A great summer or rainy days read - Rated 
Loved this book and had difficulty putting it down until I'd finished it. You definitely need to read Chocolat first in order to set the scene for this sequel.
Loved to hate the character of Zozie, who I'd expect to be the star character if the book is made into a film. Bit disappointed in the "wimpiness" of Vianne (the main character from Chocolat) but, for me, that made this book refreshingly different and I'd say it was a brave move by the author.
Loved the way the narrative switched from one character to another too.
well usually sequels are - Rated
- derivative and boring, but this one certainly wasn't. Joanne Harris is a real storyteller and the book just kept me hooked from beginning to end. In fact I think was better than Chocolat. Harris has matured as a writer without ever selling out. Long may she continue!
A very worthy sequel - Rated 
Sometimes when you read the sequel of a book that you have really enjoyed you close the book when you've finished feeling quite sad because it just didnt live up to the expectation - with Lollipop Shoes I closed the book very sad as I just didnt want it to end. I wasnt disappointed in the least and in fact, I think I enjoyed it more than Chocolat.
Joanne Harris re-acquaints the reader with Vianne, Anouke and Roux - all well-loved characters. Brand new and major characters are Rosette - Vianne's second daughter and Zozie, the mysterious lady who appears to be a guardian angel to the little family.
Vianne, Anouke and Zozie take turns to tell the story, and as each tell the same story, each one gives their own different view.
The story is full of mystery and magic, interwoven with the story of Vianne and her family's struggle to make a living from their chocolate shop, Vianne's relationship with new man Thierry and old beau Roux. Running alongside the main story are the individual stories of the shop's customers - including the slightly aloof Madame, the local cafe owner and a street-painter, amongst others.
The story turns quite dark and atmospheric towards the end whilst still seeming realistic, and I certainly couldnt turn the pages fast enough to find out the ending.
More like a luke warm cup of tea than a delicious mug of hot chocolate - Rated 
I was so disappointed with this book; when it first came out I even bought it in hardback as I had absolutley loved Chocolat (and the others of Harris's that I have read). I had practically been counting down the days to the release of this book and was left feeling incredibly underwhelmed by the whole thing.
The Lollipop Shoes is the story of Vianne and Anouk and Vianne's new daugher who have moved to Paris and set up a chocolate shop there too but there is none of the magic of that first shop, it's very dull and lacks sparkle. Also, the characters in Lollipop Shoes don't even seem to be the same people they were in Chocolat; Vianne was carefree and happy in Chocolat and in this she is dull and conventional (I know she is supposed to be hiding from her past but I just didn't buy it). And I found the storyline of Red coming back to find her almost ludicrous as their relationship in Chocolat never developed into what we are lead to belive it did in this book.
Call me an old cynic but I just get the feeling that this book has been penned this in order for it to be made into another film - it had none of the magic I had expected. Infact, it left me feeling flat as a pancake.
I would always invite someone to make up their own mind about a book but this really didn't cut it for me.
Delightfully magical...for the most part... - Rated
Having not got past the first 20 pages of Chocolat - the only other book of JH's that I've tried - I was pleasantly surprised by 'The Lollipop Shoes'. Her writing is almost (and I repeat almost) on a par with Alice Hoffman in terms of spinning magical yarns and throwing in more than enough of the unusual but I feel that this a tale of people rather than witchery and that the whimsical slant is merely an aside. Like I say, having not read any of her other books I don't know whether this is her usual style but I'll certainly be picking up another to try.
I guessed that this must be the follow on from Chocolat since it's chocolatey theme couldn't be mere coincidence and it has encouraged me to give it another go perhaps.
All in all, I think you'll savour this story of Vianne versus Zozie, with it's backdrop of Montmarte, Paris, and all it's quirkiness. If it's your cup of tea anyway...
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