I have adored this series of books. Each one transports you to a wonderful destination where you experience the sights, smells and food of the country it is set in. This one is set in Japan and you get a real feel for the customs alongside the hectic pace of the busy city.
Fiona is a blogger who wins a photography competition to be mentored on a trip to Tokyo and have an exhibition of her work. I love travel, photography and a cup of tea- so I was drawn in from page one. I could vividly picture the teashop and the tea ceremonies that take place in full Japanese dress and can imagine my fingers itching to take the perfect photo (in my dreams!).
Her mentor turns out to be someone from a troubled time in her past- but the spark of attraction is still there. He seems very brusque and aloof as he has become disillusioned with photography and life
in general.
He's different when he's with the family that she is staying with- which allows her to realise that he has a softer side.
I loved everything about this book- imagining the photos that she took hanging in the exhibition. The images of family, friendship and awe at the wonders of the world.

I love this book from Julie Caplin.

The story focuses on Fiona who has the opportunity to go to Japan to be mentored on her passion for photography. That is until she arrives and her mentor is Gabe who she met 10 years ago and changed her life. I loved the description of all the Japanese traditions and tourist places. It was like you could picture them and made me want to add Japan to a place I must visit in the future, especially the cherry blossom. It definitely showed that the author had done lots of research into these traditions.  Fiona and Gabe grew closer the more time they spent together exploring all these places. The story had a good pace and I was quickly sucked into the story.

This is a great sweet second chance romance story which I really enjoyed and would highly recommend.

This was a delightful story of a young woman who wins a trip tp Tokyo as an up and coming photographer. I really gives you a feeling for life in Japan, its customs and scenery. A love story runs through the pages with a great conclusion. Couldn't put it down.

I fell in love with Tokyo through the author's stunning written imagery and delightful characters. One of the best accounts of using beautiful photography to tell a story where a picture is worth a thousand words.

Fiona has won a trip to Tokyo to study under one of the best photographers in Japan, but when he is called away unexpectedly, the gorgeous and arrogant Gabriel Burnett is sent to fill in as her mentor. Gabe, the man who broke her heart ten years ago, and he doesn't even remember her. Why would he? She was one of many young women that had eyes for him and she wasn't really his type anyway. His type is Yumi, the famous model, his muse, and the woman who left him to marry a wealthy Japanese businessman. Now she has to deal with his snarky and grumpy self because he got roped into being her mentor. Will she be able to get enough photographs for her exhibition in London? Is she even good enough to have an exhibition? Perhaps if Gabe pulls his head out of his arse he may be able to give her the pointers she needs.

Gabe did not want a babysitting assignment, but he owes his friend, Haruka a debt. She is desperate to save face for her husband who had promised a mentor for Fiona, who, in fact, will be staying with Haruka. Gabe had lost his passion for photography after Yumi dumped him publicly for another man and now he lives off lucrative photo ops that make him a lot of money. Until the beautiful Fiona's excitement of being in Tokyo and her love of photography start to open his eyes. Not to mention, she is a talented photographer. He feels alive again and he owes that to Fiona. Her refreshing way of looking at life, her honesty and her fortitude have grown on him and have given him purpose again. Can he make up for his bad behavior and be the man she deserves?

Fiona and Gabe are captivating once they get past the resentments and misunderstandings. Their attraction is palpable and their romance is gradual but worth waiting for. Fiona's transformation from self-conscious novice to confident professional is a sight to behold and Gabe's awakening of the world through Fiona's eyes is incredible. I particularly love the memorable grand gesture at the end which had me sobbing. The supporting characters, the all-knowing Haruka, the calm and comforting Setsuko, and the young and vibrant Mayu, are a joy and very necessary for the true Japanese experience.

I absolutely loved this amazing romantic novel filled with so much beauty and substance. I felt like I wanted to pick up a camera and start looking at life differently through a lens. Ms. Caplin's depictions of the gorgeous scenery, the traditions such as the Japanese tea ceremony, and how people interact with them, are fantastic and make one feel a part of it all. If you love novels swathed in tradition and discovery, give this book a try.

Thank you to Ms. Caplin for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

Fiona Hanning travels halfway round the world for the trip of a lifetime – only to find herself confronted by a past she had done her utmost to forget in Julie Caplin’s fantastic new novel, The Little Teashop in Tokyo.

Fiona cannot remember a time when she wasn’t completely and utterly enraptured by Japan. Her father – who had died when she was a baby – had always dreamed of visiting this magical country and Fiona had grown up determined to go to Japan and to fulfil one of her father’s greatest wishes. A talented photographer, she enters a competition where the prize is a two week trip to Japan to be mentored by one of the country’s most successful photographers and an exhibition in London. Fiona thinks she has absolutely no chance of winning – so she is completely flabbergasted when she is announced as the lucky winner! Fiona cannot wait to set foot in this beautiful country – only, on arrival, she is shocked to her very core when she finds out that she is going to be mentored by the man who broke her heart ten years ago, Gabe Burnett.

A talented photographer who has won every industry award going, Gabe Burnett is as notorious for his photographs as he is for his reputation as a playboy. A regular fixture on the gossip pages for his penchant for petite brunettes, Gabe might know everything there is to know about photography, but he is the last man on earth Fiona wishes to be mentored by. Fiona has had her heart broken by Gabe a decade earlier and she is determined that now that fate has forced the two of them together again, she will not make the same mistake twice and fall in love with him anew. However, that proves to be easier said than done…

As Tokyo broadens her horizons and makes her see life in a different way, will Fiona finally stop living in the shadows and embrace life with both hands? Will she and Gabe find themselves succumbing to the attraction that has flared up between them again and give romance another try? Or has too much water flown under the bridge for the two of them to ever contemplate a future together?

The Little Teashop in Tokyo is an immensely enjoyable read. Julie Caplin has written a fun, moving and feel-good contemporary romance beautifully sprinkled with emotional drama, delicious humour and evocative descriptions of Tokyo. The Japanese capital is described so vividly and brilliantly, readers will feel as if they are taking in the sights of the beautiful city.

A wonderful story of second chances, stepping out of your comfort zone and the magic of falling in love in one of the world’s most unique cities, Julie Caplin’s The Little Teashop in Tokyo is sure to be one of the summer’s must-reads.

Before reading this book Japan was never somewhere that was high on my ‘must-go’ list, but now well it has certainly shot up. From the moment that Fiona steps off the plane I feel I am right there with her. Julie Caplin takes you across the globe so that you feel you are standing right next to Fiona as she travels. Throughout this whole book I was learning about a culture that I knew very little about and it has made me want to know more.

Fiona is a lovable character, and goes on a journey of self-discovery throughout these pages, as does photographer Gabe. And along their individual journeys there is their love story, a story that started ten years earlier. Gabe is also a lovable character, who appears lost and fed up with life.

Fiona is a travel blogger who has won a trip to Tokyo where she is to be mentored for a photography exhibition. Her reluctant mentor is Gabe, who Fiona first met ten years earlier. During her mentor programme they both learn things from the other resulting in a renewed lease of life for them both.

Underlying their own journeys is their love story, where they open the others eyes to what life could be like.

Alongside Fiona and Gabe, there are some wonderful characters, especially those of the family Fiona stays with, three generations which teach her, and me, the history of the traditions.

From the start I found myself smiling as I read along and felt I was transported into Japan and Fiona and Gabe’s stories.

And isn’t the cover just gorgeous!

This is the perfect escape, especially for those missing travel during this pandemic.

I was drawn to this book firstly because the main character is called Fiona (my name and I have not read a lot of books with my name believe it or not) and secondly it is set in Japan and that is a place I would absolutely love to visit one day (and after reading this I want to go right now!).

Fiona is a travel blogger and photographer and she won a competition that takes her to Japan to be mentored by a professional photographer and do and exhibit, only when she arrives she discovers her would-be mentor has been called away and she is instead paired with world renowned photographer Gabe - only she has met him 10 years previously when she was a student and he essentially broke her heart when she tried to kiss him and he rejected her. It appears that he doesn't remember her, which hurts her but as they begin to spend more time together he begins to recall that time.

The beautiful setting of Japan paired with the amazing characters made this an enjoyable cozy read, I loved the traditions that Fiona experienced mixed with the modern like the Digital Museum.

This is book is part of Julie Caplin's Romantic Escapes Series and each book is separate stories so you do not need any previous in order to keep up with a story line, having said that I want to read the other books in this series as there are some amazing places!

A story about love, photography and self-discovery set amidst a bustling Tokyo and serene Mt. Fuji. This story seriously is a feast for the senses and guaranteed to make you go “Aww.”

The romance between Fiona and Gabe is not quite enemies to lovers but there certainly are some serious hard feelings and past awkwardness to overcome. The story of how they do just that takes them each on a journey of self-discovery and self-improvement too.

Fiona is a sweet main character. Yes, she’s a touch naive. Yes, her anxiety may seem over blown. Yes, she needs more confidence. But you know what? She’s adorable and felt real and I really ended up rooting for her to be successful. I loved how her history was explained. Sometimes the most innocent-seeming of childhood incidents can have very long-lasting implications. Fiona’s mother drove me nuts and if only she’d been a stronger mother, Fiona may have had a different life. Yet, there’s a lot to be said about the paths we choose and the paths we simply end up on. Fiona considers just this when she has to put her past connection with Gabe to compare with her current one.

Gabe is quite the sexy, broody hero. We are given some chapters from his perspective and I wish we’d been able to delve into the Yumi story some more. I felt I could have done with another meaty chapter on that. However, his transformation is pretty well presented from his chapters, from Fiona’s perspective and through his interactions with the indomitable Haruka. He slowly comes back to life, finding the spark in the everyday and the wonder in the extraordinary. When he does that, he’s more fully able to appreciate what Fiona can bring to his life.

The Japanese setting is simply glorious. We get descriptions of exotic locations, traditions steeped in centuries of devotion, food… oh my… the food. We also spend some time learning about the Japanese tea ceremony and the significance of the cherry blossom season. Some may find the descriptions a bit much but if you really enjoy learning about new places and cultures, you may enjoy them.

One of the funnier parts, for me, is when Gabe offers Fiona the chance to try some KitKat and Fiona is introduced to the alternate reality of American candy. Wasabi KitKat??? I’ll pass! Lol. One of my best friends moved to Japan right after college and whenever she comes home she brings me all sorts of ‘odd’ snacks to try. Thankfully, she stuck to the white chocolate with sprinkles version of the KitKat during her last trip. The wasabi bar nuts though… my tongue may never recover!

Overall, I adored this story, the main characters and the Kobashi family who ‘adopt’ Gabe and Fiona. I’d definitely recommend to anyone looking for a little romance in an idyllic setting.

Travel blogger Fiona wins a trip to Japan to take photographs and be mentored by a professional photographer. Sounds good, except that arrogant talented Gabe is someone from her past. She's still attracted but won't risk making a fool of herself again. Fiona has confidence issues about her appearance and her talents, but she takes a risk because she loves new experiences and wants to enjoy everything about her trip.

Gabe is jaded with life and love, Fiona's enthusiasm and naivety grates initially until she makes him see things differently. The road to romance is conflicted as a former lover doesn't want to let go. Gabe's blinkered attitude is annoying and threatens his happiness with Fiona.

This is a journey of self-discovery for Fiona, as she grows into her true self, she is less accommodating and grows in confidence.

The Japanese setting and traditions are integral to the story and make this something special.

The romance is gentle and the ending positive and uplifting.

I received a copy of this book from Harper Collins UK - One More Chapter in return for an honest review.

If you had planned a trip to Tokyo (like me) and due to the pandemic we are living it has been cancelled, this is the book you’ll love to read! There are so many famous landscapes and tourist points that anyone who travels to Tokyo for the first time should visit that I am sure that you’ll feel like you are part of the story.
This is the story of Fiona, she has won a trip to Tokyo with all expenses included to work with a famous Japanese photographer, to learn the insights of photography and create her first exhibition. As you can imagine there will be just a little change, she will work with Gabe instead of the Japanese photographer, the first man she kissed and that could never forget. The relation between them will not be easy, Fiona is timid and this will be the first time she is alone without her mother, Gabe on the other side is bored of everything included life; maybe their re-encounter will change their life forever, for better or worse? You’ll have to read the book to know this answer!
This had been a page turning; light and refreshing I felt transported to the non-stop Tokyo, full of contrasts and light. I’ve been a few times to Tokyo so I can say that the places explained on the book are for real, the writer has done and amazing research of how they live and the most famous places to visit if you travel there. The only thing that it felt weird it was when Fiona compared an Izakaya with a Wagamama and a Pub, I can accept the comparison to a Pub, they sell alcohol, but the small dishes and snacks that they serve I would say they are more similar to a Yo! Sushi than a Wagamama, small dishes and super traditional.
This is a romantic story, but full of emotions and beautiful landscapes, you will fall in love with the story and Tokyo, be advised!

So many things about this book drew me in. A travel blogger? Yes, please! Photographer? Yes! International travel? Triple yes! These are all things I love and I was so excited to dive into this story. I’ve never been to Japan but what I’ve seen of it looks gorgeous and I’d love to go one day. One of my favorite parts of this book was reading about new places I’ve never heard of and researching them. This made me want to go to Japan even more!! I didn’t however love the story itself. I found it to be kind of flat and I didn’t love the characters. That being said, I finished this book on one afternoon, so I definitely didn’t hate the whole experience!

I’ve been a huge fan of Julie Caplin/Jules Wake for a few years, thanks to my friend Eleanor who told me I needed to read her work, and I wouldn’t regret it! She was right. I love the way in which Julie Caplin takes us to a new destination, and provides such vivid descriptions of the location that we are immediately transported there.

The Little Teashop in Tokyo is book 6 in the Romantic Escapes series, and although occasionally you will see a recurring character in a different destination, they are all standalone books where there is absolutely no need to read them in the correct order (I certainly didn’t!). I loved Fiona as a character, and the delectable Gabe certainly set my heart fluttering I must admit, once I’d forgiven him for his weakness with Yumi. I liked the way in which their relationship developed throughout the book, and loved the fact that Fiona held her own.

The three generations of family that Fiona stayed with in Tokyo were all wonderful, especially the indomitable Haruka. I also loved the way the family, and Japan itself were able to seamlessly fuse the traditional with the modern aspects that Japan is so renowned for.

I can’t say that Japan has ever been on my bucket list, but reading this book made me add it to my list! I’d definitely want to go to Japan in cherry blossom season, it sounded so idyllic, and as beautifully stunning as the cover of this book! I think writing destination stories is one of Julie Caplin’s strengths, she effortlessly captures not just the geographical location, but taps into the culture, the food and the general experiences that anyone would have if they were to head to the location in her books. I’ve never read one of her stories and not wanted to immediately hop on a plane and head to the destination! This has been harder reading in lockdown, but also made me feel like I have not been stuck reading in my house. Being transported to another country, even if in the form of armchair travel has turned out to be a rewarding experience of reading this book!

This book, and indeed this series should be on everyone’s radar. I can not recommend it highly enough! The Little Teashop in Tokyo is the perfect balance of romance and travel, and transports us to a wonderful place half a world away!

My reading of late has taken me far from the confines of my armchair and travelling on adventures on distant shores, and today’s book is no different, except this time we are heading east instead of west. To Japan, in fact, a place I have never visited but now feel like I have, and at the same time cannot wait to go.

I don’t know if you have read any of Julie’s Romantic Escapes series, but she I an absolute genius at taking her readers on a journey, both geographically and emotionally, and this one is no exception. In fact, I think it may be my favourite one yet. It has left me feeling enriched in mind and spirit and emotionally uplifted by the love story. I have to confess to having a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye when I closed the book.

It is really obvious from the beginning that the author has spent a lot of time in the country she is writing about, has made close observation of the people, traditions and energy of the place and has fallen in love with it. You can feel the admiration and affection oozing from every delicious description of the sights, the tastes and the rituals of Japan. She writes with such warmth and appreciation and joy, that it has made me so eager to visit a country that I had never, even as a keen traveller, had any great yearning to visit before. This is a book that has brought Japan alive for me, and I am sure anyone picking up this book will have the same reaction.

As for the characters, I loved every single one. She has created a very sympathetic, but not at all patheti,c heroine and a flawed but redeemable love interest. But it is the Japanese host family that really stood out in this book for me. I wished I could sit around their kotatsu table to share some tea with them, especially at this time of great worry and stress for us all. Julie has woven so many Japanese words in to the book, it feels like a real education while you are reading, and made me keen to learn more. So much research and time and care has gone in to this book to form a rich, immersive tapestry of Japanese life, it makes an exceedingly rewarding read for the internationally curious.

Julie’s books are a cut above a lot of the romance novels that are out there (and I mean that in no degrading way to romance novels, I am a huge fan of the genre and extremely admiring of romantic novels and novelists). Her writing has such care and depth and such…heart… that it cannot help but elicit an equally heartfelt response. An absolutely beautiful and moving read.

I LOVED this book and had a smile on my face from beginning to the end while reading this amazingly fun and swoon worthy read. It reminded me of my time visiting Tokyo and Julie Caplin has captured all the sights and sounds of the bustling city, the food, the wonderful people. Fiona was living the dream and for a time, I was immersed in Fiona’s world as a travel blogger. A dream job for any travel enthusiast. I can not recommend this book enough!

It took me awhile to get into this one. I just felt like it started off very slow, and it didn't immediately grab my attention. It was finally after about 1/3 of the book that I became really engaged and started enjoying the story.

Fiona and Gabriel have a great second chance romance. I love that it took them reconnecting in Japan to be together Speaking of which, Japan was a great setting for this book. I really adored Haruka and her whole family. They sounded like the best host family ever and I was totally jealous of Fiona for being able to stay with them.

Gabriel....I guess I thought he was older initially? Since he started off as her teacher. I was surprised later when he said he was only 6 years older. I guess he was a prodigy and able to teach college level photography classes at 24? That's not really important, but I'm glad Fiona finally got him to take his head out of his ass. All that nonsense with Yumi was exhausting.

and OMG the ending! The failed grand gesture! that leads to a GRANDER gesture?! Perfect. One of my favorite endings. Such a fabulous HEA.

I mean..... just look at the stunning cover.  It's just gorgeous and irresistible - very much like the book itself.

I'm a huge fan of Japan and have been lucky enough to visit Tokyo twice.  For me reading this novel was like returning to a familiar and beloved place but seeing it through different eyes and a very focused camera lens.  Julie captures the excitement and wonder of seeing Tokyo for the first time beautifully.  She describes everything is exquisite detail that transports the reader there.  I love the mixture of traditional and modern that is brought into the story and the balance is represented really well.  It is obvious that research has been done for this novel.

If the setting and cover aren't enough to tempt you then the narrative and characters certainly will.  Fiona is a timid character and is still humiliated by a teenage mistake years ago.  It just so happens that the mistake was Gabe who is now her guide and mentor on a trip to Japan.  Gabe is impatient and rude but Fiona is determined to make the most of her journey and learn as much as she can.  The romance is tense between Gabe and Fiona with a lot of unfinished business and tainted by misunderstandings but the tension is definitely there and Fiona has the patience of a saint.  I loved her character and it was so heartwarming to watch her self confidence grow.

Another theme running through this novel is family and friendship.  Haruku-San, who Fiona stays with, is such a wise and encouraging mother figure for Fiona.  Her daughter and granddaughter are all so welcoming but demonstrate the differing levels of traditional and modern in Japan.  Their influences on Gabe and Fiona were just calming and positive as well as the power trio of three generations of women coming together.

This is such a delightful book set in a stunning location and it's perfect for a few hours of sheer escapism.

This was a cute book, but I did not think it was life changing. Perhaps it is because of COVID and not being able to travel, but I really thought this was going to be more of an engaging book than it was. It was a cute romance, don't get me wrong, just nothing really stood out to me as memorable. Still enjoyable though and a good escape during these trying times.

This book was everything I dreamed it would be and more. When you're stuck and home and can't get anywhere, there is nothing better than being transported to Japan on a sightseeing and photography dream holiday.

The book is told from two perspectives, which really helped to show the protagonist's reactions to certain events clearly. The growth in both Fiona and Gabe in their time together in humungous and one of my personal favourite parts of the story.

There is so much Japanese culture throughout the story with references to their culture, practises and traditions. Though I admit to not knowing a lot about Japan, this felt like an authentic book with an author who had done her research. It truly felt like a feast for the senses and a delight to read.

I've always been fascinated by photography and the extremes some photographers take to get the perfect shot. This perfectly showed how two photographers could work together to create some of the perfect photographs, despite Gabe initially being a rather reluctant mentor!

The two characters have such a huge impact on one another's lives and help each other to develop in many ways. It's not only Fiona's photography which has more confidence by the end of the book. Gabe doesn't expect his half hearted attitude to life and his work to be stopped anytime soon, nor does he expect Fiona's fantastic attitude.

Unexpectedly, my favourite part of the story was the family that Fiona stays with. I really want to go and stay there myself! With expert knowledge ranging from where to eat, buy clothes and see the sights, all the way to being tea ceremony masters! It showed how fabulous Japan is and how the country has evolved whilst retaining its vital traditions.

This has to be my top read of the month. I've never read a book by Julie Caplin before but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. An author I'm desperate to read more from. Go and read this book now!

I always think it’s rather a masterstroke to make a book’s main character a photographer – it offers the opportunity to linger on images, to see them from different angles, to sometimes step back from the action and observe. The author uses that opportunity to wonderful effect in this book: I might not have visited Japan, but I certainly feel I have now, and I might just take this book along with me as a guidebook when I finally get to travel there myself.

I liked the way it included the traditional and the tourist meccas – the cherry blossom, the tea ceremony, the traditional dress, the temples and Mount Fuji, but also modern Japan with its virtual reality, fast (and silent) trains, robots and karaoke. Should romance not be entirely be your cup of jasmine tea, you could very easily enjoy this book for the travel alone – and the way it introduces you to Japanese culture and the daily lives of its people. And the food… friends who have visited have told me it’s the thing they liked least about their experience, but they plainly didn’t have a Gabe to take them to the best places.

I will admit that the romance maybe didn’t entirely work for me at first, although I did warm to it as the book unfolded. Fiona and Gabe (her substitute mentor on her Tokyo trip) have history – a small incident, a misunderstanding when she was his student a number of years ago, has had a disproportionate impact on her life. It’s so disproportionate that he neither recognises her nor remembers the incident until he’s spent quite a long time in her company.

And my goodness, he is a miserable sod – to start with his every interaction with poor Fiona is tinged with boredom and rudeness, and it’s rather difficult to see how he’s become so beloved by the Japanese family that she lives with. But I did like the way that things developed – her warmth and enthusiasm rubs off, he sees her as a woman rather than a nuisance, and what begins as a relationship with very little promise warms up to become a romance against the odds that I really believed in.

Fiona herself? She’s a really intriguing character – lacking in confidence, feeling over-large and awkward, her hair tightly tethered, her emotions kept strictly in check, but with a palpable excitement about having been offered this trip of a lifetime. She blossoms quite wonderfully over the course of the book – braver, stronger, funny and warm – and I grew to really like her once she was able to put the events of the past to rest.

One thing I particularly enjoyed about this book was the family Fiona lived with – three generations of women beautifully drawn, with love, three fascinating characters, gently showing the cultural shift from traditional to modern through the dynamic of the family. Fiona’s experience of family is rather different – a needy and dependent mother who she’s allowed to stifle her for far too long, and I liked the way that story worked itself through too. And the story’s ending – that’s the point at which the romance really worked for me, thoroughly lovely and beautifully handled.

I really enjoyed this book – travel and romance, a fairly uncomplicated story, and it really doesn’t pretend to be anything more than that. And it’s more than enough – I loved it.

(Review copied to Amazon UK, but link not yet available)

This book was a slow start for me. I was often annoyed by Fiona's constant self-deprecating thoughts and comments. They were too repetitive and it got old fast. What saved this book was the detailed descriptions of Japan and Japanese culture. I never had any desire to visit Japan before I read this book. Now it's a must-see for me. I want to experience all of the sights that Fiona described. I was satisfied with the ending as well. I love it when things work out the way that I had hoped for while reading a book.