J. J. Spring
Writer's Digest Review
I loved this book. This book is entirely worth it. First, the book was incredibly well-turned out. The professional manner in which the quality of the production values came through on every page. The section breaks with the non-traditional break characters were inspired and well-done. They didn’t call attention to themselves, but it spoke of care (which many other attributes did as well.)
There were no issues with grammar or punctuation. It was very obvious the amount of work and thoughtfulness that had been expended on this book. You had a great setup with the book. The plot was taut and well-drawn. A few times, I thought that I had determined what would happen next – and I was wrong. So the book kept me intrigued.
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The book characters were exceptional. At one place, the character struggles with the thoughts of taking a drink. It’s a small moment, but probably one of the best will-she-or-won’t she moments I’ve read in quite some time. There were a number of these moments and truly it’s the small things that add up to make a fantastic book.
Nothing's stronger than the bond between a mother and a daughter stretched to the breaking point.
"The Chocolate Shop is a sterling effort that turns the minutia of every day life into fodder for exceptional storytelling. J. J. Spring's story serves up a wondrous mother-daughter tale, rife with the kind of familial conflicts that hit all too close to home, dramatized on a sprawling, angst-riddled emotional landscape. Culled from the school of Alice Hoffman and Judith Guest, The Chocolate Shop makes the mundane feel exceptional and turns every day life into a stage where the performers are constantly tripping over their own lines. Heartfelt as well as hard-hitting, this tale pulls no punches in stitching a tapestry as passionate as it is painful."
Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of the Caitlin Strong series.
Hypnotically compelling, evocative, and thought-provoking . . . Highly recommend.
Midwest Book Review
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