The Story Collector is a novel about a young woman who in the midst of a divorce has lost herself and decides to spontaneously get on a plane to Ireland after reading a story about a Hawthorne tree being cut down, which has caused an outcry in the town. The reason is that the village believes that the tree is tied to the fairy world and removing it brings bad luck. She stumbles across a diary of a young girl who helped an American collect stories of the villagers interactions with the fairies in the early 1900s.

The story is beautifully written about women across decades finding parts of themselves, one in a society that is much less open to it. It also is a bit of a love story to the small town, where people care and look after one another. Beautiful story but I had a hard time keeping track of who is who given the number of characters introduced in each of the stories. I picked up and put this one down a few times before I finally got through it.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An Irish love story told through the eyes of two different time lines (one being a diary excerpt that reads like a novel). It was sad and hopeful and scary and all the things you would expect for an Irish telling of the wee folk. Loved this book.

"The Story Collector" by Evie Woods is a beautifully crafted tale that celebrates the power of storytelling and the connections it fosters. The protagonist's journey of self-discovery is both poignant and relatable, drawing readers into her world. Woods’ lyrical writing and vivid imagery create an immersive reading experience that captures the imagination. The intertwining of personal stories adds depth and richness, making each character’s arc feel meaningful. Overall, this novel is a heartfelt tribute to the stories that shape us and the bonds they create.

This was a nice story that I enjoyed. The Irish folklore was really enjoyable. This was a really pleasant novel that I would recommend! Special Thank You to Evie Gaughan,Harper 360 Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another charming story from Evie Gaughan where Ireland’s myths and folklore are blended into relatable characters lives. This book takes you in a journey but also contains elements that feel quite cozy and comforting.

*The Story Collector* by Evie Woods is a captivating novel that weaves together themes of love, loss, and the power of storytelling. The narrative centers on a woman named Eve who discovers a diary that contains a story more compelling than her own troubles. The author again does a great job blending the present day with a historical narrative in a meaningful way. Woods excels in creating a sense of mystery and emotional depth, making the novel both a compelling read and a poignant reflection on the impact of stories in shaping our identities and connections.

It's Christmas Eve, Sarah is supposed to be heading to her sister's house. in Boston. After her marriage ends, she needs a change. After a chance encounter at the airport, she find herself on a flight to Ireland instead. When she gets there, she rents a little cottage and decides to make the best of her time there. She finds the 100-year old diary of a girl named Anna. Anna was a farm girl who found herself helping an American scholar named Harold, to document stories of fairies in the region. However, a mysterious encounter puts Anna and Harold in a dire situtation. Sarah finds herself engrossed in the diary, and along the way makes some discoveries and friendships in the small Irish town.

This book was absolutely precious. I love the elements of folklore and magical realism. I love the duel stories of Anna and Sarah, one past and one present. This book feels like the perfect cozy fall read. It really captures the mystery and magic of the small Irish town. I loved this book and definitely recommend it! Thank you to Netgalley, Harper360, and especially Evie Wood for the opportunity to read this book!

"The Story Collector" by Evie Woods has its charm, but I didn't connect with it as much as I hoped. I wanted a stronger story in the past, & present day, Anna’s story, fell a little flat. While I enjoyed the folklore, the plot felt like it was missing something, and the writing didn't resonate with me—especially, as said, in the present-day sections, where the characters felt awkward. I was far more invested in the past characters, and the ending left me disappointed, feeling rushed and unresolved. Overall, while I appreciated the parallel storytelling, it felt uneven, and I’m a bit let down, though I'm glad I had the chance to read it.

***I want to thank the publisher, author, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Evie Woods’ The Story Collector is a cute and whimsical tale set in Ireland, but it left me wanting a bit more. While the story is interesting, the relationships between the characters felt a bit underdeveloped and, at times, random. I found myself wanting a deeper connection and more natural progression in their bonds. Despite this, the book still has a charming quality that touches on grief and unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol and avoidance, those aspects didn't have the depth that I felt they deserved. If you’re looking for something that touches on Irish folklore, this story might be worth a try, even if it doesn’t quite deliver the depth I was hoping for.

Evie woods is now one of my favorite authors! I have put her on my "auto-buy" list The Story Collector and The Lost Bookshop are heartfelt wonderful stories where you are rooting for the happy ending.

The magical folklore of Ireland blended with romance and history make this book a special reading adventure. The stories of two women, one from the past and one in the present are woven are woven perfectly together. The reader feels as if they know each of them and can actually feel their joys and pains.
The descriptions of the Irish landscape, the Irish history, the folklores, the fairy stories, and the characters made this charming book very special. This is a book that you will definitely want to read again and again.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Negalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this.

I really enjoyed “The Lost Bookshop” by Evie Woods, so I was incredibly excited to read her new one, “The Story Collector.” “The Story Collector” is a story about a mystery, history, and magic. I found the story itself to be interesting, but I would have enjoyed more character development. Overall, it was a quick fun read.

After having loved The Lost Bookshop, I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, I felt a sense of disconnect from not just our main character but from the overall story.
While I think the dual storylines could have been as strong as it was supposed to, I found myself wanting one story more than the other, which isnt what I wanted.
Overall it was a good read.

I’m a great fan of Irish folklore and this book tells an entertaining story of the Irish town of Thornwood, a haunted house, and how the fairies can capriciously help or hinder the inhabitants of the town. Employing a dual timeline, Wood tells the story of a young girl, Anna Butler, and a young researcher of Irish folklore, both of whom become entangled with a family cursed by fairies. Their story is discovered by a young woman coming to Ireland to escape her own grief.
Recommended for a general audience.

The Story Collector by Evie Woods is a charming, whimsical tale that blends history, mystery, and a touch of magic. Set in dual timelines, the novel follows Sarah, a modern-day writer uncovering the secrets of an old Irish house, and Anna, a woman in the 1900s with a unique gift for collecting stories. I love how everything comes together. Super cozy book that I enjoyed reading. Thank you Evie Woods, NetGalley, Harper360 for this ARC!

Magical realism with a heavy dose of folklore. I was absolutely captivated with the Irish setting and stories. I typically am turned off with multiple timelines, but the author wrote this so elegantly, that I couldn’t help but be absorbed into the timeline effortlessly. Character development was decent, and the pacing was even.

"The Story Collector" is the perfect book if you're a fan of cozy stories intertwined with magical folklore.

While I do enjoy magical realism, the magical elements in "The Story Collector" were not ones that I particularly enjoyed in this book. I didn't find myself invested in the stories and history behind the fairies at all. I also had a hard time reading the "diary" entries, which read much more like a novel than an actual diary entry.

Overall, this book wasn't for me, but is one that I think the right reader will really enjoy!

Such a beautiful and magical read with dual timelines and POV's. Sara is in 2011 and is trying to heal from "the terrible thing" and ends up drinking enough whiskey to make her somehow just drunk enough to talk herself into getting on a flight to Ireland instead of her flight to Boston. From there she ends up in a picture perfect town of Thornwood where she finds the diary of Anna from 1911.

Anna Butler right away became a character that was much easier to like, but I did love how the stories so beautifully merged together. The stories of Ireland and superstitions related to faeries is simply beautiful and made for a delightful read. The romance that Sara experienced was just so... inappropriate. Not even divorced, literally just left her husband and yet there is romance? It didn't sit well with me at all and left a sour taste in my mouth that sadly did hinder my overall enjoyment of the book.

My favorite quote of the book: “You made your plans, but life had other ideas and somehow you had to make peace with that. Find the meaning in it and let it change you. Fighting to stay the same was the problem. It felt like everybody wanted the old Sarah back, including herself. But a part of her died that day with Emma and she would never be the same woman again. And maybe that was okay.” this quote truly touched me and inspired me as it's just so true.

Thank you to NetGalley and Evie Woods for this e-Arc in exchange for my honest review.

4 stars

Such a good story that is beautifully written. Sarah makes a tipsy decision to hop on a plane to Ireland because of an article she real about a Fairy tree. She gets a little more than she bargained for when she stars reading a diary of a woman that lived a hundred years ago in the cabin she is staying in. We travel back in time to hear Anna's story and find out what happened long ago. It makes you feel like you are right there in the Ireland countryside. You can just picture the rolling hills and the little town this story is set in. I loved the magical touches that leave you wanting more.

Thank you to Harper 360 and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I loved the dual POVs of this book. Beautifully set in Ireland following a woman's search for a new start to life after a failed marriage. If it's a book set in Ireland you can count me in.