Book Review for THE LITTLE TEASHOP ON MAIN by Jodi Thomas

2/5/2019

A rainy-day ritual—a tea party between three little girls—becomes the framework of not only their friendship, but their lives.

Blonde, curly-haired Zoe is openhearted, kind and free-spirited, and dreams of becoming a famous actor in New York City. Shy Emily struggles with mental health but has the heart and soul of a writer. And Shannon—tall, athletic, strong—has a deep sense of loyalty that will serve her well when she heads off to military college.

As Zoe, Emily and Shannon grow into women—forging careers, following dreams and finding love—they’ll learn that life doesn’t always unfold the way they want it to, but through it all, the one constant is each other, and their regular tea parties. And when the unthinkable happens, the girls must come together to face the greatest test of all.

A deeply moving novel about the family that raises us, the hearts that nurture us and the great friendships that define our lives.

Friends, family, and careers, loving, living, losing and becoming the true version of yourself - the book is a journey of three women's lives, and their loved ones, over the years following the paths they have to take to find their places and true purposes in life.
There were so much life and subsistence in the tale that I found myself taking it in with just a few chapters at the time, to enjoy and digest the story to its fullest. Not every book is meant to be inhaled at one sitting, and I adored to observe the lives of the characters a little bit at the time.
There is a bushel of characters that tells their point of view to the life events of the protagonist as well as to their families, to the supportive cast and crew for the girls' lives. The time goes on for several decades as the readers get to witness the little princesses age and see how their lives take new shapes, in new places.
There are several themes in the book, from depression and its consequences when untreated, to the challenges of single parenting, to searching for your purpose and career, to family drama, alcoholism, from abandonment issues to overbearing mothers, everything you can imagine people struggle with through their lives. But there are also moments of healing, of falling in love and learning to trust, and daring to take the leap for living fully - with many characters in the story, each of them with their own different kinds of burdens in life, you witness the characters grow and learn, mature, and develop, as they deal with their hindrances in life. There are many life lessons to be sifted out, many wisdom's of life taken to heart, prejudgements unlearned, and acceptance embraced while reading the tale.
Throughout the book, there is one message that comes clear repeatedly: you can always start anew, there is nothing you cannot overcome if you so wish, you can always come home, and your family - or the friends that become your family - will always be there for you. Love will always win.
A lovely, heartening, and wholesome tale of small-town Texas and a group of its inhabitants throughout the years, while it entertained, it also inspired, encouraged, and uplifted.
A tale that leaves an imprint to your heart
~ Five Spoons

New York Times and USA Today's bestselling author Jodi Thomas has published over 30 books in both the historical romance and contemporary genres, the majority of which are set in her home state of Texas. Publishers Weekly calls her novels "Distinctive...Memorable," and that in her stories "[tension] rides high, mixed with humor and kisses more passionate than most full-on love scenes." In 2006, Romance Writers of America (RITA) inducted Thomas into the RWA Hall of Fame for winning her third RITA for THE TEXAN'S REWARD. She also received the National Readers' Choice Award in 2009 for TWISTED CREEK (2008) and TALL, DARK, AND TEXAN (2008). While continuing to work as a novelist, Thomas also functions as Writer in Residence at the West Texas A&M University campus, where she inspires students and alumni in their own writing pursuits.