The Little Teashop in Tokyo (Romantic Escapes #6) by Julie Caplin

ABOUT THE BOOK

Grab your passport and escape to a land of dazzling skyscrapers, steaming bowls of comforting noodles, and a page-turning love story that will make you swoon!

For travel blogger Fiona, Japan has always been top of her bucket list so when she wins an all-expenses-paid trip, it looks like her dreams are coming true.

Until she arrives in vibrant, bustling Tokyo and comes face-to-face with the man who broke her heart ten years ago, gorgeous photographer Gabe.

Fiona can’t help but remember the heartache of their last meeting but amidst the temples and clouds of soft pink cherry blossoms, can Fiona and Gabe start to see life – and each other – differently?

MY REVIEW

I fell in love with Tokyo through the author’s stunning written imagery and delightful characters. One of the best accounts of using beautiful photography to tell a story where a picture is worth a thousand words.

Fiona has won a trip to Tokyo to study under one of the best photographers in Japan, but when he is called away unexpectedly, the gorgeous and arrogant Gabriel Burnett is sent to fill in as her mentor. Gabe, the man who broke her heart ten years ago, and he doesn’t even remember her. Why would he? She was one of many young women that had eyes for him and she wasn’t really his type anyway. His type is Yumi, the famous model, his muse, and the woman who left him to marry a wealthy Japanese businessman. Now she has to deal with his snarky and grumpy self because he got roped into being her mentor. Will she be able to get enough photographs for her exhibition in London? Is she even good enough to have an exhibition? Perhaps if Gabe pulls his head out of his arse he may be able to give her the pointers she needs.

Gabe did not want a babysitting assignment, but he owes his friend, Haruka a debt. She is desperate to save face for her husband who had promised a mentor for Fiona, who, in fact, will be staying with Haruka. Gabe had lost his passion for photography after Yumi dumped him publicly for another man and now he lives off lucrative photo ops that make him a lot of money. Until the beautiful Fiona’s excitement of being in Tokyo and her love of photography start to open his eyes. Not to mention, she is a talented photographer. He feels alive again and he owes that to Fiona. Her refreshing way of looking at life, her honesty and her fortitude have grown on him and have given him purpose again. Can he make up for his bad behavior and be the man she deserves?

Fiona and Gabe are captivating once they get past the resentments and misunderstandings. Their attraction is palpable and their romance is gradual but worth waiting for. Fiona’s transformation from self-conscious novice to confident professional is a sight to behold and Gabe’s awakening of the world through Fiona’s eyes is incredible. I particularly love the memorable grand gesture at the end which had me sobbing. The supporting characters, the all-knowing Haruka, the calm and comforting Setsuko, and the young and vibrant Mayu, are a joy and very necessary for the true Japanese experience.

I absolutely loved this amazing romantic novel filled with so much beauty and substance. I felt like I wanted to pick up a camera and start looking at life differently through a lens. Ms. Caplin’s depictions of the gorgeous scenery, the traditions such as the Japanese tea ceremony, and how people interact with them, are fantastic and make one feel a part of it all. If you love novels swathed in tradition and discovery, give this book a try.

Thank you to Ms. Caplin for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

Romantic Escapes Series

1. The Little Cafe in Copenhagen (2018)
   2. The Little Brooklyn Bakery (2018)
   3. The Little Paris Patisserie (2018)
   4. The Northern Lights Lodge (2019)
   5. The Secret Cove in Croatia (2019)
   6. The Little Teashop in Tokyo (2020)
   7. The Little Swiss Ski Chalet (2021) – My review
   8. The Cosy Cottage in Ireland (2021) – My review
   9. The Christmas Castle in Scotland (2022)
   10. The French Chateau Dream (2023)
   11. A Villa With a View (2024)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jules Wake announced at the age of ten that she planned to be a writer. Along the way she was diverted by the glamorous world of PR and worked on many luxury brands, taking journalists on press trips to awful places like Turin, Milan, Geneva, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam and occasionally losing the odd member of the press in an airport. This proved fabulous training for writing novels as it provided her with the opportunity to eat amazing food, drink free alcohol, hone her writing skills on press releases, and to research European cities for her books.