The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

Summary/Image from Barnes and Noble:

What's your drink of choice? Is it a small pumpkin spice latte? Then you're lots of fun and a bit sassy. Or a medium americano? You prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps it's a small decaf soy sugar-free hazelnut caffe latte? Some might call you a yuppie. Seventeen-year-old barista Jane Turner has this theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their regular coffee drink. She scribbles it all down in a notebook and calls it Espressology. So it's not a totally crazy idea when Jane starts hooking up some of her friends based on their coffee orders. Like her best friend, Em, a medium hot chocolate, and Cam, a toffee nut latte. But when her boss, Derek, gets wind of Jane's Espressology, he makes it an in-store holiday promotion, promising customers their perfect matches for the price of their favorite coffee. Things are going better than Derek could ever have hoped, so why is Jane so freaked out? Does it have anything to do with Em dating Cam? She's the one who set them up! She should be happy for them, right?

With overtones of Jane Austen's Emma and brimming with humor and heart, this sweet, frothy debut will be savored by readers.

Review:

I have to admit, I was a wee bit hesitant to start The Espressologist because of it's short length. Since short novels and I usually don't mix well. Though The Espressologist ended up being a pleasantly surprising me because while it definitely isn't best of the year material, it still is one yummy, cute, and humorous read that I'm sure will have many readers asking for more...and going to their local coffee shop to get one of the delicious looking drinks mentioned in the book. Well, I know at least I'll be. ;)

Jane Turner is witty and smart. And even though she wasn't that greatly developed, there are still many points that teens can relate to such as the fact that she's worried about her future because of her lack of college founds, loves her friends to death, has embarrassing run-ins with her school's ex-ice princess, and can't seem to get the guy she likes...and even though her true soul-mate may be closer than she thinks; leaving her to be one character I couldn’t help but love as she went through the holiday season with not only these problems but being The Espressologist of her local coffee shop. Main goal of said job? To find love for her customers even thoughshe can't seem to get her own love life worked out. I also loved the added characters of Derek, Em, and Cam since they also added to the funny side of the story and constantly had me smiling to myself at their one-liners.

The plot of this was something that was addicting and original but lacking in development. I especially loved reading about Jane's match-ups but I would have loved to seen more of her matches as well as what happened to her matches after their first date. Also her relationship with Cam often left something to be desired since their wasn't much substance to it, much like the rest of the relationships/friendships in the book.

Though with that all being said The Espressologist is still a book I highly suggest you pick up when it comes out in paperback (or at your library if you can't wait) since what it misses in plot holes and character development, it makes up in adorableness and humor.

Grade: B

The Espressologist is now out!

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