so-soThis was…weird. Interesting story, but dragged on in certain places and not enough detail in others. I think it tried to do too much.
13 likes
The Dress Shop of Dreams: A Novel | 
so-soThis was…weird. Interesting story, but dragged on in certain places and not enough detail in others. I think it tried to do too much.
pickFor fans of Alice Hoffman, and Sarah Addison Allen, The Dress Shop of Dreams is a captivating novel of enduring hopes, second chances, and the life-changing magic of true love. Tucked away on a winding Cambridge street, Etta's charming tiny store appears quite ordinary to passersby, but beaded silks, delicate laces, and jewel-toned velvets hold bewitching secrets: These gorgeous gowns have the power to free a woman's deepest desire.
so-soI was entertained by this read, though there were a few aspects of it that have kept me from making it a pick. I finished it quickly because I truly found it to be a fun little escape. I enjoyed the magical realism that characterizes van Praag's work and I enjoyed the characters. However, I found the storyline very predictable. It didn't surprise me like House at the End of Hope Street. Overall, it wasn't as good as House but still fun.
"I believe that soul mates will always find each other, that true love will weather all storms, that people who want to be together will always find a way, that once our hearts find a home in another then they will stay, that false love will fade away and be forgotten in time, that a free heart is happier than an unloved one."
"It's a great shame...that the heart cannot feel joy without also feeling pain, that it cannot know love without also knowing loss." (p. 57)
I was so happy with The House at the End of Hope Street that I rushed to the library for this one today. I searched all the libraries in our area and it seems that this is the only other book by van Praag that I have available at the moment. It is a large print version, which makes me chuckle. On chapter 4. I'm still not convinced that I like it better than the one I just finished but still entertained!
pickI enjoyed this book much better than The House at the End of Hope Street. Fun Magical Realism, and several quirky characters. This is the perfect beach read if you‘re traveling this winter ❄️ or quick little fireside read.
My daughter and Mom bought me these books for Christmas, and I‘m reading them while on vacation. We found the shell on nearby Cockleshell Beach. These are the books in the Amazon bag from yesterday‘s post. The only place my daughter could find The Last Pearl Fisher is Scotland was from an Amazon seller. #beachreads
A sample of books I have about fashion. The only one I've read so far is The Knockoff. #fashion #septembowie
pickThis was a light, fun listen! It definitely feels like a Jenny Colgan read alike, also set in England. Follows the interconnected stories of six different people who are each charming in their own way. There's also a tiny hint of magical realism to add to the fun. #audiobook
"Oh my dear." Etta laughs, the sound humming around her. "When is cake ever for hunger? It's for flavor and, in this case, comfort."
pickThis book is great. It's formulaic. I predicted nearly everything. It's cheesy. It's overly hokey. But it worked. Why am I such a sucker for cheesy romance books?
pickI loved this audiobook, it was my serendipitous purchase. I lost my reading mojo and this book restored it. Completely different to my usual choices in that it has mystical and romantic elements. What is more it is read by the fab Jane Carr, British actress who has appeared in many American TV shows
