I have loved every book I have read by JoJo Moyes, and this one was no exception. It is a great story, taking place in both the early sixties and a more current time period. The characters were well developed, and I found that I quickly cared about them and wanted to know what was going to happen to them. Highly recommended!!

The Peacock Emporium is another tearjerker by Jojo Moyes. I'll definitely be thinking about this book for a long time after finishing it. The characters are written in such a way that they feel as though you've known them your whole life. The town Moyes has created to set her emporium in is the town I want to live in. Heartbreak, family drama, and a curmudgeonly lady who was always making me laugh. Read and enjoy!

Once again, Jojo Moyes has written a beautiful novel. This page-turner was so intricately woven and intertwined that it couldn't be put down for even a second. As usual, Moyes has created a strong female character for readers to love and cheer for along the way. It took a little while to really get going (maybe one hundred pages) but once it did the book became an unstoppable force. The slow beginning really sets the scene for the rest of the book and allows the story to come full circle. Moyes has always delivered likable characters in difficult situations and carefully crafted books around them so that readers can watch them grow naturally. Readers would do well to remember that this book was originally released in 2004 in the UK and is therefore technically one of her older works as the new 2019 release of it in the US could cause some confusion there.

I had a hard time getting interested in The Peacock Emporium, but I'm glad I stuck with it. Suzanna, the main character, is burdened with her famous mother, "The Last Deb"'s wild past. Suzanna opens a coffee bar/store in her hometown called the Peacock Emporium and through it changes the lives of many people, including herself. She finally finds out the truth about her heritage, and happiness, at the end.

The most recent book of Jojo Moyes to receive US publication! As much as I've enjoyed some of Moyes more recent books, I have to say that I think it's pretty clear why it took several books for her to get widespread attention. While this is in no way a bad book, it doesn't have the same intensity and didn't feel as compelling as some of the books that made Moyes a must-read for many US readers. It's not super long (a touch over 400 pages), but reading on my Kindle, I would have guessed it was well over 500 pages. The ending, when Suzanna learns all about her family history, was emotional and tender and so interesting, and that's where Moyes's style was really recognizable. In no way a bad book- just not maybe the heartstring pulling, compulsively readable book readers have come to expect from Moyes. I'll recommend it to readers with the caveat to be aware that it's an earlier book and stylistically a little different.

JoJo Moyes came onto my radar with her two books about her caretaker role with her handsome, intelligent patient in, "Me Before You" and "After You." I believe half the world, okay maybe half the women in the world, discovered her with these two phenomenal books and the movie that soon followed. This then forces me to pose an unpopular question: Why release this book, "Peacock Emporium" written in 2004, a very early book for Moyes, already released in the UK then, NOW in the US?!
Don't get me wrong, it's a decent book, but clearly not her best, just an early try. We know she's improved as a writer enormously. We love her books, in fact, we love her! Maybe her publisher thought, her fans just want her books ALL THE TIME, why don't we give them this too. Ok, I'll buy that; but please make sure you put the original 2004 date as when written, and 2019 as the US publication. Otherwise, US fans will be confused.
As far as my review of the book: Athene Foster is a spoiled rich girl who loves to have fun, and I mean FUN. She literally seduces the most eligible (money) bachelor into marriage. She has an affair (gasp) and produces a daughter, Suzanna Peacock, who 35 years later opens up, "The Peacock Emporium" a quaint, bold, and eclectic coffee shop in her original hometown, during the 1960's. Gotta shock all Grandmumi's old friends, right?
Most of the book is about Suzanna, and her long-suffering husband, Neil. It's worth reading to the end because there it gets better. Read it, you might like it. Opinions are all my own.

I thank NetGalley, Penguin Books, and JoJo Moyes

Being a Jojo Moyes fan, I was excited about receiving a NetGalley copy of The Peacock Emporium. The Peacock Emporium is a place I would enjoy shopping and having coffee. While I really liked Vivi and her story, I didn’t connect as well with Suzanna.
This was not my favorite JoJo Moyes book it still had enough depth and story to keep me interested. The characters were complex and intertwined with no simple romance, but more complicated relationships that kept me guessing and wondering what they would do for the sake of love.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book.

I did not care for this book. I'm not quite sure why but I think it's because of the character the story is about was just not likeable to me. I think other readers would enjoy reading this book though so I will definitely recommend it for patrons.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book. The Peacock Emporium was a three-star max read for me; a page-turner, but not as original and compelling as other books by Jojo Moyes. Like all of the author's books, it is stylistically well-written and kept me interested. But both the story and the protagonist, Suzanna Peacock, tended too much toward the melodramatic, and numerous plot points strained credibility. Entertaining enough but not something I would re-read.

As a fan of JoJo Moyes I was really excited about her new book. However, I didn't enjoy this one. I couldn't connect with the storyline or the characters. I felt the story was slow to start and just didn't turn up the pace for me. I was disappointed with this read.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was drawn into the storyline immediately. I emphasized with Vivi, ached for Suzanna, and was devastated by Jessie.

Wonderful novel.

While this was not my favorite JoJo Moyes book it still had enough depth and story to keep me interested to see where it would go. Not a simple romance or with even one strong central character, The Peacock Emporium is more of a look at different intertwined characters and what they are willing to do, what they will put up with for the sake of love.

The story revolved around two women, Vivi and Suzanna, and their attempts to find a place for themselves inspire of factors conspiring against them. Vivi’s story is one of unrequited love, while Suzanna is not happy with herself or her marriage. Not one of my favorites by Moyes, a little slow moving to get to the point. Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy.

Jojo Moyes has written a strong tale of a young woman lost in life due to her confused understanding of the beginning of her life. Suzanna Peacock has opened a part coffee part trinkets shop, The Peacock Emporium, even though she doesn't particularly enjoy the company of other people nor does she have the full support of her husband while taking this financial leap. However, perhaps despite her personality quirks, Suzanna makes two friends who assist her in finding out more about herself. Interspersed in the chapters are viewpoints from Suzanna's stepmother which guide the reader towards Suzanna's satisfying conclusion.

Ms. Moyes books always move along quickly with a solid flow from one chapter to the next. The different voices and viewpoints do not hinder the reader's enjoyment of the book.

Suzanna suffers from what scandals her mother committed in the '60s and now over thirty years later, her life is still a mess. She half-heartedly opens up a coffee/knickknack shop. Suzanna is floundering in her marriage (he wants kids, she does not), her shopkeeper skills, and her relationship with her complicated family. When she befriends a young woman helping her in the Peacock Emporium, she is introduced to a part of her life she didn't know she could have. This is a slow moving story where the upshot is- the sins of the mother should not land on the child and a tough childhood can leave you very damaged as an adult. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

I liked this book, but it definitely took awhile to be invested into the story and characters. I thought the ending was stronger than the beginning. Suzanne was a hard character to connect to, but I think he friendship with Jessie helped make her a better character. I think thus book was missing some of the Moyes magic and humor, but I did like the book overall.

Being a huge Jojo Moyes fan, I was excited about receiving a NetGalley copy of The Peacock Emporium. The Peacock Emporium is a place I would enjoy shopping and having coffee. The owner, however, wasn't someone I could tolerate for very long I do not believe. I had a very hard time relating to any of the characters in this book, truth be told. But. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know more about what happened to Athene!

First line: It was the third time in a week that the air-conditioning had gone out at the Hospital de Clinicas, and the heat was so heavy that the nurses had taken to holding battery-operated plastic fans over the intensive-care patients in an effort to keep them cool.

Summary: Athene Forster was a wild young girl in the sixties, who married the town’s most eligible bachelor. Not even two years later she is rumored to be having an affair with a traveling salesman.

Suzanna Peacock has opened her own shop in her hometown of Dere Hampton called The Peacock Emporium. It is the one place she feels at home. She is haunted by the memory of her mother, Athene. No matter how much her father and stepmother try to help her, she struggles with coming to terms with the past. However, in her little coffee shop she meets several new friends who help her learn who she really is and how she can finally find happiness.

Highlights: I really love Jojo Moyes. When I first read Me Before You I was not sure that this genre, Chick Lit, was for me but when I finished it I was addicted. I have read several other books by Moyes and found them completely wonderful. They are easy to read but sometimes have some darker issues entwined into the story.

Jessie was by far my favorite character. Her lively spirit and continuous talking was always entertaining to read. We all know someone like this and they really do make life more fun.

I did enjoy the mystery of Athene and what transpired in the sixties. The reader slowly gets bits and pieces of her story. It was hard waiting for each piece to be revealed. I wanted to know IMMEDIATELY! I guess this just made me read faster.

Lowlights: I really had a difficult time with the main character, Suzanna. She was constantly depressed and complaining about something. I know that this was one of the main points driving the story but at times it got a little old. In addition, the changing of characters randomly throughout each chapter got a little confusing. Maybe in a print version this will be easier to distinguish but in the digital it got annoying.

FYI: Check out other books by Jojo Moyes here at the library or on our digital lending services.

This book seems a bit different than previous books by Jojo Moyes; it is darker in ways, and fewer of the characters are likable. On the other hand, they are portrayed in such a realistic way that one can’t help but develop an understanding of both their good and bad aspects.

Most of the focus is on the family of the Fairley-Hulmes and the people with whom their lives have intersected over the past 50 years or so. (The novel moves back and forth in time.) In particular, the story centers around Suzanna, one of the Fairley-Hulme daughters, now 35 and married to Neil Peacock. She feels a lack of passion and an emptiness in her life, and thinks perhaps a shop will help make her feel fulfilled. Thus she opens The Peacock Emporium, a little store for “found” objects with a coffee bar.

One of Suzanna’s first customers, Jessie Carter, offers to help in the shop, and because Jessie is genial and friendly in contrast to Suzanna, Suzanna realizes Jessie can help bring in customers. In time, Suzanna succumbs to Jessie’s charm as well, and in spite of their nine-year age difference (Suzanna is 35 and Jessie is 26), they become best of friends.

Through the influence of Jessie, Suzanna gets to know the other shopkeepers and customers in the neighborhood, and the store’s business grows, as does Suzanna’s happiness. One male customer in particular seems to drop by more and more frequently. But Suzanna is married, and Jessie has a long-time boyfriend. They’re not sure what it means.

Changes are also occurring in her parents’ lives, but Suzanna is largely oblivious to it. Then disaster strikes, and everyone has to re-evaluate who they are, what they want, and who they love.

Discussion: It takes longer than usual for Moyes to set up the background for the story and the ways in which its threads are tied together, but once the scaffolding is laid the pace is much improved. The story also has a nice structure that is cleverly bookended by the author.

I actually liked that Moyes didn’t make it easy for us to like the characters, because she always adds the right amount of shading to let us know there is more to her protagonists than first meets the eye.

Evaluation: I enjoy all of Moyes books. Her writing is quite good and her talent for realistic dialogue is outstanding.

Suzanna Peacock has distanced herself from her family, The Fairley-Hulmes. She believes her biological mother died in childbirth and has carried the burden of guilt throughout her life and relationships. The story bounces between Suzanna's time and her mother's time (1960s). It begins rather slowly but picks up and entrances the reader through the end.