This was a story of hope, friendship, and discovery. It is set in two different time lines, I enjoyed Anna's story better! The story itself moves at a slower pace than I am used to, and took a bit to get into. Well worth the read thought!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

My thanks for the ARC go to NetGalley and Harper360. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Books About Books, Fantasy, Mythology
Subgenre: Romance
Format: Dual timeline, 2 main POVs, a third slipped in rather unobtrusively

Dual timelines are my catnip! *THE STORY COLLECTOR* has all of the best aspects of a Susanna Kearsley novel with the added twist of Irish fairies and secrets.

In the early 1900s, Anna has a secret—her family knows part of it, but not the entirety. And when she meets this American scholar, she volunteers to help him collect stories. She struggles to decide if she should share hers with him. But then her life completely changes.

During the more modern time period (I'm not quite sure why it's also set in the past except for the parallelism of the year), Sarah's life is in the dumpster. She ends up in Ireland. Sarah also holds a secret—again her family knows part of it, but not the depth. Her path converges with the past through a diary written by Anna.

This is a lovely story. I enjoyed the entire ride. It has the sense of found family, being lost and finding yourself, love, friendship, and hope.

The interplay with the Hawthorn tree is wonderful—do fairies exist? Do people still follow the superstitions? Is it worth believing?

*THE STORY COLLECTOR* is going among my favorite books of the year.

Happy reading!

*Spoiler alert in the content warnings: Some readers may be upset from incidents of assault, child loss, death, and excessive drinking.

Evie Woods' "The Story Collector" is a lovely tale that beautifully weaves together folklore, romance, and the intertwined fates of two women separated by a century. Set in a quaint Irish village, the novel transports readers through vivid imagery and rich descriptions, making the village feel alive with history and myth.

The story begins with Sarah Harper, a modern-day artist from New York, who's struggling to cope with a profound trauma. Her life is unraveling, and her reliance on alcohol to numb her pain only deepens her despair. On Christmas Eve, Sarah dreads the thought of facing her family and their concern for her emotional state. At the airport, a whimsical sheep figurine and a peculiar newspaper story about a centuries-old Harthorne tree that halted a freeway construction catch her attention. In a twist of fate, Sarah finds herself landing in Shannon, Ireland, instead of Boston.

In Ireland, Sarah stumbles upon Anna Butler's diary. Anna, a young farm girl from a hundred years ago, had volunteered to assist an American scholar in his quest to find proof of fairies. Through Anna's diary, Sarah learns about Anna’s own struggles with loss and her journey of healing and love.

The narrative alternates between Sarah and Anna's stories, drawing parallels between their lives and the magical elements they encounter. Sarah's journey of facing her trauma and finding love again mirrors Anna's own experiences, creating a poignant and heartwarming connection between the two characters.

Woods’ writing shines in its ability to blend the everyday with the otherworldly. The secrets that Sarah uncovers and the myths she explores tread the delicate line between reality and fantasy, adding an enchanting layer to the narrative. The village and its inhabitants, both past and present, are vividly brought to life, making the reader feel the magic and mystery that surrounds them.

"The Story Collector" is a tale of healing, love, and the enduring power of stories. Woods’ deft storytelling and rich character development make this novel a delightful read for those who enjoy a blend of history, romance, and a touch of magic.

i’m not sure if this book was for me. the idea was interesting and sweet, but i just couldn’t get into it. i was bored 90% of the time, sometimes i couldn’t figure out what was going on. the switch between past and present was done perfectly though, i really enjoyed that aspect. i just think this isn’t the right book for me

Set in both Ireland and the USA in dual timeline, this book wasn't like any I've read before. Anna and Harold are an unlikely pair that meet when Anna is asked to be his assistant as he is writing stories of the fairies often present in Irish folklore. Meanwhile Sarah is fighting her own demons and ends up in Ireland and comes across a book — the one Harold wrote about the fairies. Are they real or representative of things unseen? Sarah does some healing of her own as she reads the fairy stories.
This book was given to me by the publisher but all of my opinions are my own.

A delightfully charming, quaint & cozy story with deep roots in the fairy lore of Ireland, this book captures the story of both present day Sarah as she attempts to escape from her grief and failed relationship, as well as a young girl 100 years in the past - Anna - as she grows up and navigates life. The parallels between them, exactly 100 years apart, is stunning, and the gorgeously written and often times spooky tales of the beyond through the fairies makes for a fascinating read!

I loved The Lost Bookshop by the same author and was delighted to be gifted this ARC of her new novel coming out later this summer!

Wow. Thank you Netgalley and and Harper360 for the arc

This is set during two timelines but the present day is in Ireland…in the winter. And boy oh boy do those cozy vibes come spilling out of the pages. I don’t want to spoil the plot but just know there is a chunk in the first half that is slow and you’re worried the book isn’t going to go in the fantastical direction you thought it would, but it does. That second half makes it impossible to find a place to pause your reading.

This book is released next month so be sure to add it to your TBR!!!!

I received a free e-book of this title through NetGalley, and while I really liked the concept of this book, I didn’t love it and struggled to finish. At times the storytelling felt disjointed, and I found the ending to be sudden and anti-climactic.

The Story Collector is a delightful novel, however, I didn't really connect with it the way I thought I would. I expected there to be more of a connection between Sarah and the diary but there wasn't. I enjoyed Anna's story, even though it didn't feel like diary entries but more of a story being read from a regular book. The Irish folklore and mention of fairies had to be my favorite part, but aside from that, the story itself felt very flat. I wanted to love it but it was just mediocre to me. 3 stars
Thank you NetGalley, Harper360, and Evie Woods for this read.

I thought 'The Story Collector' by Evie Gaughan was a beautifully written tale that intertwines Irish folklore with historical fiction and romance. The narrative follows two timelines: Sarah in present-day New York, who impulsively travels to Ireland after a breakup, and Anna, a farm girl from 1911 Ireland, who helps an American translate fairy stories. The characters are vividly described, making them feel incredibly real, and the world-building captures the enchanting beauty of Ireland and its myths. While Sarah finds solace in Anna's story, I wished Anna's journey had a more satisfying resolution. The plot moves at a medium pace, seamlessly blending the two storylines and keeping the reader engaged. This book is a must-read for those who enjoy historical fiction with a touch of mythology. 4/5 stars.

When Sarah’s relationship comes to an end on Christmas in 2010, she makes a rash decision to fly to Ireland to visit Thornwood and the hawthorn tree; she stays at Oran’s house that he and his daughter, Hazel, vacated after his wife passed. This is also where she finds Anna’s diary from exactly 100 years before. A quest for fairies aligns the two throughout the years. As she reads Anna’s story, Sarah grows closer to Oran and Hazel, and he has to cross the threshold of his house to move on. However, Anna’s story is accompanied by a researcher, Harold, and it was a full circle moment when Sarah got his book as well. Sarah and Anna have both known loss and reading Anna’a journey provides Sarah with some peace. I just would have liked for Anna’s story to also find that, since we spent so long with her.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins360 for the eARC! The Story Collector has a past and present storyline, Anna's diary 1911 and Sarah in 2011. The book was extremely slow and only started to pickup around 60%. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with Anna's POV and it really made the book drag for me. However, given that I don't typically lean towards historical fiction, I do think that others would love this. I also felt like the folklore / fantasy elements were very surface level and not flushed out, which is a large selling point of the book.

Thank you Netgalley, Harper 360 and Evie Woods for the eArc of The Story Collector.

This is a beautifully written story about Irish folklore and fairy folk in Ireland. Set in 2 timelines, present day and back in the 1920's Anna, a farm girl, who helps an intriguing American translate these myths from Irish to English. In the present day, Sarah boards a plane from New York to West Coast Island and once there she finds she has some mysterious linkage to this place.

The characters in is historical fiction are so wonderfully described, they just pop out the page! They feel as real as if you were sitting in the room with them. I loved both of the main female characters, both on roads to personal exploration and looking for answers.

The world building was breathtaking, Ive only ever been to Ireland once and Evie has managed to capture they beauty of the land as well as the whimsical myths and legends of fairy folk.

The plot line ticks on at a medium pace. There is enough going on, combined with the 2 storylines that entwine and the beauty of Ireland, you don't realise that you have read most of the book. The ending is well wrapped up. If you like historical fiction with myths and legends thrown in. Then this needs to be read!

4.25 stars for Storygraph, 4 for Amazon, Netgalley, Goodreads and Waterstones

The Story Collector by Evie Gaughan as a wonderful combination of historical and romance. In the book we meet two main characters who live a century apart. Anna, a young woman living in 1911 Ireland and Sarah a Boston native who drunkenly ended up in Ireland after reading about a tree (and perhaps subconsciously trying to flee from a life she feels is falling apart). Once in Ireland, Sarah is living in the same village that Anna lived generations ago. While Sarah is figuring out how to put her life back together, she's simultaneously learning about Celtic lore through Annas stories.

Many people associate the topic of fairies as works of fantasy. And while that may be what they represent in present day, like all good fantasy topics, they are built and developed through Celtic folklore similar to the Greek gods and goddesses. Over the course of the book, the reader gets a first hand experience of why people believe in the fairy folk - while in present day we may find other explanations, in the past belief in this lore was the explanation people needed for all things good and bad.

Having recently read The Lost Bookshop for book club, I was eager and nervous to be offered an early access copy of The Story Collector from NetGalley thanks to Harper360. One thing I struggled with in The Lost Bookshop was that Evie Gaughan requires readers to think for themselves and connect the dots and after having read a lot of books where things get wrapped up very obvious and succinctly, in The Lost Bookshop readers may be confused if reading the book as it is and not trying to think about it on a deeper level. That being said, The Story Collector does have literary moments like that, but not quite as extreme as The Lost Bookshop.

For future readers of The Story Collector, I would encourage them not to try and disprove the existence of fairy people as their reading, but instead appreciate how Evie Gaughan has brought a lovely piece of work that gives a great portrayal of how local lore, Celtic in this instance, influenced life in past generations. The Story Collector is a refreshing and unique piece of historical fiction and romance that is focused around one of the less common historical setting - rural Ireland.

Amazon, Target and Barnes and Noble review links will be posted as soon as it is available.

This book has magical realism, historical fiction, dual timeline, romance, folklore, mystery, and a dash of fantasy all mixed into one book effortlessly! I loved learning about the older timeline the most. All of the folklore about the fairies in Ireland was very interesting and had me wondering how much of the general beliefs were held to be true in real life over there. I also enjoyed that I did not know how the book would end. A book that keeps me guessing is always one I enjoy! While one ending was less satisfying, but more realistic, the other was more of a HEA and some healing from grief. If you like Ireland settings, magical realism, & historical fiction this is definitely a book for you!!

Once I started, I couldn't put it down!
Fantastic storyline and relatable characters. Highly recommend!!!

This book touched on all the genres that I enjoy - historical fiction, romance, a bit of mystery - and even covered fantasy which isn’t usually my favorite but in this case I found very fun and endearing.

Sarah is running away from her troubles, and a split-second decision at the airport finds her on a plane to Ireland instead of heading home to spend the holidays with her family. Settled into a cottage among Irish farmland, Sarah finds an old diary that tells the tales of fairy lore from the area, and Sarah is immediately enchanted.

Told in alternating timelines and narratives between Sarah’s story and the story of Anna from the diary, I enjoyed the parallels that existed between the two women and their experiences. I was drawn to Anna’s story and found the tales of the fairies very mysterious and fun to read. While there were some gaps in Sarah’s story that I wish had been explored further, overall I thought this was an enjoyable read with a lot of elements that wove together many genres very well.

I rate this book 3.5 stars.

I loved the unique but relatable style of the story. The characters are sympathetic but not predictable. I loved that this was not a story I had ever seen before and it was so beautifully written, with obvious love and care for every character. I bought another one of her books, based on the strength of this one. I look forward to many, many more from her!

Will be doing a video review on TikTok and leaving written reviews at Amazon and Goodreads. Thank you for the galley!

******Publishing August 13, 2024*****

The story begins with the legend of the Thornwood house where a Hawthorn tree was cut down, which cursed the people who lived in the house!

This book alternates between 1910 and 2010 surrounding the Legend!

2010-Sarah’s marriage was not working out, so she leaves her husband, Jack, on Christmas Day to move in with her sister Megan, who lives in Boston. She gets to the airport, but in her drunken state, somehow gets on a plane to Ireland instead! Megan is upset when she finds out! Sarah is welcomed by the community and finds Anna’s diary at the house she is staying at. Sarah begins to investigate the Thornwood house. Who will Sarah meet and what will she find out? Does this experience help Sarah give direction to her life?

1910-Anna meets an American visitor, Harold, when his bike breaks down at her family’s farm. Anna agrees to be his assistant, investigating the fairies and lore surrounding the Thornwood Village and house! Anna translated stories for Harold!
What will they find out? Will the curse live on?

Definitely not an uplifting book, but it was an entertaining read! I enjoyed both timelines and loved how Sarah found Anna’s diary! Which set Sarah on her own journey of discovery! Perfect for book clubs as this book will lead to interesting discussions!

Thanks to Harpercollins360 for the gifted copy!

The Story Collector 📔🌲🧚🏽‍♀️

⭐️⭐️
Genre: Historical Fiction
Author: Evie Woods

“The story of my childhood is etched all over this familiar landscape. Living this close to nature, I feel as though I am part of it; as much as the river flowing through it or the ever-changing clouds passing overhead. We alter together with each season, transforming, yet always staying true to our nature. I can read the weather coming in across the hills like I can read my own moods. Leaving Thornwood would be like leaving a part of myself.”

After leaving her husband on Christmas, Sarah travels to Ireland. Once she settles in, she finds a diary written one hundred years ago. The diary tells the stories of the fairies in Ireland and the legend of the Thornwood fairy tree.

I had such high hopes for this book, but I was really disappointed. The idea of a historical fiction mixed with magical realism (fairies) sounds like a book I would love. However, this book had very little to do with fairies. We only got bits and pieces of the fairy folklore and the legends about the fairy tree.

The Story Collector was written in a then/now POV. The past POV is from Anna’s diary written in 1910-1911. The present POV is Sarah’s visit to Ireland in 2010-2011. The descriptive writing of this area in Ireland was really beautiful and easy to follow. However, the book was extremely slow and only started to pickup around 60%. The ending was also very anticlimactic and abrupt.

I think I would have loved this book if Sarah’s POV would have been left out. I enjoyed the past storyline and would have liked a book simply based on Anna’s diary. I didn’t feel the two timelines were well connected. I also wanted more about the fairy folklore. The magical realism was why I originally chose this book, and it just wasn’t there.

While this book wasn’t for me, I am sure there is an audience that will enjoy it. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins360 for allowing me to read and review this novel. It will be published on August 12, 2024.