The opening few chapters, including the prologue, are written in the present tense, which perhaps makes the central character Jo's takeover of her uncle's beloved stationery shop - and the circumstances surrounding that, such as the uncle's dementia and Jo dealing with being dumped by her boyfriend as well as becoming estranged from her best friend - seem more immediate, while the short chapters and sentences makes the prose easy to read.
It's also a good example of writing what you know, as the author draws upon her experience of running a fountain pen company and opening a (flower) shop, while the setting is also a good way of getting seemingly disparate characters such as Jo, Ruth the vicar and septuagenarian Malcolm to meet, thereby developing character and plot. The front cover also hints at a story within a story, or stories within stories, waiting to be unlocked.
It's also a good example of writing what you know, as the author draws upon her experience of running a fountain pen company and opening a (flower) shop, while the setting is also a good way of getting seemingly disparate characters such as Jo, Ruth the vicar and septuagenarian Malcolm to meet, thereby developing character and plot. The front cover also hints at a story within a story, or stories within stories, waiting to be unlocked.