Two women live in the same cottage in a small Irish village one hundred years apart.
Anna is an innocent young woman living with her family on their farm. She milks the cow, tends her youngest brother, and adds to the family finances by making Irish lace at home. Like all of her neighbors, Anna is a Roman Catholic, but she also believes in fairies. When an American scholar arrives to collect local stories about The Good People, Anna accompanies him as a translator and guide.
Sarah is an American artist who has left her husband two years after what she calls The Bad Thing destroyed their marriage. After getting drunk at the airport on Christmas Eve, she hops a plane for Ireland and rents the cottage that once belonged to Anna's family. When she finds Anna's diary in a hollow tree, Sarah becomes enthralled with the events of one hundred years ago.
The Story Collector is a charming tale of historical fiction and magical realism. I found myself absorbed the narrative despite severral flaws.
When I started reading this book, I knew nothing about its author and because the book starts with Sarah as a narrator, assumed she was American. This made it jarring when a character who has supposedly lived her whole life in Massachusetts and New York refers to cookies as "biscuits" and uses other expressions more appropriate to a person from the British Isles. (Even if the author couldn't be bothered, an editor should have fixed this.) Making Sarah a drunk without explaining the secret reason for her unhappiness detracted from her appeal as a narrator.
Some reviewers complained that Anna's diary did not read like one. I was willing to suspend my disbelief because a fictional diary would be pretty dull if it stuck to the random musings of an unsophisticated farm girl. I did find myself wondering how a young woman who was up doing chores before dawn, spent most of the day traveling around the countryside, and then returned home to help prepare supper and do enough lacework to earn her living could possibly find the time to write such detailed accounts of her experiences.
Both Sarah and Anna have secrets that they only reveal near the end of the book. I found the broad hints about "Milly" and the "Bad Thing" a bit annoying as there is no real reason they could not have included details in their private narratives.
Although I enjoyed reading The Story Collector, I thought it ended a bit abruptly, as if the author ran out of steam and had to wind things up quickly. With a bit more effort, this could have been a much better book.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a free advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was instantly drawn into the story because anyone that makes an uncharacteristic, life-altering decision such as Sarah's flight commands my attention. In The Story Collector, Woods has crafted a two for one bargain: we get the story of Anna's life as told through her diary, and Sarah's life in the present day. I felt connected to Anna and was excited to 'read' her diary entries. In the past, Anna lived a puritan lifestyle in a culture of folklore and superstition. Current day, a mystical force seems to be guiding Sarah, and even the manner in which she finds Anna's diary is magical. As Sarah learns more of Anna, we see a shimmer of the past still touching on Ireland of today. The tale is magical and romantic and full of gumption and resolve. I was just a titch surprised at the endings, though. Why did Anna make that decision (no spoilers)? And I felt that Sarah's ending was a little too Hallmark for me. Regardless, it is a feel-good story with a lot of magical character!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper 360, and Evie Gaughan for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Again, just like The Lost Bookshop, I love the idea of this book. I find it to be so interesting and magical. This magical realism story is fascinating and follows two different timelines, one set in 1911 and one in 2011. We follow the lives and stories of Anna (1911) and Sarah (2011).

It is an interesting tale that may just surprise you - with that, I did not personally connect with the story like I was expecting too. However, I loved the nods to old Ireland, the beliefs, traditions, and folklore. I think this story did a beautiful job at diving into the beauty of this country and the magic found within it.

Publishes August 13, 2024!
#TheStoryCollector #NetGalley

I struggled with this book. I loved Woods’ other novel, The Lost Bookshop. This one; however, was confusing and hard to get into. Based on other reviews, I must’ve missed something. Not for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper360 for the ARC of this book.

“If we lose our stories,’ he wrote, ‘we lose ourselves.”

This was an amazing book about growth, love, grief and finding the magic in the world. I couldn’t put it down and it was a 5 star read for me. I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t enjoy this book if they like romantic fiction / historical fiction genres. The only thing I could possibly say I would change is while the author is Irish and the majority of the book is based in Ireland the main character is American so it is a bit odd when she randomly uses slang that isn’t American, but this only happens a couple of times.

This book has Sarah who on a whim after too many drinks at the airport and a random newspaper article finds herself in Ireland. As she struggles with the issues that brought her there she makes friends with the locals and finds a diary from 100 years ago written by a girl who lived in the cottage she is staying in.

Evie does a great job of having the story flow with the time jumps, with the past being revealed as the diary is read it helps to immerse you in the story. I loved the way she made magic seem to come alive in the story that is based in reality. Showing how important everyday magic is in life. I have already bought the other book she has written and look forward to seeing what she writes in the future.

Only warning I would give (please stop reading here if you don’t want a spoiler about a theme) …..










Ok if you are still reading this book does deal with the aftermath of miscarriage / child loss which if you have trauma around that please make sure you are emotionally and mentally ready to read about it.

I love the symmetry of the past with the present and how they intertwine. There was romance, mystery, magic, legacy, tradition, and so much more! I was hooked following both lives. This wasn't the twisty thriller I am accustomed to but I was invested nonetheless. The writing style was meticulous and well thought out and the inclusion of Irish culture was beautifully meshed. You dont have to believe in faeries to relate to this book, you just have to respect the stories. Im only deducting a star because I was far more engaged in the past with Anne than in the present with Sarah. She came off as too much of an alcoholic jumping into a relationship far too soon after her divorce. But I understand the author needed to give her a reason to jump ship and stay there.

5 *****

This was delightful. Dual timeline, set in Ireland, anthropology and faerie history / legend (you choose). One timeline’s protagonist is a young local girl; the other is a more mature woman, an American visiting the area on a whim. As a bonus, it’s a story about stories and their value in our lives. We’re all readers here, so of course that resonates with us – we already understand and appreciate the power of story!

I assume everyone reads the provided synopsis before looking at reviews so I won’t repeat the plot outline. I really enjoyed this peek into the simpler farming life from a century ago, and how mutually supportive all the neighbors were.

The stories developed naturally and the characters emerged in more depth as events transpired. I was immediately drawn into both timelines and rooted for the protagonists in both. The story of the past occupies more of the book than the present storyline. Especially toward the end of the book I appreciated how the present-day character learns from the past and finds her own personal way to contribute to the anthropological / local lore work done a century earlier. It was all very nicely wrapped up at the end.

I greatly enjoyed this book. I largely read for escapism, and this book in particular gave me a pleasant escape without the stress of a thriller or murder mystery (of which I read many). I will definitely seek out more from this author.

My appreciation to the publisher and NetGalley for this advance review copy; my opinions are my own, and freely given.

5 ⭐️

This imaginative book sparked all my childhood dreams. If you were ever a little girl (or adult woman) that believed in faeries and love, then this book is worth checking out. It hit home for me on so many levels - an adult woman that lost her identity during a marriage, seeking her independence after a split, making decisions on a whim, a glimmer of hope that faeries are real, and a love story that we’re all just dying to hear the ending of. Throw in a splash of faeries and you have yourself a winning book!

The main story collector reminds me of W.Y. Evans-Wentz who collected reports and encounters with faeries in the Celtic Countries and published his work in 1911, which is still regarded as scholarly and culturally important today.

Do you believe in faeries? 🧚🏼‍♀️ 🧚‍♂️ 🧚🏼

The Story Collector by Evie Woods

Summary:
An evocative and charming novel full of secrets and mystery, from the million-copy bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop
In a quiet village in Ireland, a mysterious local myth is about to change everything…
One hundred years ago, Anna, a young farm girl, volunteers to help an intriguing American visitor translate fairy stories from Irish to English. But all is not as it seems and Anna soon finds herself at the heart of a mystery that threatens her very way of life.
In New York in the present day, Sarah Harper boards a plane bound for the West Coast of Ireland. But once there, she finds she has unearthed dark secrets – secrets that tread the line between the everyday and the otherworldly, the seen and the unseen.

Review: 3-Star
I had high hopes for this story when I read the description, but to me the story feels dry and does flow flawlessly. It was easy to put down for days at a time and then I would remember that I needed to finish it so I could do my review. While I did enjoy it, it didn’t catch me up like I thought it would. The Editing is great I didn’t find errors that I find so often nowadays, but to me a book should engage me to where I don’t want to put it down and this didn’t do it at all.

Conclusion:

Would I recommend this book to others NO
Would I buy this book for another NO
Would I read other books by this Author Maybe

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
This is a dual timeline story about Sarah in present time and Anna in the early 1900s. There is a lot of information about the fairy folklore in Ireland which I find fascinating. I didn't necessarily love the romance part of it, but it tied together into the magical setting.

I loved how this story was told. The back and forth of the times and how each story kind of intertwined in a way made it so much more interesting. This book was a great breather for me as I was reading a lot of dark romance and heavier fantasy. This was perfect and a nice light read that gave the reader some insights to the thoughts and beliefs of the Irish back in the day. This is a great story with a sad and happy ending! I highly recommend reading this book!

I finished this book and instantly put down her other book on my tbr! Very atmospheric and the perfect amount of faerie, whilst still seeming to be in the same vein as the real world. I also liked the dual timelines.

I really enjoyed this book. It takes place in Ireland in a small village and is two stories in one. In 2010 Sarah Harper has decided to divorce her husband. She is supposed to be spending Christmas with her family, but on a spur of the moment decision she books a flight to Ireland - she has read about a tree the town has fought to save if they cut it down - it will upset the "fairies". As she has no reservation she finds lodging in a small Irish village Thornwood where the tree is. Sarah ends up in Butler Cottage where in 1910 Anna Butler, a farmer's daughter, helps an American Harold Griffin-Krauss who is researching folklore for a thesis. Sarah finds Anna's diary and the story that it tells makes the book more interesting as you get to know the Butler family. As you know more about Sarah's life, you really begin to care about the characters-both Sarah and the entire Butler family as well as Harold. The 2 timelines work very well. All in all this was a very enjoyable read. I look forward to reading other books by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

Sarah’s marriage has fallen apart and she is heading back to her family in Boston. In the airport, she impulsively (and drunkenly) decides to go to Ireland. Once there, she ends up in a storybook village and begins to heal from the painful event that led to the end of her marriage and her drinking. She meets a man and his daughter who are suffering from their own pain.
Sarah finds a diary of a woman who lived in the village years before and is drawn into the woman’s life and their belief in the faeries. In this quiet time in a small Irish village, Sarah heals enough to return to America and finds a new purpose in life.
The Story Collector is set in a beautiful location and full of interesting characters. The story drew me in and I was transported to another world.
Thanks to Harper 360 and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you Net galley and Harper for the opportunity to read The Storytellers. My opinions are my own. I did find myself enjoying the past timeline more than the current. The past storyline is set in 1910-1911 with Anna's diary and the present 2010-2011 revolves around Sarah, a character I really didn't care for. I felt her Sarah's romance was not necessary and somewhat forced. Her connection with the diary did not feel genuine. That being said, I did enjoy reading Anna's diary though it did not read like a diary entry. I love the magical storytelling of Irish folklore. It is the best part of the story.

This was a super sweet, magical story that would find a good home in an advanced high school classroom. All the folklore was absolutely wonderful!!

Fun story told in 2 time frames. A man comes to an Irish town looking for stories about supposed fairies, and a woman helps him. She of course falls for him. Later in time, a woman finds a diary, and reads it.

This book was objectively very good. I just don’t think it was the book for me. It was written very well, and I my interest in it did peak at some points but ultimately I was just bored most of the time. I did thoroughly cry though when we found out Anna and Harold never saw each other again… I wish it was just left to our imagination😂 I would’ve imagined them happily married. Good book just not my thing! I really do think others can really enjoy it though.

I was so excited to read another book by Evie Woods, having just finished The Lost Bookshop. First, I love the magical realism and the folklore about fairies. Having been to Ireland, it is a magical place so this story was just waiting to be told. This story is rich in character development and has such beautiful language that I paused often just to write a phrase or two down to remember later. "His face was well used like an old leather shoe that had seen many roads," Isn't that a wonderful way to describe an older person, wise in what they've experienced in the world? Told in a dual timeline with present day Sarah, an artist seeking to find herself and lost in her grief so she flees to Ireland, and that of the past with Anna, a young Irish maiden helping Harold collect stories about the fairy world, both in the small village of Thornwood at the Butler cottage. It seems as if both storylines are connected somehow. Fast paced, this story engages you and will keep you reading. A bit of romance, a bit of mysticism, along with redemption, renewal, and hope for second chances. A most enjoyable book. Another 5/5 for Evie Woods. Many thanks to #netgalley #eviewoods #thestorycollector for the opportunity to read and review this book.

3.75/5 ⭐️
This was such an intriguing setup and very prettily written. However, I think it could’ve baked a little more. Like I saw its potential but didn’t quite hit what I would hope it would. Like I loved the story in the past and the romance there, but really wasn’t a fan of the present day storyline. That one felt more rushed and half baked. But I think the final nail in the coffin for me was the ending. It hurt me. And not in the good way. Although, I will say it is written well enough to have me gobbling the story up and intrigued to keep reading and not put it down. I think people could really like this story. For me, I’m slightly disappointed cause I think it could’ve been executed better.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.