3.5*
Dual timelines. One takes place in Ireland In the early 1900’s where a young farmgirl, Anna, offers to help an American college student translate Irish folklore into English. The second is a contemporary timeline in which we find Sarah Harper fleeing her stifling, depressing life in America and ending up in the same Irish countryside that the American scholar had long ago traversed as he conducted his research.

Harold is the young student writer who relies on his younger companion to introduce him and assist him in documenting the stories of the fae. Anna translates local tales of fairy encounters and Harold documents them for his book. The stories are whimsical and magical and the young scholar is transfixed by the enchanting accounts.

Meanwhile, Sarah is confused and distraught over her failed marriage and, on impulse, has flown to Ireland. She quickly becomes comfortable in the small Irish town and virtually cuts herself off from her old life. Her hasty decisions are driven by her erratic emotional state and the problems that plagued her in America. Her escape may be the change she desperately needs, but cutting off all communication with everyone seems extreme. Her plotline is less satisfying.

In the earlier storyline, the girl Anna is actually more central to the plot than Harold, although they both are endearing. One can’t help but be charmed by the earnestness of the young man who is so enamored by the tales of the fairies and with teenage Anna who’s thrilled with her new job and also becomes wrapped up in her new employer and the stories she translates. Years later, Sarah finds and reads Anna’s hundred-year-old diary, providing a connection between the two storylines.

The historical plot was warm and had a nice sense of place. In contrast, the contemporary story was lacking in real heartfelt emotion, other than depression and desperation. Still, the diary was a convenient vehicle for interweaving the plots and helped lead Sarah to a better place. Overall, Gaughn’s novel was enjoyable and interesting, a book that cast a lovely light on the Emerald Isle.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. I do think it was well written but it didn’t catch and keep my attention as I hoped it would. The dual timeline was interesting but I ended up not finishing simply because it wasn’t really for me. I’m sure that some will love it. Just not me.

This book felt like it was written just for me—it checked off everything I love! If you're a fan of dual-timeline historical fiction with a dash of magic, this one is a must-read. The story follows Sarah, who embarks on a serendipitous trip to Ireland and finds herself staying in a cottage in a quiet, picturesque town. While there, she discovers the diary of Anna and is instantly drawn into her world and story. I couldn't put it down, five stars!

*The Story Collector* by Evie Woods is a beautifully written, heartwarming novel that touches on themes of storytelling, personal growth, and the importance of community. The story follows a young woman who becomes involved in preserving the stories of the people around her, uncovering hidden truths and connecting with her own past along the way. Woods’ writing is rich in atmosphere, and the characters are likable and relatable.

That said, while the book is engaging, the pacing can be a bit slow at times, and some of the plot developments felt predictable. The emotional payoff is there, but it takes a while to really build momentum. Still, the book offers a satisfying conclusion and a gentle, thoughtful narrative that will resonate with readers who enjoy character-driven stories about finding your place in the world.

Overall, *The Story Collector* is a lovely, reflective read, and I’d definitely recommend it to fans of literary fiction and those looking for a quiet, uplifting story. A solid 3.5 stars!

This is lovely story by a new author to me. And I love the cover. There are two stories running parallel, one in 2010/1911 and the other 100 years earlier. Sarah Zaparelli is leaving her husband of three years, suffering from anxiety disorder after The Big Bad Thing. Planing to decamp with her sister in Boston, in a drunken state she decides to go to Ireland instead. I'm not going to add a spoiler to what The Big Bad Thing is, but like me, I image most readers have already figured it out before it is finally revealed towards the end of the book. She knows no one in Ireland, but reading an article about Thornwood and a protest there to protect a fairy tree (Hawthorn tree), she ends up there in a charming cottage, where not only does she meet charming people, who help her heal, but also finds a diary from 100 years ago hidden in the hollow of a tree. The diary was written by a young woman named Anna Butler and a young American, Harold Griffin-Krauss who came to Ireland to get information for his thesis about "the Good People" i.e. fairies. Wonderful characters and story. However, since there really isn't a blantant HEA for either heroine, I guess that makes this "Women's Fiction" rather than a Romance.

I read a gifted Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased, voluntary and honest review. I recommend this book. It is really a lovely read.

Such a pleasant surprise! Truly lovely on audio with the Irish accents. A bit of historical fiction, a bit literary, a splash of romance, and a little bit magical. For fans of Emily Wilde!

This book follows Sarah, in a more modern and contemporary world, escaping to Ireland to process some of life’s difficulties. When Sarah finds Anna’s diary in the cottage she’s staying in the stories start to weave together. We get glimpses into the past through the diary as Sarah is reading and processing that and her own life story. There’s a bit of magic in finding and discovering fae. It’s overall just a charming and cozy read! I think the pacing is helped by the audio!

Duel timelines based on two women born a hundred years apart. On Christmas Eve Sarah is suppose to be flying to Boston but instead flies to the West Coast of Ireland where her ancestors are from. While in Ireland she finds a diary in a tree that belonged to a girl named Anna who wrote this diary 100 years ago.

This story delves into the mysteries of the fairies in this small town in Ireland. As Sarah is dealing with the loss of her child, she begins to find solace and healing in reading Annas diary about the fairies and how they brought magic into the families in this small town. Sarah also discovers more things in Ireland that she wasn't expecting.

Such a sweet story about grief and healing and finding yourself. I am looking forward to more books from Evie Woods. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for this complimentary digital copy for my honest review.

dnfed 25% in -

i just couldn't get into this story and felt like there was a hurdle with me really connecting with this one. i wasn't feeling the characters or the story and i felt like i was reading words but not really processing them.

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!