A magical and enchanting read.

The book is set over two time lines. One begins in the 1920s and the other is present day. There are three narrators and we see the story through their experiences.

The story is very surreal, which will not appeal to everyone. However, it is not all magic and fairy tales. There are some very real abuse against women issues explored, and they aren't sugar coated. My emotions flitted between calmness, interest and disgust as I read. Appreciation for the wonderful writing was my overall feeling though. How the author imagined all of this story within a story is amazing.

There are some strong female characters in the book, which I liked. Opaline in particular is not really of her era with her views and vision. Henry in the present time line reminded me of someone from the 1920s. At times I wondered if that was to be the twist, of which towards the end there were a few. When the final twist did come I was open mouthed as I had not figured that one out at all.

A great read, particularly if you like books within books and a bit of a mystery too.

This enchanting story is one with a duel timeline - in the past with Opaline, a young woman who finds herself fleeing, ultimately to Dublin, in order to escape an arranged marriage. Then in the present with Martha who ran away to Dublin to escape her abusive husband and Henry, who is in Dublin too, searching for Opaline’s bookshop and a rare manuscript which was last believed to have been seen there. How all their stories are connected becomes clear in this heartwarming story about
strength, courage and forgiveness. I would have liked to know more about Opaline's story though. She was an amazingly strong woman!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK One More Chapter for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the book.

I Loved this it was about all the things I like in a book, an old building, old books, Bronte family, the creepiness of being stalked and tracked down. Full of magic and secrets.
Set in the 1920’s in London, France and Ireland and the present time mostly in Dublin.
This was about three people, Opaline and Martha trying to find somewhere safe to live and Henry trying to find a lost bookshop. Opaline Carlisle sells a special rare book so she can escape from home and the cruelty of her older brother. She travels to France where she is happy working in a bookshop but needs to escape again when her brother finds her.
In Dublin Martha is escaping from her violent husband and finds a job as a housekeeper in an unusual magical house.
Henry is a PhD student writing about lost manuscripts and is in Dublin trying to find a lost bookshop and a rare manuscript that was last seen in the lost bookshop.
I loved the way this was written, each chapter tells a little about Opaline, Marha and Henry.
Opaline is always searching for rare books especially a manuscript written by Emily Bronte. Opaline’s brother is searching for her. Martha and Henry meet in Dublin and follow clues to discover what happened to Opaline.
This was a tragic story about families and grief. Full of secrets and magical happenings. I loved reading about the magical bookshops and rare books.

This book was nothing like what I expected it to be. And I was not expecting it to pull me in the way it did. After reading the first couple chapters, the story had its grip on me and I devoured this book in a matter of hours. In many instances I laughed, cried, and downright shouted in shock during my read; I always know I’m going to like a book when it makes me do this!

The story takes place in the past with Opaline, and the present with Martha and Henry. Opaline is a young woman in 1920’s London who finds herself fleeing to Paris in order to escape her tyrannical brother and live the life she wants, not the one he wants. Opaline wants nothing more than to be her own woman and she ends up being just that, and finds herself working in a bookshop. Unfortunately, Opaline must flee once again and this time she settles in Dublin, but there is hope for her on the streets of Ha’Penny Lane.

Martha’s story starts in present day Ireland and she also finds herself fleeing someone. She ends up in Dublin where she meets Henry, an academic from London with a mission. The pair find themselves uncovering a turbulent mystery whilst trying to sort out their own complicated feelings and people from the not-so-distant past reappear to cause trouble.

I found myself more drawn to Opaline’s story but I really enjoyed Martha and Henry’s too. The story has many high points in the form of love and discoveries, but also many low points with intense sorrow and hopelessness. But they were curated in such a way that makes this story what it is – captivating.

The story takes place in Dublin in the 1920’s and the present day. The parallels of the two times are sometimes obviously different, but it’s the way in which they are very much the same that got me. The book tackles some deep topics and highlights the importance of forgiving, not giving in, and doing things for yourself despite your inner demons telling you otherwise. The characters felt fully realised, and I found myself either rooting for them or cursing their name on many occasions. There was a nice sprinkling of romance throughout between characters, but the main objectives weren’t put on the backburner because of this; I feel it added nicely to the story.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I have already recommended it to my book club!

Favourite Quote: “In a place called Lost, strange things are found.”

Thank you to One More Chapter, Harper Collins, Netgalley, and Evie for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is an excellent dual timed novel and well worth a read. The characters and settings really come together well and the whole book has been very well written. Well worth 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

A beautifully written magical,mysterious captivating book. The story is written over different timelines & the featured characters stories are interwoven. Definitely a book that will keep you turning the pages.

Magical realism and historical fiction collide in this tale . Two women Opaline a the past and Martha in the present are desperately trying to escape from their oppressive lives. Books is their common feature. A missing bookshop at number 11 hapenny close somehow links them as does a missing manuscript being sought by Henry in the present day. All three characters will eventycollude in this tale of magic , mystery and intrigue. It is a slow burner to start but does build with intrigue . Well fleshed out characters to love and hate.

On a quiet street in Dublin, a lost bookshop is waiting to be found.... For too long, Opaline, Martha and Henry have been side characters in their own lives. But when a vanishing bookshop cast its spell, these three unsuspecting strangers will discover that their own stories are every bit as extraordinary as the ones found in the pages of their beloved books. And by unlocking the secrets of the shelves, they find themselves transported to a world of wonder.... where mothing is as it seems.

This book has a dual timeline - one story is set in the 1920s and follows Opaline, while the other is set in the present day and follows Henry and Martha. This book is also a fabulous blend of mystery and magic. The story is told from different points of view in alternating chapters from Opaline, Henry and Martha. Opaline and Martha are strong independent characters. The pace was perfectly set. This is a heartwarming, heartbreaking, unique and funny story that's also about family, strength and courage. we are taken to Paris, London and Dublin. This was a delightful book to read, and I loved every minute of it.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #EvieWoods for my ARC of #TheLostBookshop in exchange for an honest review.

. I really enjoyed this book, it is told from three main characters perspective, usually when that’s the case I have a favourite and rush the other chapters to get back to them but I liked all the main characters in this book. I would say it is a 4.5 out of five, There is a bit of make believe but I don’t mind that, it makes it a bit magical. I would definitely recommend this book and read more by the same author.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for my advanced reading copy

Cute and cozy! Characters were lovable. Such a feel good book. Took a bit to get into but I still enjoyed

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods is a magical dual timeline story. I was very excited to read this story. After all, what Bibliophile doesn’t want to read a story about a bookshop? It is part mystery, part historical and one hundred percent delightful. Dual time stories are sometimes difficult to read. Ms. Woods does a superb job in weaving the two time lines in this enjoyable read.
Just to make sure you are paying attention to the story, Ms. Woods tells the story from three different point of views. All three characters are vastly different and all are trying to escape something.
Ms. Woods creates a story of love, magic, and the search for a lost manuscript that will change the literary world. The settings are delightful. You can see bookshop, smell the books, see the house, and areas of Dublin.
The characters are well written especially Opaline. Ms. Woods has talent with using the written word and she is very adept with her insights into human nature. The book is absolutely charming and the ending is delightful. You will not be able to stop reading The Lost Bookshop. I am looking forward to see what Ms. Woods has in store for us next. Well done.
I would like to thank Evie Woods, Harper Collins UK One More Chapter and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What an absolutely lovely read! This is a true homage to books and book lovers everywhere.

" 'The thing about books,' she said, 'is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of.'"

This is a dual timeline story. Narrated in the past by Opaline, who escapes her older brother's plans to marry her off by fleeing to Paris where she goes to work in a bookstore. In the present, we alternate between Martha, an Irish woman who is escaping an abusive marriage, who takes a job as a housekeeper; and Henry, a scholar who is looking for a lost manuscript and happens upon a bookshop next door to Martha and then it disappears. He enlists Martha to help him find out about its history and where it could have gone.

I really enjoy magical realism, but unfortunately I don't think this book goes quite far enough into that realm. Yes, there are magical elements, but I wanted more from them. I also thought the ending was too quick and I didn't get all of my questions answered satisfactorily. Regardless, I was thoroughly invested in the tale and I was captivated by both storylines, which rarely happens for me.

I felt despair for both Opaline and Martha, as they were caught in horrible situations over which they had no control. I listened to this book partially as an audiobook and the narrators did an amazing job giving voice to the characters and keeping me engaged and intrigued.

If you love books and bookshops and want to get swept away by a saga of magic, love, and self-discovery, then definitely choose this book.

Plot
The thing about books,’ she said ‘is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of.’ On a quiet street in Dublin, a lost bookshop is waiting to be found… For too long, Opaline, Martha and Henry have been the side characters in their own lives. But when a vanishing bookshop casts its spell, these three unsuspecting strangers will discover that their own stories are every bit as extraordinary as the ones found in the pages of their beloved books. And by unlocking the secrets of the shelves, they find themselves transported to a world of wonder… where nothing is as it seems.

Review
This book is gorgeous and heartbreaking all at the same time. And yet so unique!

The parallels between the main characters of Opaline (love that name by the way) and Martha both trying to escape their lives and find their independence is brilliantly done with tough and hurtful subjects being dealt with in frank and honest ways.

I love poor lovedumb Henry and think he’s the cutest thing in the book.

But my favourite thing is the magical sense that the character of the book shop itself gives you. I found myself drawn in so much I was holding my breath on parts, crying angry and then happy tears in another.

I can’t say much more without spoiling but this is one of the best books I’ve read this year and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves books and magical realism.

Rating
5/5

Recommend
Yes albeit with some triggers warnings

Thank you One More Chapter for allowing me to take part in the readalong and for an advance copy

This magical book was a joy to read. It was told from dual timelines, I loved the characters and felt I really got to know them. I also loved how a mysterious bookshop was involved. I found it truly enthralling and devoured it.

This amazing dual timeline book was an absolute pleasure to read!
The story is told to us by three different voices, Opaline during the pre and post WWII period and Martha & Henry in the present. We follow their lives through good times and the not so good until we know what we need to know and the story is told. This was very much a story of hope, hope that we can all find our own happy ending!
I found it fascinating thinking that people would go to such lengths to seek out rumoured manuscripts but then some do similar in search of Big Foot or Nessie so I guess it's not such a leap really. It was great to see other works referenced in this story, two of which I have read and one I think I'm going to have to after reading so much about it in here!

What a great book, enchanting & mesmerising. Let it take you to a wonderful world of literature, love & at times cruelty!
Follow the life of Opaline Carlisle, starting in 1921, her love of literature & her search for a manuscript, Martha & Henry are searching for a missing bookshop that Opaline worked & lived in Dublin. Their stories are intertwined in different centuries & it is magical.
A great read for book lovers.

It was the cover that drew me to this book - such a enchanting image that I couldn't wait to see what was inside! And I wasn't disappointed....a magical tale, spanning two timelines with some wonderful characters at the centre of it all. Oh, what booklover wouldn't want to step inside that amazing sounding space and engage in conversation with Opaline, Martha and Henry! A really different story which I would really recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have given.

Absolutely captivating. It’s not often a book c9mes along that sweeps you off your feet and this is one of them. The story is wonderful; Opaline does not want to marry the man chosen for her by her controlling brother and insignificant mother, she wants to be a book trader. She manages to make her escape and we follow her story, intertwined with that of Martha and Henry in present day. The story runs between Dublin, London and Paris and has lots of secrets and surprises. It was a wonderful escape. .

The Narrators do a fantastic job of getting the characters across, and I love that we have many different voices.

We have a fantastic cover giving a lovely historical vibe.

I like how we have a dual timeline in this book. It flows well. Additionally, I love that each character has their chapters and thoughts, and we get to know each of them.

The narrots fit each character, and I love the development of these characters. One of my favourites is Henry.

Opaline Carlisle is set immediately after World War I, and her older brother is driving her into an arranged marriage because to her family’s financial situation. She does not want to marry, so she travels to Paris and begins working at Shakespeare & Company, where she meets Hemingway and others and begins to support herself as a book trader.
The current timeline provides us with two additional points of view: Martha, who has fled her abusive husband and is hiding out as a housekeeper for a retired actress, and Henry, a PhD student whom she meets there while he is researching Opaline Carlisle because Henry is convinced that Opaline’s bookshop was next door to where she lives.

Martha is now employed, but he cannot prove it and has no evidence to back it up other than his theory.
The two timeframes perfectly combine to tell a story of love, magic, and the search for a missing manuscript that would revolutionise the literary world.

A magical book full of mystery and intrigue. The story follows Opaline from 1922 and sporadically to the early 50s and then present day Martha with Henry. Plenty of secrets and subplots all set around books, mainly in Dublin but also London and Paris with a brief trip to Yorkshire. A running theme of the Brontes and a missing manuscript. An intriguing escape that certainly captures the reader's imagination in a modern day Narnia for adults.