A short story set in a fantastical and magical museum? Yes, please! I loved the premise of Lovers at the Museum, a short story by Isabel Allende. Gorgeous cover artwork/design too. I only wish the story was longer - would have enjoyed reading more about the goings-on inside the mysterious and quirky museum. Fans of magical realism will enjoy this quick read.

What a delightful short story by Isabel Allende! When two young lovers are found inside the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao after a night of passion, an inspector nicknamed The Hound of Bilbao takes the case. He has a fierce determination to solve his cases and this one should be no different. But the two young lovers are full of romance and describe their night as magical! What is the hard nosed detective supposed to do when nothing shows up on security footage? A fun and funny little story that will make you smile and reflect on young love! I would love to know more but the story ended!

Very short story I was kind of confused by this ending, it could have been executed better, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Isabel Allende knows how to paint a beautiful picture, and this short story is just that. A beautiful moment in time, filled with mystery and romance!

Isabel Allende, Lovers at the Museum, Amazon Original Stories, April 2024.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

The magical nature of this short journey into Isabelle Allende’s world recalled my treasured memories of reading House of the Spirits many years ago.

For interlopers, Bibina Aranda and Indar Zubieta, the Guggenheim Museum becomes magical; for the police inspector who must interview them after they are found, a new world opens up. For him it is a creaky awakening, but nevertheless an impact on his world encased in protocol, law and moral imperatives. The museum director and a psychic learn nothing. Bibina and Indar prosper from their magical encounter. The press moves on to the other story that has accompanied the lovers’ tryst.

Images of a wedding dress that cannot be divested because of the meticulous buttoning, a naked man whose clothes offer no impediment, and a stiffly clad inspector vie with those of the Guggenheim as others see it, and as it is experienced by the lovers. There are delicious comic moments interwoven with the romantic story line, each offering a unique approach to love, institutions and interpretations.

Isabelle Allende’s short story is a pleasurable encounter with feelings and ideas.

Love should be this magical. A fun, weird and absurd short story about a instant love match, that only Isabel Allende can offer.

This was a very short story by Isabel Allende, and while the premise was good, there wasn't a lot of depth, so I was kind of left feeling like, hmmm, what did I just read? I kept waiting for some revelation that never occurred. That said, Allende is a beautiful writer, I just wish this had had a lot more depth.

Quick 25 pages filled with Allende's magical realism. Not quite as a full length novel, but was fun to read none the less.

Loved the writing and the idea of a magical museum but it was just way too short for anything to be explored.

[3.5 stars] This was a quick 25 page story from prolific Chilean author Isabel Allende. She writes in the magical realism tradition, so I knew this would be a little absurd, a little lighthearted given the summary. The story itself is simple: we start with a young couple discovered in a museum, one naked, the other donning a wedding dress, who go inexplicably undetected during an evening tryst. What follows is the gradual unraveling of the night’s details, more a study of their romantic encounter than a dissection of the mysterious.

The themes are subtle and creeping, even if they aren’t necessarily complex; the lovers surrender to their romantic fervor, enfolded in a moment in time where love dislocates them from a rigid external world. While it’s simple, the lightheartedness was so appreciated. It won’t be the best thing you’ve read, but it was a fun peek into Allende’s work.

Magical, intense and love at first sight

Set in Bilbao, Spain, the story revolves around Bibiña and Indar, who are found at the Guggenheim Museum in a compromising situation (her, in a wedding gown; him, completely naked). The kick is that the museum should have been empty. The inspector soon gets involved and questions are raised. How did they enter? How did they pass the guards? What did they do? But most importantly, how do they know each other?

“It was as if we had known each other always, Inspector, as if we had been together in another life. Do you believe in reincarnation?”

Full of magical realism and snippets of historical events from Spain’s 20th century, this short story was simply enchanting. Full of love, this story transports you to a cozy and alluring place, where magic and strange things are possible. If you want a short and easy read full of love, check this one out.

Overall, I would give this story a 4 / 5 simply because I would love the story to be longer. If this was turned into a novel, I would buy it 100%.

This short story by Isabel Allende was filled with wonder and curiosity. While I enjoyed it, I was left wanting more explanation.

Sort of a strange story that is well written but feels like it ends exactly how it began. It had some humorous moments but I never really got into it and the characters were only fleshed out to a certain extent. Obviously it’s a very short story there was only so much time but it was just an okay read for me. I guess I was hoping they would actually find an answer instead of just shrugging it off. 3 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

lover at the museum is a book about ,the bewitched lovers', what the detective named their case file over. its a book about two lovers who were lyign on the floor of a museum. one butt naked and the other in her wedding dress. how the cam there? they didn't. neither did they know each others names. the girl ran away from her wedding and the guy found her in the bar. and instant connection formed in between them and the fell in love.

lover at the museum is an unique book, i must say. with a fantasy and mystery elements a short book for when you are bored.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of Lovers at the Museum in exchange for an honest review. This is a very quick read with a fast pace, lots of fun and humour! As it’s so short, it is a little difficult to follow and easy to get lost.

Short but definitely not my favorite from her. Could have been a bit longer and more detailed. The story has the possibility to be more complex. I understand the purpose of the short story but even the story itself has every element needed I wanted more.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for an ARC of Lovers at the Museum in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The idea of crafting a love story set in a museum has been in my mind for quite some time. This book not only lived up to my expectations but also dazzled me with its exquisite prose and vivid imagery. I recommend it to fellow readers.

Allende is a good writer, but given her fame I did expect more from this short story which is slightly forgettable

Funny though but not immersive!

"He was determined to be delicate with the girl so as not to frighten her.

'Are you a whore?' he asked."

The way I cackled at that HAHAHA.

I feel like I have no idea what I just read but I know it's a magical realism take on love at first sight and meeting the right person delivered in a way that feels kinda strange.

★★★★ - 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

Lovers at the Museum by Isabel Allende
༘Spoiler free ༘
⭐️4/5
Short Story/Novella, General Fiction, Romance
➳ Forgotten Nights
➳ Magical Realism
➳ Love at first sight
➳ Grumpy detective
➳ Enchanted Art Museum
➳ Mystery
➳ Interrogations

✨ ““Can you imagine, Inspector? It was destiny. Everything is written in the stars. If I hadn’t escaped from the church and gone into that bar, I would have never met the love of my life,” the girl added. “That’s not love, woman, that’s drunken delirium, plain and simple. How do you explain the fact that you spent the whole night carousing in the museum and yet the security videos show nothing?” “Maybe we turned transparent,” Bibiña suggested. “Don’t be funny!” “I told you, Inspector, that place is enchanted.“ ✨
A delightful and quick almost ‘rom-com meets grumpy detective interrogation’ story filled with magical realism, lovely prose and a perplexing case of two lovers who woke up in an enchanted art museum with no recollection of their time spent there. This was cute and quirky, and left you wondering if this strange cold case will ever be solved, and wishing the two lovers a long and happy life together.