Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop
From the critically acclaimed author of Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune comes a new delightful novel about exploring all the magical possibilities of life in the most extraordinary city of all: Paris.
Vanessa Yu never wanted to see people's fortunes—or misfortunes—in tealeaves.
Ever since she can remember, Vanessa has been able to see people's fortunes at the bottom of their teacups. To avoid blurting out their fortunes, she converts to coffee, but somehow fortunes escape and find a way to complicate her life and the ones of those around her. To add to this plight, her romance life is so nonexistent that her parents enlist the services of a matchmaking expert from Shanghai.
After her matchmaking appointment, Vanessa sees death for the first time. She decides that she can't truly live until she can find a way to get rid of her uncanny abilities. When her eccentric Aunt Evelyn shows up with a tempting offer to whisk her away, Vanessa says au revoir to California and bonjour to Paris. There, Vanessa learns more about herself and the root of her gifts and realizes one thing to be true: knowing one's destiny isn't a curse, but being unable to change it is.
Vanessa Yu never wanted to see people's fortunes—or misfortunes—in tealeaves.
Ever since she can remember, Vanessa has been able to see people's fortunes at the bottom of their teacups. To avoid blurting out their fortunes, she converts to coffee, but somehow fortunes escape and find a way to complicate her life and the ones of those around her. To add to this plight, her romance life is so nonexistent that her parents enlist the services of a matchmaking expert from Shanghai.
After her matchmaking appointment, Vanessa sees death for the first time. She decides that she can't truly live until she can find a way to get rid of her uncanny abilities. When her eccentric Aunt Evelyn shows up with a tempting offer to whisk her away, Vanessa says au revoir to California and bonjour to Paris. There, Vanessa learns more about herself and the root of her gifts and realizes one thing to be true: knowing one's destiny isn't a curse, but being unable to change it is.
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Community Reviews
This book is a true love letter to Paris. It will have foodies, Art & Tea lovers and Hopeless Romantics enjoying Vanessa’s journey of self discovery with her regal and elegant Aunt in Paris. And eagerly following along as she tried to piece together elements of her mysterious past life in the city of love.
While a Romance book, the author takes the reader on a journey about respect, love, destiny and family with Vanessa and her Aunt Evelyn as the two work through years of miscommunications and differences to work together on Vanessa’s “gift”.
Witnessing their bond and connection form and blossom throughout the book was so touching.
Yu’s family are all very close and interconnected with each other’s lives in some form or another—-especially with the Yu Aunties working together—-but I have to say I don’t often see a bond between an Aunt and Niece in a story have this much care or attention many books.
Likewise, with the detailed and layered characters of Vanessa and her family, nearly all of my questions throughout the book were addressed—for a romance book, this was a key element for me.
I appreciated the information and thought put into explaining to Vanessa ( and us) the importance of her “gift”, how it’s used and the consequences of misusing it. The balance of cultural elements and details the story gives us about jovial relationships of the Yu family made me feel like I was really getting to know them and it really made me love the strong theme of family in the story.
At the same time, Vanessa’s strong negative opinions about her own life, (her “curse” and love life) at time made me wonder if I could even trust the blossoming romance she and Marc were developing constantly!
😅whether that was that was the author’s intention or not to keep the readers guessing until the very end, I’m not sure.
But overall, I really liked this book and I found the ending enjoyable and resolute.
While a Romance book, the author takes the reader on a journey about respect, love, destiny and family with Vanessa and her Aunt Evelyn as the two work through years of miscommunications and differences to work together on Vanessa’s “gift”.
Witnessing their bond and connection form and blossom throughout the book was so touching.
Yu’s family are all very close and interconnected with each other’s lives in some form or another—-especially with the Yu Aunties working together—-but I have to say I don’t often see a bond between an Aunt and Niece in a story have this much care or attention many books.
Likewise, with the detailed and layered characters of Vanessa and her family, nearly all of my questions throughout the book were addressed—for a romance book, this was a key element for me.
I appreciated the information and thought put into explaining to Vanessa ( and us) the importance of her “gift”, how it’s used and the consequences of misusing it. The balance of cultural elements and details the story gives us about jovial relationships of the Yu family made me feel like I was really getting to know them and it really made me love the strong theme of family in the story.
At the same time, Vanessa’s strong negative opinions about her own life, (her “curse” and love life) at time made me wonder if I could even trust the blossoming romance she and Marc were developing constantly!
😅whether that was that was the author’s intention or not to keep the readers guessing until the very end, I’m not sure.
But overall, I really liked this book and I found the ending enjoyable and resolute.
Magical realism that is a bit fluffier than I would normally read. In general, beautiful descriptions of Paris, food, and tea. Be prepared to be hungry!
Review here!
Review here!
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