Editorial Content for The Time Hop Coffee Shop

Phaedra Patrick, the internationally bestselling author of THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER, returns with yet another magical, life-affirming novel. THE TIME HOP COFFEE SHOP invites readers into a world where “What if?” is only a perfectly brewed cup of coffee away.

“You’re always at home with Maple Gold” sings the anonymous chorus at the end of every commercial for the cozy coffee brand. In a stroke of marketing genius, Maple Gold’s coffee commercials invited viewers into a world where young men and women dressed impeccably, sported endless smiles, and fell in love, all with the scent of fresh-brewed coffee wafting in the background. Though fictional, Mapleville was the scene of so many of Greta Perks’ best memories. And why wouldn’t it be? As the star of Maple Gold’s commercials through the '90s and early aughts, Greta met her husband, Jim, on set, invited viewers into their fictional wedding day (with the real and much less glamorous one soon to follow), and even into their early steps as parents to young Lottie.

But Greta’s star has faded with the times, and in the years since their time in Mapleville, her entire family has been replaced by a newer, younger model. The fact that her most lucrative, enjoyable gig has ended --- paired with her journey into her 40s and her daughter’s transition from adorable tot to glowering teen, and the spark that seems to have dimmed from her marriage --- has left Greta in a bit of a funk, and the trial separation she and Jim are testing isn’t helping. If she thought parenting a teenage girl with backup was hard, it’s even worse when they’re carting her from one parent’s home to another.

"Charming, tender and sweet, THE TIME HOP COFFEE SHOP is everything readers love about a Phaedra Patrick novel, but with a magical twist and a powerful message that feels especially timely as we head into the holidays." 

Of course, it’s not just that Maple Gold has replaced Greta and the rest of the Perks. She can’t seem to book anything, not even a hokey commercial selling canned ham. Yes, the woman who once flashed through every morning coffee drinker’s mind for more than a decade cannot even sell canned ham. Her husband, meanwhile, has continued to book minor gigs here and there, his new hair transplant proving its value with every script. And Lottie, who once lit up the stage where they all performed, seems to want to do anything but act, wailing that it feels inauthentic at a time when all she wants to do is figure out who she is and be herself. So instead of just feeling cast aside, separated and unmoored, Greta also gets to experience the exquisite ache of teen judgment.

One night, after a particularly grueling public speaking engagement (though can it really be considered “public” when your once-famous name only pulls six people?), Greta bumps into an old woman who offers her the business card of a nearby coffee shop. Across its milky bottom are the words “Looking for the Perfect Blend?” Long tired of the corporatization of cafes and coffee shops, and in need of something truly cozy, Greta figures, “Why not?” Upon arrival at the mysterious shop, she realizes she recognizes the road, and she is fairly certain that there used to be nothing where the stall now sits. It’s almost as if this Time Hop Coffee Shop popped up out of nowhere.

Inside, Greta meets Iris, who promises her the perfect blend of coffee: not just the right beans and correct water temperature, but a blend that “may cause overwhelming happiness, second chances, disorientation, confusion, and emotional echoes.” Greta isn’t sure what emotional echoes are, but Iris assures her that the coffee is safe. As long as she follows the rules --- one cup per week, to be consumed in a booth at the shop, you must say your wish aloud before you finish the coffee, and, most importantly, you must not resist the coffee’s effects --- she will be able to “encounter the things you miss, the choices you wonder about, the longing you don’t even realize you carry.” Tempting, no?

Greta's first wish is that her life would be perfect again, just like a Mapleville coffee commercial. Instantly, she is transported to idyllic, picturesque Mapleville (picture Mayberry on steroids), where everyone is their best selves, dressed to the nines, glowingly happy, and…well, okay, strangely repetitious with the coffee slogans. But that’s just one thing, right? With each journey to Mapleville, Greta feels herself growing comfortable in her skin, walking tall and believing in hope again. She even begins to rekindle her stagnant relationships with her husband and daughter.

Mapleville, though, is just an illusion, and Greta is unwittingly resisting the coffee’s effects, refusing to follow their teachings and apply them to her own world. As she’s about to learn, a life balanced on only a wish or a dream, with none of the color of drama or hard lessons, isn’t a life at all, but more of a fading projection of a life you only thought you wanted.

Charming, tender and sweet, THE TIME HOP COFFEE SHOP is everything readers love about a Phaedra Patrick novel, but with a magical twist and a powerful message that feels especially timely as we head into the holidays. Perfection, Patrick assures us, is a myth, but that doesn’t make it unachievable: we just have to adapt to its edges. Perfection for some may be a hot cup of coffee, but even when the coffee spills or you find a cat hair floating just on the top, every moment is perfect because you are there to live it. It’s a Hallmark-worthy message, but Patrick adds some grit to the novel with her protagonist’s real-world relationships with her husband, daughter and agent. Plus, reality TV buffs will love the behind-the-scenes look at life on set.

Whether you’re feeling a little stagnant and smothered in your routines or just want to appreciate them anew, THE TIME HOP COFFEE SHOP has a little magic for everyone, especially those who have a tendency to linger in their past memories.