The Lost Bookshop
By: Evie Woods

5 Stars

Martha finds herself running from her marriage. While working as a housekeeper, she begins to find herself, and she finds Henry. Henry is searching for a mystical bookshop that is rumored to appear and disappear. The past and present collide when Martha and Henry cross paths and begin a journey that will change them both.

Wow. This was an awesome book. It won me over with the mysticism that surrounds the bookshop. It kept me hooked with the romance and magic that comes from life changing choices. This book is filled with mystery and romance while presenting not one story but two. The past and the present. Together, they make this story pure magic, and I was captivated from the beginning. I can't wait to get my hands on more from this author.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

I thought this was a charming read and I enjoyed how the timelines weaved the story together. I really loved the characters of Opaline and Martha, as well as the way they reclaimed their agency and drive for life despite existing in different eras. This book fueled my desire to retire in some quaint village somewhere and run a bookstore!

This book is simply delightful. It alternates between two interconnected stories, both with main characters that you really want to get to know. There is a bit of everything, romance, mystery, familial relationships and mythical realism. I would highly recommend his book.

I really enjoyed this one! I loved the magic realism elements. At times it was heart wrenching and bittersweet. I loved getting to know the characters and seeing their relationships grow. A real ode to books and bookshops.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide honest feedback in exchange for this ARC.

The Lost Bookshop was an interesting story of three main characters, Opaline, Henry and Martha. Each character was very different and elicited different emotions as expected. I loved and related to Martha’s character and although I didn’t connect with Opaline at first, she grew on me as the book went on.

I enjoyed the magical realism but wish there was more explained about Martha’s ability.

Overall this was a captivating story that I look forward to rereading in the future.

This book was a great read! I enjoyed how the story went back and forth between the two eras. Very heartfelt and emotional. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for giving me access to this book!

Give me ALL the bookshop books! The characters will pull you in from the beginning as they always do with Evie Woods books. Multiple genres, timelines and themes. The magical realism cannot be beat!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Evie Woods’ *The Story Collector* is a captivating blend of mystery, magic, and self-discovery, perfect for fans of *The Echo of Old Books* and *The Lost Apothecary*. Set on a quiet Dublin street, a hidden bookshop becomes the catalyst for change in the lives of Opaline, Martha, and Henry, who have long been side characters in their own stories. As they uncover the bookshop’s secrets, they embark on a journey of wonder and transformation, discovering that their own lives are just as extraordinary as the stories they cherish. This enchanting novel will charm anyone who loves the magic of books.

This book is a beautiful story of really becoming one’s self. Such a wonderful adventure with beautifully written characters.

Wow, there sure are a lot of bookshop-themed novels currently out there! I saw this one available on NetGalley and thought it sounded interesting. I have gotten a bit tired of dual timelines, but the format works well in this novel. It is magical realism, and features three protagonists. Opaline, who in the early 1920s, gets interested in finding and selling rare editions of books. She heads to Paris, and very easily gets a job working at one of my favorite places: Shakespeare & Co. As the reader gradually discovers, Opaline has suffered many hardships in life and finds herself at the mercy of her jealous brother, along with a terrible secret that she doesn’t discover until adulthood.

Martha and Henry share chapters in modern-day Dublin, and they both become determined to find out more about Opaline, a missing manuscript supposedly written by Emily Brontë, along with finding a disappearing bookshop that was owned by Opaline. Like Opaline, Martha had a difficult upbringing, while Henry, a PhD student, is navigating his obsession with Opaline’s life story and his own personal future.

I enjoyed this book very much, although, as a reader, you must be willing to accept the mystical elements of the story. Ultimately, this is a book about three lost souls, and how they try to find happiness and meaning in their lives.

I loved this book it was so different from anything I have read, its a mix of fairy tale, historical fiction and romance all in one. The book is a dual timeline told from the viewpoint of Opaline in the 1920s who escapes to Paris to avoid an arranged marriage and Martha in present day who is running from an abusive marriage. This is the story of two women displaying their strength and resilience in a time of ultimate despair. These characters were genuine and relatable, Evie Woods did a seamless job of weaving these characters of past and present together.
The story had some magical realism but I wanted more, I kept waiting for the big magical reveal and it never came to fruition. Each of the characters could have had a story all on their own and this book could have been expanded into a series. I loved the references to all the books and how books helped each character throughout their lives.

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods is a heartwarming and enchanting tale that combines the magic of books with the personal journeys of three strangers who find themselves connected through a mysterious, vanishing bookshop. Set against the charming streets of Dublin, Woods weaves together a story filled with mystery, literary love, and self-discovery that will appeal to anyone who’s ever found solace or adventure within the pages of a book.

At the center of the story are Opaline, Martha, and Henry, three characters who, in their own ways, feel like they’ve become supporting players in their own lives. Each of them is stuck—Opaline with her unfulfilled dreams, Martha with the weight of past mistakes, and Henry with his quiet, uneventful existence. But when they stumble upon a hidden bookshop, one that seems to appear and disappear like magic, their lives begin to change in ways they could never have imagined.

The bookshop itself is a delightful creation, practically a character in its own right. There’s something enchanting about a place that exists outside of time, filled with forgotten books and stories waiting to be discovered. As the three characters spend time there, the magic of the shop seems to spill into their lives, unlocking possibilities and pushing them to confront their fears, regrets, and untapped potential. Woods does a wonderful job of making the bookshop feel otherworldly while grounding the characters’ personal growth in very real, relatable emotions.

What makes The Lost Bookshop especially engaging is how Woods ties each character’s journey to the power of stories. Opaline, Martha, and Henry find inspiration and courage in the books they read, much like we do as readers. The novel taps into that universal truth—that books don’t just entertain us, they shape us, help us dream bigger, and remind us of the magic and wonder that exists in our own lives. It’s a love letter to storytelling, and Woods captures that beautifully.

Each character’s arc is well-developed, with their stories unfolding in a way that feels both magical and deeply human. Opaline’s quiet struggle with unrealized ambitions, Martha’s guilt and yearning for redemption, and Henry’s gentle quest for meaning are all handled with care. Their individual transformations are subtle yet profound, and as their lives begin to intertwine, you can’t help but root for them to find their own happy endings.

There’s also a delightful mystery element woven into the novel. The bookshop’s existence and the secrets it holds add an element of intrigue that keeps the reader guessing. As the characters explore the shop’s hidden corners, they uncover more than just dusty books—they find forgotten truths about themselves, and that’s where the real magic lies. Woods masterfully blends the mystical with the personal, making the bookshop not just a setting but a catalyst for change.

While the novel is light and whimsical in tone, there’s also a depth to the way Woods explores themes of regret, second chances, and the courage it takes to rewrite your own story. It’s a book that reminds us that it’s never too late to be the hero of our own narrative, and that sometimes, we just need the right story—or the right bookshop—to help us find our way.

The Lost Bookshop is a delightful and uplifting read for anyone who believes in the magic of books and the power of stories to transform lives. Evie Woods has crafted a novel full of charm, mystery, and heart, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and where every page feels like an invitation to believe in the impossible. It’s the perfect book for those who love stories that make you dream, reflect, and, most importantly, feel the magic all around.

I am not sure why this was available as it is an older book, not an advance copy. Thank you for your time.

A secret bookstore lost but for the ✨right✨ person. Two storylines intertwined with love and intrigue for both books and people. A story of independence and growing into the person they were always meant to be! A great story for lovers of book and book stores, you'll find some great easter eggs and could put you in the mood to go look for your perfect bookshop.

This was a slow starter, that was almost too slow (nearly DNF’d in the first 25%). The story is compelling, but even the characters seemed to get lost every once in a while. The back half was rushed but caught my attention and was very satisfying to read. The story was good, but there were some loose ends that I wish had been tied at the end, and it did feel like this may not be a standalone, but no sequel seems to be coming.

This is not a book I would read. It was picked for book club. I am happy with the choice. It was a good book. A interesting read that involves fantasy, spirits, magic, history and finding what’s important in the lives of the characters of this book. I recommend it for a look at the history of women and the struggles of women in the 19th & 20th centuries. I loved how Evie Woods brings it all back together at the end of the book. She did a marvelous job tying all their stories together. Thank you to Netgalley and Harper360 publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Lost Bookshop is a story told in three distinct voices - Opaline, beginning in London in 1921, and Martha and Henry in the present day in Ireland. This is a feel-good story with a touch of supernatural and mystery thrown in. Books are at the heart of the story as Opaline becomes a bookseller after escaping her home because she did not want to take part in an arranged marriage, Henry is a doctoral student who is investigating the missing bookshop and a missing manuscript, while Martha has escaped her abusive husband. There is a lot going on in this story and it gave me the happy ending that I love so much. Definitely worth reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review

Martha is trying to find anywhere to work to get away from her abusive husband. She stumbles across a job working for an older woman who loves books. Henry is a scholar and is seeking a lost bookshop and lost manuscript of Emily Bronte. Opaline is a woman who owned this bookshop in the 1950s. The story flips between these three perspectives as the mystery of this lost bookshop unfolds.

It truly felt like this author was trying to do too much. Characters were introduced that barely moved the story forward. The miscommunication between the two love interests was frustrating. The women in the book seemed to rely too much on other men when the author wanted the reader to think they were strong women on their own. The magical realism element of this book was also not well executed.

I'm a huge fan of romance and fantasy so it seemed like a no brainer for me to read this new to me author.

The book cover is beautiful, the blurb was interesting, but the book just didn't grab my attention . I found myself skimming through to the end. It's possible I'm just in a book slump, so I will give this book another try in the future!

3.7
This was a book about the love of books. It was also a story of finding your 'people.'

Told in three separate POV's, it was a bit long it parts and left a few questions of the, "how is that possible" and "I think I missed something." While distracting it was a lovely, little magical story with some realism to make it interesting. I think I enjoyed Opaline's POV more than Martha or Henry's to be honest. I enjoyed it enough that I will read the next by this author.

Also, if you get a chance to look up Nellie Bly and her article on Asylums, do it.

*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Lost Bookshop was an enchanting whimsical narrative that celebrates the magic of literature and the healing power of storytelling. The dual timelines, set in both the present and in the past, weave together a rich tapestry of characters whose lives are intricately connected through the beloved bookshop. Woods' prose is lush and inviting, vividly bringing the bookshop and its eccentricities to life, making it a character in its own right. I particularly appreciated the way she infused the story with charm and depth, creating a palpable sense of nostalgia.
There were moments when the pacing felt uneven, especially in transitioning between timelines, which occasionally disrupted the flow of the narrative. While most characters were well-developed, a few secondary figures felt a bit one-dimensional, leaving me wanting more depth in their arcs.
Overall, the enchanting premise and heartfelt exploration of connection and belonging make it a delightful and memorable read.