I have recently read another of the books in this series so the main character Fiona was a familiar one and it was nice to get to know her better. Fiona is visiting Tokyo this time and this book really has captured the essence of the country. I could almost taste the food and and the tea. This has definitely made me put Japan on my bucket list. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book.
This book was a light and easy read that really had you craving a holiday to Japan. The imagery was lovely and the descriptions of the food were enticing to read.
The only issue I had really was with Fiona and at times, the relationship dynamic with Gabe. Fiona was a bit inconsistent with her character. Sometimes she was meek and quiet, and other times, a bit too abrupt.

This was ok. It’s a classic romance, which we all know what will happen, there’s no surprises, but it is a nice read.

I was in Tokyo in October so this did appeal to me for that reason. This was a trip down memory lane for me, but a few things did really annoy me. Shibuya Crossing is really not that complex and there is no way that you get lost crossing it even at peak time. However, the character decided the thing to do instantly after being swept across it is find your way to the train station, and the next town, then your place of residence rather than trying to work out which bit of the zebra crossing she has just walked across!!! Really?!!! Absolutely ridiculous! Also, there is really no language barrier, and the train platforms are not dusty...

Aside from wondering if the author has actually been to Tokyo or just researched it, this was a nice easy read. If you’ve been to Tokyo though it is possibly going to annoy you a bit..

My thanks to Netgalley and One More Chapter for the advance copy.

What a lovely story! Wonderful character portrayal, a romance set in the picturesque land of the rising sun and a lovely little teashop that binds two long-lost souls, I absolutely adore this book.
As I was reading through, I felt I was in Japan, seeing cherry blossoms, Mount Fuji and the neon lights in Tokyo, and not at the comforts of my home. I absolutely recommend this book to those who love to take a virtual romantic trip to Japan.

Though I absolutely loved the evocative writing and the beautiful descriptions of Japanese scenery, daily life, and culture, the romance wasn't doing it for me. The whole "I kissed the teacher" dynamic freaked me out a little because even though there was nothing wrong with the relationship in the present, I couldn't get past the way it started. This was because this was the first romance novel I've read that leaned into the sexual side of the realtionship, and I was neither expecting that nor did I want to read about it, so that was not my favorite. Otherwise, an enjoyable escapist read.

I really enjoyed the portrait of Tokyo (being unable to travel this year) and... Well, this is a very fun beach read. 4 solid stars.
This book was provided to me for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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This book should become an iconic 'must read'. It is a beautifully told love story from the moment Fiona plants an unexpected kiss on her tutor,an action which she regrets and which gives her years of lost confidence. Then,ten years later,she wins a photography prize to visit Japan and who is her mentor there? The now famous photographer Gabriel. The reconvening is difficult as both have lost their self assurance for different reasons in the intervening years. The joint interest in photography gives the context for this superbly told love story. However,love stories pop up in many places. This is made special by the backdrop of Tokyo and other spectacular sites in Japan which Fiona needs to photograph for her planned London exhibition. If the reader has been to Japan,the nuances and flavours of Japanese life will revive memories. If the reader has never been,tickets will be booked! Japan is very different from other countries in its customs,beliefs,values and approaches to life. That is used to great effect in the book. The title comes from another unique Japanese institution,the tea room and its ceremonies. This tea room is owned by the family which takes Fiona in during her visit.Then there is Japanese food. The menus are described in detail relevant to Fiona's experience as a first time visitor! Mouth watering for readers! This book is perceptive and every page is memorable. I recommend it without reservation.

Funnily enough books that promise a little escapism are proving very popular at the moment. This lovely novel will be no exception I'm sure.
Julie Caplin has written a beautiful tale of Japan which made me wish lockdown was over so I could go and see the Sakura cherry blossom too. It's romantic and heart-warming with frequent references to the Little Cafe in Copenhagen, an earlier book by Ms Caplin for connoisseurs. Fiona is a sweetheart of a protagonist and it's impossible not to wish her and Gabe would just get together already.
This really is a green tea scented gem of a book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who needs to dream themselves away from reality at the moment.

Though the book had some flaws, there were moments that I did enjoy.
Here’s the thing, a lot of it kept feeling repetitive especially with the whole lack of communication and as well as miscommunication. the first time it happened, it was okay because miscommunication takes place among every couple, the second time it happened again, it was fine, but the third and fourth, it was just a cycle of miscommunication which could have been avoided. — Ugh, the blurb and the cover of this book really did it for me, and i was expecting for the actual story to be as engaging and good as the two, but unfortunately it did not hit the spark for me. though the book and the characters had plenty of potential, and the beginning of the book was really good, but more than the second half of it felt like it was being dragged just to make the book a bit longer.

The romance here moved a bit fast for my tastes, but it was still a cute and enjoyable read.

Refreshing to have a romance set in Tokyo and nice to read about all the sightseeing spots. Fiona was a decent character and it was fun to experience Tokyo through her eyes.

Fiona is finding herself on a trip-of-a-lifetime to Japan, where she will be able to participate in tea ceremonies, enjoy delicious food, and enjoy wondrous sights through the lens of her camera as she grabs perfect shots for her travel blog.

All goes well until she bumps into Gabe, who she has a bit of a past with. Through grappling her woes of self-image, the story left unwritten with Gabe, and her own sense of belonging within a new space to travel, will the trip be worth the effort?

I enjoyed this light-weight comedy, perfect for a spring/summer escape. I appreciate this romantic read; thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

This sweet novel is a little bit rom-com and a whole lot of putting yourself out there and finding your true self.
Leading lady Fiona won a contest that sends her to Japan on a two-week mentorship with a famous photographer. Only the photographer she gets isn't the one she was expecting but the one responsible for her life getting derailed 10 years ago. It's a clash of personalities as much as culture shock that propels the first half of the book and it does a great job of setting up the inevitable relationship. I had some issues with Fiona at first (and many more with her mother), but it was truly enjoyable to see a character break out of their shell and actually grow as a character.
Also, props to Caplin for not just using Japan as a foreign setting to spice up the plot. She really shows respect and admiration for the country and the culture and it works beautifully with the story being told.
I must admit that the fact that it's set in Japan pretty much guaranteed that I would read this. However, it's how well Caplin describes the awe of the dichotomy and awesomeness that is Japan that makes it worth the read. And a big part of why I spent a couple of hours looking into booking a trip...

Massive thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter for the early read!

If you are planning to visit Tokyo this could be a very appropriate read for your flight as it is full of interesting detail on places to eat and visit which I suspect would be very useful to one's stay. Also it will provide you with pleasant entertainment for the long flight. Unfortunately it lacks the interweaving sub-plots and diverse characters that made Julie Cap[in's first book - a Little café in Copenhagen - so enjoyable. However, Fiona's engagement with the Japanese family she stays with, during her two week visit to the city, is genuinely endearing and the tempestuous relationship she has with her mentor, Gabe, is also entertaining albeit somewhat predictable. Best summed up as a sympathetic and respectful introduction to Japanese culture and tradition with an amusing background story.

I love reading books about the Far East, particularly the ones that give you an insight into their culture, customs etc. I have longed to go to Japan and the one time we went on a cruise and expected to stop there – disaster. Prior to embarking an earthquake struck – so no Japan!

Having declared an interest then, I now have to share a doubt. The title made me hesitate. Was this going to be the kind of the book that amuses, with funny anecdotes, and crazy capers – not what I really fancied? On the other hand Japan! Long story short; meet Fiona who is a blogger who combines travel, food, and photography. She wins a prize that sends her on a 2 week trip to Tokyo where she will stay with a Japanese family and be mentored by a famous photographer who will help her prepare for an exhibition in a Japanese centre in London. Only the famous photographer is replaced by an equally famous one but someone Fiona knew when she was 18.

This is an exquisitely beautiful book. No crazy capers, just a gentle unfolding of a love story in the traditional sense: misunderstandings, confusion, tears and the inevitable clichéd ending. However this is far too simplistic because that is just the vehicle to introduce us to the popular tourist hot spots, and some unfamiliar like the Robot Restaurant but more importantly to the older traditions, the peace and serenity and inner calmness that these customs honour and revere. The Cherry Blossoms not just admired for their beauty but for their transience. A sensory overdrive today, which could disappear by tomorrow and an acknowledgement of the power of Nature and seeing the beauty of the absence with the certainty that next year it will all happen again. The perfection of stillness and quiet. Amazing.

As we accompany Fiona on the bullet train, see Mount Fuji, share her exploration of the very different Japanese food (who knew you could get different types of Kit-Kat?); even her foray into karaoke!

Please, please Ms Caplin – tell me that you will do everything in your power to get this made into a movie. I must witness all this, I must see the photographs described so brilliantly, but don’t let them change a single thing.

Little surprise then that I heartily recommend this book. It left me feeling full of wistfulness, full of peace and lucky that I had experienced the sheer beauty of this book.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

Julie Caplin this time takes us half a world away to Japan, Tokyo in her wonderful series of Romantic Escapes. If you cannot go holiday, then let the holiday come to you.

Fiona is a travel blogger and is always found with her camera, she almosts hides behind that lens and her blog but given the opportunity to go to Tokyo and the prospect of an exhibition at work, means that Fiona needs to get out and find whos he really is. Going to Tokyo to be mentored by a famous photographer is an ideal opportunity.

Except that the famous photographer is not able to help and sends Gabe instead.

Fiona knows Gabe from an rather embarrassing episode ten years ago and he broke her heart. But does Gabe recognise Fiona?

Fiona stays with three generations of one family above a tea shop and she is immediately immersed in Japanese life. But Gabe seems very reluctant to mentor her and thinks he can simply dump her at various tourist spots and scuttle off and hide.

Fiona steps out from behind the lens and challenges Gabe in more than one way and as the sparks fly, memories are reignisted and both Gabe and Fiona find that photography is not the only thing they may have in common.

Can Fiona risk having her heart broken a second time?

Can Gabe remember why he enjoys photography?

This is a wonderful sweet romance with a few ups and downs as you would expect in such a book. However the setting and clearly the research that has gone into the setting - Tokyo - is apparent to see. I was transported to Mount Fuji, to the cherry blossoms that I could almost smell them. The tea ceremony and the meaning behind the old traditional Japan and the bright vibrant modern version that is emerging is covered so well in this book. As with all previous books, food makes a welcome appearance and you can visualise the plate as Fiona is introduced to whole a new food culture.

This is a book to transport you away to somewhere else, to somewhere you may never get to visit and you can do it all for the cost of a book. What better form of escapism.

Where next for Julie Caplin to explore? Can I put in a request and perhaps go to Canada?

So charming, a perfect little romance to read for light entertainment in these miserable times. If we survive, it will be ideal for reading on a (hopefully deserted, or at least socially distanced) beach in the sun.
I loved the Tokyo guide book bits, very interesting. And I need to see Fi's Insta of all her food....

Recommended.

I've always loved travel romances but they usually happen in Italy, France, Greece...so when I discovered [book:The Little Teashop in Tokyo|51487034] I jumped at the chance to read it cause Japan has been on my bucket list for so long. The other main factor in my decision to request this title was the main character's love of photography, cause that's also one of my passions.

For the most part Fiona was a likable character but her lack of self confidence got a bit tiresome (girl, you've had 28 years to make peace with the fact you're taller than other women. Stop complaining!). Gabe took me some time to warm up to because, one, his shitty attitude towards Fiona at the beginning and two, his blindness with Yumi. Seriously it took you so long to realize she was manipulating you? It must be true when they say love is blind! My favorite character hands down was Haruka and I specially loved all the moments Fiona shared with her "japanese family".

My BF is obssessed with Japan and has been there several times so I had already heard about most of the tourist attractions and japanese customs Fiona discovers, but it was all so well written that I felt as if I was right there under the cherry blossoms.

At one point Fiona says that with her photographs she intended for people to want to get on the next plane and go to Japan and that's exactly what [author:Julie Caplin|17593777] accomplished here. Now I can't wait to check some of her previous books, specially [book:The Little Café in Copenhagen|34875681] as that is one my favourite cities.

If you're in the mood for some cute romance while learning a bit about a fascinating culture be sure to grab this when it comes out.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK One More Chapter for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a delightful read. Fiona wins a photography contest with the prize of a two-week trip to Japan to be mentored by a famous photographer. It turns out that the guy who is going to mentor her is Gabe, a teacher that she had a crush on ten years ago.

The set-up for the book as Fiona and Gabe travel around Japan for her to photograph famous sites or cultural ceremonies gives a natural opportunity for the author to prevent a travelogue for Japan. As Fiona takes pictures of famous places, eats delicious food. or learns about Japanese culture, we get to feel as if we took an armchair trip to Japan. Fiona is a shy woman who lacks self confidence, but over the period of a couple of weeks, she blossoms and her essential character and love of life comes through. She soon endears herself to Gabe and to the readers.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I don’t think I’ll ever get to visit Japan, but this book gave me a tiny taste of what a trip would be like.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

The Little Teashop in Tokyo by Julie Caplin was an utter, utter delight, and I absolutely adored this gorgeous tale of adventure, ambition and romance. Captivating to the senses, as well as the imagination, Julie Caplin writes a truly delicious and enchanting story within the pages and I just couldn't get enough of this enriching Japanese escape. I think what I most loved about this novel was how much of a breath of fresh air it was, how unique and stand-out. I am pretty sure this is the only story I've read set in Tokyo and I found every single moment spent within it a pure joy. From the irresistible foodie delights, to the vibrant and boisterous city, I couldn't help but to marvel at the wonderful world delivered to me by the author, and I found myself reading wide-eyed, as if I were wandering around this magical place too, alongside Fiona as she began her discovery of Tokyo with her trusty camera at her side.

The Little Teashop in Tokyo by Julie Caplin follows Fiona, travel-blogger and photographer, as she sets out to Tokyo on an all-expenses paid, competition-won trip, with the chance to exhibit her photographs at the Japan Centre in London being the best part of the prize. Not only is it the most incredible opportunity to experience everything Japan has to offer, Fiona is going to be mentored during her stay, by one of the best photographers in the world, Yutaka Araki. It's a dream come true for Fiona and she's not about to pass it up, even if her quivering self-confidence, and anxious hypochondriac of a mother, are tempting her to do exactly that. So, with her best foot forward, and her curiosity sky-high, Fiona begins her adventure, ready to learn and willing to see the enchantment around every corner. But as is so often the case, things aren't about to go as smoothly as Fiona had hoped, and it turns out her mentor is not the famous Yutaka Araki after all, and is, in fact, rather disappointingly, Gabe Burnett, someone who is already familiar to Fiona, and someone she isn't quite as willing to learn from. At least, not until she's able to push aside the silly teenage infatuation she once felt towards him. Ten years may have passed, but it seems intense embarrassment and foolishness can surpass that amount of time, and then some...

The setting of Tokyo in this story truly held me captive throughout my reading of Fiona's adventures. Julie Caplin delivers this world to her readers in the most effortlessly charming way, and her descriptions were beautiful. I was under the author's spell entirely and found myself entranced by Fiona's surroundings, star-struck and wide-eyed by this new and fascinating place. I can't deny that reading this story certainly sparked an intense sense of wanderlust within me, and that's entirely down to the author's skill at bringing her setting to life. I fell head over heels in love with this setting and found myself marvelling at the very same things as Fiona, in awe of the bold and brash of the city, and fascinated with the simplistic beauty of the Haruka's teashop and the incredible garden, both of which contrasted so beautifully against each other. There was such a delightful sense of serenity in this story, and the urge to take hold of Haruka's wisdom and keep it for myself. The references to a deeper, more enriching way of life spent focused less on materialistic things and more on the heart and soul spoke volumes to me, and had me reading the pages wanting to soak it all up, wanting to be there in Haruka's garden myself, sat in silence, allowing the peace to wash over me and feeling completely at one with the world. It's safe to say that the setting of this story left a lasting impression on me, and I loved every single second spent within it. Caplin writes with the true essence of this place in mind and it shone through in every sentence, and every description I devoured.

Fiona's journey within this book was an exciting and ever-changing one which kept me turning the pages, always wanting more. I particularly enjoyed the scenes where Fiona travelled to new places to capture her photographs, with Gabe at her side. There were so many incredible spots that Fiona visited during her stay in Tokyo and I loved reading about them, almost as if I was visiting the places myself. There were so many, from The Skytree, the tallest building in Japan, to the digital art museum which was absolutely fantastic, Ueno Park to see the blossom falling and the incredible Mount Fuji. This was such an eye-opening read and not only did I love it for the escapism which it gifted to me, but also for the educational factor, as learning about Tokyo and all of the tourist hot-spots was exciting and informative.

And of course, the romance! I can't end this review without telling you about the romance. Readers are aware pretty much immediately that there's a history between Fiona and Gabe, and so this adds tension between them right away, especially when we discover that things didn't exactly end on friendly terms between them. The relationships in this story all evolve brilliantly, not only the one between Fiona and Gabe, but the one between Fiona and Haruka and her family who reside in the teashop, too. Caplin captures the essence of family traditions so beautifully, but also the chemistry that still fizzles between Fiona and Gabe. It was teasingly sexy, and Caplin turns up the unbearable heat between the pair, making it all the more exciting and addictive. Even more interesting was the role that Yumi played in Gabe's life, and how this changed over time, funnily enough, after Fiona had stepped on the scene. Gabe's reluctance to mentor and throw his heart into his artwork at the beginning seemed to be the very thing which Fiona had the magic to fix, and this coming together made this a magical pairing, not only romantically but spiritually too. The scenes between Fiona and Gabe truly warmed my heart and when their story reached its end, I felt utterly bereft at having to leave them to their own devices. The emotions were all-consuming and I couldn't bear it when I realised how close I was to finishing this book. I didn't want to let them go! And the ending absolutely blew me away. Caplin pushed me to tears! It was such a memorable way to leave the characters and perhaps one of my favourite book endings of all time.

I cannot give this gorgeously uplifting, beautifully-told story enough praise. It was an enriching, soul-lifting book, full of adventure and warmth and heart. Packed with stunning descriptions and full of emotion, it made me want to pack up my bags and leave for my own Tokyo adventure immediately! Caplin well and truly brought Tokyo to life and her mesmerising descriptions opened up an entirely new world to me while I snuggled deeper into my sofa. Enriching and vibrant, I could not get enough of this romantic tale and it will be receiving a five out of five rating from The Book Babe today. Take me back to Tokyo!

The book flips between two points of view and is engaging from the beginning.

It starts with the main character at Tokyo airport waiting to be met by a stranger, almost straight away I could imagine being there. I could see Tokyo, the crowds, the transport, the plants, the food; all thanks to the amazing writing. I truly felt like I was experiencing it with her.

It was a wonderful journey exploring Japan and a beautiful love story.

At a time when travel is restricted, with Japan being somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit, this book was perfect.