I like how the author utilizes horror-fantasy elements to craft a surreal story about the environmental damage that capitalism and gentrification cause. The setting is also very interesting and contributes a lot to the novel’s overall charm. However, I think the pacing is too inconsistent. The author has many statements to make, but she throws them all together in such an unsubtle way, so sometimes the book feels all over the place. This is not to say Coffee in Vain is a bad book. It isn't. I believe it has a lot of potential but just requires better execution.