college, when they came home, and for all milestones in between.  I marveled at how no matter what was going on in their lives they always found time for each other which is so very important.

Beyond the friendship aspect, this book also tied in mental health, illness, family, and that love can be right around the corner if you just take a peek and let it into your life.  It is also about chasing your dreams and living up to your potential.  Each woman's personal story is woven beautifully within the whole story and there is even a storyline regarding Zoe's mother and Shannon's father.

This is probably one of the most heartwarming and heart-wrenching books I have read so far this year.  We give it 5 paws up and highly suggest you read this book!

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.

I'm not quite sure why it took me so long to read a Jodi Thomas book but I was glad I finally did. I enjoyed following the three main characters throughout their childhoods and young adult lives. It may have been a little predictable but that's sometimes very comforting.

A rainy-day ritual—a tea party between three little girls—becomes the framework of not only their friendship, but their lives.

A heart felt story about 3 friends and the bonds they forged over their first tea party as children. They have vowed to always remain friends and be there for each other.

Zoe, Shannon and Emily are different people. With different paths and different challenges. But what remains the same as we watch them grow up and face difficult times, but together.

One of my favorite authors, Thomas is so good at weaving a story with layers and characters you would love to know. This is one of those stories that leave you with tears and laughter, joy and heartache. 

What a joy it was to read this!

NetGalley/May 7th 2019 by HQN

Set in Laurel Springs, The Teashop on Main, is a beautifully crafted story of friendship and love. Jodi Thomas brings this little town in Texas alive, with her dusty creek beds and shadowy figures that are very much a signature of her stories.

Three young girls bond over a tea party -  a bond that is going to take them right through life. There is Zoe - daughter of Alex, a single mom. Zoe is a free and beautiful spirit, who cares about others and their happiness, and searches for her own sense of "home".

Shannon has been raised by her Dad - Mack, her mother having walked out on them. He is often away working but there is no doubt of his love for Shannon and the other two girls.Lastly Emily, somewhat lost and unhappy, with a mother who has smothered her. But... she has Zoe and Shannon who support and worry over her. And then their is Fuller who has a special reason to keep an eye on her. And lastly Jack, who loves all three girls and would do anything for all of them. But... he has a strong attraction and eventually a special love for one of them.

The story ranges over a good time period, so that we see the young people grow up, seek to find themselves and their place in the world, but always is the ongoing friendship that is so strong, that it is forever friendship. And their is that ritual of joining for tea that so important to them.I loved this story and while tears slid down my cheeks as I finished, I closed the book, with some heartache and a whole lot of admiration for the friends and their various relationships.

The Little Teashop on Main by Jodie Thomas

Five year old Zoe, Emily and Shannon begin this book with a tea party and tea parties remain integral to this book throughout coming full circle at the end of the book. The three girls become friends for life. They get together periodically and support one another throughout the book. Zoe is the vivacious woman with a dream that takes her to New York. Shannon has her eye on the Air Force and heads to college to pursue that dream. Emily seems a bit lost at times but when she finds herself and her purpose in live she embraces it wholeheartedly. There is friendship, romance, growth, love, laughter, caring, happiness, family and more in this book filled with characters I felt I came to know well enough to call my friends. I wanted to smack a few of them a couple of times but was thoroughly satisfied at the end of this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

A genuinely big hearted novel center on three women- Shannon, Emily, and Zoe-and their friends and family. The girls met at 5 five when Zoe's mom, Alex (who owns the local bakery) hosted a tea party for them. Each has a different focus in life- Shannon attends the Air Force Academy, Zoe moves to NYC to act, and Zoe, well Zoe struggles a bit initially and then blossoms. The nice part about this is that you get a good feel for their best friend Jack, Shannon's dad Mack, Emily's dark angel Fuller, and, of course Alex. You might think you know where this is going (and you'll be right in part) but there are some twists and unexpected things. It's a good read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Two thumbs up for a sweet and a little sentimental story.

I fell in love with the cover and the I fell in love with the book.
It's heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time, it made me cry and smile and I loved the cast of characters.
The plot will keep you hooked till the last page and you will surely root for the characters.
It was a very good reading experience and I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Friends, family, and careers, loving, living, losing and becoming the true version of yourself - the book is a journey of three women's lives, and their loved ones, over the years following the paths they have to take to find their places and true purposes in life.
There were so much life and subsistence in the tale that I found myself taking it in with just a few chapters at the time, to enjoy and digest the story to its fullest. Not every book is meant to be inhaled at one sitting, and I adored to observe the lives of the characters a little bit at the time.
There is a bushel of characters that tells their point of view to the life events of the protagonist as well as to their families, to the supportive cast and crew for the girls' lives. The time goes on for several decades as the readers get to witness the little princesses age and see how their lives take new shapes, in new places.
There are several themes in the book, from depression and its consequences when untreated, to the challenges of single parenting, to searching for your purpose and career, to family drama, alcoholism, from abandonment issues to overbearing mothers, everything you can imagine people struggle with through their lives. But there are also moments of healing, of falling in love and learning to trust, and daring to take the leap for living fully - with many characters in the story, each of them with their own different kinds of burdens in life, you witness the characters grow and learn, mature, and develop, as they deal with their hindrances in life. There are many life lessons to be sifted out, many wisdom's of life taken to heart, prejudgements unlearned, and acceptance embraced while reading the tale.
Throughout the book, there is one message that comes clear repeatedly: you can always start anew, there is nothing you cannot overcome if you so wish, you can always come home, and your family - or the friends that become your family - will always be there for you. Love will always win.
A lovely, heartening, and wholesome tale of small-town Texas and a group of its inhabitants throughout the years, while it entertained, it also inspired, encouraged, and uplifted.
A tale that leaves an imprint to your heart
~ Five Spoons

This book opened with promise, but that promise didn’t hold throughout the book.

Zoe dreams of becoming a famous actress in New York City. Emily struggles with mental health but has the heart and soul of a writer. Athletic Shannon 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, they 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.

As I stated above, the opening of this book grabbed my attention and I turned those first pages with high hopes that I would enjoy this story of friendship. However, I found it didn’t have a lot of depth. I felt like portions of my book were missing, that I was missing crucial details or had the cliff notes version of the story. That feeling took away my enjoyment of this book. The story seemed to jump all over without landing. When it did seem to land, it landed in the future leaving me baffled by how quickly solutions seemed to arise. It didn’t feel real and that was disappointing.

I did like each of the characters but wish the author had chosen to land more fully on the exploration of their stories. What is found in this book is disjointed and confusing.

I usually fall into a Jodi Thomas book as soon as I start reading. That just did not happen with The Little Teashop on Main. I liked the three friends, Zoe, Emily and Shannon but their story was too disjointed. The book skips from both character to character it also skips from year to year. Parts did catch me but then it was a release. I guess you could call this a catch and release.

THE LITTLE TEASHOP ON MAIN follows three best friends, two of their parents, and the boys/men who are significant in their lives. The three best friends, Zoe, Shannon, and Emily met when they were five and had an arranged tea party. Though they are very different people and personalities, they have been bonded through time. Zoe and Shannon each have single parents (Alex and Mack), who also get perspectives. The other perspectives are from Fuller and Jack, two boys/men who are significant to the girls.

With many perspectives and following over 30 or so years, there's a lot going on in this book. However, it remains easy to follow. The lives are easy to get sucked into and each person has a unique story/perspective that makes you fall in love with all of them. I loved this view of a small town from so many individuals in it. I also really loved some of the romances, particularly for Alex/Mack, though I would have liked to go more in-depth into backgrounds and hang-ups. Due to the many perspectives and times, a lot of these facts get dropped in bundles.

My only real issue about the book is that one of the boys/men, Fuller, is a stalker, and this is meant to be seen as sympathetic/not creepy, particularly given later events. However, someone who follows you around and spies on your activities is not particularly a healthy nor sympathetic character. If you can move beyond that ick factor, it is otherwise sweet. Beyond the stalking, I would also add warnings for past sexual assault (not described), depression/suicidality, character death, and drunk driving/hit and run (two are not the same events).

Overall, I found it to be an emotional and engrossing read. I do wish the stalking had been presented differently and would have liked to get deeper into individual characters versus following so many. Please note that I received a copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

My eyes were teary and my heart was full when I completed Little Teashop on Main. It is more than endearing, a remarkably incredible read about the lives of four friends and their choices, their families and their journeys through life. I love the utilization of rotating perspectives which delve deeper into the emotions of each character. Little Shop on Main Street is a keeper.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Little Tea Shop on Main by Jodi Thomas is a beautifully plotted novel that I enjoyed from beginning to end. From the opening scene you now that you are going to be in for an emotional ride.
Three young girls having a tea party which starts a lifelong friendship.
Zoe was the extraverted one who goes off to NY to be an actress. She is the wild child of the bunch.
Emily battles depression and living with an overbearing mother. Emily tries to find herself and her courage. She finds it in an unexpected relationship. I loved how the girls were friends with Jack. Emily relied on Jack as a young girl.
Shannon is the tough girl of the bunch. She wants to be like her military dad. Although they are all friends with Jack, he has had a crush on Shannon for years. I enjoyed their story but wished they could have figured their relationship out years sooner. I felt like they wasted so much time apart.
You can always count on Jodi to create an amazing cast of characters. You will not have trouble telling them apart because each of them has their quirky personalities. I loved how she gave Mack (Shannon’s dad) and Alex (Zoe’s mom) a significant part of the book.
I recommend this book if you love a good story. I don’t know how Jodi does it but she writes such a compelling story that you cannot put the book down. This usually only happens to me if there is a mystery I am trying to solve. In Jodi’s books you are invested in the characters and don’t want to see the book end.
Sexual content – no details but there is premarital sex
Violence - there is a hit and run in the past,
Language
Drugs/alcohol – there is some drinking, Zoe likes to party, someone overdoses

I received this book from publisher/author and was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

Three little girls, Emily, Shannon and Zoe have a tradition of tea parties that started when they were 5. They have become lifelong friends, always there for each other as their lives go in different directions.

This is a sweet story about true friendship. The story draws you in from the beginning and you can’t wait to turn the page for the next chapter. The ending is sad and touching at the same time, as the tea parties continue on. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Zoe, Shannon, and Emily first meet a couple weeks before kindergarten at a tea party so they'll each know someone when they get to school. The tea party becomes a ritual for them.

The three girls are very different. Zoe is free spirited and dreams of being an actor in New York. Shannon wants to join the military like her father. Emily has some mental health issues, but is a writer at heart.

You also meet Jack. Jack is friends with all of them and witness to their friendship and the strong bond they have.

Reading about these girls as they grow up and all struggle at different times with different things is very emotional. I laughed and I cried.

I received an Advance Copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

#NetGalley #TheLittleTeashopOn Main

Very enjoyable, relaxing read. I'm always guaranteed to like Jodi Thomas' work. After just finished a very drama filled book, this was the perfect book to read next. I loved the characters and the setting. Definitely recommended.

It's been a while since I have read Jodi Thomas and so glad I read this one. What a great story of love, family and friends. It takes a village to raise children. Emiky, Zoe, and Shannon were 3 young girls whose life story evolves in the Little Tea Shop on Main.

The writer's descriptions of all the characters in this story and the town help you realize family is not only the blood relatives but those friends who stick with us through the good and bad. And the ending is a real tear jerker that I highly recommend reading.

I was provided a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher for my honest review.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an Ebook version of this book to read and review for an honest review.

Initially, I was attracted to this book because of the title and the front cover art.  I love tea, so I figured that a book with teashop in the title would be perfect for a quick and comfy read.  Sometimes it is nice to get your head out of heavier stories and just escape to a cozy genre.  I like to read multiple books at once, so breaking away with a "shorter" and much lighter read is absolutely true for me.

Besides the cover and title, the first thing that I noticed about the book itself was that the writing is so descriptive and detailed.  It opens with a short little paragraph that is so dense with colors and textures that it really sets the scene for the rest of the book and creates a cozy and heartfelt feeling for the rest.  I was glad to see that this writing style continues throughout, as the use of details that describe scents and colors (often food related) are used for a plethora of different things later.  At one point, one of the main characters named Zoe is said to drink in the life of New York like melted peach ice cream in the summer.  When I first read that I thought it was a little weird, but I totally got it, perhaps because I know what that feeling is like and it just worked for me.  I loved those types of little add-ins as descriptors and felt like it really created layers in the writing and the general feeling of the text.  It also really helps to paint mental pictures of the story and get a better feel for who the characters are and what they are written to be like.    

There are some cliché themes and ideas.  I don't think that is bad, per se, but just predictable and familiar.  While those things have been done in multiple ways throughout multiple books, it works well for this book because it helps to develop the small and close-knit feel of the group of friends and their families.  It helps to create a cozy and quaint atmosphere that this story exists in.  

I did have some issues with the dialogue.  It just didn't feel as natural or real as it could have.  This may be a detail that others can look over, but for me, the dialogue is such a crucial key to what I am reading because it helps connect it to the real world, thus making it feel real for me.  I love reading things where characters talk and act like real people.  This book was hit or miss in that area for me.  Sometimes, the dialogue just seems like flat filler but other times --especially when a relationship is at the center--it does seem to be a bit livelier and dynamic.

Perhaps the most important question to answer is was this a good book?  I think that overall it was a nice book to read, especially if you are looking for something short and sweet.  This story has a great message underlying it and does work to have a conversation about mental health and depression.  You get to experience a life-long relationship between three girls and witness the power of that friendship.

This book is due to be published on May 7th, of 2019.  I definitely recommend reading this one if you are looking for an uplifting story about friendship and family, and how important those things are in the rough patches of life.  It was such a sweet and touching story.  I think that Jodi Thomas fans would love this one as it has the same heartfelt storyline, loveable characters, and humor as her other books.  On Goodreads, I gave this book 3 stars because it is a nice story, the writing is decent, the use of details are exquisite and overall it was a nice experience.

When I first received this book, I wasn't in the mood for another "soap opera" type of book. But now I'm glad I read it. The story follows three little girls who love tea parties. They continue this practice into adulthood. The book follows their development into amazing young women and how they handle the challenges they are faced with. I would say it's a good, comfortable read. No real surprises or edge of your seat excitement. There are times you'll laugh or cry with the characters. And there are times when you want to smack them up side the head. But in the end, you'll just be glad you could share their lives with them.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.