Sometimes the protagonist of a story is so abrasive it ruins everything else. That was the case for me with this book. The writing was decent but the protagonist was just honestly terrible and made me want to pull my hair out.

I’ve loved the previous books in this series and this is probably my favourite destination so far. Not only was Fiona a lovely character - modest, unassuming and low in confidence yet at the same time with a steel core of determination - but the contrasts of new and modern Tokyo and the descriptions of the locations really made it sound like the most amazing place. The tea shop sounded delightful and Haruka, Fiona’s host was an amazingly wise woman. This is a gorgeous read which left me longing to visit Japan and it was lovely to hear a little about previous characters too.

Oh, gosh. It's just a very sweet read. I picked it up because I used to live in Japan and I'm always avid for a book set in Tokyo. This will satisfy a reader on a few different levels. First of all, it's romantic escape lit and though predictable, watching the relationship unwind was a lot of fun. Julie Caplin does romance well! And then the setting--Caplin managed to include a good combination of stereotypical and recognizable Tokyo but with enough small details so that the reader will really "feel" Japan. The Japanese family that Fiona lodges with is a real keeper of a family and having the three generations and their similarities and differences highlighted adds a unique detail to the story.

This isn't a genre that I usually read, but I found it to be quite charming and if this IS your genre, definitely go for it! It will be your cup of tea for sure (pun intended)!

With thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
Once again another excellent book from this great author ideal for summer can recommend

**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.**

Title The Little Teashop in Tokyo

Author Julie Caplin

Release Date June 11, 2020

Description from Amazon

For travel blogger Fiona, Japan has always been top of her bucket list so when she wins an all-expenses paid trip, it looks like her dreams are coming true.

Until she arrives in vibrant, bustling Tokyo and comes face-to-face with the man who broke her heart ten years ago, gorgeous photographer Gabe.

Fiona can’t help but remember the heartache of their last meeting but amidst the temples and clouds of soft pink cherry blossoms, can Fiona and Gabe start to see life – and each other – differently?

Initial Thoughts

This book sounded super cute. I loved that the main character was a blogger and I also loved that the story centered around a trip to Tokyo. Tokyo is definitely one of my bucket list places to travel so I was excited to read about her experience.

Some Things I Liked

Tokyo as a setting. Julie Caplin did an amazing job describing the details of everything Fiona experienced on her trip. She only makes me want to visit the city more. I also loved the cultural references that Haruka and family introduce Fiona to during the story.
Fiona’s relationship with her mother. I liked this element of the story. Even though Fiona is 28 years old, she still found herself constantly answering to her mother. I liked that, without featuring her mother as a prominent character, she added a lot to the story.
Haruka and her family. I loved her. She was a fun, subtle character but she had so much wisdom to offer. I’d read a sequel about Fiona going back to Tokyo to see Haruka again.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About

Gabe was kind of a jerk and I wasn’t too happy with what he did. In that vein, I felt like the ending was a bit rushed. Gabe needed to apologize more and I wished that the reader could have seen that.

Series Value

This book is part of a series but they are all independent stories set in different places. I’d read the other books in this series. I like what Julie Caplin has done here and I’d like to see how she describes other countries.

I also like that this series does not need to be read in order.

Final Thoughts

I enjoyed this book. The ending was a smidge rushed but overall I liked it. I’d continue with this series and read the others that came before. This is book #6 and the first I read in the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

Christmas at Frozen Falls by Kiley Dunbar – although this is a holiday story, the vibes are so similar. If you like stories about revisiting the past in order to discover what your future has in store, try this holiday story by Kiley Dunbar.
The Move by Whitney Dineen – if you like clean, rom-coms about starting over in a new place with hilarious, sometimes over-bearing parents, try this book by Whitney Dineen.
Coming Home to Glendale Hall by Victoria Walters – if you liked the themes of re-discovering yourself that Fiona experiences in The Little Teashop in Tokyo, try this book by Victoria Walters.

I sadly didn't enjoy this book as much.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me an arc of this title.

I had a rough time connecting to the story. The beginning was very all over the place that I had a hard time finding the structure and the will to read further.

Later on when the story seemed to finally progress into something I found it dull and having a lack of action and found myself very bored in the process of reading.

There were some things that I did like. I loved how they described the scenery like for instance how the cherry blossoms were blooming and I liked the romance aspect of the story however even that felt a bit dull and unconnected from the story somehow.

I really wish I could have loved this but sadly not every book is for me.

I'm unsure what it is about Julie Caplin's writing but with each and every book she leaves me wondering what I am going to do until she releases her next book.
I inhaled #TheLittleTeashopInTokyo in less than 24 hours, a miracle in my current situation, but her characters are so compelling, even when I want to bash them in the head with a teapot, aka Gabe.
There were so many things about this book that spoke to me, Fiona's relationship with her mother, her sense of peace which comes with nature, how brave she is to try new and strange things and her general curiosity.
Yes, there were moments when I cursed and yelled at the characters, but much like #TheLittleCafeInCopenhagen I am left content and happy, what more could you want from a book.
As always, my thanks to #Netgalley, #HarperCollinsOneMoreCapter (#OneMoreChapter) and @JulieCaplin for the opportunity to read and review a copy of #TheLittleTeashopInTokyo which is released on 11th June 2020.

I am always happiest when I get to be whisked away to another fantastic location by Julie Caplin. This series of books is a wonderful mood booster, a great source of cheerfulness and the stories are always fun and full of heart. This latest, The Little Teashop in Tokyo, lives up the same wonderful standard as it’s predecessors. If you haven’t read any of the others in this series, do not worry. They can all be standalone books; the characters sometimes appear in other places, but the stories are different.
Here we have Fiona, who wins the chance to go to Tokyo and experience the Japanese culture whilst being mentored by a top photographer. Cue some changes and she find herself in the very capable (but familiar) hands of famed photographer Gabe. The sparks fly from the off between these two characters and it was fun to see how they pushed each other’s buttons. I have to hand it to Fiona, she certainly gave as good as she got in many ways!
Each location is beautifully described, as I read sat out in the sunshine, I could imagine myself in Fiona’s shoes; gazing at the cherry blossom or being wowed by Mount Fuji. I have never really had any interest in Japan/Tokyo, but I found myself being pulled into wanting to know more about the culture and traditions and Julie incorporates so much of this into the story.
Haruka is possibly one of my favourite characters; fiery yet calm, smart and sensitive – not one to cross, as Gabe found out. If I was to go to Japan, she is exactly the type of person I would like to meet.
This is a story of self-discovery, moving forward from the past and embracing what is meant for you. It shows how to see things from new perspectives, and I think it is a wonderful way to escape the current anxieties and worries.
I cannot recommend this one enough!!