I loved this book. I read it for a reading challenge although it is a genre which I don’t usually read. I found I couldn’t put it down. The characters were quirky and likeable. The two towns and lifestyles were completely different - and it teaches you that the other man’s grass isn’t always greener. .

Phaedra Patrick’s new book is charming and entertaining. It follows the story of discontented Greta who once had fame and love but seems to be losing both. After a mystical encounter that allows her to visit her ‘perfect’ life will she choose to stay there or make her current life work for her? Greta has to find out what she really values to live her best life. Thanks to Netgalley and Aria and Aries for the chance to read and review this beguiling novel

I love a good coffee shop book and thos one was perfect! It was magical and you wont want to put it down.

Oh this is just lovely, its a perfect way to spend pass an afternoon. Greta used to be a well-known actress in a long-running TV ad for Mapleville coffee. Together with her husband ,Jim and daughter Lottie they were the perfect TV family. Now though the work has dried up, Greta's marriage is in trouble and Lottie has become a slightly difficult teenager. If only things were different.
One day Greta stumbles across a strange coffee shop whose owner enables her to time travel to Mapleville where everything is just as Greta would wish it to be. Or would she?

Reminiscent of the Japanese series of books which uses coffee drinking as a way to time travel ,this new story has an engaging plot with a wistful tone. The idea of" the grass being greener on the other side" is at the core of the story and speaks to the reader as well as to Greta.
It's a charming story that will brighten your day.
My thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC

Charming, whimsical, and gently thought-provoking—The Time Hop Coffee Shop is the kind of novel that wraps you in nostalgia like a soft cardigan and leaves a bittersweet smile lingering long after the final chapter.

Greta Perks, once the darling of a beloved coffee commercial, finds herself adrift: her marriage is strained, her daughter distant, and her sparkle fading. But when she stumbles into a mysterious coffee shop with a brew that offers something more than caffeine, Greta’s world tips into fantasy. Waking up in the picture-perfect town from her old commercials, she’s given a second shot at the life she once dreamed of. The question is—can fantasy ever measure up to reality?

Phaedra Patrick writes with a light, lyrical touch, blending magic realism with very real emotions. Greta’s journey is both fun and tender, exploring themes of identity, regret, and the seductive pull of a “perfect” life. Mapleville is deliciously idyllic, but Patrick doesn’t shy away from asking the harder question: what do we give up chasing perfection?

This is a story about rediscovery, about embracing the messiness of real life with grace, grit, and the occasional coffee refill. If you love novels that celebrate second chances with heart and charm, The Time Hop Coffee Shop will feel like a warm hug with an extra shot of espresso.

Thanks to Phaedra Patrick NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the ARC and for this magical escape.

I’m a big fan of Phaedra Patrick, the author who got me reading feel good. I’ve read all of her books.

Greta used to be famous, the star of the popular Maple Gold TV commercials, now she’s struggling to find acting work, the marriage is in trouble and her teenage daughter is difficult. Great stumbles upon a mysterious coffee shop, promising the perfect blend, magical coffee that can let you experience your dream life.

The Time Hop Coffee Shop is a brave book, stepping away from the feel good comfort zone and towards contemporary fantasy.

I really enjoyed it, the characters are well-crafted, the plot moves along nicely without the heaviness of say The Midnight Library and it brings out all the feels. Greta must look inside to work out what really matters.

Highly recommended if you looking for something a little different.

Thanks to Netgalley and Aria & Aries

Greta Perks life seems to be falling apart, a trial separation from her husband, no career and her teenage daughter isn’t interested in her. When she stumbles upon a coffee shop her world tips upside down.

Can she find the life she dreams of or is that life not what it seems.

I found Gretas characters really likeable and also relatable. I think as we get older we do tend to look back and see things maybe with rose tinted spectacles and this book has some important lessons.

A fantastic heartwarming enjoyable read that is definitely thought provoking and shows that the grass is not always greener.

Thanks to NetGalley, Phaedra Patrick and Aria and Aries for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

A Whimsical, Heartfelt Tale of Second Chances and Finding What Truly Matters 📺🎭☕️🧚

🧚 Magical Realism | 💕 Heart-warming & thought-provoking story | 📚 Second Chances on love and life | 🇬🇧 Longham / Mapleville (fictional)

It’s been a while since I read The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, a debut I really enjoyed — and I’m so glad The Time Hop Coffee Shop brought me back to Phaedra Patrick’s writing. I feel incredibly grateful to have received an ARC, because this book arrived just when I needed something warm, thoughtful, and a little bit magical.

After a string of books I struggled to connect with, this story swept me up effortlessly. It’s different from what I usually read, but in the best way — whimsical yet grounded, imaginative but full of emotional truth. The concept alone is so unique: a woman lost in the mess of her real life finds herself transported to the idyllic world of her vintage coffee commercial that made her famous. But what really stood out to me was how much heart Patrick brings to Greta’s journey.

Greta is a beautifully drawn character — vulnerable, relatable, and quietly brave. Watching her confront her past, her regrets, and the pull of a “perfect” version of life was both moving and surprisingly tender. There’s a scene near the end involving her mother that completely undid me — it tapped into deep, personal feelings of love, loss, and longing of my own mother that brought tears to my eyes. That moment will stay with me.

Patrick’s writing is heart-warm and full of charm. She weaves magical realism into the narrative in a way that never overshadows the emotional depth. Beneath the whimsy of Mapleville lies a very real exploration of identity, motherhood, nostalgia, and the quiet strength it takes to accept a life that’s imperfect — but real.

The Time Hop Coffee Shop is ultimately a story about rediscovery — of self, of love, and of what truly matters when the sparkle fades. It reminds us that perfection is never the goal — it’s the messy, meaningful, and even painful moments that shape who we are.

If you’re looking for a book that will make you smile, reflect, and maybe even cry a little, this one’s for you. It’s like stepping into a cozy café on a rainy day: comforting, soul-soothing, and exactly what you didn’t know you needed. Highly recommended.

At first I wasn't sure about this book but, suddenly I was hooked. What a clever idea a coffee shop that takes your wishes and transports you to a different world. Very addictive and I was immersed in this fabulous story. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for this ARC.

Greta Perks, alongside husband Jim and daughter Lottie used to be in a Maple Gold coffee commercial for ten years and apparently became quite famous in that time. But now they have been replaced by a new family, her marriage to Jim is on the rocks and Lottie is being a typical "don't talk to me" teenager.

One day, Greta comes across a strange little coffee shop where she gets the perfect blend of coffee from white-haired Iris and a wish to go with it - so Greta wakes up in fictional Mapleville where the coffee commercials took place. Mapleville is cloying and sugary, a fake world where everything is always perfect but Greta loves how wonderful everything looks and how nice her family are to her there. She also meets a woman called Millie who seems to have been here for quite some time. Greta returns twice more to Mapleville and then Iris offers her the choice to stay there forever. What will Greta do?

It feels like the author got inspiration from those Before the Coffee Gets Cold books where a bit of magical realism gives people the opportunity to go on a journey of self-discovery. I had a few questions like why coffee and not tea, seeing as it takes place in England? How is Greta so famous from a long-running advert? I don't know anyone from a TV advert unless they were famous already. Why does Greta think fake Mapleville is so great? It feels a lot like a suburb in the 50s, when women wore petticoats and their lives were boring as heck. Plus, how is her family there too? They didn't ask to be there!

It is however a charming book with a smart core and interesting characters. Greta has so much love for her family and it really shines through. She just needs to figure out how to deal with her messy life. Still, it didn't quite grab me as some of her other books. The cover is utterly gorgeous though.

3.75 stars

I’ve enjoyed Phaedra Patrick’s previous books, and feel they can be turned to for a nice warm read, so was looking forward to this one.

I was a little worried that this book might be very similar to some of the other Japanese time travel coffee shop stories that seem fashionable right now, and it does probably sit well alongside them, but it is has it’s own sweet story which is cosy and heartwarming.

Greta is an actress famous for the Maple Gold coffee commercial, and married (although currently on a trial separation) from her co-star. Is the ideal commercialised life better than her real life? It’s a fun and pleasurable read.

This was a beautiful novel, full of real life reflection and struggle, making me think about my own life and reflect back on what is truly important. Some parts left me with many questions, but once I stopped thinking about the inner workings of the "magic" I really enjoyed it.

This is a thought provoking read about a woman whose life feels like it’s falling apart at the seams and looks back fondly on her past rather than facing the future. She gets the opportunity to consider if an alternative life, a perfect life even would be better than messy reality and finds herself struggling even more with reality as a result.

I think a lot of people reach a stage where their life just doesn’t feel like how they want it to be anymore or maybe they feel a loss of control, it’s so easy to think what if but it can be detrimental to your reality and this was well reflected in this easy to read book. I do sometimes struggle with magic as a theme but it was a good way of demonstrating an alternative life, I did struggle with the state of play in the protagonists marriage as it was difficult to see how they’d ended up in this state of limbo and why they’d suddenly decide on a set date to determine their future. That aside I found it a pleasant read and a good representation on how the pursuit of perfection might not be quite so perfect after all. 7/10

I would class this book as a modern day parable.
Add to this several homilies and you have The Time Hop Coffee Shop.
'If you get hooked on an alternative life, you might forget to live your real one. Not all that glitters is gold'
Consequences matter and can be huge, as Greta learns when she becomes unhappy with her life, and views the past through rose tinted glasses.
Mapleville may seem an idyllic place where all is well, but boredom is the consequence, as she eventually learns.
Phaedra tailors her writing style to whichever place Greta is currently in. There is a naivety to the writing in Mapleville which matches the almost surreal atmosphere in the town.
Life in Longham is grittier, as is the language. Relationships, accommodation, money and status are constantly on Greta's mind, but should she swap this for Mapleville, where it never rains and everything is free.
Fantasy v Reality?
I enjoyed this book as I saw it as a cautionary tale - be careful what you wish for. .
The coffee in the story equates to technology and screens which so many people seem to be hooked on.
Thanks to the author,, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review

A coffee shop where your dreams are manifested into real life sounds like a dream but for Greta when the dream becomes a reality she realises that the grass isn't always greener.
Greta feels washed up, her marriage is failing and her teenage daughter is no longer the loving child she used to be. As a "commercial" actress she wishes to go back to the perfect life she had whilst filming for Maple Gold coffee. When her wish becomes real, can her life ever be the same again?
This was a fun, whimsical, magical read. A unique read that kept me enthralled throughout. It was entertaining, I really enjoyed it.

The Time Hop Coffee Shop is a charming, whimsical and heartwarming story about second chances, self-discovery and the allure of perfection. Greta Perks, once the face of the Maple Gold coffee commercials, finds her life unravelling. Her career has stalled, her marriage is crumbling and her teenage daughter has grown distant. When she stumbles into a mysterious café serving magical coffee, Greta wishes for the perfect life she once pretended to have on screen.

Suddenly she wakes in Mapleville, the glossy world of those commercials, where the sun always shines and everything looks picture perfect. At first it feels like the dream she has longed for, but as Greta settles into this too-perfect life, she begins to realise that true happiness may not lie in an idealised version of the past but in embracing reality, flaws and all.

Phaedra Patrick has created a delightful blend of magic and reflection, with echoes of The Stepford Wives and a playful, imaginative premise that quickly draws you in. Greta is a relatable and engaging heroine, and her journey from nostalgia to self-acceptance is told with warmth, humour and heart. The whimsical elements never overshadow the deeper themes of family, love and authenticity, making this both fun and meaningful.

The Time Hop Coffee Shop is an entertaining and uplifting book that shows us the grass is not always greener and that life’s imperfections are what make it truly worth living.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

When Pleasantville is blended with Nescafe coffee ads you end up in Mapleville, the perfect town where everything is literally perfect. Greta's life and family used to be perfect, but time and reality has moved on and it is all falling apart. So when she comes across the mysterious little coffee shop where wishes come true she finds herself in idyllic Mapleville living the life she always thought she wanted with no problems, arguments, set backs or even clouds in the sky. As she spends more time there she compares her real life to her magic one and learns what is really important, ultimately having to decide between perfection and reality. Wonderfully written, the contrast of characters was excellent, and the addition of the mystery behind Millie, all added up to a very enjoyable read.

A lovely suspend belief story of hope and new beginnings.

Greta is married to Jim and they have a daughter called Lottie. They are best known for their acting roles in picture perfect adds for a brand of coffee. Years have passed and the brand now uses younger actors & actresses.

Greta is feeling very lost in the new modern world she is in. She and Jim have decided on a trial separation to see if they want to be together or not. Greta is given a flyer for a coffee shop with an address. When she goes it turns into a magical place where drinking the coffee can transport you into a world you wish for.

The rest of the story is about the realisation that truth is often better than perfection and people can change and move on and realising your dreams is not about perfection

A great book to while away the hours

such a brilliant book with a very telling tale. i love these books. the truly transport you into their world. they are a great story, but also allow those that want it a place to wonder some over the themes. and im definitely a person that likes to think in books like that.
i love the concept. those coffee ads haha. haven't wee all looked to ads and thought "oh what if that was real!" its part of why and how they are made isn't it? to draw us in, sell us something via a life, an ad, a product. so when our characters in this book does indeed get transported to that place what would that look like? rose tinted glasses perhaps or is grass really greener on the other side?
Greta is finding her real life tricky. lots of life stuff. the reality's and all its ups and downs. her marriage is struggling her teenager is a teenager so when she steps into a coffee shop that makes her dreams come true, to have the lie she had as an actress in this Maple Gold coffee world? well, why wouldn't you?
Greta might just start to understand what really matters.
this book was such a wonderful read. i found Greta and her journey completely drew me in. i could understand where she was coming from, how she felt like she did, and that tease of the perfect version must seem too much to resist. this only endeared me to her all the more, made me care for her and want to scoop her up.
its such a kind and tender tale with so much heartfelt and heart filling moments. its magical but not in a way we cant totally get on board with. it never become not plausible if that makes sense.
its such a quiet book but somehow ever so loud in the way it teaches us, lets us look from this gentle point of view of what matters. and how brave you sometimes need to be to think of this life, and all that comes with it as being where we need to be. for this is life. and this makes us, makes our life. the meaning comes from the mess.
this book was one of those books you want to hug and feels like it hugs you right back. it might make you want to cry but also feels like it would wipe any tears. this indeed was a cosy cafe of a book.
loved it.

Welcome to The Time Hop Coffee Shop…..I really wasn’t sure what to expect at first. I thought it was a bit muddled at first but then everything slotted into place. Drink a coffee, make a wish…. Read the story to find out what happens

Greta Perks was once the shining star of the iconic Maple Gold coffee commercials, the quintessential TV wife and mom. Now, fame has faded, her marriage is on the rocks, her teenage daughter has become distant, and Greta's once-glittering career feels like a distant memory.

So when Greta stumbles upon a mysterious coffee shop, serving a magical brew, she wishes for the perfect life in those past Maple Gold commercials. Next thing she knows, Greta wakes in the idyllic, make-believe town of Mapleville, where the sun always shines and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and second chances fill the air. Given the opportunity to live the life she dreamed, Greta is determined to rewrite her own script. But can life ever be like a coffee commercial? And what will happen when Greta has to choose – between perfection and real life, with no turning back?

Is a trip down memory lane a good thing?
Is the grass greener on the other side ?

A story about self-discovery and finding oneself, love, friendship, full of heart, happiness……is that what a cup of coffee looks like? A fun read with a message about love and self discovery.


Thank you #netgalley and this is my honest review

4.25 stars.

I was really craving a book like this one. Something charming, hopeful and with a lot of heart. It honestly feels so great when you read a book at the perfect time.

We've seen other stories with similar premises. People who are going through a tough period in their lives are being given the chance to see other possible lives they could live. So I was curious to see how this author approached this and I have to say it's my favourite interpretation of this premise so far.
The issues Greta has are so easy to relate to. Feeling lost and like you can't see how things will get better is something most people have experienced so her actions are easy to understand. She just wants what she considers her perfect life but does such a thing exist? And is it as good as one imagines it to be? I guess it depends on each person's case.

The coffee aspect of the story was really charming too. Coffee is so important for Greta, given that her best moment career-wise was starring in the Maple Gold coffee TV commercials. She met her husband while filming them too and their daughter was included in them once their family grew. That brand of coffee and those commercials mean the world to her. But they also remind her of better times she feels are gone forever. It's a really interesting situation. Like a love/hate relationship in a way.
And then she finds this mysterious coffee shop with the odd old lady telling her coffee can make her wishes come true? A coffee shop that finds the people who need to escape their lives and that plays a part in how the story evolves.

The scenes in Mapleville were so easy to imagine for me. That technicolour old-fashioned style…it's cute. It fits what Greta thinks she wants. And it's so intriguing to see her wondering if that's where she wants to stay or not.
While the story might sound simple, there are a lot of nuances. Millie’s character adds a lot to the story and I was fascinated, wondering about her past and what would happen with her. Through her and another character, we truly learn how this coffee shop situation really works and it's quite clear right away. No need to overexplain.

Jim and Lottie are two characters who affect every decision Greta makes. Her biggest wish is for her family to be happy and they don't always make it easy. Lottie is a really good character too, even if some of her actions are frustrating sometimes but that's what a teenager would do so…

There are different moods in this book. There is sadness and desperation. But there's also hope. And I liked that. Plus, the analysis the characters do about life and the hurdles it puts in front of us was lovely. Maybe a bit cheesy at points but it suited the book and I like cheesy.
An absolutely charming book with a lot of heart that gets a big thumbs up from me!

Greta is at a crossroads in her life. Her career has dried up and her marriage is rocky. She comes across a magical coffee shop which enables her to choose to change different aspects of her life. But then she decides to break the rules. she has to decide whether perfection has too great a price. I love coffee shop books!.

An interesting look at reality, family,and making real life decisions.
A cautionary tale about acceptance and new beginnings.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have the perfect life? Greta Perks is about to find out in Phaedra Patrick's The Time Hop Coffee Shop,

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for sending me an advance electronic copy of The Time Hop Coffee Shop for review consideration. All opinions are my own. 

Greta Perks is an actor going through a lot. As The Time Hop Coffee Shop begins, she is in the midst of a trial separation from her husband, struggling with a difficult relationship with her teenage daughter and trying to come to terms with the recent loss of her mother. Oh, and her career is not going well either. Greta feels lost and longs for the days when she and her family were the stars of a series of popular commercials for Maple Gold coffee.

Determined to get her life and career back on track, Greta is fumbling for direction when a mysterious flyer appears, leading her to the magical Time Hop Coffee Shop, run by a mysterious owner. The blend of coffee she gives Greta allows her to visit the life she remembers in the perfect world of Maple Gold. But is perfection all it is cracked up to be, and is Greta willing to risk everything for it?

Phaedra Patrick’s characters in The Time Hop Coffee Shop are really relatable, and Greta’s story engaged me from the beginning. It is one of those books that stays with you while you are reading it and I found it hard to put down. This is a story of second chances, loss, resilience and the messy beauty that makes our ordinary day to day lives so special. There are interesting supporting characters woven into the story too, along with a lot of unexpected twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and would recommend it to fans of Sarah Addison Allen, Alice Hoffman, Cecilia Ahern or anyone looking for a lovely, thought-provoking, cosy read.

"Not all that glitters is gold, and the coffee comes at a cost"

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and Aria & Aries for the opportunity to read this ARC. Interestingly, it couldn't have come at a better time.

Greta, an "ageing" actress, known for starring in popular Mapleview Coffee commercials is struggling to find true connection and meaning in her life following the semi-breakdown of her marriage and fighting a losing battle with her teenage daughter about her career aspirations.

When she stumbles across a coffee shop that offers a "unique" blend - she can't say no. The opportunity to have her wishes come true is too interesting to pass up.

In the interest of not giving out spoilers, I'll stop there. You get the premise. I have to say this book was quite well executed. It's difficult to create a concept and explain it so vividly. I felt like I was Greta at points. (Until she makes some crazy remark about wanting a perfect life). Because this is the whole point - not all that glitters is gold. There were some real morals to this story and I have to admit, it wouldn't have been made so well if the protagonist wasn't so absorbed in her own fame and ideas of perfection.

This book points a mirror at society today and how lives often appear to be TV commercial-extraordinary. With some familial, bereavement, societal themes thrown in, it felt emblematic of everyday life and how sometimes we're a little too hard on ourselves.

This was a cosy, easy and well-paced read. I would recommend!

Does exactly as says ( on the jar? ) it will

A secret coffee shop that has a mysterious lady called Iris who makes the special drinks ( with strict rules attached ) one sip and you are in your dream world

And its magical and wonderful and perfect…… very ‘Truman Showish’ plus shopping is free, its always sunny and everyone is happy but as Greta ( ex coffee advert star with her husband and daughter, think Oxo adverts but for coffee ) finds out maybe perfection is not all its cracked up to be

Greta has a decision to make and its not just Expresso or Cappuccino

Its fun and very coffee orientated ( Maple Gold blend ) and not an ounce of pretentiousness about it, it’s exactly as I expected it to be with 3 sugars added and will make you tingle with the fun of it and sometimes thats all you need in a book

( be warned the descriptions of the doughnuts at various points are more than enticing! )

A sweet, hopeful story following Greta's dilemma of real life versus perfection.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

A thought-provoking story about knowing what you want from life.

Greta is temporarily separated from husband Jim, and is struggling with teenage daughter Lottie. When Greta discovers a coffee shop that seems to hold the key to her happiness, what should she do?

I loved the idea of a "grass is greener" story, and could fully appreciate why Greta enjoyed seeing the life the coffee shop allowed her. I really liked the character of Millie and her story - I really appreciated how that ended. A lovely, cosy story, perfect to read whilst snuggled under a blanket with a steaming cup of coffee!

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Greta’s life isn’t exactly going as she planned. Her husband is living separately from her as they’re having a trial separation, her career isn’t going anywhere either and her daughter isn’t that bothered with what’s happening with her.

Then she comes to a location someone gave her on paper, which is a coffee shop, and suddenly everything changes.

Will Greta live the life she’s dreamt of or is that life just that, a dream?

Greta is a relatable character that you feel for, and we may find ourselves relating to what she goes through.

I recommend this book.

Welcome to the Time Hop Coffee Shop, where wishes can come true....

Greta Perks was once the shining star of the iconoc Maple Gold coffee commercials, and the quintessential TV wife and mum. Now fame has faded, her marriage is on the rocks, her teenage daughter has become distant, and Greta's once glittering career feels like a distant memory. When Greta stumbles on a mysterious coffee shop serving a magical brew, she wishes for the perfect life in those past Maple Gold commercials. Next thing she knows, Greta wakes in the idyllic make-believe town of Maplewille, where the sun always shines and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and second chances fill the air.

I do like a Phaedra Patrick book and her latest one does not disappoint. Greta is going through a tough time in her life, her marriage is on the rocks, her teenage daughter has become distant towards her, and her TV career is just a distant memory. When she meets a lady who tells her that coffee can make dreams come true, Greta wishes for the perfect life she had in the Maple Gold commercials.

The characters are relatable. I was quickly pulled in to this well-written story about second chances. There's a few twists. This is quite a thought-provoking read.

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you made a different choice? This book poses that question - if you had the perfect life you dreamed of, would you be happy with it?

Greta's family were the face of Maple Gold Coffee - she was the quintessential housewife and mother and she though she had it all. Now, everything is different, she has a teenage daughter and her husband has moved out. When she stumbles upon a coffee shop that offers her a chance to relive her perfect like, she takes it. But is it really worth it?

This was an enjoyable read, and left me thinking about what I would do if I was in the same situation.

I received an advanced reading copy from NetGalley.