This book was all kinds of wrong. It was devoid of real character or narrative drive. It was trite and twee. It's message was be careful what you wish for badly portrayed.

I could write more but i hated it so much it would just be pure negativism

A coffee shop where your dreams are manifested into real life sounds like a dream but for Greta when the dream becomes a reality she realises that the grass isn't always greener.
Greta feels washed up, her marriage is failing and her teenage daughter is no longer the loving child she used to be. As a "commercial" actress she wishes to go back to the perfect life she had whilst filming for Maple Gold coffee. When her wish becomes real, can her life ever be the same again?
This was a fun, whimsical, magical read. A unique read that kept me enthralled throughout. It was entertaining, I really enjoyed it.

There’s something magical about this book—I simply couldn’t put it down. It carries a familiar, nostalgic charm that makes you reminisce about old times. All my reviews start at 3 stars by default; I added an extra star because I genuinely wanted to read this faster—I was enjoying it that much.

This book feels like a cozy hug. It’s best read with a cup of coffee, wrapped in a blanket, ideally while it’s raining outside. Overall, it’s a pleasant read that will keep you entertained if you enjoy cozy stories. There’s something inherently inviting about books set in bookshops or coffee shops—they always draw me in.

It made me reflect on both my past and my future.

I'm sure some other readers will enjoy it, but the writing style just wasn't for me. Thanks to the NetGalley and Aria & Aries | Aria teams for the opportunity to listen and review this book. I really appreciated the opportunity!

2.5-3 stars

I'm used to reading stories like this written by authors from Japan or Korea, and I love them, so I thought it would be interesting to see a Western perspective.

I liked the comparison between the dysfunctional but normal family, with the 'perfect' ideal of what a family should be like.

Sadly it didn't really live up to my expectations. I really wanted to love it but I didn't. I liked it but it was missing something that I just couldn't put my finger on. I wasn't comfortable reading it, something kept scratching my brain but I couldn't settle on what it was.

It's quite sickly sweet. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, and it does work in this context because everything is sickly sweet and perfect, but I didn't find it pleasant to read.

I liked the first quarter of it and I liked the ending, but I felt it was a bit repetitive and flat in the middle. It just didn't grab me and I felt my attention wandering and wanting to skip bits.

I have not read any of her other books but I have heard some good stuff so I won't completely write her off here. But this just didn't live up to my expectations sadly, and I admit I rushed through the second half just to see how it ended because I wasn't enjoying the middle part of the book.

A cosy read with a thought provoking thread. Greta is a struggling actress who longs to go back to a happier time and discovers a strange coffee shop which may give her what she is looking for. But she has a decision to make.

This is an easy read with a reminder that the 'right' decision looks different for each of us.

I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley. My review is wholly my own opinion and words

I warmed to this book as I read it. Initially I was not convinced by the concept but as I read I found myself wanting Greta to find what she was looking for.

The concept is of a specifically brewed cup of coffee which can transport you to a different world where you can be your best person surrounded by what you feel is an ideal family, friends and lifestyle. You can live your dream life in contrast to your daily reality.

But is this what Greta really wants?

She comes to the point where she has to choose between her messy life and her dream one.

A story about finding yourself, starting again and appreciating what you have.

A gentle uplifting read.

This is a thought provoking read about a woman whose life feels like it’s falling apart at the seams and looks back fondly on her past rather than facing the future. She gets the opportunity to consider if an alternative life, a perfect life even would be better than messy reality and finds herself struggling even more with reality as a result.

I think a lot of people reach a stage where their life just doesn’t feel like how they want it to be anymore or maybe they feel a loss of control, it’s so easy to think what if but it can be detrimental to your reality and this was well reflected in this easy to read book. I do sometimes struggle with magic as a theme but it was a good way of demonstrating an alternative life, I did struggle with the state of play in the protagonists marriage as it was difficult to see how they’d ended up in this state of limbo and why they’d suddenly decide on a set date to determine their future. That aside I found it a pleasant read and a good representation on how the pursuit of perfection might not be quite so perfect after all. 7/10

I would class this book as a modern day parable.
Add to this several homilies and you have The Time Hop Coffee Shop.
'If you get hooked on an alternative life, you might forget to live your real one. Not all that glitters is gold'
Consequences matter and can be huge, as Greta learns when she becomes unhappy with her life, and views the past through rose tinted glasses.
Mapleville may seem an idyllic place where all is well, but boredom is the consequence, as she eventually learns.
Phaedra tailors her writing style to whichever place Greta is currently in. There is a naivety to the writing in Mapleville which matches the almost surreal atmosphere in the town.
Life in Longham is grittier, as is the language. Relationships, accommodation, money and status are constantly on Greta's mind, but should she swap this for Mapleville, where it never rains and everything is free.
Fantasy v Reality?
I enjoyed this book as I saw it as a cautionary tale - be careful what you wish for. .
The coffee in the story equates to technology and screens which so many people seem to be hooked on.
Thanks to the author,, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for this ARC.

Greta Perks, alongside husband Jim and daughter Lottie used to be in a Maple Gold coffee commercial for ten years and apparently became quite famous in that time. But now they have been replaced by a new family, her marriage to Jim is on the rocks and Lottie is being a typical "don't talk to me" teenager.

One day, Greta comes across a strange little coffee shop where she gets the perfect blend of coffee from white-haired Iris and a wish to go with it - so Greta wakes up in fictional Mapleville where the coffee commercials took place. Mapleville is cloying and sugary, a fake world where everything is always perfect but Greta loves how wonderful everything looks and how nice her family are to her there. She also meets a woman called Millie who seems to have been here for quite some time. Greta returns twice more to Mapleville and then Iris offers her the choice to stay there forever. What will Greta do?

It feels like the author got inspiration from those Before the Coffee Gets Cold books where a bit of magical realism gives people the opportunity to go on a journey of self-discovery. I had a few questions like why coffee and not tea, seeing as it takes place in England? How is Greta so famous from a long-running advert? I don't know anyone from a TV advert unless they were famous already. Why does Greta think fake Mapleville is so great? It feels a lot like a suburb in the 50s, when women wore petticoats and their lives were boring as heck. Plus, how is her family there too? They didn't ask to be there!

It is however a charming book with a smart core and interesting characters. Greta has so much love for her family and it really shines through. She just needs to figure out how to deal with her messy life. Still, it didn't quite grab me as some of her other books. The cover is utterly gorgeous though.

3.75 stars

I’ve enjoyed Phaedra Patrick’s previous books, and feel they can be turned to for a nice warm read, so was looking forward to this one.

I was a little worried that this book might be very similar to some of the other Japanese time travel coffee shop stories that seem fashionable right now, and it does probably sit well alongside them, but it is has it’s own sweet story which is cosy and heartwarming.

Greta is an actress famous for the Maple Gold coffee commercial, and married (although currently on a trial separation) from her co-star. Is the ideal commercialised life better than her real life? It’s a fun and pleasurable read.

This was a light hearted and hopeful novel about finding a new self rather than chasing old dreams and goals.
Greta Perks starred in a coffee commercial along with her family. It was the job of her dreams and for several years being the Maplegold family brought her success and self esteem. But now, they have been replaced by another younger family. Her daughter Lottie is growing up and is no longer interested in acting. And while husband Jim still seems to have some success in his career, Greta herself is floundering.
Jim and Greta take a break to see if they really want to be in their marriage which leaves Greta wondering what her life is all about.
She stumbles upon a unique coffee shop which promises the perfect blend… and finds that when she drinks the coffee she gets much more than a warm drink. Instead she is transported to Maple Town, where her adverts were set. At first, life in Maple Town is perfect, but as with all stories of this type perhaps everything isn’t quite as good as it seems.
This is a fun read, light and cosy.

This was a beautiful novel, full of real life reflection and struggle, making me think about my own life and reflect back on what is truly important. Some parts left me with many questions, but once I stopped thinking about the inner workings of the "magic" I really enjoyed it.

At first I wasn't sure about this book but, suddenly I was hooked. What a clever idea a coffee shop that takes your wishes and transports you to a different world. Very addictive and I was immersed in this fabulous story. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

A Whimsical, Heartfelt Tale of Second Chances and Finding What Truly Matters 📺🎭☕️🧚

🧚 Magical Realism | 💕 Heart-warming & thought-provoking story | 📚 Second Chances on love and life | 🇬🇧 Longham / Mapleville (fictional)

It’s been a while since I read The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, a debut I really enjoyed — and I’m so glad The Time Hop Coffee Shop brought me back to Phaedra Patrick’s writing. I feel incredibly grateful to have received an ARC, because this book arrived just when I needed something warm, thoughtful, and a little bit magical.

After a string of books I struggled to connect with, this story swept me up effortlessly. It’s different from what I usually read, but in the best way — whimsical yet grounded, imaginative but full of emotional truth. The concept alone is so unique: a woman lost in the mess of her real life finds herself transported to the idyllic world of her vintage coffee commercial that made her famous. But what really stood out to me was how much heart Patrick brings to Greta’s journey.

Greta is a beautifully drawn character — vulnerable, relatable, and quietly brave. Watching her confront her past, her regrets, and the pull of a “perfect” version of life was both moving and surprisingly tender. There’s a scene near the end involving her mother that completely undid me — it tapped into deep, personal feelings of love, loss, and longing of my own mother that brought tears to my eyes. That moment will stay with me.

Patrick’s writing is heart-warm and full of charm. She weaves magical realism into the narrative in a way that never overshadows the emotional depth. Beneath the whimsy of Mapleville lies a very real exploration of identity, motherhood, nostalgia, and the quiet strength it takes to accept a life that’s imperfect — but real.

The Time Hop Coffee Shop is ultimately a story about rediscovery — of self, of love, and of what truly matters when the sparkle fades. It reminds us that perfection is never the goal — it’s the messy, meaningful, and even painful moments that shape who we are.

If you’re looking for a book that will make you smile, reflect, and maybe even cry a little, this one’s for you. It’s like stepping into a cozy café on a rainy day: comforting, soul-soothing, and exactly what you didn’t know you needed. Highly recommended.

I quite enjoyed this book. it was an easy read and not too taxing with too many characters. I love books with an element of magic in them. Its a story about when life starts to change, its about realising what is important and what isnt. Is the perfect life really perfect?

Thank you for the advance copy

A lighthearted and cosy story that made me smile, wish I could be there, and escape reality. Heartwarming and cute, likeable characters, lovely setting
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Greta Perks life seems to be falling apart, a trial separation from her husband, no career and her teenage daughter isn’t interested in her. When she stumbles upon a coffee shop her world tips upside down.

Can she find the life she dreams of or is that life not what it seems.

I found Gretas characters really likeable and also relatable. I think as we get older we do tend to look back and see things maybe with rose tinted spectacles and this book has some important lessons.

A fantastic heartwarming enjoyable read that is definitely thought provoking and shows that the grass is not always greener.

Thanks to NetGalley, Phaedra Patrick and Aria and Aries for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I’m a big fan of Phaedra Patrick, the author who got me reading feel good. I’ve read all of her books.

Greta used to be famous, the star of the popular Maple Gold TV commercials, now she’s struggling to find acting work, the marriage is in trouble and her teenage daughter is difficult. Great stumbles upon a mysterious coffee shop, promising the perfect blend, magical coffee that can let you experience your dream life.

The Time Hop Coffee Shop is a brave book, stepping away from the feel good comfort zone and towards contemporary fantasy.

I really enjoyed it, the characters are well-crafted, the plot moves along nicely without the heaviness of say The Midnight Library and it brings out all the feels. Greta must look inside to work out what really matters.

Highly recommended if you looking for something a little different.

Thanks to Netgalley and Aria & Aries

What a lighthearted read.

This quick read will transport you from one fairly easygoing place to Perfect Town, with the catch that our main character (a woman in her mid forties who is a little fed up of her current situation) has to decide where she'd rather be.

Perfect for an easy going read where nothing is to real start with (I was a little confused at how famous Greta was from being in adverts) and where things feel a little 'Alice in Wonderland-esque' the further you get in.

I did like the premise of dwelling on the past can be more disheartening than looking towards the future, and to be happy with what you have and not mourning what you had - all very good lessons.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGally for the opportunity to read this as an early review:)