Sarah Harper is going through a divorce. She leaves her husband to fly home but she doesn't make it home. Sarah decides mid flights to fly to the West Coast of Ireland. She finds a wonderful little village known for their fairy tree. She visits the tree and discovers a diary written a hundred years ago by a girl named Anna. Anna a farm girl helps a man named Harold to explore the local folklore about fairies. This story has a wonderful cast of characters and is beautifully written. I loved the Irish folklore and the tales of love and loss. One of my favorite reads of 2024.

The Story Collector is an enchanting story in which the past and present are intertwined in a mysterious web of love, loss, myth, and lore. I loved the element of the past rippling into the future and the power that folklore and myths have through generations as shown through the alternating lenses of 100 years past and present. As someone who gravitates towards historical fiction, this novel had enough historical and geographical references to satisfy that interest, while the introduction of fantasy and myth offered a refreshing spin. The author does a remarkable job at bringing the fairies of Ireland to life and making the reader believe in their power. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy and captivating read.

I was really so excited for this book based off of the description but felt let down by the actual book. I was expecting much more dark mystery but that wasn’t there.

Overall the book was a good read. I love switching between points of view from Anna to Sarah. I was satisfied with the ending as it showed that magic does exist.

Running from her grief, Sarah finds herself in a tiny Irish village where residents have successfully defended their century’s old culture and traditions from the unrelenting march of progress.

While there, she discovers the journal of Anna Butler, a young girl fighting to come to terms with a loss of her own. As Sarah follows Anna’s journey, she realizes that though a hundred years separate their lives, some struggles transcend time.

Evie Woods masterfully weaves both women’s stories into a compelling narrative that is hard to put down. Her exploration of the fairy world enchants readers, prompting them to wonder what supernatural forces might be at play in our own lives. She also shines a light on how we handle - or sometimes avoid handling - the pain and complexity of grief.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.l

I highly recommend this wonderful book. The story was mesmerizing and I became lost in it. There was a mystical feel to it that I adored. The characters are well thought out and have great depth, I found myself thinking about them long after I finished the book. This is my first read by this very talented author and it won't be my last. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper 360 for an ARC copy of The Story Collector.

The Story Collector is set in dual timelines, the early 1900's and 2010/2011. Sarah Harper is leaving her broken marriage behind, to return home to her family, when a spontaneous decision at the airport takes her to Ireland. There she finds a diary from 100 years ago, written by a young farm girl named Anna. As Sarah settles into her new surroundings and meets the people of Thornwood, she begins to heal from the tragedy that ended her marriage, while also becoming invested in Anna's story. Anna led a simple life in her village, until the arrival of Harold Krauss. She becomes his assistant and travels the village gathering fairy stories from the locals, for his thesis, but Anna is hiding her own story from Harold.

The Story Collector is a book after my own heart, with the dual timelines of the past and present, fairy stories, and being set in. Ireland. It's a great historical fiction story, where we see the problems that both women face in their own timelines, and how they try to overcome them. I did find Anna's story to be the more interesting of the two, because I loved the relationship that developed between her and Harold, and the visits they made to the fellow villagers to hear their fairy stories. My favorite part about Sarah's story, was how Woods tied her and Harold together at the end of the book. I thought it was really well done and a great way to end the book.

Even though I really enjoyed the book and the characters, I felt like the chapters of Anna's diary entries did not read like diary entries. The language and style of the writing didn't differ from Sarah's chapters, and I think it would have added an extra element to the book, if they were written in a diary format.

If you love Historical Fiction, Irish Folklore, and books about books, then I highly recommend The Story Collector.

I loved this story! Imagination required but still neat. Books and bookshops ARE magic and can change lives.

3.5 stars. I loved the descriptive setting in Ireland, and really enjoyed the writing style that seemed to capture the simple rural life. There were a few things that felt out of place with the rest of the story, (when we hear about the husband and the witch, and what happened to the rabbit for example) and those were jarring to me. The pacing felt off when it came to the relationships of the couples in the two timelines. I liked it but felt like there were a few problems along the way.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Ireland - 1911 and 2011

1911 - Young Anna Butler lives on her parents small farm in western Ireland. It's a simple life although Anna yearns for some excitement. That excitement turns up when American scholar Harold Griffin-Krauss turns up in the village. His anthropology studies are centered on Celtic folklore, fairy faith in particular. Much to Anna's delight, he hires her to accompany him around the area to speak to those who believe in fairies, and why. As they interview various members of the village, they are drawn to the Thornwood Estate, and the story of its origin when the Hawley family purchased the land and built the house. Lord Hawley was told by locals that he should not cut down the ancient hawthorn tree on the site, as it would bring his family bad luck. Well, of course, he cut it down, and after his wife gave birth to twins, she soon claimed that they weren't her babies, and days later threw herself out of the second floor window - dying. Harold was determined to learn more.

Anna and Harold are drawn into the odd lives of the Hawley twins. While Anna thinks George is handsome and overly friendly, she is not sure what to think of his twin sister, Olivia, who seems brittle and at times, cruel. Are they affected by their mother's death, and would that explain their differences? Soon, it becomes clear that there are secrets that may not be safe to learn.

2011 - Sarah Harper makes a rash, last-minute decision to fly to Ireland instead of retreating to her family in Boston after leaving her husband. When she lands at Shannon Airport, she is confused, and heads to the airport hotel. But there are no rooms available. Taken under the wing of the hotel manager, Sarah finds herself ensconced in a tiny cottage in a small village. Exploring one day, she finds a box stuffed into the crevice of a tree. Inside she finds a diary written by a young girl who used to live in the very cottage Sarah is renting. Delving into the book, she is drawn into the life of Anna Butler.

THE STORY COLLECTOR is an inspiring, emotional, and lovely tale of people finding answers in their lives, whether good or bad. Do the fairies truly hold sway in some people's lives? Do they affect the outcome of decisions, right or wrong? A sweet, and sad at times, story of everyday people dealing with everyday lives, but with a touch of magic.

I'm in the minority here but this book was just ok. I was much more invested in the story of Anna and Harold than Sarah's story. I also wished there had been a little more fairy activity. There was "talk" of fairies but no actual fairy happenings.

I think I struggled thinking the fanstasy aspect of the story would be more present than the historical fiction part. And even then, it could have been just the Anna and Harold part.

Sarah was escaping from a troubled marriage when a news report sent her to Ireland. There she found a diary of a young girl, Anna, helped an American uncover “fairy stories” from the townsfolk. This dual timeline story follows Anna as she pines for George, the lord of the manor, and Sarah as she heals from the death of her unborn daughter. The Story Collector, by Evie Woods, chronicles their lives and the stories of The Good People.

The book got better as it went on and has a few surprises for the reader. I was able to read an ARC on #NetGalley.

The Story Collector by Evie Woods is a charming novel steeped in secrets and mystery. Set in a quiet Irish village, the story unfolds across two timelines. A hundred years ago, Anna, a young farm girl, becomes entangled in a mysterious adventure while helping an American visitor translate fairy stories. In the present day, Sarah Harper's journey to Ireland uncovers dark secrets that blur the lines between the everyday and the otherworldly. The author blends historical fiction with elements of Irish folklore, creating a narrative that's both romantic and magical. The richly painted settings and enchanting characters enhance the beauty of this story.

Loved this one! Great and fun read. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for my ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was another fun read by Evie Woods. Filled with nostalgia, romance, and mystery it will definitely warm your heart. This is one I will read again at Christmastime.

Sarah’s marriage has ended at Christmastime and she spontaneously boards a plane from Manhattan to Ireland. Upon arrival, she finds herself in a unique cottage and discovers a diary, lost for 100 years. As she spends Christmas in this beautiful place and meets wonderful people, she dives into the diary of Anne and learns about local fairy legends and a young romance.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC and allowing me to provide this voluntary review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. This review will appear on goodreads and the opinions expressed are my own.
For anyone interested in learning more about Ireland and its local legends, this book explores both. There is romance and magic as we learn about the some of the mythical characters of western Ireland (or are they a myth?) The book is told in two simultaneously developed timelines as visitor Sarah finds a journal in a tree (which was a little weird) and learns a lot about herself while the story of Anna unfolds in the journal's pages.
It was a delightful surprise, this read. Its clean with no swearing or anything too graphic.
It looks its due out in America next month, so put yourself on the hold list. Its a nice little journey and a nice diversion from some heavier topics in the news for sure.
4*

Two timelines, two women, born a hundred years apart. Sarah’s story set in 2011 briefly begins in America as Christmas is approaching, and she can’t bear to spend it with her family. Sarah’s grieving over a recent divorce, and another loss, as well, and she just wants time to heal, to not be around people who know what she is going through, to grieve in her own way, and in her own time.

This is not planned, but she just knows she wants to get away, away from those who know what she is going through, and just allow her to process her grief on her own. And so, she takes a flight to Ireland, where no one knows her or what she is going through.

When she arrives, she finds a place to stay, a quiet village where she learns of a local myth which seems to become a part of her story, as well. When she is settling in, she comes across an old diary that shares the life of Anna Butler, which she finds fascinating. A time when most people in Ireland believed in fairies.

A story that shares some magical moments, of believing in oneself, and perhaps a sprinkling of what seems like magic.


Pub Date: 13 Aug 2024

Many thanks to for the ARC provided by Harper 360

The Story Collector, a charming historical fiction novel written by Evie Gaughan, showed up on my NetGalley feed and immediately captured by interest. Ireland. Secrets. A curse. Love. Death. Drama. Books. Everything I need in my reading! From the elaborately woven descriptions of the magic with fairies (minor fantasy element) to the divine local stories of all the villagers, every chapter offered something new. Created a wonderful imaginary space to transport temporarily to, and left me excited about the adventures of love for both the main characters, one in the past and one in the present. I always prefer a tightly sealed happy ending, but you will not find that here. Love escapes some. Truth comes hurdling forward. Things settle, but I wanted some more. Definitely intrigued my reading urges, so I'll check out more from the author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper 30 for the.opportunity to read The Story Collector by Evie Woods. I loved it! Magical a delightful.

The Story Collector weaves an Irish tale so intriguing, even the most skeptical of the paranormal would be caught off guard. It blends the stories of two women, one from 2011 and the other from one hundred years earlier, as they struggle to find bits of themselves. Sarah, "the American," on the surface is dealing with overcoming a new divorce. Near the end of the book, however, readers learn the pain there goes far deeper. When Sarah makes a split second decision to travel to Ireland, she doesn't realize the implications it will have on her personal life and the lives of everyone she meets.

Sarah, a woman devastated by the stillbirth of her daughter and the end of her marriage, embarks on a spontaneous journey to Ireland. Upon her arrival, she stumbles upon the diary of Anna Butler. Anna’s life takes center stage as she meets Harold Krauss, an American deeply immersed in his thesis on the local beliefs in fairies. Through Anna's diary, Sarah is transported back to a time when the belief in fairies was more than just folklore.
An uplifting read that celebrates the power of belief, where the past and present collide in magical ways.