I received a free copy of, The Lost Bookshop, by Evie Woods, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. In Dublin, Opaline, Martha, and Henry, all come across something special, different, magical. I do not want to give it away, but I loved this book, with all its magic and charm.

This was a lovely read. It's a story about women, growth, and a little magic. It's beautifully written and thoroughly enjoyable.

I loved this charming, warm-hearted book and couldn't put it down. Yes, it contained a lot of cliches, but the characters are so appealing, that this doesn't actually matter. A beguiling and heart-warming book, which I will definitely recommend.

A beautifully written wonderful read a touch of mystery characters that come alive.I sat down to read a few pages could not put it down read from first to last page.#netgalley#harpercollinsuk

The first time I saw the book cover as I was browsing titles on NetGalley, I stopped and kept looking at it. It is one of those book covers. The next thing I noticed, was the title. I found it intriguing. I promptly requested the book and One More Chapter most graciously allowed me to have this advanced copy.

It took me some time to get to the book, but get to it, I did. And, I enjoyed it so very much!

The Lost Bookshop has two timelines for the readers to follow and its pretty easy and simple to keep a track of everything despite the changes in POV among three characters when a couple of them even interact with each other. The changes in POV and the changes in timelines are simply put and are easy to track.

The characters start with being names on paper and grow to be individuals with their strengths and weaknesses. Their hopes and insecurities. The best part? We are not told of these. We are shown these. The character growth kept me intrigued throughout as I wanted to know what happens next to a particular character and what choices would the character go on to make.

The story moved at a moderate pace but at around 70% of the story I was able to guess what will happen next. I was right in my guess but that did not at all take away from the enjoyment of reading this book.

I recommend it to anyone looking to read something with Magic and Heart.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the copy of The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods. I loved the premise of this book, but it ultimately wasn’t for me. I can see why others loved it though, because it really was a love story for book lovers. The writing was good but it was too long and I never connected with any of the characters. The story dragged in the middle but I liked how everything came together at the end. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 because I loved the premise and some of the scenes were great.

. Two female protagonists beaten into submission by the mores of society in which men hold the power and women must know their place. Two time frames which both feature a magical bookshop which appears and disappears depending on the circumstances. . Both women manipulated and abused by family discover solace in books. The historical practice of incarceration of women in what was commonly known as lunatic asylums: unforgivable events and actions taken in WW2 against individuals suffering post traumatic stress all combine to draw a picture of a male dominated society working against women’s right to live their lives as they would wish. Strong story lines of two terrified women running away from domination, mingle with the need to suspend belief and allow magic with people, places and events to drive the plot line. This, alongside the search to discover a long lost manuscript by a famous author weaves a strange and tantalising adventure that defies genre . A conclusion that cleverly ties up numerous loose ends and in the fashion of all fairy stories through the ages delivers an uplifting ending. Many thanks to Author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Magical realism can be so hit or miss - this book was a "hit".

The story is told with 3 narrators, 1 in the past and 2 in the present. Opaline lives in the 1920s and is being forced into a marriage by her brother, since the family needs money. She runs away to France and then Ireland where she owns an antique/bookshop. Her story was very moving and felt very authentic.

In the present, Martha flees from an abusive husband and starts to work as a housekeeper. She meets Henry who is looking for a hidden bookshop next to the house where she works. I enjoyed Martha's story and how she worked to overcome her limitations and move forward without her husband. Henry's story was the least compelling. It wasn't bad, but I didn't care as much about it when compared to Martha and Opaline.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting and well developed. The stories were compelling and woven together very well.

The author does a great job of combining some magic/fantasy without making it completely into a fantasy book. The end got a little too "magic"-y for me, but still fit within the world that the author created. I also wasn't exactly clear on the ending for Martha/Henry and it felt a little abrupt.

Overall, I'd recommend this book for anyone who enjoys character development/growth with a touch of magic.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advance review copy.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Three individuals lives will change due to a book. These individuals will explore different adventures they never new existed. This was a good book.

I was lucky enough to read an advanced reading copy of #TheLostBookshop by Evie Gaughan, which I’ve just finished. What a lovely, heartwarming story. I loved the ideas and the way it was written. A real pleasure and made me sigh with pleasure 🤩 #NetGalley

I'm in two minds about this book. I generally loved the storyline and the characters. The plot was rich and powerful, the characters well developed, and the pacing was perfect. The only thing that kept me from loving this book was that the more unrealistic aspects of the story kept pulling me out of the reading experience. Overall it was an enjoyable reading experience and I would definitely read more by this author in the future.

As a book lover, I enjoy reading fiction with bookshops, libraries and other such places as the main setting, which is partly why I was interested in this.

This was a delightful book. As soon as I started reading, I felt it was going to be the kind of book that I could escape into, that it might take me on a journey with its characters. I liked all of the characters and related to them in different ways. I greatly appreciated all the talk about books and the references to books and authors. For a book lover, I think reading something like this reminds me why I love reading, and makes that love more intense. I would buy a copy of this book and read it again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

I'm so glad I was invited through Netgalley otherwise I might have completely missed this treasure!

Cleverly written – without me spoiling things, you'll know what I mean when you've read the part about the night everyone met Felicity.

And with very universal themes (I've highlighted quite a lot) about the hierarchy between men and women, living up to expectations (either one's own or those by others) and conformity, and how we all want to make a mark or feel like we matter.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

A beautifully crafted fairy tale for adults! I love this book so much! The author developed a perfect plot to tell this wonderful tale.

I think anyone that loves books and also believes in a touch of magic will adore this story. Things in life are not always just, but we can escape into other worlds in books and hope that one day things will be better.

This was definitely a page turner for me and I was glad I could read for long periods and did not have to stop often. Carve out some hours to sit and read, you will not want to put this book down!

I will be recommending this book at all my friends!

I want to thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for giving me the immense pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

This book had me hooked from the beginning when she says "every good story starts with a cup of tea". I just felt so cozy and wrapped up in a warm hug reading that line.
I adored Opaline, Henry, and Martha. Their stories all blended together really well. I loved seeing all the books and talk of books.
Opaline and Martha both had struggles as they are running from things in their lives, but ultimately they find where they are supposed to be.

A lovely read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This is a great book for any book lover, especially those who like reading dual timelines that includes discussions of famous books, authors and bookshops.
The story follows Opaline in the 1920's, as well as Martha and Henry in current times and we see how their lives intertwine through old books and the lost bookshop.

4+

In a place called lost
Strange things are found.

This enchanting novel all starts in London in 1921, with Opaline Carlisle‘s father instilling a love of books and the magic they contain. After his death, her mother and brother insist she is now of marriageable age but she has other ideas and via her desire to escape and be free her career as a book dealer is born. Fast forward to the present day, Martha arrives in Dublin also desiring an escape from her life on the West Coast of Ireland, she takes a job as a housekeeper to Mrs Bowden. Martha’s first encounter with Englishman Henry is not auspicious when he calls at the house. He is in Dublin seeking a manuscript, a lost bookshop and as much information about Opaline as he can gather. How do all the stories into connect? The story is told via all three which works well, flowing seamlessly.

This is a perfect book for book lovers as it features a wide variety such as the classics, especially the Brontës to Sally Rooney in the present day. It’s also a very good blend of genres which are woven together to create a captivating tale. There’s quite a large dose of fantasy and magic and those sections are really wonderful, they’re vivid and you just go with the flow enjoying the experience. Both female characters have dark backstories which leads to tragedy and revenge but counterbalancing this is love and romance. Much of the plot involves a mystery and some detective work and this is fascinating, as well as having authenticity.

There is a good mix of characters from the very likeable to despicable villains. After an unpromising start, the amazing Mrs Bowden shows her mettle and become essential to what unfolds. You particularly root for Opaline and Martha and keep your fingers crossed for Henry.

My only negative is the end feels a bit abrupt, but I do like it and it’s quite possible that just I want to carry on reading more about these terrific characters!!

Overall, a delightful, heartwarming, easy to read and engaging novel. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley, and especially to HarperCollins, One More Chapter, for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

The Lost Bookshop is just an incredibly interesting story. It has a little of everything, fantasy, romance, danger, and the fascinating search for a lost manuscript by Emily Brontë. There are multiple narrators and two timelines, the story of Opaline who flees an abusive family and goes to Paris, in 1921, , where her story of a quaint bookstore begins. Then there is Martha, who flees an abusive husband and becomes an assistant to a strange woman in modern times, and in her quest for an education, she becomes interested in literature. Finally there is Henry, a scholar, who briefly comes across a fascinating bookstore, only to have it disappear, in his search for the missing Emily Brontë Manuscript. He encounters Martha, and a mutual attraction is formed, although Henry is engaged to be married, and Martha is reluctant to trust another man. .
Evie Woods is talented in her character development, with interesting likable characters, as well as a villain you would expect in such a story. The story is just so good, almost a fairy tale, with the mysterious quirks of Martha’s residence, that has trees growing through the roof and into her room. It’s a page turner!
My thanks to the author, NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book is an absolute delight. Anyone who is a book reader loves books and this book to know that it is inspired by a true story makes it even more absorbing the characters in this book are fabulous and the plot is Magical and joyful. I loved it.

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I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book via NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Publishing: June 22, 2023
Pages: 384

HarperCollins, UK, One More Chapter stories have never been a disappointment and as I have never heard of Evie Woods as an author, I can say I will never forget the name and this opportunity. “The Lost Bookshop” is an enjoyable and mesmerizing story that transcends the reader into the lives of three interesting individuals…Opaline, Martha, and Henry. Each character brings to life their narratives in first person in Dublin; stories filled with mystery, magic, and fantasy.

Ms. Woods has an uncanny way of connecting the past to the present and I thought this story was well-written and captivated my attention until the end in one sitting. Interesting characters who are well-developed individuals and who bring to life their three perspectives entwined by a single idea. As always, I am not one for dual timelines, however this story transitions so smoothly that it really did not matter.

Only has a couple of occasions where I’ve read about a bookshop, but it was far from this level. Ms. Woods put much thought into writing this book and it really worked. Captivating stories that touch on addiction, violence, grief, etc., and the hope that Opaline, Martha and Henry find their happy place. Heartwarming and recommend the read…worth it.