Welcomes to Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop of Dream by Jenny Colgan

“Welcome To Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop Of Dreams” is the latest delicious read from Jenny Colgan.

Rosie Hopkins lives a quiet life, working as a temp auxiliary nurse she is vomited on and verbally abused on a daily basis. She likes nothing more than coming home and relaxing with her boyfriend Gerard of six years. Unfortunately Gerard is a bit of a mummy’s boy and is used to being lifted and laid and expects the same from Rosie. Shame she doesn’t live up to his mother’s expectations.

As Rosie plods along with her life, she regularly wonders what the future has in store for her and Gerard. Will he ever pop the question? Or will they continue to move along at this slow pace, whilst everyone around her is getting married or making babies.

Suddenly her mother phones her out of the blue one day and tells her that her Great Aunt Lillian is poorly and would she go down to Lipton, to help her and her sweetshop that has been left unattended because of Lillian’s dodgy hip.

At first Rosie is perplexed as to why she has been nominated for the job, but as her mother, Angie is residing in Australia, Rosie seems like the obvious choice.

Of course, Gerard is put out, at Rosie for abandoning him, but she has to help Lilian. She is family after all. So Rosie packs up for Lipton, excited but nervous about her new challenge, plus it gives her the opportunity and space to reflect on her life.

Moving to the countryside, Rosie expects life to be moving at a slower pace but nothing could prepare her, for the drama and challenges that the small village has in store for her.

No sooner has she arrived, then she is already helping the local doctor, trying to befriend the local recluse all whilst trying to restore her Aunt’s failing business.

Who said things were quieter in the countryside?

Meanwhile her Aunt Lillian, has spent her life running the sweetshop through wars and family tragedy. As the time comes for Lillian to face up to the realisation that she is getting old and no longer capable of managing the sweetshop, she also grapples with the unknown history that is hidden behind her sweetshop.

“Welcome to Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop of Dreams” is a charming read that captivates from the first page of recipes of forgotten sweets. A warm story about love and friendship. The story is wonderfully written through the eyes of the women, as they struggle to deal with the truth. In the case of Lillian, it’s the fear of growing old and never recovering from her one love and with Rosie, it’s the fear of never settling down.

Lillian was a lovely character to read, as the story moves into her past, you see her coming of age and turn her into the person that she has become. Hard on the outside, but quite sweet and vulnerable behind closed doors with a terribly wicked tongue.

The book regularly brought a smile to my face, as the two women clashed over different points of view and things seen differently from both generations.

The story of Rosie and Lillian is the perfect Spring read, ideal to snuggle up to with a bag of sweets. It was through reading this book, that I re-discovered my childhood love of sweets particularly white mice. Packed with recipes and history of some the world’s most loved sweets.”Welcome to Rosie Hopkin’s Sweetshop of Dreams” is the ideal book for everyone that needs a little sweetness in life.

You can buy [amazon_link id=”075154454X” target=”_blank” ] Welcome To Rosie Hopkins’ Sweetshop Of Dreams on Amazon [/amazon_link] and other good bookshops.