I love the Little Shop of Horrors so naturally I was excited for this book. However, it fell flat big time. The writing was not good and left a lot to be desired which is sad because there really was so much potential here.

Little Shop of Horrors is a childhood favorite and one of the few musicals that I will still sing along with. So, color me excited when there's a book, with a coffee shop rather than a floral shop, with the same concept. But the book is not good--so sad. Adele is a sweet and pretty actress who can't get an actual acting part in a musical. She inherits a coffee shop and apartment from an unknown aunt just in time to save her financially--except the shop isn't actually financially stable. The shop comes with a hot Australian barista Ben. He's the best thing about the book. *Spoilers ahead. Instead of an alien plant eating people it's a bean roaster in the basement. It's kind of clever except the writing is not great. There are so many references to other things--like constantly trying to make a funny statement funnier by referencing a movie or play, etc. But all it does it just drag out a scene. And this is the writing style in the entire book. This should have been a much shorter book. And Adele is so dumb, which Audrey is in Little Shop but Adele's stupidity angered me. The constant bashing of capitalism is overkill. It's mentioned at least 4 times. This book could benefit from some major editing. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

I’ll start by saying that Little Shop of Horrors is one of my favourite films, so I was looking forward to this. It didn’t quite hit the mark for me though.

Big Thanks to Netgalley & Avlon Books UK for the ARC of The Little Coffee Shop of Terrors by Hazel Graves!
Release date: 09/12/2024

The Little Coffee Shop of Terrors by Hazel Graves is a delightful tale that follows Adele, an aspiring Broadway star who unexpectedly inherits a charming coffee shop and an apartment from a mysterious great-aunt she never met. Sounds amazing, right? But you know what they say—if it sounds too good to be true…

I had such a fun time reading this book! It was lighthearted, oddly cozy, and just the perfect easy read that didn’t take itself too seriously—definitely made me smile! The grumpy vs. sunshine dynamic between Adele and the Australian barista, Ben—who, thanks to her aunt's will, is sticking around—really hits all the sweet spots. It’s especially entertaining as he teaches her the ins and outs of running a coffee shop, considering her background in musical theater. Just a heads up though, it’s definitely a slow burn with minimal romance; the quirky, loyal coffee shop characters and their everyday adventures really take the spotlight.

I loved witnessing the friendship grow between Adele and Gracie. At first, when the Niovla sisters showed up, I thought, “Here come the antagonists!” But as the story developed, Gracie became an essential part of Adele’s support system at the shop. I particularly appreciated their conversations about Gracie's photography and that moment when, completely unaware, she helped Adele out of a tricky situation involving her so-called “boyfriend” Donny.

Speaking of Donny, hats off to Hazel Graves for crafting a character you just want to shake up. Not that I usually condone violence, but wow, this guy…

If I’m being a bit picky, there were moments in the book I felt could be trimmed down, as they didn’t significantly impact the story. While I appreciated the supernatural twist that popped up in a romantic comedy, it didn't quite resonate with me, personally.

I look forward to hopefully seeing more books in this series, possibly focusing on other characters or diving deeper into Adele and Ben's blossoming relationship!

would rate this a ⭐⭐⭐.75/5 (rounded up to 4⭐ on Goodreads)

Spice - 0.5🌶️/5.

How could I not love a book with the words 'coffee shop' in the title?
And I do love it.
The Little Coffee Shop of Terrors is a highly enjoyable read, set in a fictional suburb in New York city, where a dream coffee shop has been inherited by Adele. Adele has dreamed of becoming a musical theatre star since her childhood, but her dream is slowly fading and she grabs this new opportunity with excitement. Never mind, that she has no idea of her benefactor, but the coffee shop RiffRaff seems like fun and the regulars are a true bunch of characters so she decides what could go wrong?
Well, a lot actually.
A grumpy (but utterly gorgeous Aussie) barista, missing regulars, a cantankerous boyfriend, a warring couple and a missing dog all add to the hilarity of this brilliant storyline. And plenty of musical theatre references.
My only disappointment is that Adele and co did not break out into song on a few occassions!

ARC Review

The little coffee shop of terrors
By Hazel Graves
Publish date: Sept 12, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon books for allowing me read and review this book.

Adele a struggling broadway singer inherits her great aunts coffee shop. With 3 conditions: 1. Can’t sell it in first year 2. Must run it 3. Ben stays With Adele being down on her luck she feels like this is the perfect opportunity. What happens when this cute cozy coffee shop isn’t what she thought it was.

I was drawn in from the start with the creepy vibes and people (customers) disappearing.

I wish there was more character development between Ben and Adele and I found it a little weird how quick she was to accept what was happening at the end.

I absolutely loved the coffee shop cat and how it played a role in the selection.

This was quick, cozy, slightly creepy read. Perfect for the fall and spooky season.

This was an absolutely delightful start to spooky season and the prefect kind of banter meets hijinks that I die for. I wish I could read this again for the first time, it was so FUN.

What a quirky, fun, and cosy read!
I loved every bit of this book. From the front cover to the references of films and shows to the names of the chapters titles. I really enjoyed meeting the eccentric, odd, and interesting cast of characters that made this story come alive. I have to mention Ember the tuxedo cat too. As i have one of my own.
A slow-burn plot that I couldn't get enough of, a real page turner.
The romance was a small part of this story. As I'm not a big romance reader, I loved what it added to the overall story. Many times, I found myself laughing out loud or giggling to myself whilst reading this. The humour was definitely up my street.

A perfect lighthearted, feel-good and weirdly wonderful read for you to get lost in.

Thank you, Avon Books UK, for my advanced copy.
My opinions are my own.

3 ⭐ 0 🌶

There was a lot I really enjoyed about this book, but unfortunately a lot left to be desired too. The story was really quirky and fun, but it was soooo slowww. This long of a book normally takes me about 4-5 hours across one day, two days max and I feel like I've been reading it for a week straight. It was just a lot of mud in the beginning...

Thankfully it picked up at the end and while it was a lot of information in a small space, I much preferred that. I loved watching Adele figure out what was going on and this story kinda ended up with a little life lesson before going off the deep end of quirkiness all over again. There was a little bit of sadness and a little bit of romance in this otherwise cozy merdur mystery.

So many theater and musical references are stuffed into this book, it is perfect for any fan of theater or even pop culture. I devoured this book in two days. The ending was a little brutal for my taste, but overall found it to be humorous, touching, and overall an entertaining read.

The daily grind can be a real killer!
This was a fun and cosy (yes, the story is both 'murdery' and cosy) spin on Little Shop Of Horrors, but in a coffee shop setting. While I did feel that the story took a while to get going, it still kept me interested enough to keep reading, because I became quickly invested in the characters' lives and story lines. As you're reading you know where the plot is going, but that doesnt make the experience any less enjoyable. The cast of characters is quirky and fun, and while the romance is but a small part of the plot, it is still an element of the story that I enjoyed and I was waiting for the moment that the tension between Adele and Ben resolved itself! Overall, this is a great one to read while the weather is changing and things are starting to feel more autumnal. Definitely one to add to the fall reading lists, and to be enjoyed with a lovely cup of.coffee.....just look out for how the beans were roasted!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hazel Graves for an advanced copy in exchange for my review!

I loved the premise but this book wasn’t for me at all.

If you’re looking for a quick, easy read that isn’t too involved, this is perfect.
There’s some romance. Some horror, and a heavy helping of puns.

This is a hoot. Adele was surprised to inherit a coffee shop and even more surprised that it has a haunted roaster. No more spoilers from me! This is a slow roast romance between two opposites in Adele and Ben as well as a nice it takes a village look at the shop's regulars, including a romance between two of them. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

First off I absolutely loved all the chapter headings. They were so creature and some of the puns had me laughing out loud.

I honestly don't think I've ever read anything quite like this before! The plot was a lot of fun and had a great mix of romance (including one of my favourite tropes grumpy/sunshine!), intrigue and wackiness!

The two main characters bounced off each other really well and I loved their banter. The humour was great and really helped to pace the romantic elements.

It also had a great array of side side characters which really added to the cosiness/found family nature of the coffee shop. I was especially a fan of Ember the cat!

The plot did feel a tad slow to build up the the 'terror' part but once it did it was such an unusual story element. I just wish it had happened a bit sooner so it could have been explored a little more (if it had this probably would have been a 5 star read for me).

Overall I really enjoyed this authors writing style and would definitely be interested in reading more by them in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hazel Graves for an ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 3/5 Stars.

This was the most quirky book I’ve ever read! I did really enjoy how different it was and all the puns it had - but it lacked a little for me. I did find myself a little bored throughout. It was cute, though!

At first glance this seemed like a perfect book for me: coffee and musical theatre puns - say no more! I was really excited once I started reading, but things just kept going downhill. This story doesn't feel like either horror or romance, it's just quirky and punny and that's that. There's no real character development, the "love story" is just insta lust based on how hot Ben looks. And let's not forget that he's a serial killer, but that is all overlooked and forgiven because he is HOT, ah and also Australian.

I kept thinking that the roasting machine is actually possessed and was hoping for some demonic appearance, an evil spirit that Ben keeps at bay or something of the sort. But no, the machine just rumbles, and therefore they must feed it humans. Really, what is the repercussion of choosing not to do that? Have they tried to deny the machine? None of that is mentioned. Also Ben chose who he would kill based on them making a mean comment or ordering a 'wrong' drink. So if someone was having a bad day and said something rude or didn't tip the barista, they deserve to be eaten by the roasting machine? Solid logic. He defends himself by saying that he only killed bad people, but he wasn't out there hunting down rapists, was he.

Adele was also a very annoying and spineless main character. She kept dating a finance bro "just because", and even though she was lusting over Ben, she still kept going out to fancy restaurants with Donny, who was just a huge red flag.

I only finished the book in hopes that the ending would redeem all of this nonsense, but obviously that didn't happen, therefore - the rant.

À totally quirky light read which I ended up enjoying more than I thought I would especially after a rather slow start. Set in Brooklyn, New York around a coffee shop with, in some cases, a somewhat unconventional eccentric clientele. Good characters and I even warmed to Adele, the main character whom I didn't take to at the start and wanted to shake her naivety. A fun and humorous book with some unexpected twists in the final quarter which, although sinister, were bizarre and quite funny overall especially as it involved the more pretentious characters. Worth a go and perseverance in the first few chapters.

Adele's journey begins after being unceremoniously booted from her last theatrical gig, leaving her feeling like her Broadway dreams are fading into the distance. Desperate for a fresh start, she seizes the opportunity to take over a quirky little coffee shop that promises both a refuge and a chance to rediscover her passion. However, the road to salvation is anything but smooth, primarily due to her prickly but undeniably attractive waiter, Ben. The chemistry between Adele and Ben is palpable, adding a charming layer of romantic tension to the narrative. Ben's gruff exterior hides a loyalty to the coffee shop that is both endearing and frustrating, making their dynamic one of the highlights of the novel. Graves expertly weaves humor and magic into the story, and the supernatural elements surrounding the old coffee roasting machine injects an extra layer of intrigue. The strange occurrences—flames roaring and inexplicable noises—serve as perfect metaphors for Adele’s own chaotic life, representing her inner struggles and her journey to find her place in the world.
Graves’ writing is particularly engaging, with its witty dialogue and vivid descriptions that bring the Brooklyn coffee shop to life. Whether it’s the sound of the espresso machine whirring or the warmth of freshly baked goods, you can practically smell the coffee and feel the camaraderie of the café’s patrons. The pacing is well-executed, with twists and turns that keep readers guessing while also allowing for tender moments of growth and self-discovery.
Hazel Graves has crafted a delightful story about resilience, the magic of community, and the thrill of unexpected surprises. It’s a heartwarming reminder that sometimes the biggest changes and challenges can come with a side of laughter—and perhaps, a sprinkle of enchantment. Whether you’re a fan of whimsical romances or looking for a cozy mystery with a side of steam, this book is sure to satisfy.

This is such a quirky book, I don't think I have ever read anything like it.

I didn't really like the main character that much, I found her quite annoying (she's the type of person that would make you feel absolutely exhausted with just speaking with/hanging out with for twenty minutes). Theatre kid energy (but in a bad way - love me plenty of theatre kids, but not this one).

And this book is very much dating itself. The references (even talking about the COVID pandemic) and slang dated it to the point where this is going to feel like an out-of-date book in a very short period of time. I think you limit the amount of people that will feel like this book is relevant or relatable when doing that. Although, some people might love that and find it funny and millennial.

And it took this book forever to get to the point. I had no idea what this book was supposed to be about for the longest time. It's one of those books where nothing is happening and then the main event happens and then nothing. Some people love that kind of pacing, but I find it difficult to connect or get invested if I don't know what I'm getting invested in.

There is a bit of an unexpected supernatural twist to this book, which was cool.

Overall, I just don't think this book was for me. I can see people enjoying it, it's a short and easy read, nothing that'll make your brain melt trying to understand it. And there's definitely a place for that. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. It just fell flat for me. This cover design is so cute though!

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly wrap-up.