The Teashop Girls

Teashop Girls #1

by Laura Schaefer, Sujean Rim (Illustrator)

The Official Rules of the Teashop Girls

1. Teashop girls are best friends forever.
2. Tea is held every week, no matter what.
3. All tea and scones must be split equally at all times.

Annie, Genna, and Zoe have been hanging out at the Steeping Leaf since elementary school. The Teashop Girls do everything together -- at least they used to. With the end of eighth grade approaching, Genna's too busy with theater, Zoe's always at tennis, and Annie feels totally left out. What happened to tea every week, no matter what?

When Annie convinces her grandmother to give her a job as a barista at the Leaf, things begin to look up. In between whipping up chai lattes for customers, and attempting to catch the attention of her Barista Boy crush, Annie is finally beginning to feel as grown-up as her best friends. But an eviction notice spells trouble for the Leaf and unless they can turn the business around, the teashop will have to close its doors forever.

Fresh, honest, and sweet, Laura Schaefer's debut novel is sure to resonate with readers everywhere.

Genres: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Childrens, Tea

256 pages, Hardcover

First published December 30, 2008

About the author

Laura Schaefer is the author of A LONG WAY FROM HOME (Lerner Book Group, October 4, 2022); LITTLER WOMEN: A Modern Retelling (Paula Wiseman Books, Sept. 5, 2017), The Secret Ingredient (2011), and The Teashop Girls (2008).

Visit Laura online at lauraschaeferwriter.com and follow her on Twitter (@teashopgirl).

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. The premise sounded really cute and totally my "cup of tea" ;-) I loooove tea. I loved my grandparents. I helped out my family in their home business as I was growing-up. So, I was all prepared to love the story of Annie Green, 8th grader, tea fanatic, and newest employee at her grandmother's teashop. I mean, you don't see a lot of books about 13 year olds who enjoy sipping tea out of dainty china cups, spending time with their grandma, and could tell you the difference between high tea and low tea, do you?

Unfortunately, the storytelling just didn't come together for me. I didn't feel like enough happened, or the pacing was off. If I hadn't brought this as my book-for-breaks at work, it probably would have collected dust at home. The crisis is a solid one--Annie's grandma's teashop is suffering from financial problems and may have to close. Annie and her best friends Zoe and Genna (the three "Tea Shop Girls") launch a campaign to try to save the shop and are especially dedicated since they spent so many happy hours there as girls. I did appreciate that the girls took active roles in trying to save the shop, and some of their ideas were both creative and productive. However, the plot was mired by a slow pace and lack of solid character development in some cases. For example, I never got a clear idea of what the grandma was thinking or feeling with regards to her shop. Why she loved the shop so dearly because she and her late husband had run it together and was proud of its old-fashioned, non-chain style, yet then allowed a complete overhaul for the shop to look like the competition rather than retiring and letting the shop close with all its original glory? Too, I felt that the author struggled trying to make Annie's voice authentic. On one hand, Annie seemed very mature for her age, but then the author kept popping in some, like, random teen speak, like, you know? and it was totally distracting and felt too forced. I think she tried to fit in a bunch of things, like lessons from the grandma on meditation and yoga, that just didn't feel organic with the story. I'm also not sure what the overall message was supposed to be regarding big corporations vs. mom-and-pop shops. I was uncomfortable with some of the disparaging comments made about the chain coffee shop across the street (though I am all for homegrown businesses, too) yet the resolution of the story made me wonder if perhaps the author meant to hint that sometimes the money that comes from successful business ventures can be helpful, so the messages were rather mixed.

So, overall, I did appreciate some elements of the story and it was nice to see such as the cozy focus to a tween story (the boy drama is pretty mild and I like that Annie is such a "good girl") and the girls' creativity and tenacity in trying to help save the Steeping Leaf. I also loved the idea of including vintage tea advertisements and some tea-time recipes and party ideas. But, overall, reading the book was more like taking a sip of tepid tea--it could have been so delicious but my reaction was similarly lukewarm.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it possible to fall in love with a book? If it is, The Teashop Girls (2008 ) by Laura Schaefer, with illustrations by Sujean Rim, now holds my heart. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, especially since I am not actually much of a tea drinker, but as soon as I saw the cover and the illustration of The Steeping Leaf I knew this book would have my undying devotion. I know I keep banging readers over the head with what I'm trying to point out with my Chick Lit Wednesday Reviews, but really this book embodies what a CLW book should be.

But that doesn't tell you what it's actually about.

Annie Green and her best friends Genna and Zoe have been drinking tea at the Steeping Leaf since grade school when they founded an exclusive group called The Teashop Girls. More than a fondness of tea is required in order to be a proper Teashop Girl, there are rules:

1) Teashop Girls are best friends forever.

2) Tea is held every week, no matter what.

3) All tea and scones must be split equally at all times.

Unfortunately, somewhere between elementary school and the end of eighth grade, the girls lost track of their weekly ritual. Genna is busy trying to start her acting career and Zoe is always practicing for tennis, leaving Annie feeling very alone.

For Annie, the logical solution is to convince her grandmother Louisa to hire Annie as a barista. Just because the Teashop Girls don't have tea every week anymore, it doesn't mean Annie can't spend her spare time there, right?

With a new job, and a new crush on her Barista Boy coworker, Annie finally feels as focused as her friends. It isn't the same, but Annie is enjoying her time at the Leaf. Until the lights go out. Working with her grandmother, Annie realizes the Leaf's future is tenuous--an eviction notice could spell the end of the beloved tea shop for good.

Luckily, another Teashop Girl rule is that "A Teashop Girl will always help other Teashop Girls in need." So, with Zoe and Genna's help, Annie sets out to save their beloved Steeping Leaf with varying ideas ranging from sheer genius to, well, less than successful.

Aside from saving the Steeping Leaf, this book's main story is about friendship. Specifically, The Teashop Girls is about how Annie and her friends reconnect and realize that, no matter what else changes in their lives, being a Teashop Girl is forever.n (Just recently I was wishing for a book where romance was not tcentral to the plot, and/or where I did not want it to be, and it wasn't a big deal. This is that book.)

This is what I would call a middle grade book (the jacket sleeve recommends the book for ages 8 to 14 which seems spot on), which would be comfortably defined as either a children's or young adult book. It also seemed really authentic. Annie narrates this novel as if she is talking to the reader, an affectation that often fails writers. Here, however, it worked perfectly because Schaefer's characters were so vibrant and just real.

Another great feature was the book design. The cover was great because, as readers will learn, it totally shows Annie. I also loved the inclusion of Annie's "handwritten" lists and notes as well as Genna's illustrations and excerpts from the girls' tea handbook. It was a feature that made the book feel as unique and charming as The Steeping Leaf sounds. Schaefer also includes some recipes from the girls and tea related quotes/ads that are sure to amuse tea enthusiasts while informing tea novices like myself.

I don't think I've ever called a book both heartwarming and cheerful, but this one was. The Teashop Girls put me in a good mood as soon as I got and kept me in good spirits right to the end. One of the best books for girls that I have read recently.

You can find this review and more on my blog Miss Print

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the idea of a book centered around a tea shop! The tea quotes and old adverts were included in all or most of the chapters were delightful! And, I love tea :)
But for me this book just fell kinda flat. There were a lot of plots going on ... Perhaps too many... But none felt developed enough, like there wasn't enough prep or resolution, so instead the whole book felt the same chapter after chapter. And by the end I didn't really feel like anything was much different from where it started.

Our protagonist, Annie, is in her last months of middle school and filled with the variety of emotions that coincided. She concerned about, not only what will high school be like, but also that her two best friends and herself seem to be drifting apart. I never felt enough connection to feel the drift, and the drift never felt that big or eventful.
Annie herself felt at once very mature, but then, like, you know, a typical teenager, with, like, annoying vocab. The thing was, this felt throw in, as did Annie's flippancy to her immediate family, and at times her actions, and the actions of her friends, seemed too much out of character (nothing bad, this book is definitely a "G" rating, I think, but it felt like Annie should be more mature than the author usually let her be).

The boys. There's the annoying one that keeps pestering Annie. There's the older boy who is gorgeous but more into Annie's older sister than Annie herself. I really don't know why this was in here. I kept trying to come up with reasons why these characters would be important to the plot, but there was never enough introspection for it to really matter to Annie. I was annoyed by Annie's on again - off again love and annoyance with the older boy. I got the sense, we were supposed to dislike him, but I couldn't tell where he'd done anything really wrong to warrant her dislike (but then the next chapter she'd be in love with him again with no reference to her dislike in the previous chapter...)

The tea shop: The Steeping Leaf is a dear little old shop, a local business that, either because of the owner's lack of business sense, or the chain store around the bend, The Leaf can't quite make ends meet. So, when the owner's granddaughter, Annie, comes to work at the shop and learns of its troubles, she (Annie) is determined to save the shop.
I did love Annie's unyielding determination and ingenuity to try and save the shop, and how her friends were willing to help where they could.
This was the one plot point that seemed fully developed -- but sadly, for me, it fizzled at the end. I honestly don't know what the message was that we were supposed to take away... Because, basically, it seemed like there was nothing in the previous 200 pages of the book that actually effected the end result. And I don't know what the characters were supposed to have learned, or how they'd grown. Plus, there's a lot of 'buy local' messages (which is fine, but not always the solution) and the crack about wholesellers seemed unwarranted. After all, the Steeping Leaf isn't the only company that has to make a profit to survive.

Overall I wanted so much more from this book - it sounded like a wonderful, nice, sweet, savvy book for tweens, but in the end there just wasn't enough to it to make it a quick or enrapturing read.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most darling story of a plucky 8th grader and her two best friends trying to save her awesome grandma's wonderful teashop from going out of business. This being Wisconsin and not the middle of England, it faces stiff competition from a new corporate coffee shop, but since it's a middle grade novel, odds are that it will have a shiny happy ending.

More importantly, what helps it stand out from other books are the delicious recipes, old tea ads, extra uses for tea and other things from the MC's "tea scrapbook." I'm honestly not a huge fan of tea, but I want to be, and this book made it so irresistible that I bought a box promising fruit flavors and have been enthralled with it for a week straight, albeit while adding a generous amount of sweeteners to negate the health benefits.

[Update: I would just like to state for the record that this book really did turn me into someone who loves tea! I can't imagine my life without it, and that traces directly back to here.]

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read. It was nice that Annie was willing to work so hard to help her grandma save her shop. I like dhow her two best friends were there to help. Even though they fought they were able to make up in the end. I remember being that age and getting into some petty fights. Thankfully these girls didn't let it ruin their relationship.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Sentence Reviews: I usually don't gravitate towards the girly girl books, but this was one of the more enjoyable (and delicious) titles I had the pleasure to discover late in the year.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was amazing I loved reading it. I wish the Steeping Leaf was real! Want to try tea now! Loved that there was recipes at the end of some of the chapters.

[Seobin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay. I liked this because
1. It's about delicious food although I'm not too big on teas...
2. The illustrations were fascinating and pretty
3. Because Zoe was a likable character(she is not the main character)
4. The concept of whole book was inspiring.
However, I felt that the author wrote a very shallow version of what could have been. The book "could have been" a nostalgic and heartrending piece but our narrator, Annie proved to be an 8th grader who wants to grow up but just doesn't want to. She is full of contradictions, this Annie. To be honest, I found her more obnoxious than the so called "world revolves around her" Genna and Zach, the cute boy who throws spitball over the place. Personally, I'm a little doubtful of Jonathan as well- and Louisa. Jonathan's tactics on saving the Stepping Leaf sounds risky, and almost unreasonable. As a student of economics, he failed utterly- I just hope he learns from his mistake and never try trading or a marketing as a source of income... But Louisa agrees with him, because her granddaughter wanted to please the hot cute guy, who was evidently crushing on her sister. I wouldn't depend on a 8th grade immature girl and a high schooler with a cute face but who will most likely fail his economics class.... to save my Hidden Leaf which she shared memories with her sociable husband...

[Rif · Rating 4 out of 5]

SELESAI! \(^0^)/

Nggak paham kenapa sempet ngadet baca buku ini, padahal bukunya manis banget. Sepertinya aku mulai suka buku-buku remaja-nya teen@noura, rasanya beda sama buku-buku ala teenlit atau metropop.

Kalau dibanding buku-buku 'yang ngakunya ditujukan untuk remaja' di luar sana, kayaknya lini teen@noura ini benar-benar 'remaja'. Masa-masa SMP gitu, peralihan dari anak kecil ke dewasa, ketika persahabatan diuji. halah! Pokoknya kalau aku sih lebih suka baca buku 'remaja' yang nggak fokus di masalah percintaan, soalnya masalah 'cinta' itu terlalu dewasa untuk ada di dunia remaja.

Buku ini, lucu dan manis banget, banyak hal-hal seputar teh, tradisi lokal, dan hal-hal kecil yang menurut Annie Green (tokoh utama di buku ini) sangat berarti: Kedai teh "Steeping leaf", Nenek Louisa, Gadis-Gadis Kedai Teh (Zoe + Genna), Jonathan, dan Madison. Pernah merasa bahwa hal yang sangat berarti bagimu diabaikan oleh orang lain tapi tidak peduli seberapa sulitnya, kamu tetap mau mempertahankannya dan membuat orang lain menganggap hal itu penting? Annie Green pernah. Aku pun pernah. Tokoh-tokoh fiksi seperti Tinker Bell dan Peter Pan, misalnya..

Masa remaja itu, sebenarnya bukan masalah cinta, tapi masalah kamu harus melalui perpisahan-perpisahan. Dari SD ke SMP, dari SMP ke SMA, dari SMA ke bangku kuliah. Lalu apa yang jadi masalah? Bukan perpisahannya, tapi perasaan tidak ingin tumbuh dewasa karena rindu melakukan aktivitas-aktivitas di masa lalu. Ditambah perasaan bahwa kamu tumbuh dewasa lebih cepat dari sahabat-sahabatmu yang terlalu banyak bermain.. atau sebaliknya, sahabat-sahabatmu tampak terlalu cepat mendewasa sampai sulit punya waktu bermain lagi denganmu. Akhir buku ini benar-benar menyentuh, atau paling tidak, buat diriku sendiri. That what I often feel!

Dipikir-pikir, semua orang pasti punya perasaan itu. Masalahnya, apa semuanya bisa mengakui rasa rindu akan rutinitas lama? Apa semuanya tetap bisa saling mendukung untuk masa depan?

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Dan review ini jadi curhat. Sudahlah, baca saja buku ini. Kalau tidak bisa menangkap maksudku meski sudah baca buku ini, anggap aja aku yang sedang sentimentil. Sekian.

P.S. Tadinya mau kasih bintang 3 karena buku ini ringan, dan sama sekali bukan fantasi. Tapi berhubung akhir buku ini menyentuh dan aku mau buku ini difilmkan, aku beri 4 saja ;)

Si Annie ini nggak nyadar apa kalau Zach suka sama dia? Atau alam bawah sadar aku aja yang sok tau bilang kalau Zach itu suka sama dia?

P.S. (lagi) biasanya aku nggak suka buku yang girly dan alurnya terlalu nge-flow tanpa kejutan, tapi yang ini benar-benar bisa dinikmati :')

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Begitu lihat cover buku ini, langsung suka (maklumlah, aku masih jenis org yg menilai buku dari covernya): gadis brindil berambut merah (mengingatkanku pada Anne of Green Gables) membawa nampan berisi poci teh yang lucu dengan motif polkadot dan kue-kue kecil. Pemeran utama di buku ini pun namanya hampir mirip, yaitu Annie Green.

Kalo di Anne of Green Gables, si Anne adalah anak lincah, ceria dan tidak bisa diam. Yang ada dibayanganku dia seperti di lagunya Vina Panduwinata (Kumpul Bocah) dimana anak-anak berlari kesana kemari, tidak bisa diam persis bola bekel. Annie Green tidak seperti itu, namun gesit dan cerdasnya sama.

Teashop Girls berkisah tentang persahabatan tiga orang anak perempuan yang berteman sejak mereka berusia 5 tahun; Annie, Genna dan Zoe. Sejak kecil mereka sering diajak ibu-ibu mereka yang hang-out di kedai teh (arisan kali yee) nah, anak-anak mereka akhirnya jadi berteman dan memiliki waktu spesial bertiga deh. Nenek Annie, Louisa, menjamu mereka seolah mereka adalah putri-putri kerajaan yang sedang menikmati acara minum teh di sore hari seperti Ratu Inggris.

Menginjak remaja, ketika teman-temannya sibuk dengan kegiatan masing-masing, Annie memberanikan diri untuk meminta Louisa mempekerjakannya di kedai sebagai barista. Annie yakin dia mampu melakukan tugas seorang barista, karena sejak kecil Louisa telah mengajarinya cara menyeduh teh dengan sempurna.

Namun ternyata bekerja menjadi seorang barista tidak semudah dan sesederhana yang dia sangka. Ketika Annie mulai menyelami seluk beluk bisnis neneknya, Annie diharuskan menghadapi permasalahan-permasalahan yang menimpa kedai teh Louisa. Dan Annie pun tergerak untuk melakukan sesuatu. Masalah bertambah ketika cowok yang dia sukai ternyata tidak balik suka padanya, dan salah satu sahabatnya harus pergi selama musim panas, dan itu berarti berkurang satu orang yang akan membantunya.

Bagaimana sepak terjang Annie Green dalam upayanya menyelamatkan bisnik neneknya yang hampir gulung tikar itu?

Dibumbui cerita lucu tentang ayah Annie yang doyan pakai kaus bertulisan aneh-aneh, bertaburan tips-tips dan resep-resep yang pastinya bisa dipraktekkan, buku ini dijamin bisa bikin kamu betah berlama-lama baca sambil ngemil ;)

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best friends Annie, Genna, and Zoe have done everything together since forever, or at least, they used to. But now that they’re almost graduating middle school, the Teashop Girls seem to be growing apart since Zoe is always at tennis and Genna is busy with theatrical productions. Feeling a little left out, Annie decides to start working at her grandmother’s teashop, The Steeping Lead, the old hangout of the Teashop Girls. But happiness over her newfound independence and proximity to her super cute coworker-slash-crush is short lived when it becomes apparent that The Steeping Lead is in financial trouble—if business doesn’t pick up, the teashop will have to permanently close its doors. Annie refuses to give up on the teashop and enlists all the help she can find to embark on a crusade to save the quaint teashop and her beloved childhood hangout.

The Teashop Girls is a cute and sweet story about friendship and perseverance. Interspaced with interesting fun facts about the history of tea, cute stories involving tea, and yummy sounding recipes, this novel reminds me a bit of a scrapbook in the best possible way; the story is solid and enjoyable but the extras are the icing on the cake. Readers won’t be able to resist Annie’s determination to save The Steeping Leaf and her no-nonsense if sometimes immature attitude. Schaefer includes some of the difficulties that accompany the transition between childhood and the teen years, such as boy drama and personality changes that can potentially tear friendships apart, but it isn’t overdone by piling too many of these problems on Annie. I really liked the innocence and sweetness of the Teashop Girls, and their niceness and positivity kept a smile on my face. The Teashop Girls made for a fun and satisfying read with plenty of youthful joy and an adorable happy ending.

The Teashop Girls is likely aimed at the middle grade audience but older teens can still enjoy this cute read. Readers who liked 3 Willows by Ann Brashares and The Curse of Addy McMahon by Katie Davis will also like The Teashop Girls.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Earlier this week, I finsihed reading The Teashop Girls b Laura Schaefer. This is just a lovely book in every way. It's perfectly formatted with black-and-white illustrations at the ends of the chapters, the tea-themed quotes at the beginnings. The tidbits concerning the history of tea and the proper way to drink tea, the old advertisements for different tea brands, it's all totally delightful. This book has kind of made me want to pick up one of Laura Childs' teashop mysteries, and I am not heavily invested in tea.

I've never read a cozy mystery, but I imagine this must be the juvenile equivalent--sans mystery. Cozy is exactly the word I'd use to describe it; there are no bad people, no villains (except an imagined one or two), no real danger (except that of a beloved teashop closing), and no deep relationship problems. It's a warm book filled with a lot of love and some good characters.

Annie is 13 years old, in eighth grade, and loves everything about tea. Her grandmother, Louisa, owns a teashop called The Steeping Leaf, and Annie's thrilled when Louisa allows her to become a barista there. Annie quickly discovers that the Leaf is in trouble due to flagging popularity and the arrival of a commercial coffee chain on the street. Annie quickly determines to save the Leaf--and to recruit her two best friends, both of whom formed a club with Annie when they were very young called the Teashop Girls, to help her save the shop. Zoe and Genna each have their own interests, now, though, and Annie sometimes feels like she's not getting any help and as if the Leaf can't be saved.

I don't know what else to say about this book. Read it. It's wonderful. This is a book that someday, I'll want to share with my niece, or with a hypothetical daughter.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soon-to-be-fourteen-year-old Annie loves hanging out at her grandmother Louisa's beautiful, old-fashioned tea shop. It's cozy and familiar and makes Annie happy, especially when she remembers how she and her two best friends Genna and Zoe, used to hang out every day sipping tea. They loved the ritual and the history of tea. They were inseparable and called themselves the Teashop girls. Now with high school fast approaching, Gen is busy chasing boys and doing theater and Zoe is obsessed with tennis. Only Annie seems to have time for the shop anymore. Annie is thrilled when she successfully convinces Louisa to hire her, especially since there is a cute sophomore boy helping out with shop inventory. But when the lights go out in the store, Annie realizes that the shop is in trouble. She's determined to save the place she loves, keep Louisa in town and win the admiration of the boy she likes. With the help of Genna and Zoe, Annie embarks on an ambitious plan to save the shop. They have very little time and fear that their archenemy's parents are going to bulldoze the shop in favor of condos. As Genna and Zoe turn more to outside interests, Annie is hurt and confused but still determined to do whatever it takes to save the place she loves most in the world. Annie is very realistic and she deals with her problems in a practical, mature way. Her friends are rather stereotypical though and I would have liked the book better without the friendship subplot. The teashop sounds fantastic and I would love to live there. The real charm of the book lies in the drawings, vintage tea advertisements, anecdotes and recipes. This is a sweet, inspirational story for middle-school girls who may be going through that difficult transition period from childhood to young adulthood.

[melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was so refreshing. With all the dystopian and vampire stories that are out there (I have read quite a few myself, not dissing nothin‘!), it is nice to have a sweet plot line. I like the writing, because it is set at an age that could come across as very whiny, angst-y and self absorbed. And although she had typical teen stuff to deal with, it never felt that way. It is set at an age where you feel like you can take on the world, and that came across very well.

A thought came up as I was reading. Do groups of 3 friends every really work, in life. My experience is no (at least as teenagers). Inevitably it ends up two against one, and things fall apart. It was nice to see it working here, even if it was a book.

I found the ending a little ideal, but lovely. And you know what? This was the kind of story that it works well for. It was very satisfying in this case.

It also reminded me, once again, how much more kids do, and have to deal with now. School, jobs, activities, family responsibility, and still have time for some down time, maybe even a relationship. I guess we had all those things, but for some reason it seems like so much more now. Hmmm, wonder if it’s the times or an age thing?

Anyhow, I will be recommending this book to people, and will definitely be searching out more by this author in the future.

[Carolynne]

More middle grade than YA--if you like The Mother-Daughter Bookclub books, you will like this. Lots of value added: tea recipes, beauty tips (using tea), vintage tea ads, tea quotes, and so on. The delicate watercolor (only black and white) illustrations by Sujean Rim are perfect. A little pre-teen romance that perhaps doesn't turn out the way you expected, the book is really about friendship, how fragile it can be, and yet how strong. The Madison, Wisconsin setting is a real plus for me, since it is one of my favorite cities.

[Uci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Syukurlah ada teh. Apa yang terjadi jika dunia ini tanpa teh? Bagaimana mungkin dunia bisa ada? Aku senang aku tak terlahir sebelum teh - Sydney Smith

Buku yang ringan dan manis tentang persahabatan, masa puber, dan kesadaran generasi muda untuk menyelamatkan bisnis lokal dari serbuan bisnis waralaba yang serba seragam di seluruh dunia.

Ilustrasi-ilustrasi cantik di dalamnya jadi nilai plus buat novel ini :)

[Alaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I live in Madison, so I could easily picture all of the places that were mentioned:)

[Summer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. A couple things here and there kept me from fully falling in love with this one, I did enjoy it though and I could see it being a favorite for young girls who aren’t quite ready yet for YA but want to dip their toe into things like crushes and strained friendships.

I spent the novel wishing Annie’s crush was more worthy of crushing on. There is certainly some realism in not really looking beyond appearance especially at thirteen years old but I just really wanted a deeper reason for Annie to be interested in this boy, particularly when she made decisions about her grandmother’s shop, compromising her own sensibilities in large part to impress him.

While I loved that Annie is so proactive about trying to save the tea shop, it seemed like a stretch that an adult would take out a bank loan and make massive changes to their business on the advice of two young teenagers (though maybe that in part explains why the grandmother’s shop is in trouble). Things may have been a little easier to swallow had Annie’s parents been more involved alongside Annie in the grandmother’s struggles and actually I wanted more of Annie’s family in the story, a few more conversations with her parents and interactions with her siblings would have been really welcome.

Aside from the cute illustrations and tea advertisements sprinkled throughout, the other super charming aspect of this book is the sense of place whether describing the flowers in Madison, Wisconsin or all the details inside the tea shop and the rapport with the customers, it was just so picturesque, it makes you wish you could stop in for a visit.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one feels like it may be okay for my just-turned-10-year-old, but maybe only because she doesn’t get the guy. I like how it was clearly presented as her crushing on a guy who has no actual interest in her, even after she realized that truth. And that she eventually recognized the lack of things in common, and seemed to give up on him then.
The saving of the shop seemed unrealistic - there would have needed to be more of an uptick in customers that last month for anyone business-savvy to be willing to “save” the place like that. But, hey, it’s not written for me, so I guess I’ll let it slide…but not without that comment!
I’m not a fan of the frequent mentions of meditation, feng shui, zen, etc. If my daughter chooses to read it, we’ll be having discussions about those. They do often “go” with tea and such, but they aren’t part of how we choose to live, so I’ll be making sure none of that enters into my kids’ thought processes without input from me on what we believe is the way to handle stress, difficulties, anger, etc.

[Ciara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirteen-year-old Annie Green has always loved the Steeping Leaf, her grandmother's tea shop. She and her two best friends, Genna and Zoe, used to hang out there all the time. But now that Genna has theater and Zoe has tennis, it's becoming harder for them to find time to have tea together like they used to. And when Annie learns that the teashop might be closing for good unless she can save it, she decides that it's up to her and her friends (and the barista boy she's crushing on) to make sure that the Steeping Leaf stays in business.

Overall, I thought this was a great book. The characters were great and it dealt with change in a realistic way. I also liked that it included recipes and tea facts; it shows that Annie is a tea enthusiast and I just thought it was fun that those were included. If your middle schooler likes books about strong friendships, or if you're looking for a book that deals with change in a way that they can understand and relate to, I would definitely recommend The Teashop Girls.

[pennyroyaltea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it may seem like an adolescent book, i enjoyed so much while i was reading. When i borrowed Teashop Girls from library i was insane to start it as soon as possible and i did. I don't know why this book warmed my heart and give me such positive feelings but only thing i know is this book is one of my best recommendations for young child who are interested in tea and homemade recipes. Annie was such a cute and unique character. I found Louisa pretty similar to me in many aspects. And i really enjoooyeed and chilled while i was reading this cozy book.
And my friends, best suggestion from me to you would be if you are interested in history of tea and have dreams of opening a herbal teashop, you should immediately get Teashop Girls book. In a sweet summer day, lay down on your couch, take a cup of your favourite herbal tea and enjoy the cozy atmosphere of Lousia's magical café.

[Ayesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

goodreads recommended this to to me because i had read both The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and The Mother-Daughter Book Club series, and that is exactly what The Teashop Girls is - a perfect cross between those two books, a little more aged-up than The Book Club and a little aged-down than The Sisterhood. i loved it! especially all the tea-related quotes and recipes and everything, plus it was a pretty great story, fun, light hearted and easy to read.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, but a couple dated cultural references were a bit jarring. For example, there's a throwaway reference to Trump as an example of a rich guy. This book was clearly written well before his presidency, but reading this today, there are a whole lot of other associations that one can't help but think about when seeing his name. It's literally one sentence, but it threw me completely out of the story for a bit.

I wanted to love it more, but while a cute premise, nothing really grabbed me other than the teashop itself. I would love to visit the Steeping Leaf. And I also loved the little vintage tea ads between chapters. They were fun.

[Harumichi Mizuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sungguh cerita yang sangat hangat dan menggugah. Aku senang karena para Gadis Kedai Teh yang masih kelas 8 ini beneran berbuay sesuatu yang nyata untuk menyelamatkan Kedai Teh Steeping Leaf milik Louisa. Benar-benar iri sama cerita para anak muda yang begitu aktif. Terobosan mereka nggak main-main loh. Mulai dari bikin kerja sama bareng Samadhi Spa, bikin campaign bagi-bagi teh peach jahe secara gratis di sekolah, malam pembacaan puisi, mengundang jurnalis lokal, sampai mempromosikan acara minum teh pada para gadis kecil.

Aku beneran surprised sama endingnya. Solusi bagi Steeping Leaf yang nyaris tutup beneran nggak terduga. Apa Zach Anderson sebenarnya naksir Annie Green? Hahaha.

[Adri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a cozy read! Annie’s parents and friends were so supportive, and even as a non-tea lover, this story really stole my heart. Annie’s grandmother was so sweet and always supported her—everyone deserves a grandmother like her. Beth wasn’t really the best sister, and her brothers were pretty annoying too—I totally understood Annie’s frustration! Tbh, I never liked Jonathan with Annie—it just didn’t feel right. But when she finally realized he wasn’t worth her time and started prioritizing herself, I was cheering for her. Better late than never, right? Definitely a warm, feel-good read for anyone who loves friendship, self-growth, and a touch of sweetness.

[mia albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

my grandma gifted me this book, (signed by the author!) around four years ago and i fell in love with this heartwarming story about a girl and her passionate mission to save a fading tea shop. Annie is cute, spunky, and imaginative. there’s romance, competition and drama as Annie takes on this challenge. the writing and perhaps audience is more middle-school, but still this story is one of my favorites. ALSO scattered throughout the book are vintage tea ads and diy recipes. 🥺 so frickin cute
5/5

[Stacy Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally dislike girly books, because I've never related to anything that happens in the story. This book has a stereotypical girly setting, but I enjoyed it very much. You can say it has been my "cup of tea", comparing to all the other girly books I've tried to get myself to read.

[Karin Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute book. You will learn a lot about tea, a little meditation and eighth grade maturity. The main character is not perfect and learns a lot of good lessons. She has a crush on an older boy, but learns a good lesson there, too. This is a safe book.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was a great book really shows how girls are powerful and can do what they want once they put their minds to it.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. Something about the writing style of The Teashop Girls got on my nerves.