Магічна чайна крамничка Ванесси Ю в Парижі

by Roselle Lim, Богдана Синякевич (Translator), Ірина Веремій (Translator)

Дар передбачення видається для Ванесси справжнісіньким прокляттям, тож вона понад усе прагне його позбутися. Навіть відмовилася від чаю на користь кави, щоб уникати дивних натяків долі на споді чашок і в чайних листочках. Дівчина почувається винною від того, що з людьми навколо трапляються нещастя. Не кажучи вже про власні невдачі, особливо в коханні… Якось вона наважується покинути Каліфорнію та вирушає до Парижа на запрошення тітки. Оце й воно — шанс на нове життя та спроба навчитися контролювати свої здібності! У затишній чайній крамничці Ванесса знаходить спокій… і не тільки. Та чи зможе вона остаточно опанувати свій дар і впоратися з настирливою долею? Хіба можна змінити те, що зірки вже визначили за нас?

Genres: Romance, Magical Realism, Fiction, Contemporary, Fantasy, Adult, Audiobook

320 pages, Hardcover

First published August 4, 2020

About the author

Roselle Lim was born in the Philippines and immigrated to Canada as a child. She lived in north Scarborough in a diverse, Asian neighbourhood.

She found her love of writing by listening to her lola (paternal grandmother's) stories about Filipino folktales. Growing up in a household where Chinese superstition mingled with Filipino Catholicism, she devoured books about mythology, which shaped the fantasies in her novels.

An artist by nature, she considers writing as "painting with words."

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what I need! This is amazing way the escape from the reality and let your minds get a free ticket to a colorful, entertaining, romantic and magical journey! It was like virtual Disneyland tour with Eastern cultural vibrations! This book brings out the happy child I hid inside and help me see the beauties of the world in these bleak and dark days!

Prophecies, matchmakers, magical realism, lots of delicious pastries, tea parties with predictions and true, heartfelt, poignant, beautiful romance in one of the glamorous cities of the world. The love is pure, eccentric and special in Paris.

Vanessa has a talent which is also a curse: she can partly see the future but she cannot control herself and blurts her predictions out in the wrong places at the very wrong times. Do you want examples? She may tell her own cousin in her wedding how she’s going to divorce from her future husband or she reluctantly tells her father about the death of his friend in the middle of a conversation.

Poor Van sees her talent as a curse and after each prediction she suffers from killer headaches. She does not have a normal social life and a longtime romantic relationship because she is afraid of saying something inappropriate to ruin every special thing she has. So she just observes and envies the happy lives of her cousins and works as an accountant to help her family business which she does not truly enjoy but she has no idea what she’s going to do with her life.
'
As you may see Van, surrounded by a noisy, entertaining, over protective army of aunts who want to see her happy, talking with a matchmaker behind her back to arrange a proper husband candidate. But even the matchmaker tells them she is hopeless and she cannot see her HEA. And she gets an offer she cannot reject at the same moment: Her aunt Evelyn who plans to open a tea shop in Paris and who has also talented clairvoyant offers to educate Van with her talent and take her to Paris to help her moving and opening her business.

This is a great offer for Vanessa to take a break from her life and learn how to use her curse/talent and plus she’ll travel to the one of the most exotic and romantic cities of the world.


As you may imagine, when Vanessa takes her first steps to the city and mesmerizes her mind with voracious and enchanting art, tasty food, vivid fashion, fantastic perfumes, she also finds the love of her life even though the prophecy warns her she’ll only spend three days with him, she is ready to take her chances.

As Vanessa tests her ability about foreseeing things, she also finds out another surprising talent she hid for years and she also finds out the big secret that her aunt hides from the family.
Helping her aunt means helping herself because that means the matchmakers’ predictions about their love lives can be changed. They have free will and they can make their own choices by changing their paths. Vanessa is adamant not to let go her true love after 3 days and she is also determined to help her Aunt Evelyn to have her happy ending with the help of her prying, noisy army of the other aunts.

This book made me happy and put a big smile on my face. I had a little hard time to connect with the characters and the story when I read the previous book of the author but this one really exceeded my expectations and I truly enjoyed it.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this feel-good ARC with me in exchange my honest review.

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[len ❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will survive. No matter how hard it seems now, the hurt will fade in time. It does not, however, go away: it’s like a scar. On your worst days, it will reopen, bringing all of the pain with it, but on your best days, you’ll remember the good and feel grateful for the memories.

5-star reads are quite rare for me, but this book deserves nothing but all my love.

Vanessa Yu has the ability to see people’s fortunes, but she’s not happy to have this power. Although she tries her hardest to avoid it, the fortunes find their way into her, one way or another. When Vanessa sees death for the first time, she realizes this is a gift she does not want, and she doesn’t know who or what to turn to except her aunt Evelyn, who seems to share the same ability as her. Adding on to that stress is Vanessa’s mother and aunts setting an appointment for her with a matchmaker from Shanghai, hoping her romantic life comes to life soon.

Since Aunt Evelyn is moving to Paris to open her teashop, Vanessa leaves sunny California and enters the world of romance and fashion, hoping to be able to learn from her aunt’s lessons. With the help of tea leaves and her aunt, Vanessa begins to learn more about herself, her identity, her ability, and what her fate really is.

I really enjoyed this much more than Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune, which I was surprised about, considering Roselle Lim’s debut novel has received more praise. Full of family drama, gossip, humor, and most importantly, love, Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Teashop has become one of my favorite books and favorite reads of 2020. It’s a bummer Roselle Lim doesn't have any more published works or I would be binge-reading them all.

Sometimes, dreams are meant to stay outside the realm of reality. Yearning for the stars won’t bring them to your fingertips.

Lim, again, wrote about the family relationships in a beautiful, realistic, and heartwarming way. In her debut novel, what tugged at my heart the most was the representation of agoraphobia but here, it was the exploration of ones identity. Lim writes about mother-daughter relationships, and while Vanessa and Evelyn aren’t mother and daughter, they did feel at times. Family dynamics and complicated families are some of my favorites to read about. Family support, in general, is beautiful, but toss in drama, unnecessary obstacles, personal interferences, and gossip? I’m all yours.

Vanessa's aunts added a lot to the humor of the book, especially during the Mahjong tournament where they were drunk and gossiping. Some would find them annoying, especially because they're mingling in Vanessa's personal romantic life and setting her up with a matchmaker, and while I can understand that, I didn't seem to mind them after a while, simply because I know it's tradition to be that way. When Vanessa's relatives asked her about her love life, it reminded me of my relatives. It's always the same question, whether they come to our house or I go to theirs: ¿Y el novio? (And the boyfriend?) Truly annoying, but never a miss. They'd set me up if they could.

Vanessa's aunties brought back childhood memories, especially during Thanksgiving and Christmas. My close relatives would come together into our home, and we would eat traditional food while gossiping about drama we know we shouldn't be involved in while playing a traditional game of Lotería. The night would land until midnight or longer, and the times of goodbyes were always the most painful. There was still more to be said and more rounds of Lotería to be played, but our beds were calling our name.

The relationship between Vanessa and her aunt Evelyn was the clear star of the book. Aunt Evelyn had so much love and support for Vanessa in every step she took by her, even when Vanessa angered her, and it showed the real love and support of family. Vanessa, although not the same, saw what Evelyn didn’t see in herself, and although she had to lie and hide from her, her reasons were for the best. Even when Auntie Evelyn got mad at Vanessa, there was no denying it would pass soon. I think their relationship was one of the most beautiful relationships I've read about.

“In any other case, I would say life is unfair, that every crumb of happiness is hard won. However, if there’s anything that you’ve taught me, it’s that anything is possible and, sometimes, you get what you wish for.”

I found Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune to be much more lyrical in terms of writing, but Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Teashop is nevertheless beautiful in its own magical way. Roselle Lim is a gifted writer, I say - she makes her books page turners, quick and easy to breeze through while whisking you away into her fictional and magical world. While in Natalie Tan’s world we were introduced to Chinatown in San Francisco, here we are brought from San Francisco to Paris, France, and I can proudly say that the experience was definitely one I would want to visit again.

Roselle managed to make me feel as if I was visiting Paris, and it was a lovely destination. Paris seems like a dream to visit, but I’m also intimated by it. The food, the fashion, the people, the love - it feels as if it is a place I would not be able to fit in. With that aside, the book was a remarkable bright excursion. I loved the descriptive illustrations and atmosphere Lim weaved together - from the locations to the foods, the imagery is bright, vivid, and felt. It was comforting and easy to imagine everything being depicted. In my opinion, the author combined rich and simple words together to create the perfect descriptions, which didn’t feel too descriptive nor were too simply made. I appreciate the author (again) for managing to create a story that is comprehensible and clear.

What I also really enjoyed much more was the romance. While I loved Daniel, Marc stole my heart from the very beginning. I mean, can I really resit a tall, dark-haired Canadian-born pastry chef living in Paris who knows some of the best pastry and coffee shops in Paris, offers to be Vanessa's tour guide, draws a heart-shaped croissant for her, and has a picture of her laughing which he uses to say she is the reason he looks forward to every day? The answer is no, I really can’t.

Marc was a charmer. He loved and cared for Vanessa, and even though romance wasn’t the biggest part of the book, it played a large part, much more than Natalie Tan’s. I couldn’t wait for every interaction Marc and Vanessa were set for, and I was rooting for them in every way possible. Dare I say, I almost cried, but for a good and valid reason. Relationships like theirs are some of my favorites to read about. They make you feel as if it’s a wrong relationship that wouldn’t last, but deep down inside, you know they’re fighting to be together. Deep down, I knew Lim wouldn’t break my heart and leave poor Vanessa alone. I couldn’t accept that she was heartless like that.

Marc plucked a stray petal from my hair. “I almost feel bad for the denuded magnolia trees.”
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
“You are, yes.”

While the book shares its elements of happiness and bright colors, it also doesn’t shy away from its strong topics, such as racism and xenophobia. Right from the beginning, Vanessa encounters a scene of prejudice, and throughout the novel, we learn that both her and her aunt have been put in similar positions multiple times, moments they can never escape.

When Evelyn’s rumor and boycott was spreading, it reminded me of how much prejudice, hate, racism, xenophobia, and overall, ignorance, was set against Chinese people not only in the U.S. but in other countries as well. Without actually knowing Evelyn and understanding her, people turned away from her tea shop, indirectly admitting to believing the rumors, not being supportive of her business whatsoever, and there was clear evidence that her ethnicity had to do with it. Comparing it to the current COVID crisis, it reminded me of how many people started mocking and blaming Chinese people for COVID-19, and how much many of them lost in terms of business. It's sad how many individuals will instantly blame a whole group for something and not realize their ignorance.

But they raised their daughters to not accept the world’s limitations. They fought for us and taught us to fight. These were women I wanted to be. As a pack, my aunties could conquer a small country.

There was nothing about Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Teashop that I did not like. Everything in this was perfect, and it delivered just what I needed. I know some of my good friends here felt pretty meh about this one, but I really, really loved it. It was heartwarming and really delighting, a story I started and finished reading in less than 12 hours. It was truly one of the cutest stories I’ve read, and it's exciting to know that Lim has similar works in mind for the future.

In conclusion, Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Teashop delivered just what I needed. It is a story of forgiveness and exploration, of support and love. It is a story that shows the complications of understanding your own identity and the importance of it.

[Kaceey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book as much as her previous release, but it just lacked any of the magic of Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune, a favorite of mine last year.

Vanessa has a gift, but she considers it more of a curse. She has the ability to see into the future and can’t help herself from blurting out all that she sees. No matter the recipient... or the news. Her aunt Evelyn has volunteered to help Vanessa learn to manage and control this miraculous gift.

Perhaps with help Vanessa will discover a new gift along the way. She just needs to let her heart guide her.

Between the abundance of food, both Vanessa's and Evelyn's love life and Vanessa’s gifts, the storyline felt convoluted and fragmented, never fully developing in one solid direction.

Hoping the next release by this author will include all the charm her debut entailed.

A buddy read with Susanne that left us both a bit disappointed.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Berkley Publishing

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matchmaking and magic. Second chances and new beginnings. Food and family. Roselle Lim whisked me away to Paris with her lovely descriptive storytelling. Vanessa has been able to taste the future since she was young whenever she drinks tea. Even though she no longer drinks tea she still is compelled to burst out loud with her predictions. Something she is not thrilled about, especially because a lot of predictions are disturbing. I mean you wouldn’t want to tell your cousin at her wedding that her husband’s going to cheat on her or tell your father at a baseball game that is best friend is going to die, would you? Needing to learn to control her gift, as well as needing a little time away from the family Vanessa heads to Paris with her Aunt Evelyn to help open her tea shop. Will the city of lights bring some clarity to Vanessa‘s life?

Loved this book! It was so magical, so whimsical, so charming. Vanessa was such a sweet character loved spending time with her traveling around Paris. I also really liked Aunt Evelyn and her desire to help Vanessa. Loved how important family was in the story, Loved all the culture. Food played a big part in the story: delicious 10 course Chinese wedding dinners, yummy French pastries, and of course tea. There was also some sweet romance in the story for both Vanessa and Evelyn. I love both their love stories and the idea of red thread. This was an engaging story that hit me right in the heart!

This book in emojis. 🍵 🥖 🍪 🦋 🧧 🧵

*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a cute, quick read that I wanted to like a lot more than I actually did. The kernel of the story was appealing and could have been riveting, but the characters seemed so unrealistic and wooden that the unfolding plot felt artificial. There were few motivations that made sense, people didn't ask questions or have reactions that they naturally would in certain circumstances, and all of the conflict that was supposed to have been longstanding was resolved over a period of days after one or two conversations with Vanessa.

Unrealistic details kept throwing me out of the story. Ok, Vanessa's family has clairvoyants. Cool. But they seem to live in *this* actual world, where you can't just yell at a stranger that their dad is going to die. Vanessa would make sudden dire predictions about death, affairs, injuries -- and everyone immediately accepts them. Strangers who have their futures unknowingly thrust upon then when they carne in for a cup of tea don't freak out, run away, or say "hey, crazy lady, what are you babbling about?" -- they don't even say "what the fuck?" They just ... move on, out of the story, while Vanessa agonizes over how predicting a stranger's death makes HER feel. She keeps saying she wants to change her life, but passively accepts everything that happens to her -- her aunt taking her to Paris and telling her where to be at certain times because of these visions she's seen of Vanessa's future. Vanessa's struggle against her gift/curse is just as passively resolved in a deux ex machina that literally comes out of nowhere.

And oh, the bizarre conflicts & instant resolutions! Ines at the bakery & the cute grocer, divided by a super weird arranged marriage situation & the fact that apparently "bakers usually marry bakers." Ines loves him but for some reason he has to make the first move. But one quick speech from Vanessa and the guy whose been dawdling for years straightens up and figures out his life. Similarly the decades-long conflict between the aunt and impossibly handsome rich restauranteur Girard -- every main character is gorgeous and rich -- is resolved after Vanessa lies her way into a meeting with him and tells him to stop being a dick to her aunt. And I can't even deal with Vanessa's own romance with (of course) impossibly handsome pastry chef Marc, who also loves art and can draw and speaks French. After a meet-cute, she proceeds to spend three days wandering around a city where she doesn't know the language with a total stranger who won't tell her what he does for a living because he's cute. So, so dumb. Of course they are immediately in love and of course there is an ultimately pointless conflict about his gambling that is resolved in, yes, one conversation and a promise to do an online support group. That and a two-week acquaintance is definitely a good reason to move halfway around the world with someone.

And after all that, I could have ignored the dumb bits and enjoyed the fluffy distraction, were it not for ridiculous snobbery and classism that saturates the writing style. Designer name-dropping, spur-of-the-moment first class seats on a flight to Paris, shopping sprees paid for by the rich aunt who has a Victorian house in San Francisco stuffed with antiques and a Parisian flat in a family-owned building which ditto. It makes the later worries about the teashop failing laughable -- it's a hobby for Aunt Evelyn, not a business risk. Especially right now, reading this in May 2020, this overt display of faith in capitalism was more disturbing than reflective of any kind of wish fulfillment.

Additionally, protracted descriptions of art, decor, scenery, and food bogged down the plot -- I found myself skimming the sometimes page-long descriptions that sounded more like a Parisian foodie blog than words that would be spoken in casual conversation among actual people. I'm also not a foodie and the text dripped with condescension toward us poor folks who can't appreciate 37 different kinds of oysters or identify obscure French cheeses by aroma. At one point Vanessa makes a disparaging comment about a date who took her to a greasy spoon, like it was the ultimate insult. It started feeling a little personal by the end.

Loving food, cooking, baking, enjoying feeding those you love -- those can be expressed as universal experiences even if one isn't a master chef, but these characters would never find joy over a plate of greasy French fries in a diner in the middle of the night. If they had been more relatable I might have felt sad for them. As it is, I'm getting angrier about this whole book the more I think about it. It could have been so so good.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was swept away by Roselle Lim's debut novel 'Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune'. It was sweet, adorable, full of magic and delicious recipes that could give you love, tenderness, or courage, depending on what you need the most in your life. Her second novel, Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris tea shop is as exquisite as Natalie Tan.

I must say I didn't get into the book straightaway. Vanessa seemed so withdrawn and passive, almost invisible in her loud, well-meaning, but interfering family. She has a special gift of giving prophecies, but unlike her Aunt Evelyn who is a master clairvoyant, proud of being able to help people with her unusual ability to see their future, Vanessa is terrified of burdening the others with her visions of doom and gloom. Once I heard the prophecy Vanessa was trying unsuccessfully to hold and repress at her cousin's wedding, I could see why Vanessa saw her gift as a curse. I also reconnected with Roselle Lim's beautiful writing once more. The way the prophecies arrive to Vanessa... you just have to read and experience it yourself, but it is absolutely unique and magic!

Vanessa's perpetual singledom and inability to go past a first date with any prospective romantic partner upsets and worries Vanessa's numerous aunts to the extent of staging an intervention in the form of inviting a famous matchmaker from China. Madame Fong confirms something Vanessa already knew. Everybody has a match somewhere, a person they are tied to by a red thread of romantic love. Clairvoyants don't and this is the price of their gift. Vanessa never wanted to be a fortune-teller, there's nothing she would want more than not to have it or at least to be able to control where and when she blurts out her prophecies. If there is a person who can help her, it is Aunt Evelyn who is about to open a tea shop in the center of Paris. Three weeks in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, full of art, history and best food possible and an opportunity to have lessons on how to control her unruly gift.

Vanessa throws herself into experiencing Paris with all her senses: art, architecture, romance, and food, oh her mouth-watering descriptions of food are the best I've ever read. Did I mention romance? Vanessa meets her special stranger, but there is a catch: her aunt Evelyn already predicted that Vanessa will have but a few days with lovely Marc. Would you get into a relationship with an expiry date? Would you allow yourself fall in love knowing you your heart will be broken? Vanessa wants what she has been denied by the virtue of being born with her special talent, she wants to defy fate:

'Despite spilling others' fortunes, I refused to believe fate dictated my life. I believed in revolt, in breaking away from what was imposed upon me, and my fundamental rejection of my power proved that I rejected destiny too.'

What does it mean to be true to yourself? Vanessa's aunt Evelyn has always followed fortune-telling rules to the letter and sacrificed her romantic relationship to be with her family. Vanessa has been working in her family accounting business for years, she has been nothing but a dutiful daughter and niece. Her gift is also something she owes to her family. With her identity being so strongly linked to her family and her place in it, even if she manages to get rid of her curse, where will it leave her?

To my delight, Vanessa manages to discover her own way of helping people and there is a happy ever after for her. This book delivers fully on its promise to take the reader on a magic adventure of self-discovery in one of the most romantic cities on the world. Can't wait to meet Roselle Lim's next protagonist and be spell-bound by their story.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Berkley for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matchmaking and magic.

Second chances and new beginnings.

Food and family.

Don’t read this book when you are hungry.

The dishes described in here are amazing!

You probably already know that I am a fan of magical realism, so I found this book, a bit of fun.

For those who don’t like romantic novels, you may want to avoid this one, because, well, it is one. And to be quite honest, with the news of the day, I really needed an escape, and this book provided a brief respite. For those looking for a break, this is a warm story with so much heart.

Destiny. Love. Finding a purpose in life. True escapism reading!

[Larry H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Roselle Lim's second novel, Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop , has a little romance, a little drama, a little clairvoyance—and lots of yummy-sounding food!!

Ever since Vanessa was young she has been able to see people’s fortunes at the bottom of her teacups. But blurting out prophecies hasn’t always worked for her—so much so, she switched to coffee and has tried to sublimate her skills, much to the anger of her Aunt Evelyn, a talented clairvoyant.

Now Vanessa is facing pressure from her mother to find a husband, but even the matchmaker can’t figure her out, because clairvoyants aren't supposed to be able to find matches. And when Vanessa predicts death for the first time, she is so overwhelmed that she realizes she has to try and control her abilities, so she turns to her aunt.

Evelyn is ready to train Vanessa but there is a lot of work to be done since she’s tried to fight her abilities for so long. Vanessa goes to Paris to help Evelyn open her new tea shop. While falling in love with all that the City of Light has to offer (not to mention a handsome man), she learns a lot about what destiny truly means—how to follow it but how not to let it consume her life. At the same time she realizes where her talents lie, and how she may find happiness, something she has always dreamed of but never believed it could happen.

I loved this book. I loved the family drama, the romance, the clairvoyance stuff, the setting, even the predictability of it all. Don’t read this book if you’re the slightest bit hungry because it is FULL of descriptions of phenomenal food and French pastries.

Lim is a terrifically engaging writer whose books leave you feeling happy. I enjoyed her first book ( Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune ) and I look forward to seeing what comes next in her career!

Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.

Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roselle Lim writes the most charming stories with touches of magic.

Vanessa Yu can read fortunes in tea leaves. She doesn’t want this gift, though, and it makes her life more difficult.

On top of that, her singleness has her parents up in arms and hiring a matchmaking expert from Shanghai.

Vanessa sees a fate in the tea leaves that disturbs her. From this point, she decides she has to get rid of this ability so she can live her life. Her aunt Evelyn whisks her away to Paris where she works in her aunt’s tea stall, and eventually she works as a matchmaker for her beloved aunt.

This is a such a warm story with so much heart. I just loved Vanessa and her aunt Evelyn. Talk about fun characters! I loved the small touch of magic and whimsy. The message is such a good one, too. Roselle Lim, I hope you have many more stories to tell us. Incorporating food (this is Lim’s thing- YUM), tea, and heartwarming storytelling, Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop is a gem of a story.

I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vanessa Vu never wanted to see people’s fortunes or misfortunes, in tea leaves, and she has never embraced the gift of fortune telling that she was born with.

But, these visions are taking a toll on her life, physically and emotionally, so her Aunties check her Goodreads account to make sure the paperback romances they are buying her for her thirteen hour plane ride, have not been read -
(❤️love that! )
before sending her off to Paris to study under the other family fortune teller, Aunt Evelyn, in her Aunt’s Paris Tea shop.

She must learn the FIVE RULES OF FORTUNE TELLING if she is to get her life under control.

Now, this wasn’t a BAD book, by any means but it just wasn’t exactly what I was expecting-spending a LOT of time describing the Asian Culinary Delights her family enjoys in San Francisco, and the famous landmarks and Culinary Delights of Paris. (You may want to google some of them for a visual!)

In fact, the author spends more time describing food and Paris, than she did the things that I was hoping to read more about-the fortune telling, the Tea Shoppe and the TEA!

Having enjoyed taking a tea class (like a wine tasting class with tea) and attending an Afternoon Tea. ☕️- I was looking to learn more about the cultures and traditions.

Paris is THE city of Love, ❤️, and I didn’t realize this was actually much more of a ROMANCE novel-again not what I was expecting -as the two women discover their TRUE selves, and learn to embrace the lives (and LOVES) they truly want.

This was another fun buddy read with DeAnn, who enjoyed it just a bit more than I did, so be sure to read her review as well for another opinion!

Available now!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a magical read full of family, love & Parisian food. Vanessa was a character I fell in love with and wanted her to find love so bad. I loved reading her journey going to Paris to learn more about her 'prophecy gift' and experience Paris for the first time.
Overall a cute book plus all the food...made me hungry for days.

[Susanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vanessa Yu has a gift. One which has ruled her life and one, which she has fought against her whole life. Vanessa is a clairvoyant. She can read fortunes at the bottom of one’s teacups and once she sees the future she is unable to hold in her prediction.

Sadly, this has caused Vanessa much strife as she often sees pain and despair instead of happiness and light. The only thing that Vanessa wants in life is to find love and because of her gift, it alludes her. Vanessa therefore, would do anything to get rid of her gift and yet, it is her destiny.

Vanessa’s Aunt Evelyn is also a clairvoyant who lives in Paris. Evelyn has accepted this gift and because of that, she learned to control it and it is up to her to teach Vanessa to do the same.

“Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop” is the second book I’ve read by Roselle Kim, the first being “Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck & Fortune” - which I absolutely adored. Sadly, “Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop” didn’t quite hold the same magic for me. While it had many storylines running through it, I felt that it lacked a true focus. In addition, none of the characters truly made me care about what was going on in their lives. I am however only one reviewer, thus I suggest reading other reviews as this may be a case of my being the wrong reader for this novel. Having loved Roselle Kim’s first book, I will definitely be on the lookout for her next novel and hope it will rekindle the magic of “Natalie Tan.”

Another buddy read with Ms. Kaceey!

Published on Edelweiss and Goodreads on 9.27.20

[Lisa (Remarkablylisa) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one! It was definitely odd to me because i'm not used to magical realism but it was kind of fun to see a 'that's so raven' moment in a women's fiction novel. I definitely do not consider this one a romance as it focuses more on relationship development between Vanessa and her aunt versus her cute relationship with her boy. I enjoyed her aunt's storyline plus love. I'm taking a star off because Vanessa was kind of like a teenager in fantasy movies/books. She whined about her magical powers and didn't want anything to do with it despite her having horrible visions that hurt a lot of people. I'm also taking half a star off because it got a little weird at the end.

REAL RATING: 3.5/5 STARS

[DeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Parisian stars (rounded up)

This was a whimsical, delightful trip to Paris, filled with delicious descriptions of food, especially pastries. This one made me long for a trip to France, but only armchair travel for now.

Vanessa is part of a big family in San Francisco, working on the accounting side for the family. She’s been gifted with the fortune teller gene, but she has fought it her whole life. After a particularly bad forecast at her cousin’s wedding, she decides to head to Paris with Auntie Evelyn to see if she can finally train her fortune telling skills.

Evelyn has always been mysterious, beautiful, and alone. Vanessa and Evelyn get along wonderfully at first and Vanessa even finds a handsome man to give her a tour of some Parisian sights. Will this romance finally stick or is Vanessa destined to be alone like her aunt?

While I did enjoy this one, I longed for a bit more about tea and fortune telling.

I am curious to read the author’s first book too – “Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck & Fortune.”

This was a fun buddy read with Jayme, my book courtesy of my local library.

[Maeghan 🦋 HIATUS on & off · Rating 4 out of 5]

« Sometimes, lost things find their way, but they need a little help. The world is full of wonders. You just need to trust in it. »

This was sooooo sweet 🥺 a magical little book about a Fortune Teller who doesn’t want her curse/gift. It was so good and such a cute little journey.
The perfect summer pool read!

« It’s human nature to focus on the negative, you believe misery weighs more than happiness. The world would be inhospitable place if that were so. »

[Yna from Books and Boybands · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much thanks to Caffeine Book Tours and Berkley Romance for sending me a copy for review and for inviting me to be a part of this tour. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own. Also, all quotes are taken from the ARC and may or may not appear in the final published copy.

📚 Series? No.
📚 Genre? Adult > Contemporary > Romance
📚 POV? Third person
📚 Cliffhanger? No.

⚠ Content Warnings: Near-death experience, racism
⚠ Book Tags : Clairvoyance. Large family. Travel. Paris. East Asian representation. Magical realism.

The book is about:
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you can see the future every time you drink tea? Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop tells the story of Vanessa Yu and her unique skill of clairvoyance. Though it can be treated as a gift, Vanessa sees this as a curse. Aside from the predictions coming at inappropriate times, she also gets massive headaches whenever they come. Eventually, Vanessa was given the chance to come with her Aunt Evelyn in Paris, as her aunt also has the ability of clairvoyance and she can teach her how to control her powers better.

What drew me in:
Earlier this year, I have read Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune. Her captivating writing style alone made me so excited to read more of her work. I am happy to see that she has delivered the same descriptive way of writing that makes me feel like I am actually there with her. Also, I was attracted to explore the themes as hinted at in the blurb. I don’t usually dabble in magical realism, but Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop delivered something special.

Characters & connections:

Vanessa Yu’s also introduced an amazing selection of characters. I tend to get lost when there are many people within a book, especially like Vanessa’s family. However, Roselle Lim has created vibrant characters with personalities that leap off the page. I felt connected with each of them and everything that they stand for.

Everything I liked:
When I think about the things I liked about this book, so many things come to mind that it’s so hard to decide where to start. I guess I can begin with what this book made me feel. I had a craving for a read that is simple but immersive and this definitely had that. Vanessa Yu’s felt like a cultural immersion – with the traditions, beliefs, and delicious food. And then, it took me on an adventure to Paris – a place I have always dreamed of going. Again, I have to commend how beautiful Roselle Lim writes. She paints vivid pictures of scenes that you can’t help but imagine being there in the flesh with all of the characters. Paris is one of my dream destinations, and I felt like Vanessa Yu brought me along for the ride.

Overall thoughts:
I don’t know if it’s the theme of the book or just my mood, but I loved this book better than the author’s debut novel. Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop combined everything that I love in my reads. I got that signature Asian family drama, culture, food, travel, romance, mystery, adventure, and a dash of magic to give me that extra boost. Can’t wait to read the author’s future works!


My Book Rating Breakdown

🌼 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Main Character:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Significant Other:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Romance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Unputdownability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

OVERALL RATING: 4.5/5 STARS!

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

*A scrumptious story about destiny, love, and finding a purpose in life*


Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune really struck a chord with me last year, so I was excited to read Lim's next book. Plus it had the added bonus of the Paris setting which was great given how badly I've been craving some vicarious travel.

Vanessa Y’s Magical Paris Tea Shop tells the story of a young woman with the ability to see people’s future in tea leaves. But Vanessa sees this ability as a burden not a gift and tries to suppress it as much as possible. After a particularly embarrassing negative prediction, Vanessa agrees to go to Paris to train with her aunt. But Paris is a city with magic of its own, and it just might be able to help Vanessa find her path in life.

Despite spilling others' fortunes, I refused to believe fate dictated my life. I believed in revolt, in breaking away from what was imposed upon me, and my fundamental rejection of my power proved that I rejected destiny too.”

I love how well food and Magical Realism go together. They make the perfect pairing. And although it isn't an entirely new idea, I loved that Vanessa’s predictions came with a sort of synesthesia. She could literally taste her visions. It added an extra layer to the experience.

The Paris setting was lovely, but what was most vivid about Vanessa Y’s Magical Paris Tea Shop was the food descriptions. This story was literally mouth-watering. At one point, I ended up glaring at my leftover lunch and thinking, “Why the hell aren’t you fresh gourmet food?”

What fell short for me was the romance. I did not care for the love interest, so I wasn’t invested in whether or not they ended up together. The family dynamics and journey of self-discovery were endearing, but at the end of the day Vanessa Yu did not have as much of an emotional impact on me as Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune. Nevertheless this was a charming story and the perfect little escape.

I do have to note that it looks like the publisher’s synopsis is not up to date as it is inconsistent with the actual content of the story.


RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 5 Stars
Writing Style: 4 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 3 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 4 Stars
Level of Captivation: 4 Stars
Originality: 3 Stars

[Zev · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was almost parodic in its levels of rom-com-ness, right down to the uncreative, stupid title that the author probably slapped on at the last minute. Vanessa doesn't own the tea shop. Her aunt does. Vanessa travels to Paris for a little while. I liked the thread of magical realism throughout the book, even if it took a sharp turn to an adult woman having a psychic power more befitting of a teenage girl. Vanessa blushes and bites her lip a lot, which again, is a specific rom-com trope I find useless and annoying. No disrespect meant to people with actual medical conditions related to uncontrollable blushing or lip-biting. That is not what was presented in the book. Her aunt winks so often, I wondered if it was an uncontrolled facial tic. The cliches were soothing for the first twenty pages, but quickly stacked up on one another and became annoying. The book is much longer than twenty pages. Everyone was heterosexually paired up, especially unrealistically quickly and in unconvincing ways. Vanessa fell in love faster than a Disney princess. Subtle melodrama ran an undercurrent to the main stuff. The chapters were increasingly short and frequent, which was annoying as it made the book seem even longer. The book could have been a hundred pages shorter and lost nothing. I was not a fan of the book's unfortunate implication that love could solve racism and save a new business. Vanessa sobbed over Marc when various things were mildly inconvenient, and I was deeply unimpressed. You've known him what, a little over a week? She reminded me a lot of a teenager several times throughout the book. After the seventy percent mark, I didn't care about the story anymore. I stayed for the descriptions, though. The descriptions of everything, especially the food, were vivid and rich. I started to get a little hungry, and I hate both Italian and French food. I'm still exploring Vietnamese food. So far I'm a fan, and the book gave me ideas. I enjoyed looking up the paintings and some of the buildings. The descriptions and placement of butterflies through the novel was awesome; cliche in a sweet way that I pardoned.

A quick note: A book that explores the consequences realistically, as it were, of having psychic powers around predicting people's deaths is the book "When" by Victoria Laurie. The protagonist is a teenage girl who faces consequences involving police officers, and it is handled in a -much- more mature and relatively realistic way than people automatically believing her and freaking out.

[Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like stories with a bit of magic. I like feel-good stories with happy endings (especially now with so much uncertainty in the world). I found both of these in Roselle Lim’s first novel, Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune, and am happy to say, also in this new book. Vanessa Yu has a gift she never wanted: she can randomly predict the future. Often her predictions are awkward and make others feel bad, like when she predicted divorce at a wedding. It’s a family trait, so she goes to Paris with her aunt, who also makes predictions, to learn how to better control her “gift.” Her aunt is opening a tea shop there, but there are complications, mainly related to a failed romance from her past. Can Vanessa help her aunt find happiness, and maybe even find love herself? Roselle Lim has officially made it to my list of must-read favorite authors, and I look forward to reading her next novel. I am so grateful that Edelweiss and the publisher provided me with this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Tucker Almengor]

I am super excited to give this author another try

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[Ms. Woc Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is great if you ever dream of going to Paris and having the art loving and culinary adventure of a lifetime. Vanessa Yu and her aunt love to eat. In fact her whole family loves to eat and this book had me craving everything from Peking duck to sweet crepes and prosciutto pizza. They eat so don't go into this book without a snack ready.

But Vanessa has a special ability she was born with that allows her to see other people's futures and it sometimes causes problems. When Vanessa sees a fortune she can't help but blurt it out like when she ruins her cousin's wedding after foreseeing her divorced within a year. Ashamed and struggling to deal with this gift that she's convinced is ruining her life she and her family decide she needs a vacation. So she's spending time in Paris with the other family fortune teller her tea selling aunt Evelyn.

From there her adventure begins which includes eating her way through Paris, wearing fashionable clothes, and sketching at historic sites. Not to mention a cute expat willing to show her around the city.

I do wish the book would've gotten more into how people react to Vanessa blurting out their futures. We got to see her reactions but not there's. Of course her family was used to her and would accept it but she would have encounters with strangers like the man who was planning to propose to his girlfriend and no one really questioned her. People were coming in for a cup of tea and getting told their family member would die!

I also didn't like how she was pushing her aunt to rekindle a romance with a man who she knew nothing about who also had a friend who launched a racist/xenophobic campaign against the tea shop.

Overall this was a cute romance that would be good for a rainy day read curled up under a blanket with a cup of hot tea. It's a clean romance that won't have you overthinking anything.

I received an arc from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.


Review also posted
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Audiobook.

Worst book I’ve “read” in a LONG time, definitely the worst of the year. I’ve never given a book just 1 Star. I was arguing out loud with it, pointing out its flaws and stupidity. I considered not finishing it.

An overarching reason why is that the narrator was awful. Everything sounded whiny and annoying. I did wonder if maybe I’d like it more if I read it in my own voice, without the upward questioning lilt at the end of most of the sentences, but I doubt it, because the writing was so awful.

The title lured me in, but *spoiler* Vanessa Yu does NOT have a magical tea shop. She’s a 27yo whiner with the most overbearing, meddling family, but somehow she rationalizes them, over & over & over.

She acts like a 12-yo in every way—family, men/dating/love, having to do things, ugh.

80% of the book is her describing things—clothes, room decor, nature, scents, and especially food. In great, meticulous detail. Do not read this if you’re hungry. Or if you’d prefer plot.

Oh but the plot is so basic, like a YA love story.

Truly I don’t remember ever disliking a book so much.

[Alexa (Alexa Loves Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, but had to round it up because this novel left me feeling delighted. Lim portrays Paris (and the food you might find there) in a delightful way, all while bringing a story (with a hint of magic) to life about one young woman figuring out what she wants out of her life. Definitely can recommend that you check this one out!

[Precious ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

& now that I've sat with this for a bit longer I can finally write this review.

What a wonderful trip to Paris, and yes I mean this book.


This is my first time reading anything by Roselle Lin and I was most blown away by her prose. From the scenery descriptions, to the vibrant magic that embraces even the mundane. What I took away the most was that this novel was unique beyond measure to me.

The story follows Vanessa Yu and her search to control her predictions. Like anyone with some sort of magic, she doesn't want it at all. She's gone above and beyond to avoid confronting this part of herself that they more so control her. Her Aunt Evelyn is also a fortune teller as this gift runs in the family, and has decided that she is willing to try to teach Vanessa again but she must come with her to Paris to do it. With her most recent prediction involves the pain of someone she loves, Vanessa's all for it and the two of them leave for the city of love.
What I will say about how the predictions work and are described by Vanessa to the reader is one that will leave you hungry for more. It's something I've never read before and now I can't think of them any other way.


Once arriving she's immersed in the magic that is Paris and at this point in the book it's immersed in magical realism. I haven't read too many novels in that particular style but the ones I have I love it and this book is no exception. The flight of the blue butterflies, the threads of fate, transitions of the present to a filter overlapping the past. It's beautiful. Roselle has a way with words that leaves you feeling like you are in the clouds at sunset.


The story progresses with her training, matchmaking (against her aunt's behest,) and exploring a maybe love of her own.
I truly adored this read, the only thing I wasn't keen on was how the ending felt a bit abrupt. It's one of those things I can't really put my finger on and say "this should've been different" because then we might have a totally different ending. However, I do feel like some of the resolution could have been fleshed out. Other than that, and honestly not that big of a deal, this was a fantastic story and helped me out a slump I was in.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves traveling through books, being in love with love, food, and finding a different path than the one that was given to you.

Thank you to the Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Ellery Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story filled with magical realism and romance.

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely the book I needed to get me out of my reading slump. A story that features my favorite things? Yes, please sign me up. It has magic, food, Paris, and a story about a young woman who's trying to find herself. It's also got a little bit of romance, a smidgen of mystery, and of course there's some magical powers.

The descriptions and usage of food in this book was drool-worthy. I found myself craving one thing after another especially when Vanessa's vision came with an olfactory effect. Mmm Korean BBQ with a side of "you're going to cross paths with your one true love" kinda feeling.

Paris was also a huge component in this story and I loved the various trips around the town. It reminded me so much of Paris and how much I loved walking down the rues with a book and a baguette I'm going to devour by myself. If you're wistful for travel especially during the pandemic, then this will definitely transport you to Paris.

What I truly appreciated from this novel was the incorporation of psychic powers, fortune telling, clairvoyance and how it relates to the Chinese culture. I'm Korean American, but I've been told all my life that my family has a gift passed down from generation to generation. It's a psychic ability and while this might sound weird, it's definitely a huge component of our culture. Seeing it written in a story was truly magical especially how it's incorporated into the story. I loved that it was a prominent feature than just something to mention and never do anything with.

I think the only issue I had with this story was that there wasn't a clear focus. There were many different components to the story and for some part of it, it moved in a linear motion. But as the story progressed, there were more and more things being introduced and some things were falling off. I can see where Roselle Lim was going with the story, but keeping up with everything happening as it was happening was a little too much for me.

Overall, such a good read when you need a little break from the world. It's not a romance novel, but it was definitely filled with emotion and heart.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying romance for a woman who'd been told that because of her unwanted gift of premonition, there was no possibility of a relationship in her life.

In the Yu family, there are two women with the ability to foretell the future:
-Vanessa Yu, an accountant in her family’s business, whose unprovoked premonitions leave her feeling out of control of her life and convinced she s doing nothing but hurting others.
-Vanessa's aunt Evelyn, who is clairvoyant, and secretive about her personal life. She, too, has had no long term relationship, but is, like Vanessa, part of the family's tea business.

When Vanessa gives a cousin a shocking look into her marriage's future, at the woman’s wedding, Vanessa says enough is enough, and decides she needs help, and will finally take Evelyn up on her offer to train her in her gift. Evelyn has to be in Paris to open a new tea shop, so takes Vanessa with her, with the intent of training her over the next month.

Vanessa meets a lovely man from Montreal (yay!) almost immediately, but is warned by Evelyn that what she has with him is extremely short term. Also, through snooping, Vanessa discovers Evelyn has no intention of returning permanently to California, where the Yu clan lives. In fact, it turns out Evelyn is actually there to rekindle a romance she had with a man in her twenties.

Of course, the path to romance for both woman is filled with problems and reversals, which are eventually resolved to my satisfaction with Vanessa.

I had one quibble, however, with how Evelyn's relationship was resolved. Girard supported racist vitriol spread about Evelyn and her business practices because he was still angry about her rejection over twenty years earlier. Though he owned up to his implicit support of the hate, I felt Evelyn's acceptance of Girard immediately after his apology was too soon, too fast and didn't feel earned. Plus, someone who holds a grudge and actively worked against her could very well turn on her again to equally nasty effect. So, yay to Vanessa, but hard no to Girard. That man has to seriously work to get back into Evelyn's good graces. Other than that, I liked this book.

[Anniek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a slow read for me, both because the book moves quite slowly and because I wanted to savour it. I absolutely loved the magical, atmospheric writing, which made me feel transported to Paris. The descriptions of the food and the setting were my favourite part of this book!

[tiffany (readbytiffany) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warning: Do not read this book on an empty stomach. 😭🥟

Today’s blog post is super exciting because I’m sharing my review and moodboard of Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop as a tour stop for Caffeine Book Tours. Roselle Lim’s writing whisked me into a magical, romantic world that reminded me of my favorite cheesy (yet incredibly feel-good) Lifetime movies.

Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop follows Vanessa, a Chinese-American accountant who also happens to possess the ability to tell fortunes based on remnants of people’s drinks. Unfortunately, Vanessa lacks any control of her power, bursting into a prophecy whenever she sees the end of someone’s cup.

After Vanessa ruins a wedding by accidentally predicting the groom’s future infidelity, she becomes determined to control her power. She decides to leave her job in the States to join her Aunt Evelyn, an expert fortune teller, in Paris to finally train and gain control.

In the past Vanessa’s romantic relationships had always been hindered by her unexpected fortunes. However, as much as this was a story about romance, it was first and foremost a story about Vanessa finding confidence in herself and learning to appreciate her ability.

Reading this book made me feel like Blair Waldorf in Season 4 of Gossip Girl as she explored the streets of Paris with her best friend. The author’s lush descriptions made the story come to life. You can easily envision the grand family gatherings and the soft moments in an outdoor Parisian cafe.

I will admit that it took me a while to get acquainted with the story because it was difficult for me to grasp the magical elements in a romance novel, but once you’re adjusted, you’re swept into a complex story that also explores family relationships, xenophobia, and much more.

Most notably, Roselle Lim knows how to write about food. I have about 20 highlights of food descriptions that made my mouth water, and while the insertions of the many many descriptions at times felt overly zealous, it was still such a fun way to get a taste of Paris. 😉

During a time where we’re all currently stuck at home, it was so delightful to travel through Roselle Lim’s writing and wander the streets of Paris with Vanessa and her aunt. If you’re looking for a book about food, family, and fortune, this would be the perfect one to pick up!

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

“One of our family touchstones was to eat our feelings.”

This was like eating candies —sweet and lush at the beginning when you get to taste just a few but slowly making you sick when the numbers build up.

It started off as a lovely story about Vanessa, a Chinese-American with clairvoyant abilities which she's trying her best to surpass because they brought her nothing but pain. Her aunt Evelyn is the only other relative that has similar powers but where Vanessa loathes her tactless future predictions, her aunt seems like she has everything under control and actually enjoys herself.

I looked forward to reading about a big meddling family, delicious food, and travelling to Paris to open a tea shop. The story started as such and overall was okay, I guess, but it dragged at times and it really was too much everything—too magical, too surreal, too sugary, too predictable. The sparks between Vanessa and Marc were delightful; however, I wasn't really on board with Evelyn's story because it was too sappy. Irritatingly so.

In the end, everything is resolved out nicely with everyone getting the one they wanted and god why is marriage so strongly associated with the epitome of happiness?

I'm actually a little disappointed in it because this story had so much potential to be a cute, enchanting story but I think the execution backfired making it seem really unrealistic.