This is my second book by Evie Woods and I really enjoy her magical realism. As with her other book I preferred one timeline over the other but that was okay. It was a little long but still worth the read.

This book was an unexpected surprise. I loved the romance in the book, but I also loved that it was not the focus. It alternates between the past and the present. Sometimes that doesn’t work for me because I like one storyline better and want to focus on that timeline, but that was not the case in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed both. The plot was a bit predictable, but in this case that didn’t bother me at all.
S

I enjoyed the magical and folklore elements and the plot was intriguing, but this book failed to engage me in a meaningful way. The dialogue left much to be desired and the characters were not memorable.

3.5/5

An absolutely magical story. Set in a quiet town in Ireland. Where myth might become reality. Fairy stories and real stories. Each of these characters are so profound.

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of The Story Collector by Evie Woods. Anna is a young Irish girl living 100 years ago, when a man comes to her rural town. He is American and is collecting stories about fairies. Anna volunteers to help him translate. In present day, Sarah has to get away from a bad situation in New York and ends up in the same Irish town. Sarah starts to discover things about Anna and how their lives intersect. For some reason I could not get into this, it was a DNF for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

I wanted to love this book so much. Irish folklore and legend? Sign me up. In reality, it was more about a woman who refuses to admit she's an alcoholic reading a diary of a young woman from the early 1900s. Unfortunately, it all feels inauthentic and doesn't gel together. I made it to nearly 40% before I DNF'd. The writing isn't bad, it just isn't the book I was looking for and the characters didn't ring true. 2.75 stars.

I love this author. Her books ae always just so good! This was no exception. Loved the setting, the characters and the story...all wonderful! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher

I have always been fascinated with Ireland and the fairy lore there and this book was perfect for me. Sarah, an artist who has stopped creating art and her husband Jack, an art gallery owner, breaking up and then her deciding (drunkenly) to just hop on a plane to Ireland rather than run to her sister’s house is everything I would want to do in her shoes! No plan, no place to stay and probably no where near the right articles of clothing for such a trip, yet off she goes. I loved it!
Sarah ends up in a quaint little village, meeting a sweet hotel manager who helps her find lodging and gets herself settled in fairly quick. She meets Hazel, the granddaughter of the gentleman who owns the cottage, and strikes up a friendship that only grows when she finds a diary hidden in a tree nearby that gives her a very special look at what happened in that area years ago. Sarah begins forming friendships with locals and begins loving her time in Ireland, which causes her to wonder if she should stay longer, and idea that is helped along by an interest she has in someone she meets while there. Fairy stories, drama, changelings…it’s all there and turns into a book that is almost impossible to put down. I would absolutely LOVE to see a second book to see what happens after Sarah’s return to the US.

Loved this second novel by author Evie Woods. I’m not normally drawn to fantasy but the added historical fiction made it a perfect pick. I loved reading the 2 timelines in parallel and the connection between the characters in both. The author masterfully weaves their stories together and side by side all at once. Highly recommend!

This book was incredibly interesting and had a unique premise unlike any other book I've read before. The story follows Sara in 2011, but when she find's Anna's diary in 1911, the timelines seem intertwine. I went into this book blindly without reading the blurb, and I think that was the best way to get into it! I would highly recommend this to any fans of Bridgerton or Outlander!

Phenomenal and perfect for this Fall weather! This was cozy and made me so happy! I loved the writing style as it wasn’t difficult to read. It was very well written and I really enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed The Story Collector. I went in with basically no knowledge of what it was about, just picked it because of the lovely cover. Very pleased I did! The dual timeline was well done, the mystery engaging, and the magic and timelines wove together seamlessly. And the writing itself was so lovely. I will definitely be picking up more of Evie Woods works!

I loved the story, It takes place in two time lines one a hundred yours ago 1910 and one present day 2010 both taking place in the same town in Ireland, the village of Thornwood, Co Clare

In present day, Sarah Harper has separated from her husband and lost an unborn baby. She decides to got see her family in Boston, but instread books a flight to Ireland after having read a story in the paper about a beautiful hawthorn tree in County Clare, Ireland. (a fairy tree) Which the people had saved from being chopped down to make another highway.
This book has wonderful stories about myths, about fairies and the supernatural.
Once in Ireland Sarah rents a little cottage outside of town and tries to come to term with what has happened to her life.

In 1910 we meet a teenage girl Named Anne Butler whos diary was found by Sarah a hundred years later, and as Sarah reads the diary, this is how we find out about the going ons in the same area in 1910.
A young anthropologist from the United state, went to Ireland to record stories, thus the title of the book. Anne, Helps Harold visit the local people to see if anyone would open up about the folklore mainly that of fairies.
This was a fascinating story with so many interesting people in both storylines.
I can't wait to read another of her books.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper360 for a copy of this book.

This book has everything I dream of in a novel - fairies, Ireland, scholarship, storytelling, modernity mixed with history, even a woman finding her way after divorce! After I finished this book, I immediately placed a library hold for the author's previous novel. Glad to discover a new author of lovely, charming stories!

In this fascinating Irish historical fiction novel, readers flash between two very different timelines as the secrets of a small Irish village are slowly revealed. From Anna, a farm girl from this tiny village a century ago, to Sarah, a modern-day New Yorker on an accidental trip to west Ireland, readers discover the secrets and mysteries of an abandoned home and the family who once owned it in this thrilling dual-timeline novel. Wary of outsiders, Sarah’s interest in the local history and in the abandoned estate are met with suspicion, especially once she learns that the veil between the mortal and otherworldly realism are much closer than she thinks in this particular town and around this particular mystery. The readers discover a version of the truth simultaneously with Anna and Sarah, and Evie Woods has really nailed the otherworldly, mystic aura present in both timelines in this book. The atmosphere is really the star of the novel, and the mystery and the characters really flesh out the eerie tone of this book. With some fascinating twists and turns and a beautiful historical setting populated with complex and interesting characters, this is an exciting, emotional, and slightly spooky dual-timeline historical fiction novel that fans of the genre will love.

I was so excited to get my hands on a copy of the story collector. Evie Woods last book "The Last Bookshop" was so captivating and wonderful that I just knew that "The Story Collector" would be equally amazing and I was not disappointed.

I love the dual timeline of this book. The mystery, history and magic all play into such a way that captivate and bring you into the quaint Irish charm of the lore and make you feel connected to the place in the story. The story telling is just so vivid and imaginative.

I can not wait to see what else Evie has in store.

The Story Collectory, loved the time travel the relationships we so wonderful. Dairy entries were nice but should have been more in a diary format instead of just writing them out. The magical realism of the castle and land was a nice touch after just visiting Ireland.

Originally published in 2018, this new edition uses Gaughan's new pseudonym (Evie Woods). The Story Collector is set in Ireland, where the setting is as important as the characters in moving the plot.

In this case, Gaughan, a native of Galway, gives a clear and loving description of a small community located not too far from Shannon. Even in the deep winter, a time of year that matches Sarah's mood, she is drawn to the stillness and beauty of the countryside. Anna is running. Running from a failed marriage, from a judgmental family, and from an abandoned career as an artist. By chance, she discovers a hidden diary from 1910. From this turning point, dual timelines occur.

In 1910, Anna, an Irish farm girl, becomes an assistant to Harold Griffin-Krauss. Griffin-Krauss is modeled on other literary anthropologists who were studying culture via myth and legend. Together, they move from researcher/assistant to comrades and finally to star-crossed lovers. In the present, Anna is also finding her way back to her true self. She is helped by Owen. Both are grieving, Anna who has lost her way, and Owen who is a recent widower.

Magic realism completes the novel. In a country known for a rich and beloved folklore, there are really no coincidences. Things and people happen in a matter-of-fact, albeit possibly magical way.
This leaves this reader feeling a sense of wonder and a desire to sample Irish life.
Recommended for book clubs, readers of all ages.

Full disclosure: I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.

The Story Collector by Evie Woods is a beautiful, heartwarming tale that masterfully intertwines history, mystery, and a touch of magic. From the first page, I was captivated by the protagonist’s journey, exploring the power of stories, memories, and the importance of understanding our past. The writing is lyrical, the characters are richly drawn, and the plot unfolds with just the right balance of suspense and warmth. Woods has a gift for creating atmospheres that feel both nostalgic and otherworldly, making it easy to get lost in the pages. This book is a gem for anyone who loves books that celebrate the magic of storytelling. Highly recommend!

This is a captivating blend of historical fiction and magical realism,
It’s set in the enchanting backdrop of Ireland.
The novel intertwines the lives of two women separated by a century: Anna, a young farm girl in the early 1900s, and Sarah, a modern-day New Yorker. Anna becomes involved in translating Irish fairy tales for an American visitor, only to find herself entangled in a mystery that threatens her way of life. Meanwhile, Sarah travels to Ireland, uncovering dark secrets that blur the lines between reality and folklore.