LEGO Friends Heartlake Surf Shop 41315 Building Kit (186 Pieces)

When I first opened my set, I became nervous because there are SO many tiny pieces. As a kid, I feared Lego sets because I could not be focused enough to sit and build things. I would get frustrated easily and I would rather read a book than build something that my younger sister would ruin the second I finished. Blocks were never my favorite toy anyway. Today, I had a blast with this set.The instruction booklet is so easy to follow and it gave me reassurance that I could build this set pretty easily. The set itself is so imaginative. I can't believe I didn't have Lego Friends as a kid. I would've loved them. colors are so attractive and the idea of a surf shop is so appealing that I really enjoyed myself while building this. I understand how kids and parents would love these sets because it keeps the kids occupied and the sets are actually a lot of fun to assemble and reassemble.There is a water bottle station, a canoe, surfboards, and even little shop stands to hold merchandise such as sunglasses and postcards. The only weird thing that doesn't match up with reality is the canoe. I assume since this is a surf shop, the store is on a beach. Who canoes in the ocean? Do people do that? Maybe this is just a fun excuse to have a canoe in a Lego set. I appreciate the artistic touch at the top of the shop where there is a creating wave to accentuate that this is in fact a surf shop on the beach.I'm not going to lie, the green and white awnings messed me up a bit. Those were the only instructions that are a bit hard to follow because it's difficult to see in the pictures how the blocks fit together like it's supposed to. I figured it out eventually after analyzing the pictures more closely.If you have the time and are willing to be patient with the itty bitty pieces, this set is honestly fun for adults too.

We bought two of these, as they were 20% off the list price, one as a gift, and one for my daughter, aged 6. She has no trouble putting this set together, and LOVES it! It is very cute and has lots of details. Some pieces are included more than once, like Mia's life vest, which is appreciated

My daughter likes this. It is wonderful. There are lots of things in the store and is fun to play with.

Perfect gift for a 6 year old girl. She's able to complete it all herself. Complicated but not too hard. Excellent amount of pieces for the price. So pleased!!

1I open the box. This is the first Lego set I will ever build alone, and I wonder if it will be difficult. I take out bags 1 and 2, which each contain smaller (unlabeled) bags, and flip through the instructions before beginning the assembly of the set. I am reminded of Ikea furniture, as though I am training to build real furniture, though I am building a small surf shop and other accessories.2I lose a piece, trying to assemble the base of a beach chair. I think that perhaps this is why I never played with Legos as a child, because of the anxiety that comes with the potential loss of a piece. My professor, for whose class I am building the set, helps me realize that I've used two pieces interchangeably despite having different functions. Embarrassed, I return to my set, feeling as though I'm seven years old again.3The inside of the surf shop is incredibly elaborate: there is a cash register with a casual $100 bill (placed at an angle, so as to seem casual), a bumper sticker for Heartlake City bumper sticker on sale, and a spinning sunglasses display. A sign over the sunglasses says "50," and I wonder if each pair is $50. What is the function of money at this nameless surf shop? And is this a hangout spot? There are extra sunglasses in the set, so Mia doesn't even necessarily need to buy something from the store; even the swimming fins and roller skates wouldn't fit the Friends feet.4When it is complete, I don't know what to make of or do with the set. What scenario would a child make up with this setting? Perhaps some outdoor play--surfing or kayaking--and then, inevitably, an exchange of capital for goods. The set is a store, after all, not a museum or a beach-side information center. The set itself is small, too. There is some water, even less sand, and then, the central part of the set, the store; it is easiest to interact with this part of this world, and this set feels slightly geared towards consumption, even as it is also about exploration in nature.5Looking again at the storefront, I remember that I've attached a sticker, an advertisement for a camera, to the front window. It reads "100," not "$100," mirroring the sign over the sunglasses display. And Mia actually has this camera already, which is attached to the kayak, and which fits perfectly in her hand. Why price these items which are already owned by the sole person in this setting? And further, how could Mia buy anything if a child so chose that to be the narrative, if no one is at the counter to take her money? She doesn't even really have money anyway, though the $100 bill sits unclaimed at the register. The whole thing is peculiar, and it's unclear to me if it reflects a capitalistic end, or a more general overwhelmed-ness that the world can instill in a person, especially a single person in a Lego world. Mia can surf, sunbathe, or kayak here; she can also refill a water bottle, take a picture, or shop for sunglasses, footwear, and other accessories and souvenirs. The possibilities are seemingly endless, and terrifying in that way, too.

This was a gift to my daughter (8 yrs old). Was a bit of a challenge to assemble but once she did she played with it for hours on end. Cute set that she still plays with to this day.

Ten year old twin girls really enjoy their Lego sets and I as their Grandma love watching them build the sets and see their imaginations grow. Would recommend but I still feel Lego sets in all sizes are too expensive.

All my kids love these little kits. I use them as little rewards for jobs well done. They are very cute and easy complete independently. They are a little pricey but all LEGOs are. Pretty colors and the little characters are always a big hit with my kids.