I learned way more than I expected to about the Costa Rican coffee industry when I listened to this book! I found it absolutely charming, smart, funny and engrossing. Stefanie Leder is a storyteller and I was hooked start to finish, and a killer narrator didn't hurt! Highly recommend.

I picked this one based on the cover and title. It looked like the kind of fun, empowering story I’d love. Coffee, a beachy vibe, and a little romance? I was in. But it ended up being a lot different than I expected. There were some powerful moments, but the story leaned more into political commentary than personal growth or emotional connection.

The book follows Dee, who ditches law school and heads to Costa Rica to escape her parents’ expectations and figure out who she is. I liked the idea of her starting over and taking a big risk. But once she gets there, the tone shifts and becomes more focused on labor issues, religion, and social justice. While those are important topics, it often felt more like a lecture than a story. I kept waiting for a turning point or deeper emotional arc that didn’t really happen.

Ines del Castillo did a great job with the narration. Her voice kept me engaged and brought the characters to life in a way that made it easier to keep listening, even when the pacing slowed down.

This one had potential, and I think readers who enjoy stories centered around activism might connect with it more than I did. For me, it didn’t deliver what I expected based on the cover and description.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for the chance to listen to this audiobook.

This book was great! It wasn’t my usual go too as far as genre, but it was a really interesting story. It makes me wonder how much of the food we buy that says “fair trade” or “ethically sourced” is actually as advertised. The narrator did a brilliant job. Each voice and accent she blended into smoothly and gave life to this story..
Once my Instagram post is up, I’ll update my feedback with the link. Thank you!

Although this sounded like something I might enjoy, it was a real toss up.

A young woman wants to carve her own path, but doesn't really want to hurt her parents..
So how can she go about this without causing hurt? Her parents want her to become a lawyer. She wants absolutely nothing to do with that.
So when an opportunity comes along to check out sustainable coffee growing and harvesting, well, she jumps at the chance.
PLUS, it's in Costa Rica. This would be a whole new experience for her!

So off she goes!
And once she arrives her host family picks her up. As they are driving she begins to realize that they are NOT in Kansas anymore... and that this whole venture might not actually be what it seems.

Add to that that as she begins visiting the coffee growers, she realizes that conditions there are not all that great either...

As she delves into this whole new life (and way of life) she meets some remarkable people along the way. And, these people will become her friends, and guides, and maybe even her saviors!

I did like this one, but it did not flow as smoothly as I'd like... at least that's how I feel while writing this.

It was definitely scary at times, as well as sweet. And sometimes the most unexpected things might just happen, exactly when you need them to!

3 solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️for me!

#LoveCoffeeandRevolution by Stephanie Leder and narrated nicely by Ines Del Castillo.

*** THIS ONE HAS ALREADY BEEN RELEASED!! PLEASE LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON SHELVES NOW!!! ***

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #BlackstonePublishing for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘❟ 𝗖𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗘❟ 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗳𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿 starts off strong with an intriguing premise: a young woman ditching law school for a soul-searching journey in Costa Rica. Dee’s initial setup is promising — I loved her bold decision to trade courtroom suits for coffee farm boots. The writing is witty, and the Costa Rica setting feels warm and inviting at first. However, the story quickly gets bogged down by heavy political and religious discourse that sometimes feels more like a textbook than a novel. Dee’s passion is admirable, but her character comes off as impulsive rather than deeply reflective. While the story raises important issues around fair trade and exploitation, the pacing feels uneven, and the ending is rushed and left me wanting more closure. Still, if you enjoy social justice themes and feisty heroines, this might be your brew.

This was so much more than I anticipated. Dee is feeling stuck and wants to do more, be more. She wants to make the world a better place in real ways and not just go along with what her family expects of her. Off she goes to Costa Rica under false pretenses on her end and that of her employer. She left the US a naive woman with pie in the sky ideas. Her journey is amazing, scary, smart, filled with humor, some wonderful and some nefarious characters, growth and an iron will. I read the blurb and thought it sounded interesting. It was that and then some. The narration was perfect.

I loved this book about a woman who defies convention to move to Costa Rica (my dream), and becomes involved in helping the coffee bean pickers fight for wages and ethical treatment

Thank you Blackstone Publishing for this audiobook!

This book is really great for fellow coffee lovers or anyone interested in ethical labour. A taste of romance to keep it uplifting. Unlike every book I’ve ever read, I enjoyed it.

“Coffee is the most radical drink.”

A young woman's fight for justice and equality helps her also find herself in the madness. I enjoyed this very much. The narrator was perfect.