The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul: The heart-warming and uplifting international bestseller

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In a little coffee shop in one of the most dangerous places on earth, five very different women come together . . .

First of all, I honestly can't believe that people like Faheem exist, he has a very disgusting personality and people like him just waste oxygen.In 2021, the former coffee shop is no longer a meeting place for soldiers and foreign aid workers but a base from which Yazmina, with the help of her husband, runs two women’s shelters. It’s a dangerous job but one she’s fully committed to. Her sister Layla has become an outspoken women’s rights activist, using her social media profile to spread the word. And then there’s elderly mother-in-law, Halajan. A law into herself, she has found her own way of protesting. I wasn’t sure about some of the words at first, the cultural difference and I was unsure if I could connect with it, but I enjoyed it as I read more, and it held my interest.’ As this is the third book, I will admit, I got confused with the different characters, storyline and everything in genuinely, however that being said, the author did an amazing job at filling in some gaps for me, as a reader, so I was able to follow the story. After a few chapters, I felt "caught up" with the story. Sequel to the Kabul Coffee Shop series, Return to the Little Coffee Shop Of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez gives you glimpse into the life of Sunny, Halajan, and the new generation. A generation living away from Kabul, trying to adjust on the another side of the world, a world without bullets and bloodshed. And not just the young ones, the grown ups now need to find a new path towards their life as well.

Even though it was set in the middle east and tried to incorporate the very real dangers women (and men) face the book felt like a 'soap opera' to me. The dialogue was outright corny at times and it did feel very 'westernised'and watered down so as not to be too graphic or controversial. My favourite character was probably Halajan, although I did also like Yasmina. But I really didn't believe the 'metamorphosis' of some of the characters, particalarly one who had been set in the traditional ways for so long... The story of the hero lion was one of Najama's and Halajan's favourites. Of course, she had not shared all the details with her granddaughter. Like how, after the mujahideen had driven the country into violence and chaos, there was no one left to feed the animals in the zoo, and many of them died of hunger. A brilliant story of strength and appreciation of difference that, surprisingly, restores belief in humanity.' Daily TelegraphIt does something very rare - it remains positive in the light of such horror - and it portrays Afghan society with affection and warmth. If you haven't read the previous books about the little coffee shop in Kabul, firstly why not and then I suggest you read them before you start this one, as you will already have a relationship with this family. The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul is the heart-warming and life-affirming fiction sensation that captured the hearts of readers across the globe. Ach, who would want more than one?" [...] "But it is also true," [...] "that without us, these men who are so valuable would have no sons. Heaven is under the Mother's feet, so treat her kindly. Have you not heard that said? Our tradition tells us that women should be given kindness, love, and respect if a man truly wants to be righteous." After a long absence Sunny arrives in the country that is fearful of its future, the trepidation and memories of life under the Taliban very real.

One of the most uncomfortable parts of the book is when, Sunny revels she experienced domestic violence as a child and Isabel confesses she was raped. Rodriguez clearly imagines that she is writing a heart wrenching moment, but under her inept handling, these tragedies read like a game of one-upmanship. Sunny, the proud proprietor, who needs an ingenious plan - and fast - to keep her café and customers safe...The correct response to this (which was noticeably absent in the novel) is THERE IS NEVER A REASON TO TREAT A WOMAN LIKE THAT. There is NEVER a time to treat women as lesser, as something that needs to be kept in line, diminished, abused or hidden away. I was gripped by fear for these people and cried at various points in this story, particularly at the evacuation and airport scenes. I just cannot imagine how terrifying their ordeal must feel and additionally, I cannot understand how some people can be so ignorant and show such little compassion for Afghan refugees. What they have been through - and continue to go through - is unbelievably horrific. There wasn't much of Yasmina in this book compared to the prequel but I gues what was included was enough. This is a warm romantic novel set in a harsh county. Like the main character, the author had a successful enterprise in Kabul and knew what a job it was to get a generator and keep it running. But it's not all the same. While ATSS is set in the first time the Taliban took over, this book is set in recent times.