Notice for Review Requests

I receive review requests weekly. However, my personal schedule is hectic and I no longer review actively. (I also manage another blog called The Toronto Cafe and Food Blog). I do read every request sent but I apologize in advance that I do not reply to them all.

If I do take on a request, I will forewarn that it may take some time before I can review it. I am now looking to review adult fiction and self-help books instead of young adult fiction because I have grown out of it. If you are to request a review for either adult fiction or self-help, I will more likely to give it a shot.

In the meantime, Stop, Drop, and Read! serves as an archive book review blog. When I have the time, I may post a review. Thank you for understanding.

Monday, December 7, 2009

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

Title: The Espressologist
Author: Kristina Springer
Age Group: Teens
# of Pages: 184
My Ratings: 2.5/5

Jane Turner, who works in a coffee shop, can judge a person's personality by their choice of coffee. She takes a habit of jotting down her observations in her little book. After hooking up coffee drinkers who were compatible with each other, her manager creates a store promotion out of it!

Even though she loves matchmaking, why doesn't she feel comfortable about it? Is it the fact that she got her best friend, Em, and Cam, a guy from her community college, together? She should be happy for them, since after all, she got them together even when Em refused blind dates. Right?

You do not know how much I was dying to read this novel. My expectation for this quick, light romance was to be 4.5/5 at the least. I am an avid coffee drinker and the idea of matching people up by their regular drinks is so appealing to me! I even adore the cover that goes with it! Except, that is as far as my love for this novel goes.

I got really irritated by Hannah's voice and my dislike for her narration grew as I continued to read. She threw out random tidbits of information that I found useless to the plot and it occurred very frequently. The words describing Jane's actions always felt misused. If I was to imagine how this would play out according to the novel, the characters would be like bad actors that seemed to over exaggerated on every emotion.

What bothered me the most out of all was Jane's crush on Cam. I wondered why she even liked him in the first place. They barely talked to each other in school and if they did, it was more on a friendly level. Their contact outside of class was so minimal that I couldn't understand how this relationship could have her freaking about Em being with him.

However, I really like the descriptions given to the coffee drinks in the novel. I think the personality of the drink fits perfectly with whoever drinks them. If there is someone out there who is actually like Jane, a Espressologist, I would totally ask them what I would be like if I chose a certain drink.

The Espressologist is a quick read for those who want something that deals with light teen romance. Many others have enjoyed this novel, so don't take my word for it.

Review copy provided by
Henry Holt and Company.

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5 comments:

Emma said...

This is the first negative review I've heard of this novel. Thanks for being honest! Eager to read this one.

Eleni said...

Nice honest review :)

Kelsey said...

Sorry you didn't care for it. I really liked it.

Honest review!

Cecelia said...

I too am a coffee fanatic - sorry to hear this one didn't live up to the hype! I might give it a try just because I am such an addict...but with the understanding that I can't get too excited about the writing. Nice review!

Thao said...

Quite sad you didn't like it. The premise of the story is so nice though.