The Little Teashop in Tokyo
By: Julie Caplin
Pub Date: 11 Jun 2020
Review by: Sky H, reviewer

Thankful to netgalley and the author for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The story follows travel blogger Fiona, who wins a life changing all-expenses paid trip to Japan, where she is to be mentored in all things photography and have her work displayed in an exhibition.

Upon arrival in Japan Fiona is faced with a blast from her past, Gabe who ten years ago she had a crush on. One kiss between the pair led to heartache and changed her life forever. The story focuses on the love hate relationship between the two main characters and their travels around Japan. Along the way Fiona forms some wonderful friendships with the family she is lodging with learns about their traditions,

Unfortunately, i struggled to read this book. I found the story was rather slow to begin with and i felt like that it was lacking in the romance department.

Overall The Little Teapshop in Tokyo was light-hearted and perfect for anyone looking for an easy read.

I've never been to Japan before, but reading this book definitely made me feel like I have! The author does a fantastic job of incorporating so many different elements of the culture, both modern day and traditional, that it really feels like a visit. The characters are sweet, and flawed, and they all work out in the end, naturally, but the real draw of this book is the set development!

Just what we need right now: the opportunity to travel and explore new cultures in a totally safe way when we can't actually go anywhere. The descriptions of Japan and the culture and tea ceremonies were lovely and transported me there. The romance between Julia and Gabe was engaging and was partly about letting go of the past and living in the here and now (surely a message we can all relate to right now). This is a great book to read if you want to escaper the pressures of life and just kick back and relax. I will now go and read others in this series.

The Little Teashop in Tokyo is a romantic comedy about Fiona, a photographer that wins an exposition and a mentoring trip to Japan.

Everything was perfect and exciting until she found out that her former teacher Gabe, a very famous photographer, was substituting her mentor.

Ten years ago, she misunderstood a few signs and ended up making a fool of herself, so now she was determined to keep her distance.

It is a sweet and romantic story of letting go of the past and embracing what life has to offer in the present.

There is an OW (Other Woman), but Gabe does not cheat. He is just taking his time getting over her. His heart is healing from the heartbreak, but very slowly (lol).

This book is like taking a little trip to Japan. The heroine stays with a lovely Japanese family that introduces her and the reader to several local costumes old and new.

The family owns a teashop, and there are descriptions of tea ceremonies, beautiful gardens, and other touristic spots, including Mount Fuji.

In times of COVID, a little trip, even if only imaginary, was a considerable respite.

I recommend this book to everyone in need of escapism and light romance.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.weebly.com closer to the publication date*

I stayed up till 2:00 am finishing the book. A classic romantic novel, it was cute, well-paced and predictable. enjoyed reading it. just what I need in the middle of heavy reading. I'm so glad I spotted it.
If you're looking for a fun light read, try this book!

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how she uses Japanese’s culture throughout the story. It was an easy read I loved it!

With thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an early copy.
Another fabulous book by Julie.
Fiona wins an all expenses paid trip to Japan for a chance to exhibit her photographs at the Japan centre in London.
On arrival, whilst waiting for her mentor to receive her, she’s shocked to find that’s it’s Gabe, who she knows from years ago and used to teach her and things didn’t end well for her.
He takes her to where she will be staying - the Kobashi family.
Fiona enjoys living with Haruka and learning about the teashop her daughter owns, and learning about the different teas and tea ceremony.
Gab isn’t too eager to show Fiona around Japan and on occasions leaves her to her own devices. But when she confronts him, and Haruka also points out that he’s supposed to be mentoring Fiona, he decides to take her where she needs to go
Fiona is informed that Gabe is seeing Yumi who is married and what happened between them.
Gabe informs Fiona that he recognises her from years ago and that he should’ve told her earlier. On a trip to see Mount Fuji, Fiona thinks she’s left her phone behind and informs Gabe, whilst on the train Gabe takes photos of her. During the trip things change between.
But when they get back, at Gabe’s studio, Fiona comes across her phone and asks Gabe what he’s doing with her phone, an argument ensues and Fiona leaves.
She tells Haruka who asks if she wants to go back home early, which is arranged, Gabe tries to find her at the airport but is unsuccessful.
Back home, it’s the day of Fiona’s exhibition, her mom has an accident and she’s late, missing Gabe who leaves before she arrives, leaving a note for her. The exhibition is a hit.
Avril asks her to come with her to another exhibition of Gabe’s but Fiona doesn’t want to see more photo’s of Yumi do declines. Avril then calls Fiona and asks her to get to Dover Street. When she arrives, she’s shocked to find the photo’s of her that Gabe took are on show.
Gabe comes to the exhibition, and they clear the air.

Highly recommend it.

I loved this book! I have enjoyed Julie Caplin’s previous books and reading her latest was like meeting up with old friends. The writing style is easy and comfortable and the characters really came to life. I also enjoyed the descriptions of Japan and the way Japanese traditions were woven into the storyline. I would highly recommend this book and look forward to the next one!

I'm such a big fan of Julie Caplin so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book! If you've enjoyed the earlier books in the series, you should love this! I liked the chemistry between Gabe and Fiona. Also, it will make you fall in love with Japan! So is the perfect read to take you away during the lockdown!

I am a sucker for a romance novel and really enjoyed this story. I loved that the story takes place mainly Japan and it was beautifully described. I was left wanting more at the end! Sweet story you will not want to put down!

The Little Teashop in Tokyo pours a decadent serving of Japan's culture. As a travel writer, Fiona Hanning is used to being out of her comfort zone. However, when Gabriel Burnett's piercing blue eyes reflect her misgivings, she's flashes back to their first encounter.

His dashing good looks and notoriety was a powerful elixir during her teenage years. A rash decision haunted and halted her development. Locking herself from the world, blogging unlocked her fragile spirit.

Winning a life-changing photo contest, her awaiting exhibition is prompted by a mentorship in Tokyo. As an acclaimed photographer, Gabe is brought in when her mentor is called away. Will her remember her or is the picturesque trip now a fleeting fantasy?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early read. I love Julie Caplin's writing and her impeccable research into the country's culture and customs. I've traveled to 50% of the world and find the lockdown difficult, especially staying stateside. Caplin's thrilling accounts afforded me to armchair travel to Tokyo.and have a taste of Japanese culture.

I received this ARC copy thanks to Netgalley. I have read the entire series by Julie Caplin and this addition allows Fiona who we met in the first book of the series after she won.a photography contest that sends her to Tokyo for a two week internship. Readers will find Fiona finds a similar mentor relationship that Kate found with Eva in Copenhagen. There was something about this addition that just seemed to fall a bit flat for me. I think because outside of Fiona and Gabe all the other characters were just two dimensional. I would give this book B/B- if you had have read the series it is fun to see where she takes you but I would not jump into this book first.

I will always be attracted to novels about making a new life for oneself in another country, however, Caplin's "The Little Teashop in Tokyo" was totally predictable and quite dissapointing.

The Little Teashop in Tokyo, Julie Caplin

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: General Fiction (adult), Romance.

Well, wow, I adored this story. I didn't realise it was one of those complete stories, but connected books series, so I'm off to find the rest when I've time. It didn't matter that I hadn't read the others, but I can see for those who have, getting snippets of the characters in their updated lives will be fun.

Fiona, what a lovely lady. Lives with her widowed mum, its been just the two of them for so long, her dad dying when she was small. Her mum is clearly a bit of a hypochondriac, and even though Fiona is 28 still treats her as if she's 8 much of the time. Fiona understands, chafes at it sometimes, but has found a way to manage her mum's anxieties. Of course now she's off to Japan for two weeks her mum is terrified for her. Fiona is determined not to be put off though and bravely marches in. this could be the makings of a whole new career for her, and will work well with her travel blog.

What she doesn't expect though is Gabe. The man who'd been booked has had to cancel and Gabe is taking his place. He's a well known man, top photographer, and certainly no second rate substitute but......Fiona has a history with him, from when she was 18 and he was taking a half term class at her school. Its didn't go well, she's been affected by the events ever since, and this throws her. Gabe doesn't recognise her, and she's not sure how she feels. That incident affected her ever since, changed her whole way of life and yet he seems t have forgotten it....how, she thinks, can something that was so big for her be nothing, forgettable to him.
,
Gabe was such an obnoxious man to begin, clearly not happy about mentoring her and it shows. Slowly though he changes and became a man I fell in love with a bit too.
The ladies she's staying with are amazing, and teach her so much, taking her in as part of them, showing her some of the traditional Japanese way of life. I loved those parts, could taste the food, smell the teas, see the beautiful kimonos, and the wonderful relaxing garden. It sounded magical, and Fiona really grew in her confidence with their help. She was like a different person at the end, more confident but still with her amazing fascination and enthusiasm for life.

I hated a Certain Person but was so glad she was in the book, I love that sort of character.
I loved that when things fell apart it wasn't a quick solution, that it lasted for some time. I hate when its all off one page, and all on again the next.
I guess my only minor criticism would be the time span, its just two weeks and for the first couple of days they really don't like each other, but then if I take into account the history and how things were then, it makes up for it. A bit. I just have trouble with insta love. Lust I can believe in, love takes a bit longer IMO

Stars: Five. A wonderful, engaging read, transporting me to a country I've always wanted to visit.

Arc via Netgalley and publishers

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this book. I have heard good things about Caplin's previous books and was expecting a magical adventure filled with romance. I will say the descriptions of Japan were wonderful. I could see Caplin's travel background throughout the chapters. The descriptions were written with a lot of detail that made me feel like I was in Japan.

Overall, the plot was good too. A naive photographer, Fiona, wins a once-in-a-lifetime competition to spend two weeks in Japan and be mentored by a world famous photographer. When the mentor is called away for an emergency, his replacement is someone Fiona met ten years earlier... Gabe. Gabe doesn't remember her, Fiona can't really figure out if that's a good thing or too embarrassing to admit. Their romance was predictable and needed more development. For much of the book, Gabe is a complete jerk. Their partnership takes a 180 and doesn't go back. I really needed a bit more character development and interactions between Gabe and Fiona to make this more believable.

Lastly, would be a subtle issue to most readers, but as an Asian woman kind of made me cringe. Especially in the beginning of the book (first 10%), I could not count the amount of times Japanese people were described as tiny and/or reserved. There was a moment when Fiona didn't want a "nasty surprise" when eating an unknown Japanese food. These moments spoke to how new Japan was to Fiona, and I knew the author was trying to portray this. Unfortunately, the phrases used help perpetuate stereotypes of Japanese and Asian people. I would have enjoyed Fiona's first glimpses of Japan a lot more if these phrases didn't keep popping up.

The story lacked character depth and could have problematic phrasing, but it did make me feel like I was in Japan. If you're looking for a quick read and want to take a literary trip to another country, this could be the book for you.

I love these books. They are utterly stunning and this is another that I haven’t been able to put down.
I love this author and this has been a perfect escape.
I definitely recommend this book.

Julie Caplin writes an excellent travelogue disguised as a romance novel. She will take you to Japan along with her protagonist, travel-blogger Fiona, who has won a two-week trip to Tokyo to put together a photo exhibition. Caplin captures the first-time tourist's exhaustion of arriving in Tokyo; the disorientation of taking the train; the panic of getting lost at Shibuya Crossing; the flickering confidence of navigating the city alone for the first time. She guides you to significant sites like the Meiji Shrine and Mount Fuji, letting the reader see them through the dazzled eyes of a first-time visitor. Fiona’s experiences in a real ramen house, savoring sizzling tempura, and achieving moments of tranquility in a tea ceremony will make you want to travel to Japan as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, the romance side of the novel was not as successful for me. The romance seemed trite, repetitive, and forced – the tall, leggy blonde who doesn’t realize she’s beautiful until she sees herself through the lens of an older man. Descriptions of the relationship were self-conscious: “Then her heart almost burst when he cupped her face with all the tenderness of a thousand rom-coms.”

Nonetheless, especially now, this novel offers a virtual vacation.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a temporary digital advanced copy of The The Little Teashop in Toyko by Julie Caplin from NetGalley, One More Chapter, and the author in exchange for an honest review.

Fiona wins an all-expense paid trip to Tokyo after winning a photography competition. She is to visit Japan for two weeks in exchange for creating a collection for a Japanese museum in London. Her mentor is unable to meet her due to a family death, and a new mentor is appointed; however, Fiona's new mentor is a one-time professor she had a crush on ten years ago. Their travels around Japan being to bring them back together, but battling the past and the many miles between them, Fiona prepares to have her heart broken...again.

The Little Teashop in Toyko is a charming romance novel. I gave it three stars due to Caplin's descriptions of Japan; they were vibrant, enticing, and truly embedded the culture and traditions of the country. I have a new appreciation for Japan after reading this novel. However, the romance part of the story was slightly mediocre . It did charm the reader, but the beginning felt slow and then the ending felt rushed. I would have liked a chapter or two at the end that went a little further into their successes after Fiona's trip.

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is not my usual genre, I’m more of a crime/thriller reader however this story intrigued me. I absolutely loved it, truly one of the best books I have read. I am extremely pleased and grateful to both for opening up my mind to something totally different.

I've loved the previous books in this series so jumped at the chance of reading an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.
This time the story concerns Fiona, a blogger who won the opportunity to travel to Japan to take photos for an exhibition on her return. Unfortunately the mentor who was meant to look after her whilst over there wasn't available and another professional photographer was asked to look after her. The problem was that she knew this photographer, Gabe, from an embarrassing encounter years before, although he didn't seem to remember her.
The author managed to bring Tokyo to life for me, with the combination of old and new in stark contrast, the calm of the formal gardens against the crowded streets and the formality of a tea ceremony against the exuberance of a karaoke bar. Even the food sounded so delicious that I would love to try the actual experience of eating there.
Fiona is compassionate, Gabe grumpy and I loved the Japanese family that she stayed with.
Overall a great addition to this series and I would definitely recommend reading this if you enjoyed the other books.
Thanks again for the opportunity of reading an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.