At her beloved husband's funeral, Carla Pride discovers that Martin never divorced his first wife and has been living a double life with her. And his other wife, Julie Pride, is determined to take everything from Carla - her home, her money, and her memories. When Will Linton's business goes bust he at least thinks that with the support of his trophy wife Nicole he will rise to the top again. But Nicole isn't going to stick around with 'a loser' and Will finds himself at rock bottom. Molly Jones is being bullied into going into a retirement home by her 'concerned' daughter-in-law Sherry and son Gram. Then the love of Molly's life walks in through her door - a man who broke Molly's heart into little pieces many years ago. But he says he is dying and wants to spend the time he has left with her. All people in need of a little love and compassion which they find by chance in the stationery and teashop on the corner run by the ever-cheerful Leni, a woman that site developer Shaun McCarthy finds annoying beyond annoying for her ability to remain unrealistically upbeat about everything. But is the world of Leni Merryman as full of rainbows and sparkles as everyone thinks? Or is her smile papering over many cracks in her heart that will soon be shattered unwittingly by her new friends?
I know that when I pick up a Milly Johnson book that I am in for a good read, full of strong women who each have a story to tell and who I will feel I have known for ages by the end of the book. The Teashop on the Corner is no exception - I sped through this book, it was a joy to read and I am proud to be a part of #TeamMilly.
One characteristic of Milly Johnson's books is that she has a cast of many, who all appear to have their own story to tell, but that become entwined within each other's lives effortlessly and the result is a fantastic read!
The Teashop on the Corner begins with Carla attending her husband's funeral - as the ceremony progresses, a woman enters and tells the congregation that actually she is Martin's wife! Molly is a twin, her sister living with her husband and going off on a cruise, leaving Molly to fend off her daughter in law who appears to want her to sell up and move into a residential home and Leni, who I think has set up the perfect business, a cafe which also sells Literary based stationary and goods, which is called The Teashop on the Corner. This teashop becomes a place where people come to get away from their own problames and soon friendships are made and problems cured.
I have only highlighted the female characters above, but there are also a number of male characters - a wayward teenager from a problem family with a reputation that precedes them and Pavitar Singh, another frequent visitor to the teashop, a top surgeon who has retired and recently widowed.
I don't want to spoil the rest of the story for my blog readers but I really do urge you to pick up this book. It is a great read, one which could be slipped into holiday luggage or put on a tray to read while partake afternoon tea in a garden over the summer.
I want to find my own local Teashop on the Corner - it sounds like their is a fantastic atmosphere within and that the regulars would welcome newcomers with open arms. I do think though that I would spend a fortune on the merchandise within!
I found myself smiling to myself when I reached for my book, I devoured it on a weekend away and found myself wishing the family to go to sleep so I could return to the Teashop. I was sad to finish this book and I really hope that Milly will revisit these characters in a future book.
I am lucky enough to be meeting Milly tomorrow at a Girls on Tour event and will be asking her them to consider revisiting the teashop soon. I will report back later in the week.
Thank you to the publishers, Simon and Schuster, for sending me the book to review.
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