Coffeehouse Angel [Hardcover]

Suzanne Selfors (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 21, 2009

From the author of Saving Juliet comes a romantic comedy that is good to the last drop. When Katrina spots a homeless guy sleeping in the alley behind her grandmother’s coffee shop, she decides to leave him a cup of coffee, a bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans, and some pastries to tide him over. Little does she know that this random act of kindness is about to turn her life upside down.  Because this adorable vagrant, Malcolm, is really a guardian angel on a break between missions. And he won’t leave until he can reward Katrina’s selflessness by fulfilling her deepest desire. Now if only she could decide what that might be . . .

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up—In quaint, Scandinavian Nordby, WA, orphaned high school sophomore Katrina Svensen lives above her grandmother's struggling old-world coffeehouse. College applications are due, and she's desperate to discover a true talent, like best friends Vincent, a trophy-laden swimmer, and Elizabeth, an artist, have. Opening the coffeehouse one morning, Katrina discovers a young man prostrate in its alley. Assuming he's homeless or on a bender, she leaves him day-old pastries and fresh coffee, then locks herself inside and calls Vincent. The next time Katrina sees the handsome vagrant, Malcolm, he's declaring in school assembly that he must reward Katrina's unselfish deed with her greatest desire. Malcolm's a messenger angel, but his several attempts to grant the girl's heart's desire go awry. Naming this desire proves difficult for her as she wonders whether she should choose to keep the rival coffeehouse's owner away from her grandmother's business and his daughter away from Vincent, find her passion, or perhaps keep the handsome Malcolm around. Readers may relate, but may also lose patience with Katrina's constant self-criticism. Sometimes this more-tell-than-show book fluctuates between frothiness and weighty drama. The adults portrayed are often pliable, unrealistic, homophobic, or otherwise inappropriate. But a G-rated supernatural romance with interesting twists at its neatly tied up conclusion will appeal to readers looking for light chick-lit.—Danielle Serra, Cliffside Park Public Library, NJ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“Good to the last drop.” —Midwest Book Review

 

"This book is a spin-off of the familiar genie-in-a-lamp fairytale, but it has some new and refreshing twists to make it worthwhile. It will appeal to teens as they mature through high school.” —VOYA

 

 

"A light but warm story full of lovable, quirky people with realistic struggles, this book affectionately portrays the insecurity and uncertainty every young adult feels growing up, and the power of love, friendship, and community to draw out vibrant strengths and gifts each person can offer to others." —Lemuria Bookstore Blog (online)

 

"Coffeehouse Angel is the perfect book to curl up alongside with on a rainy dreary day. It will infuse your heart with warmth and make you smile." —The Book Butterfly (online)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Walker Childrens (July 21, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802798128
• ISBN-13: 978-0802798121
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #730,144 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Suzanne Selfors lives on an island near Seattle where it rains all the time, which is why she tends to write about cloudy, moss-covered, green places.
She's married, has two kids, and writes full time.
Her favorite writers are Kurt Vonnegut, Charles Dickens, and most especially, Roald Dahl.
You can visit her at www.suzanneselfors.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars cute teen romance, January 4, 2009

By 

guitarchick24 (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Coffeehouse Angel (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

Having read and enjoyed Suzanne Selfors' "Saving Juliet," I was looking forward to her new book, "Coffeehouse Angel." If you're looking for a light, quick teen read, "Coffeehouse Angel" is every bit as frothy and sweet as your favorite coffee drink.

Katrina lives with her grandmother above their coffee shop, Anna's, in the quaint town of Nordby. Katrina, a rather shy and self-conscious teenager, wonders what her special talents are - her one friend Elizabeth is a gifted artist and her other friend Vincent is an amazing swimmer. Meanwhile, Katrina just goes to school and helps out at the coffee shop, but the business is rapidly failing due to rising debt and Java Heaven, the slick new coffeehouse next door. When Katrina meets Malcolm, a messenger angel on assignment in Nordby, she mistakes him for a homeless man and offers him some food. Her kind act leads Malcolm to insist upon granting her her "true heart's desire" - but her first two wishes go awry, creating all sorts of mayhem in Katrina's life. Katrina must sort through the messes her wishes have made while coming to terms with her real heart's desire - Malcolm.

It's a teen romance, so it's light, and it's clean, which is to be expected. But there was also a surprising amount of depth in "Coffeehouse Angel" - themes of forgiveness and living life to the fullest arise in a way that is thoughtful but not cloying or preachy. Katrina does a fair amount of growing up by the story's end and readers will be cheering her on each step of the way.

Definitely a good read and recommended.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly Enjoyable & Well-Written, January 14, 2009

By 

Marsha Wood Wirtel (Philly's Western 'Burbs) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Coffeehouse Angel (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

Suzanne Selfor's Coffeehouse Angel is a thoroughly enjoyable story of forgiveness, redemption and selflessness set in the quaint midwestern town of Nordby. Katrina works in her grandmother's coffee shop and takes on far more responsibility and worry than a young woman of her age ought. When the business is imperiled by new competition and her grandmother becomes ill, Katrina's worries multiply beyond her ability to handle them.

Enter a homeless man sleeping in the alley behind the coffee shop. Despite the weight on Katrina's shoulders, she performs a kindness to the young man and sets in motion a string of events that not only helps her regain control of events affecting her but also sheds light on questions about her past that she had hardly dared ask. In the process she finds a path to the future and experiences a first love.

Technically, the book is a good one. In Katrina the author has created a likeable, realistic heroine. The hero brings a paranormal element (hinted at in the book's title) that is thankfully nuanced and not an overplayed alpha-male-in-training while supporting characters are well-drawn and provide a good foundation for the main action. Even the villians are more than one-note plot devices and enable Katrina to grow and come to terms with events outside her control (and we don't feel a bit guilty about the schadenfreude we feel at their downfall). Finally, the romantic portions of the story are age-appropriate and feel natural to the story.

Coffeehouse Angel is recommended for anyone weary of the dark, overwrought YA romantic titles of late.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Coffeehouse Angel is an Irresistible Read!!!, September 25, 2009

By 

The Book Resort "The Book Resort" (Long Island, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coffeehouse Angel (Hardcover)

Katrina is absolutely captivating. Selfors' setup showcasing Katrina's heart, soul & desires was sensational. Selfors not only delivered the goods, but made me acknowledge my own hidden aspirations.

Katrina is a sweetheart & her emotions are so precise you actually experience her distress for the coffeehouse's growth & well-being.

Selfors' touching prose is so authentic, you find yourself feeling powerless because you want to help keep grandma's coffeehouse afloat & you just can't jump inside the book to do it. Selfors did a topnotch undertaking describing the picturesque town & its capricious dwellers.

Psst! I wanted to destroy the nefarious Java Heaven.

I'll admit as much as I adored Katrina, there were times I became frustrated @ her ennui.
I just wanted to shake tell her she had the capability to do things on her own ~ w/0 depending on others to come to the rescue & Selfors exhibits it effortlessly. Hats off to Selfors for this uneasy feat!


Coffeehouse Angel is an irresistible read for teens, tweens & anyone in search of a tale as scrumptious as hot cocoa loaded w/ marshmallows!


Quick! Grab a copy of Coffeehouse Angel & feel the magic envelop you!

Check out Suzanne Selfors website!

I love this cover! Thank you to the art department for doing a remarkable job casting the model ~ she definitely captures the Scandinavian essence of Katrina.

The model is beautiful & I am curious to know who she is. I am also going to keep my eye out for future covers she may grace.