A really fun book about a monster candy store and its new owner!

I was so excited to find out that Coyote J.M. Edwards had a new novella out! I really liked Coffee, Milk & Spider Silk about a coffee shop/cafe, so I was eager to see what was next. A candy shop? Featuring a slime character?

Meet Lillian Perth, a girl who hasn’t stuck around with a lot of things, mostly she just runs away from things when she has a new interest or something happens. I was very curious if she would be able to run a candy shop. And throughout the book we see that she has a lot of energy, a lot of ideas, a lot of fun things she wants to try out, sometimes she is a bit too eager or wants just a bit too much without thinking about a budget, we see her try candy and try to help out her new friends. BUT we also clearly see that at times she is having a hard time with it. Her aunt/family constantly reminds her of her previous endeavours and how those ended and we see she is struggling with sticking to it. And so I found myself rooting for Lillian and hoping that she would pull through that she would stick with this, I mean, girl look what you did for this little shop? Look at those ideas that are brewing in your mind? Don’t give up! I think you found your place. I loved seeing her get more and more happy with where she lived, making friends with people, finding friends.

The candy shop? Sign me up! I love visiting candy shops, though for real they are not that magical here as they are in this book, I mean, I wouldn’t mind candy that swirls in colours. But having a candy store of my own? Yes please! I would love that. Any grannies willing to donate their store to me? Please?

I loved reading about Lillian’s plans for the whole store and loved seeing them come to live. Not all of them made it, but a lot of them did and I just adored reading about the shop transforming into something more fantastic. New candy. New paint for the store. New promotional stuff. A website. And more!

I could also understand Kheskat’s feelings on Lillian. I mean, if my biggest dream was to take over a candy store from my grandmother and then suddenly she just hands it to a stranger who doesn’t even know how a candy store is run or even knows her candies? I would also be pissed and not too eager to form friendships. I am glad that throughout the book we didn’t just get to see grumpy Keshkat, but also a lot of sweet Keshkat who is making candy, who is kind, who tries her best to be friends with Lillian and help her out with learning new things.

Plus, there is an upcoming competition and I loved seeing our characters band together to figure something out that will wow the judges! I loved what happened in those later moments/at the competition and was rooting for my characters!

All in all, this is one novella I would highly recommend!