Love, Coffee, and Revolution - by Stefanie Leder

Book Synopsis

Deftly weaving romance, action, and humor with a quest for integrity in an unjust world, Love, Coffee, and Revolution is a timely and relatable coming-of-age novel.

Dee Blum has a plan. Or rather, her parents do.

Graduate college. Go to law school. Become a divorce attorney. Be "successful." But Dee wants more--more purpose, more passion, more than checking off someone else's boxes. A surprise gig leading eco-tours of ethical coffee farms in Costa Rica offers a fresh start.

At first, she's intoxicated by the thrill of navigating a new culture and the attention of two very different men: one, the charming scion of a wealthy family; the other, a magnetic change-maker. But she soon finds herself torn between conflicting desires and mounting evidence that these "ethical" coffee farms aren't all they promise to be. Dee knows she didn't come all this way to join a corrupt system that hides behind phony environmentalism. So how far will she go for justice? For love? And for the life she actually wants?

Review Quotes

"Love, Coffee, and Revolution manages the impossible: It not only tackles the big topics--love, identity, the question of ethical consumption in the age of capitalism--it's also fun, funny, and romantic. Stefanie Leder has written a delightful and smart romp of a novel, and I am so here for it."

-- "Edan Lepucki, author of California"

"Leder debuts with a smart and snappy romp...With an unusual setup, a gorgeous backdrop, an earnest political message, and a memorable cast, this is sure to make a splash."

-- "Publishers Weekly"

"Romantic, funny, and human, it was a thoroughly enjoyable ride right up to the moment I found out it was Stefanie Leder's first novel, which I found infuriating and unfair. A first novel is not supposed to be this good!"

-- "Amy Sherman-Palladino, creator of Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"

"As romantic and striking as its Costa Rican setting, Leder's engrossing and hilarious debut may just inspire you to veer off-road in a quest for adventure, romance, and a bracing café chorreado."

-- "Erin Ehrlich, cocreator of Netflix's Boo, Bitch"

"Love, Coffee, and Revolution is a tour de force. Smart and witty, with an unforgettable heroine who you can't help but fall in love with. I didn't want it to end!"

-- "Kate Ruby, bestselling author of Tell Me Your Lies"

"A resonant, whip-smart, laugh-out-loud tale of love, politics, and personal growth. Dee's misadventures in Costa Rica will have you rooting for her, rethinking your coffee choices, and making sure you 'eat the freaking chocolate!' Bold, brilliant, inspiring, and impossible to put down. Tell a friend."

-- " Yvette Lee Bowser, creator of Living Single"

"Reading Stefanie Leder's debut novel was like meeting a person who instantly feels like an old friend. Her unique voice and the integrity of her humor come through on every page. I marvel at how many layers she has folded into her young protagonist's caffeinated journey of tropical self-discovery."

-- "David Kendall, director of Boy Meets World"

"Stefanie Leder is a true original and Love, Coffee, and Revolution is an audacious debut filled with equal amounts of adventure, romance, and laugh-out-loud humor. I loved it."

-- "Ivy Pochoda, award-winning author of Sing Her Down"

"I just love how [this] exciting new voice in fiction weaves classic themes of romance, choice, and self-identity into such an organically contemporary setting. What a fabulous, strong female protagonist; what a satisfying read!"

-- "May Cobb, author of The Hunting Wives"

"This sexy, sweeping, rollicking adventure puts our heroine not just between two love interests but in a much larger conflict--to reconcile her idealism with the ugliness she finds in the world, and to hold fast to her values in spite of it. Though her protagonist struggles with confidence, Leder's prose is brimming with it."

-- "Graham Moore, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Days of Night"

"This whip-smart debut touches on identity, mental health, politics, and love, while making you laugh the whole way through. You will cheer on Dee as she learns to fight for what's right--and to fight for herself."

-- "Rachel Bloom, cocreator/star of the CW's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and bestselling author of I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are"

"Written with wit, heart, and a profound sense of empathy for the world--along with a healthy dose of biting cynicism. Love, Coffee, and Revolution is a sparkling debut filled with memorable characters you'll yearn to meet for coffee."

-- "Tod Goldberg, New York Times bestselling author of Gangsterland"

"In her spot-on depiction of a young woman facing a future she hasn't mapped out, and the exciting, if potentially troublesome, options she encounters, Stefanie Leder serves up dazzling storytelling that resonates."

-- "Josh Sabarra, bestselling author of Enemies Closer"

"In this debut novel, Stefanie Leder writes to delight the senses and ignite the beat of our heart. In Dee, our earnest and charming heroine, we are reminded that what can sometimes seem naive is actually innovative--and that paving one's own way is the only true path to finding love of another person and oneself."

-- "Lauren Iungerich, creator of Awkward and On My Block"

"Romance meets roasters in this frothy bungee jump of a novel that combines undeniable attraction, caffeine, and social justice in equally delightful measures."

-- "Mark Haskell Smith, author of Rude Talk in Athens"

"The book's do-gooder, wanna-be-revolutionary protagonist Dee is well-meaning, yet so naive we worry for her. But her behavior and inner thoughts, which ring true, are both hilarious and touching. I frequently found myself laughing out loud. The book was ultimately moving and profound. I can't wait to see what Stefanie Leder does next."

-- "Robin Schiff, award-winning screenwriter of Romy and Michele's High School Reunion and producer of Emily in Paris"