Review: The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

Hardcover

184 pages

Published October 27th 2009

by Farrar Straus Giroux

Rating:

3.5 Stars

Summary:

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. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

It had been one of those weeks were I really couldn't get into a book. Everything I picked up lost my interest instantaneously. Maybe it was school, maybe it was the family, but it really doesn't matter. I came back right after I finished this book. I have to admit, I was kind of hesitant. As much as I loved the cover, I was worried it wouldn't be something I'd like because it's really short.

The story is told from first person POV. Jane, our main character is an "equal opportunity ditcher", spending her time away from her classes working at a coffee shop and studying the relationship that drinks have with people. Before she knows it she's setting people up and becoming the local matchmaker.

What I loved about it:

The entire concept of the story was too cute to resist. Coffee and Love? As cliche as it may seem you can't resist it.
Jane seems like someone you can really relate to. She's not perfect and can sometimes be sorta thick headed. But, in the end, she's just like everyone else.
Throughout the book you get to learn new coffee terms and what she thinks of each person that drinks it. My favorite:

Small Pumpkin Spice Latte

Lots of fun and a bit sassy. Up-to-date with a the latest trend and has a bit of an exotic flair. Wants to have a good time and not be tied down for long. Cute and playful. Likes a good thing but not too much of a good thing. Not the commitment type. She's the kind of friend who is a lot of fun to hang out with and doesn't make you feel like you owe her anything...

The various love stories that go about along with the many different characters she gets to meet.

What I Didn't Like

Jane and Em got on my nerves sometimes...
You'd expect that the matchmaker herself would hook up but you don't know whether the one guy she likes is a douche or even likes her at all. Then she gets with someone unexpected and your like: "WHAT?!"
You can't believe that some of the characters are that stupid.
Some what unbelievable -cute- but unbelievable.
A lot of characters are introduced and you'd expect to get to know them better, but they don't really amount to anything. I guess, this being a short book you'd expect that, but still...

Should You Read It?