This was such a fun and quick real. I loved how fast and easy it was to read. This is my first time reading a Jenny Colgan book and it certainly won't be the last. I really enjoyed it

This book was originally published as Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop of Dreams back in 2012 and apparently is being republished as Sweetshop of Dreams.

As I have read in other reviewers' comments, and I agree wholeheartedly, Jenny Colgan's current books have been hits and are very enjoyable. However, her earlier books such as this one transparently show how much she has grown as a writer as her newer books such as the Scottish Bookshop series and Mure series are significantly better written with strong character development.

Having already read her newer works listed above, it was difficult for me to enjoy this one because quite simply it just wasn't written as well as her newer works.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a good read. I've read Jenny Colgan's works before but this one is my favourite so far.

It's brimming with humour and romance but also some bitter-sweet and downright sad moments, especially in Lilian's story. I loved the characters, so well-written they jumped off the page. Same with the small town - I could picture it clearly in my mind as I read.

That first bicycle incident was so hilarious I had to stop reading for a moment because I laughed so hard.

A gorgeous story, with gorgeous characters. Just like a box of the best sort of chocolates.

Aww this was a sweet book. With smart remarks and savvy discussions. It was about fitting in and moving on in life. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

As I was beginning this book I realized I had read it some years ago; a friend had visited the UK and brought back a copy for me. In my own travels, it fell out of my backpack in JFK Airport in NYC..so someone somewhere hopefully read it too! I was able to purchase a copy online to replace it to finish it - I was devastated to not know the ending! The title then was Rosie Hopkins Sweetshop of Dreams.

I still love this book! It is a feel good story about Rosie, who isn't quite as young as she used to be. Her life seems all tidy but her live-in boyfriend just doesn't seem keen to shake up the comfort of their relationship through a marriage proposal. Rosie answers her mother's request to go care for her elderly great-aunt, Lillian, who owns a sweetshop in rural England.

I love the tone of the book - light and fun, but it is about a woman finding her own way in life, and not turning down chances at life. Rosie's adventures in the country are funny and endearing, and slowly she warms up to the countryside and her aunt's prickly ways. Lillian's own story is told alongside Rosie's. Together they set the past to rest and determine their future. I love the language and characters in this book - and in all of Jenny Colgan's books; if I see a new one out I have to read it as soon as possible. They are sweet, feel good, human nature based stories, and they are refreshing to read. And in The Sweetshop of Dreams, I found myself wanting to eat more "sweets" (known here in America as candy, but I agree with Lillian; candy is a harsh word, and "sweets" sound so much more appealing!).

This book was sweet and tasty! I had never read a book by Jenny Colgan, but now that I have, I will be back for more! The book was enticing and kept you drawn into the story. It was very descriptive and I really felt like I was there as I was reading the book. It is definitely a book that makes you want another book with all of the characters.

Definitely recommend it to someone looking for a fun read!

I read a few reviews for this before I started just so I knew what I was getting into because I don’t read much chick lit, and so I went in with high hopes but it didn’t quite live up to it all for me. It wasn’t bad, don’t get me wrong, and if this is your genre, you’ll prob love it.
I did enjoy the 2 timelines and at the beginning of each chapter there was a brief description of different types of candy with some recipes.
I also did love the idea of Rosie, the main character bringing the sweet shop back to its original glory because I mean, who wouldn’t love that?! Rosie doesn’t love her life as a nurse so this worked out well for her. She leaves her busy life in London to help her Aunt in a small town, and she thought she wasn’t going to like it, but she was able to work through some things in her personal life and figure out what she really wanted. There was some funny parts too, which I didn’t expect, but I really enjoyed.
Aunt Lily was so feisty and not your typically old granny which was refreshing!
Overall, it wasn’t super duper sweet (hahaha) and a quick read.
Thanks to Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.

This is a delightful pandemic read, exactly what you'd need to escape. Jenny Colgan is a solid, lovely author and you know exactly what to expect with her books.

The Sweet Shop of Dreams by @jennycolganbooks combines so many things I love into one delightful story: candy, humor, a wonderful setting, and romance.

Synopsis:
The last thing Rose Hopkins wants to do is leave her busy life in London with her boyfriend Gerard to help an elderly aunt in a small country village. The last thing Lillian Hopkins wants is Rosie’s help and sympathy. Yet as Rosie settles into village life and works to sort out Lillian’s sweet shop, they both just might find that they need each other after all.

Thoughts: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There’s so much to love about this book! I loved the village full of quirky people like Edison, the socially awkward kid who likes hanging out in the sweet shop. I loved Lillian and how we get to see her past and how the events of WWII shaped her life. I loved watching Rosie discover what she truly wants and how to follow her dreams. I also loved the sassy asides about sweets that added to the atmosphere of the novel. This was a delightful book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

(This book does have some language and mature content).

*I received a complimentary copy of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love all of Jenny Colgan's books -- not only are they funny, quirky, and full of likable characters, they always seem to feature things I'd like to be eating. This one does not disappoint.

When Rosie gets a call to care for an aging Aunt in the countryside she thought it would just be for a short time. Who knew she would be changing her life indefinitely. A sweet heart enduring story that keeps you rooting for the best for the characters. Just the right amount of love story also.

Man, I really wanted to love this and it’s just meh for me. It took me forever to get into and just didn’t hold my attention which is a bummer because I’ve loved many of her other books.

A sweet read. Every chapter has a different heading guaranteed to whet the reader’s appetite. Rosie has to leave her busy cosmopolitan life to see about her great aunt Lilian. She discovers a lot more than she bargained. I liked Stephen. I was eager to read and discover the secrets of Lilane’s life when she was younger. Some of the scenes were a little long, but it was made up for later on. I was hungry the entire the entire time I read this book and raided my candy stash. Wonder why?

I have always enjoyed Jenny Colgan's books, and I really loved this one. I don't say this very often, but there is a big part of me that wants to read it again immediately! There is a dual timeline, which is handled well, and the characters are well developed and likable (mostly). I recommend this title, and also Jenny Colgan's other books,
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book-I look forward to recommending it to our library patrons.

A good sweet romance with some humor a getting to know yourself story.
Rosie goes to Her Aunt Lily small country village to help with her Sweet shop while their she learns about her Aunt,the town, the villagers,a mysterious Stephen and herself.
A nice story. A little slow to start but a good read.
Voluntarily Reviewed.

The Sweetshop of Dreams is everything I look for in a book. The story is perfect, the characters are fantastic, and the atmosphere is wonderful. I can guarantee this book will be a huge hit with book clubs. It really leaves so much to think about in regards to living in the past and how we choose to go forward with our lives. And of course, the theme of candy is at the forefront of every chapter. The story is about a woman who goes to take care of her great aunt. The small town she travels to is way different than anything she is used to in London. She reopens her aunt's Sweetshop and meets a whole cast of characters. I loved almost all of them. The main character Rosie is funny, smart, and refreshingly honest. I also really enjoyed the small history lessons about candy in each chapter. Anyway, this is a wonderful book. Read it!

I’m not exactly sure what I’ve just read.
This book was so confusing. I tried to like Rosie but I found her annoying and indecisive. And the romance was so predictable.

Another fun read from Jenny Colgan. I did not realize that this was a reprint of an earlier novel Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweet shop of Dreams. It is a tale of a woman at loose ends who takes over running a sweet shop for an elderly aunt. Along the way she finds friends, love and family. The food descriptions will make you yearn for sweets!

I loved this book! It was heartwarming and strong. It was exactly what I needed with everything going on in the world! A happy little escape!

If you are looking for a sweet escape, then this is the novel for you. This novel is the story of Rosie, a thirty-one-year-old woman living in busy London who is at a standstill in her life yet has convinced herself that she is happy with the status quo. She has been dating the same man for seven plus years without the promise of a ring any time soon, is between nursing jobs and filling her time with temp work all while watching her friends around her move forward. If only Gerald were to propose, if only she would get that perfect job, if only, if only, if only. Little does she know; she receives a life changing call from her mother requesting that she travel to a small country village to help her ailing great aunt Lillian pack her house and sell her old-fashioned sweet shop. While Rose is not keen on the idea she agrees as she doesn’t have much else going on and so she goes to this small village and a new way of life.

The author introduces the reader to a colorful cast of characters and does a great job of vividly describing the personality traits relationships and essence of the village. The reader feels as if he/she is walking around in this quaint village and interacting with village people themselves. The characters are very likable, particularly Rosie. The author does an excellent job of presenting all sides of Rosie making her extremely well-rounded. She is compassionate, sassy, independent, competent, and funny with a normal side of flaws which include insecurity and jealously. The author does a commendable job of developing Rosie’s various relationship throughout the novel, including those with her aunt Lillian, Morary, the village doctor, Tina, the divorced single mother, Edison, the eccentric young boy in need of a friend and Stephen, a patient and love interest. The reader is taken along with Rosie on her adventures, laughing at her challenges and wincing at her mishaps, all the while cheering her on and hoping for her triumph.

The book is told from alternating character perspectives – young Lillian in 1942 and Rosie in 2012. Each woman is on the same quest to find her voice and go after what and who she loves. The author brings the theme full circle towards the end of the novel as Lillian shares with Rosie her plight and experience to help guide Rosie to reach for her desires and go after what she truly wants in life. This novel shares a very powerful life lesson with readers – the importance of being true to yourself and going after what you want. The story of Lillian was a little lacking and the metaphor of the two women’s parallel lives was a touch hard to connect but overall worked well once it was explained by the author at the end. The author leaves the reader with a little secret and insight into Lillian’s story that all was not forgotten or as one-sided as it may seem.

The novel was a little slow to start, however picks up speed after a few chapters and is an easy and enjoyable read. The vivid descriptions and character development keep the reader engaged and wanting more. The author did a wonderful job of weaving the sweet shop into each chapter by describing various childhood candy favorites and including several recipes at the beginning of each chapter. It was a clever touch and added nicely to the storyline. This book is a sweet escape and a journey worth taking. Don’t forget your bag of sweets.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.