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Sweetshop Of Dreams: A Novel With Recipes (2014)

by Jenny Colgan(Favorite Author)

3.95 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

1402281838 (ISBN13: 9781402281839)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Sourcebooks Landmark

series

Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop

review 1: Thanks to novels like The Devil Wears Prada (and their accompanying films), I was not exactly predisposed to what is most often termed 'chick lit.' I guess I always thought that they were aimless fluff, novels that either glamorise over consumption and imply women's happiness lies in 'stuff', or privilege the 'return' narrative, where women give up material goods and find love in their hometown. An odd set of oppositions. Thus, I didn't think I would like this book. As Thorin said, though, '" have never been so wrong."I picked up Rosie Hopkins on a whim. I was about to go have lunch and needed something to pass the time, and this was the first book I saw. I will say before the rest of my review, I am so happy I did so! Rosie Hopkins, as a heroine, really speaks to me. On t... morehe surface, this may appear to be a classic 'return' narrative, but Jenny Colgan has delicately woven in themes of lost love, self-acceptance and crises of ageing, alongside a light, but scathing indictment of new-age parenting.The story takes place in two time periods. Several chapters take place before and during the Second War, where a young shy, woman named Lilian attempts to navigate the treacherous waters of first love. The bulk of the narrative, however, concerns protagonist Rosie Hopkins' move to a small village with a view to taking care of her ailing aunt- the Lilian from the interlocking narrative. Rosie leaves her high pressure job as a nurse to take over Lilian's sweet shop, and from there the narrative really begins. A trio of potential love interests appear, as well as a host of intriguing and downright hilarious townsfolk really ensure that the little town comes to life. Rosie comes to enjoy large parts of her life in the town, and her busy London life (and her erstwhile boyfriend Gerard) begins to fade into the background. What started as a short trip has become a lot more complicated! The central question really is, will modern day Rosie make the same mistakes as Lilian?I find that, unlike other narratives of this type, the primary love interest has been well sketched, with a personality and history beyond "I am the best available option." Rosie herself feels like a real woman, struggling with the expectations and ideas put into her head after being raised in our contemporary society. As someone choosing a career for the first time, I really connected with Rosie's search for a fulfilling career, and her anxiety when she feels like what she is doing isn't satisfying. Lilian is a beautifully written character as well, with Colgan taking her from her youth to her old age with ease and realism. All in all, this novel really made me eager to sample Colgan's other works, and it made me reconsider a whole genre- surely that is the best compliment the author can get!
review 2: Fantastic indulgent read which sends you off in to the Derbyshire countryside (my home county) and sweetie heaven! I like how Jenny Colgan uses a great array of characters, backgrounds and a lot of history in her novels, you feel you come out of them having lived a bit of history and learned few things. The humour and sarcasm is on form, the characters both infuriating and adorable with a modern day Heathcliff which is all I ask for in a leading man. Can't wait to get my mitts on the Christmas follow on,and a bag of coconut mushrooms less

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