The Lost Bookshop is a heartwarming blend of mystery, historical fiction, and contemporary storytelling, woven together through a magical bookshop brimming with secrets.

The novel follows three storylines: In 1921, Opaline defies societal norms by escaping a forced marriage and finding refuge at a bookstore in Paris. In the present, Martha rebuilds her life after fleeing an abusive marriage, and Henry searches for a missing manuscript tied to the enigmatic bookshop.

At its heart, the story centers on a hidden bookshop that transcends time and space, offering solace and second chances. Woods' vivid descriptions bring the settings to life, from Dublin to Paris, and the bookshop itself, with its dusty shelves and lost stories, is a dream for any bibliophile. Beyond the magic, the novel explores themes of grief, resilience, and identity, which add depth and heart.

The three narratives come together seamlessly, revealing surprising connections, though the shifts between timelines—especially in audiobook format—can be tricky to follow. The characters feel real, flawed yet hopeful. Opaline's journey from heartbreak to rediscovery stood out as especially poignant and uplifting.

Ultimately, The Lost Bookshop is a delightful read with strong, relatable characters and a deeply satisfying conclusion. A solid 4-star story.

** Thanks to the publisher for a complimentary review copy. The opinions are my own.

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods is an unexpected story of magic, books, and 3 people's journeys.

I really like that overall this is rooted in self discovery and self acceptance. With the blend of using stories and various types of books to help guide it, there’s an added essence to it. It kind of reminds me of The Pagemaster (film), which was a little unexpected.

I love that there is a constant theme of stories being one of the things that can open you up to a whole new world as well. Many people who read, read as an escape, as a way to connect to themselves or a version of themselves that they may not have realized was there in their everyday life. Reading in itself is magic and this book brings that out a lot more.

I highly recommend this book. It is such a perfect combination of magic, self discovery, historical fiction, romance, and all things books.

If you love this type of novel, then you’ll also love these: The Story Collector, The Book of Beginnings, The Keeper of Stories, The Book of Doors

*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of The Lost Bookshop from Evie Woods via NetGalley

This was such a lovely read! The characters and the story pulled me in immediately. I love a story with a “magical” feel to it, one that can transport you out of your real life. This one will live in my mind for a long time!

I greatly enjoyed this book and it did really keep me on my toes. Even if I had an inkling of something **SPOILER** such as Opaline's baby being alive and Martha potentially being a part of that bloodline, I did not expect Opaline's father being who he was or that Madame was a 'ghost'. The supernatural/magic aspect brings a unique twist to the book. It's a wonderful story about how people find not only who they are supposed to be, but who they are to be with in the end.

This book contained elements of things I normally like (historical fiction, magical realism, characters who love books), but the writing style really didn’t work for me. It felt like the author was doing a lot of telling rather than showing, with plot events popping out of thin air left and right without any build-up.

This book was extremely long. Could it perhaps have been shorter? I think so.

I still enjoyed it, there were just times that I felt it dragged on a bit. I also guessed the ending. Which is fine. All in all, decent book.

You follow two girl in two separate timelines. One, a rare book dealer. The other, a house assistant.

Both girls have a hard life they are just trying to survive.

I absolutely loved reading "The Lost Bookshop", by Evie Woods. The story, and the characters drew me in immediately and kept me there until the last page. I read the entire book in one sitting, because I couldn't put it down. This would be a marvelous book club choice.

I was interested in this book by the title and it didn’t disappoint. I loved reading this book it was so good. I would read another by this author and recommend it to everyone.

This book was super interesting with a unique premise and a creative storyline! It is a dual timeline story about Opaline and Martha, and I would highly recommend going into it blind without reading the blurb beforehand. It includes fantastical realism and highlights the overwhelming mutual love of books that readers share. I really enjoy this author's work, and I look forward to seeing what is to come!

Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book called, The Lost Bookshop. This story goes back and forth between the 1920s and the present, and takes place between Dublin, Paris, and a magical bookshop. This book weaves two strong, courageous, and independent women together as you read their stories decades apart. This book alternated between 3 points of view as you read, but all 3 of these characters are looking for escape, healing, and freedom in their lives. This was a beautifully written story full of literature, history, love, trauma, found family, loss, friendship, and a little bit of magic. ✨💚📚

Thank you to the author and to the publisher for this ARC of The Lost Bookshop, in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re a lover of stories with soul, mystery, and a dash of history, The Lost Bookshop is the perfect read. Evie masterfully weaves together lives across two cities and decades, connecting Dublin and Paris in the 1920s through an enchanting bookshop with hidden powers.

The novel centers on three characters—Martha, Henry, and Opaline—each on a quest for escape, healing, or adventure. Martha finds refuge in Dublin as a housekeeper, seeking anonymity. Henry, also in Dublin, is on a personal quest that leads him to cross paths with Martha. Meanwhile, Opaline takes a leap of faith in Paris, fleeing an arranged marriage to experience the liberating spirit of the city’s Lost Generation.

Evie’s writing evokes the magical allure of Midnight in Paris and even had me reaching for Sidney Bechet’s music, a soundtrack perfect for this story’s vibe. For anyone who loves mentions of Sylvia Beach, the Lost Generation, and the arts as a haven of wonder, this book is a treasure trove. It blends historical ambiance with deeply human themes of longing, resilience, and enchantment, creating an unforgettable, magical escape. ✨

I wanted to love this book. I really liked The Story Collector and was excited to read this book. But I found I didn't love the foul language used in parts of the book. I had a hard time engaging with the characters or the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter publishing, and Evie Woods for providing this advance reader copy (ARC) of the book. My honest opinion is below.

A charming story that was an enjoyable read, the blurb hooked me right away. In my opinion while there are many things the writer got right there are many that she got wrong. Flow between the time periods was as seamless as I think possible, I applaud that. The characters had promise but wound up not being completely fleshed out, Martha was all over the place. Her journey was supposed to be from scared abused woman to standing on her own two feet and accepting herself as she was. But she didn't stand on her own feet, she had the strangest awakening and it didn't flow well. I don't like her much. Henry was much better, his inner dialog explained more on how he got to Dublin and his purpose. He was like an adorable puppy that follows you around wanting attention. My giving advice to the characters became more frequent, neither had been in a relationship of any value & it was like grade-schoolers too shy to hold hands. I tried to give them tips but of course they didn't listen.

Opaline is better explained and some of her "flaws" were a product of the times, women of the 1920's were still considered second class citizens. Her family dynamic was awful but understandable. I'm glad she got a nice ending as it wasn't certain that would happen. The mysterious bookshop plot starts with her and it's magical, literally. I wouldn't have been surprised to have elves and baby deer hanging around the shop. I loved the store and would wish it existed so I could sit in a chair, drink tea, and read the afternoon away. For what I found lacking I also found good fun and a pleasant read.

#NetGalley #TheLostBookshop #EvieWoods #mysteriousbookshop #magicalbookshop

It was really hard to get into this.

The premise is there and even sounds great but ...
There is so much going on.
Many characters to keep up with,
Plus the past/present.

Then the writing isn't what I say a 5 star book would be.

I skimmed too much of it just to finish.

I like an element of romance and this book had none. Also I’m not a fan of fantasy so I didn’t enjoy it much. The dual time model is getting a little tiresome for me.

Thank you to the publisher, the author and to Net Galley for the opportunity. This is a wonderful. read. It is intriquing from beginning to end. This is one of my top 4 favorite books of 2023 from Net Galley. This is a re read for me in 2024 I enjoyed it so much. The story is told in a sweeping story from three different people absorbed in a mystery surrounding books and mysterious missing ancient bookstore. The timelines are pre war and present day. The charchters are richly drawn to the plot and all compliment the plot. The author has included wonderful referances to books gone by to add to your TBR list. I found it utterly charming and loved the charcters, the plot and the mystery. The ending is outstanding . Prepare to read through the night as this is a book you will not put down. This is a love story to Biblophiles and we are in love . Thank you to the author for this wonderful book.

This one was super cute! Loved the dual timelines and themes. I mean, who doesn't love a book about books?

The writing, the story, the enchanting atmosphere and of course, admirable and lovable characters makes The Lost Bookshop a “she has it ALL” kind of read. For lovers of books and fantasy, if escaping to worlds outside of our own The Lost Bookshop delivers all the feels with writing that is to die for. It’s beautiful and magical and enchanting in all the ways.

"The Lost Bookshop" by Evie Woods is a charming ode to the magic of books and the power of stories. The whimsical setting and endearing characters create a warm atmosphere that invites readers into a world of literary wonder. Woods weaves a captivating narrative that explores themes of love, loss, and the importance of community. The intertwining of the bookshop’s history with the characters' journeys adds depth and intrigue to the plot. Overall, this novel is a delightful celebration of literature that will leave you feeling nostalgic and inspired.

This book felt slightly underwhelming for me. I had high hopes based on the blurb, but I just couldn’t connect. I’m not sure if it was the pacing, the plot, the writing, or maybe a combination of the three. For me it was an OK read—not terrible, but nothing too amazing either.