Theodora’s Tea Shop

by Christy Anne Jones

A richly imagined, dark and dazzling cosy fantasy about learning to love ourselves by wondrous new Australian novelist, Christy Anne Jones

Dorothy Louise Walcott should have died when she was fourteen. Instead, she grew into a timid young woman, frugal, ill, over-educated, and dreaming ceaselessly of running away to learn magic. When she hears of a woman who might apprentice her, she sets off on a journey to Alliaster, a city where spirits play cards with kings. Dot is determined to find the witch Theodora—empress of an underground syndicate peddling magic from the quaint façade of her tea shop. Theodora is everything Dot wants to be: beautiful, witty, confident.

However, Dot’s arrival heralds the unearthing of Theodora’s eldritch secrets, threatening to topple the witch’s empire and take them both with it.

Theodora’s Tea Shop is an atmospheric 1920s-inspired fantasy novel about magic, friendship and, of course, tea. It features twists and turns, found families, monstrous women, many heartfelt and cosy moments, and a creepy daemon who owns a department store. If you love Howl’s Moving Castle, you will adore this book.

Genres: Fantasy, Cozy, Cozy Fantasy, Fiction, Witches, Historical Fiction, Adult

Paperback

Expected publication July 28, 2026

About the author

Christy Anne Jones is an Australian writer, illustrator and video-maker from Adelaide.

Reviews

[Mira ♡(Semi-hiatus (◕ᴗ◕✿) ♪♫)]

UPDATE: Guys the cover is too gorgeous!!! I CAN'TTTT ✨️✨️✨️

Finally Project Teacup is up, soon to be released ☕!!! I've been waiting for this book for ages... patiently following Christy's writing process on YouTube as she tackled setbacks and refused for her rejections to diminish her. Kudos to you girl for everything till now and everything here after<333

[Brend]

you don't get it, man; this is my personal friend Christy Anne Jones (she doesn't know me; I watch her on booktube)

[Hanaaax]

the way i genuinely let out a squeal when she revealed the news. have been following the author's writing journey for so long and it's always been inspiring how she never let her rejections stop her. genuinely so excited for this book

[Dorc]

can't wait for this one 🥹 After years of watching Christy's videos of endless hours and love poured into this book sometimes at the break of dawn, sometimes in the dead of night, on the couch, on the floor, in cafes and libraries, it's finally coming.

This book is just special. And now that I've read the blurb, July 2026 can't come quick enough.

[Autum]

PROJECT TEA CUP 😭😭 IM CRYING SO PROUD

[justine ⊹ ࣪ ˖]

𓍢ִ໋🫖✧˚ ༘ ⋆

pre-read : STOP bc i have been seated since Project Teacup in June 2025, and now i got the arc brb crying 𐔌՞ ܸ.ˬ.ܸ՞𐦯

[Ju]

Howl's Moving Castle if Howl was a mysterious and confident woman? I need it.

[Bianca]

SO HAPPY FOR CHRISTY!!! Have been following the journey of this book on her channel for a while now and I am so genuinely happy that her book will be available to read next year. Add it your TBR!!!

[Victoriaaaa]

Ahh Christy congrats! I’ve watch so many of your videos working on Project Teacup and I can’t wait to read this 💜 great job!

[Shu Wei Chin]

One of my favourite YouTubers (Australian too!), the compassionate, cozy, mindful Christy Anne Jones, is going to debut in July 2026.

I am beyond excited, does the synopsis not sound so unique and atmospheric?

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this, because the premise sounds so cool and also because I have watched Christy‘s videos for years and I was so excited to finally read “Project tea cup”. Unfortunately this book didn’t really work for me. While I loved a lot of elements I feel like the first part was very overwritten and the second one extremely convoluted and all over the place, Since I did read an arc of this I think some of the issues with scenes feeling quite choppy and phrases being repeated a million times might be edited for the the published version. It was by no means bad but just didn’t do it for me.

[☆ piupiu ☆]

i'm so sat. the book store employees are scared and asking me to leave because it hasn't been released yet but i'm simply too sat. we love u project teacup

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was trying to think of a word to sum up this book and I think enchanting is the one. Truly enchanting and utterly magical (and addicting).

It’s one of those that you can sink into and let it envelop you as it whisks you away to a whole new world. It was dark and tumultuous, hopeful and in a way, cosy and adorable. The found family trope is one I adore and towards the end of the book, I was left happily fuzzy and heart warmed!

The characters were all strong and really well developed and each one I understood, could sympathise with and rooted for in their own ways. I read chunks of this book at a time and I’m sad it’s over!

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Emma vanGrieken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christy Anne Jones is an author who's work and love for her craft bleeds into everything she does. Upon seeing that this novel went into a 3-way international auction, I, along with hundreds of thousands of others, was overjoyed.

Thtough many years of sharing her journey online, Christy has cultivated an audience who know they will be dazzled by this project, despite knowing so little about the project itself. Christy is a talent and I truly cannot wait to read this book!

[Ieva U. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have been following Christy’s YouTube channel for years and I’m so incredibly happy for her. Cannot wait to read this book as soon as it’s out 🤗🎉

[Rana Safi]

NO ONE has any idea how excited I am for this book. I've been watching Christy draft this book for YEARS. Project teacup is something I've been so excited for to get picked up and now that it is, that it's real, I'm SO happy for her! I actually shed a few tears as if I am happy for a real friend.

Can't wait genuinely.

[Matilda Furness · Rating 5 out of 5]

can't wait to read this book, a whole year away for Christys book to come. 🤩🤩 been following her on Youtube for years!

[Nocturne Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theodora’s Tea Shop is a debut fantasy novel written by Christy Anne Jones and is set to release on July 28th, 2026. Thank you Netgalley and Headline Books for this opportunity. Truly, I never thought in my wildest dreams I'd get this ARC. I have followed Christy on YouTube, following her writing journey with this book since the beginning. Her journey inspired me to write myself, so holding this ebook EARLY in my hands like this is astounding to me still. I cried starting this book, just because I feel like I've been there for every point cheering the author on in her dreams to make this novel a reality. The writing is simply gorgeous. It's so visceral. It perfectly wrapped up how the imagination of children can turn from sugary sweet to worst case scenario in just a change of light. Sometimes, the scenario comes to life. What else could you ask for as a little one than magic? All in the expanse of the PROLOGUE. Christy has managed to fit so much emotion into such tiny sections in relation to the thoughts being shared with the reader. Childhood thoughts, adult thoughts, isn't it all just the same thoughts and dreams but different cultivation? Different circumstances? Along with sharing the spectacular wisps of magic portrayed, this book also shows the hardships of chronic illness and how conquering your own obstacles to obtain those long sought-after dreams make the taste so much sweeter when, if, you can get it. My one note would be to make Lio’s dialogue a bit more mature sounding. He sounds a little too young for his age. Dot I get because of her circumstances, but Lio seems too juvenile for his age set in the novel in the first section. I NEED a physical copy in my hands. The TWISTS. I don't think I expected one of them. I didn't expect to sob either. Christy, why? It made me feel like I was family. Like I was home. 5 ⭐ 

[_linnslibrary_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgally for this early copy to read and review!
First of all I need to say how impressed I am by this being a debut novel. I could feel when I read how much work and research have been put into this book over time! The writing and the world was very whimsical and beautiful and I felt like I was in it with the characters.

I think the Prolouge and Epilogue of the book were both so beautiful, and it made the start and the end of the books so good! I am glad this was a standalone and the ending of the story was perfect in my opinion. The worldbuilding and the magic system was amazing and I really enjoyed every little new thing we learned about the magic. Also there is something special for me when magic is forbidden in a book - it makes it even more exiting when people use it!

The found family aspect must be my favorite part of the book. I loved how the diverse set of people found each other and just made their own kind of wierd family! Especially because a lot of the characters had terrible family members that where very mean to them when they did not deserve it..
I think a lot of the characters were well written and we got to know their backstories which I appreciated. There where a few characters, ecpecially one that I did not like as much and I could not really get a grip on what kind of character he was supposed to be, but he did get better in the end. Also the villain(s) in the story was well written and they where easy to hate because of the mean stuff they did. And last but not least all the emotions this book made me feel! I felt happy, love, sad, angry, hate and every different motion towards the characters and the things they did or experience.

Very thankful to get to read this early and I will keep my eyes up for more books from this author!

[Verity Rowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a privilege to have received an ARC of this book and I devoured it. It was incredibly immersive from page one, to the point where it was more of a film in my mind than reading words on a page. One of the book’s greatest strengths is the atmospheric writing: gothic, gloomy, and haunting, but also strangely comforting, like being tucked away in an old library whilst it’s raining.

The characters were vividly human. They’re flawed, emotional, messy, and raw in a way that made them feel real rather than idealised, which I loved. The relationships and interactions had emotional weight, and the story never once felt flat. And the ending was extremely satisfying and relatable.

The magic and worldbuilding were beautifully woven into the story, and the emotional progression of the story was incredible to follow, especially for the main character. There were moments of shock, grief, and heartbreak that completely caught me off guard, and several scenes made me weep. The emotional fallout after was handled so well that the grief was tangible and weighty.

The entire experience was gripping. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, constantly eager to know what would happen next. I highlighted so many passages for the morals, life lessons, or simply for their poetic nature because the writing itself was memorable.

This is an immersive, emotionally intense gothic fantasy with vivid characters, rich atmosphere, and writing that lingers long after you finish. I’m so grateful I had the chance to read it early.

[MEET · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read the book, but the enthusiasm, the hard work, the tears, the love Christy has put in is just so adorable and respectful.

I started following her in 2023, as a way to motivate myself to write. I have started a writing routine, since a month daily for an hour. I am grateful for her to depict the process very energetically. Looking forward to reading it.

If I get to become an author, she would be a top list of authors as inspiration.

[Karlich Todo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am want to read this books so bad. from her writing style to her writing vlogs. i have been following her journey from years and now finally she is getting what she deserved. I am obsessed with Christy Anne jones. WE LOVE YOU!!!

[Rose Ella]

I am so excited to read this, it's way too far away, I need this book nowwwww - but I'm happy to wait a little more, because I'm certain this book is worth it.
So happy for you Christy, you deserve it! <3

[ML Bisset]

I've just discovered Christy's vlog and love how she captured all of the steps and ups and downs in getting her novel published. I have pre-ordered her book and cannot wait to get it and read it! I am also in the beginnings of writing my first novel.

Congrats Christy!

[Shaimaa Magdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot WAIT, Christy!!

[A A]

Hope there is romance!

[Ari (Head in a Book)]

Been waiting for this since the very first "Project Teacup" mention on her channel

[Anya]

This is the only booktuber I would ever want to support. Congrats Christie.

Let's go 2026!

[Lynn Jung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review will have to wait, but this was one of the most atmospheric books I've read in a LONG while. Be hyped y'all!!!

[Val Galstyan]

I cannot wait to read this book.