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.

This is simultaneously a cozy read, but an emotionally tolling one. We follow two separate timelines - one following a young woman searching for freedom in the 1920s and the other following a young man and woman who find themselves intertwined on a journey to discover a missing manuscript and a curiously missing bookshop.

In this book, we witness the physical and emotional abuse carried out by men in these character's lives, but we see them overcome and find closure. We also learn about love and believing in ourselves and all we are capable of.

There is an element of fantasy in this book, but it also reads as a historical function and contemporary romance. It is a fun read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy read that will also impact you emotionally.

Thank you to Harper 360 and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my review!

I read the Lost Bookshop after having read The Story Collector by Evie Woods as well. The Lost Bookshop was interesting, split between three main characters in each chapter. The story moved along but was a bit confusing at times. A "darker" story with more violence than the Story Collector. Interesting how the three characters are tied together. Thanks to NetGalley, Harper360 & Ms Woods for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a great story! I loved the twists and turns! I was always rooting for Martha, Henry and Opaline. The characters pulled you in on page one and you are hoping for a happy ending but know there will be hurdles. I enjoyed this so much I read it in one day.

A vanishing bookshop that changes the lives of those who find it made me think Brigadoon meets The Lost Apothecary meets every cozy book-loving story I've enjoyed. Add in that we hop back and forth between two time periods (which may or may not have any connection other than the bookshop), and this book had all the things that I've loved in other places. And... I loved them all here as well. Compelling characters, including strong women bucking convention, a strong mood of nostalgia and quiet book spaces, and two plots that kept me interested and engaged. It felt like curling up into a wonderful familiar story while still being full of fresh discoveries. I enjoyed every minute of both timelines and would happily read other books by this author. Four instead of five stars just because it does have a lot of familiar aspects from other books, but if you've liked bookish books, I think you'll like this one.

So grateful to have received this as an ARC! Any book about books/bookshops/libraries is right up my alley. This was a magical read.

I did get a little turned around between the two female POVs, especially given both experience violence from a loved one/family member. Once I got to 60% in, I could not put this book down!

The ending did feel rushed. It was such a build up with the clues that led to uncovering Martha’s identity, then a harried conclusion.

**Review of *The Lost Bookshop* by Evie Woods**

*The Lost Bookshop* by Evie Woods is a charming and enchanting novel that delves into the magic of books and the transformative power of second chances. Set in a quaint, mysterious bookstore that seems almost too good to be true, the story follows Emma, a young woman who stumbles upon a hidden literary gem in her struggling town. As she uncovers the secrets of the bookshop, she discovers not only a trove of forgotten stories but also a journey of self-discovery and healing.

Woods’ writing beautifully captures the atmosphere of the bookshop, creating a vivid, immersive world that feels both nostalgic and magical. The narrative flows effortlessly, blending romance, mystery, and a touch of whimsy. The characters are well-developed, particularly Emma, whose personal growth and emotional depth drive the story forward. The bookshop itself is almost a character in its own right, adding an enchanting backdrop to Emma's journey.

While the book excels in its atmospheric setting and character development, some readers might find the plot a bit predictable, with familiar themes of rediscovery and romance. However, the charm of Woods' prose and the captivating world of the bookshop more than make up for any narrative predictability.

Overall, *The Lost Bookshop* is a delightful read for fans of cozy mysteries and heartwarming tales. It’s a book that celebrates the magic of stories and the joy of finding one’s place in the world, making it a perfect escape for anyone who loves the transformative power of a good book.

The book has a great storyline and some very interesting twist. Overall a good read. A solid 4 star read.

Ugh, I’m disappointed. I had such high hopes, after reading Evie Woods’ book The Story Collector, but The Lost Bookshop fell a little flat for me. I’m a big fan of magical realism, and I love any books that have to do with, well, books! By all accounts, this should’ve been a home run for me, but I couldn’t seem to get into it.
The timelines and plot were jumbled and confusing at times. I appreciated the varied time periods, but felt like I was being ping-ponged between the two different protagonists, and found it difficult to keep them straight. Not to mention, there were so many minor characters named that I felt like I needed a Rolodex to keep track of them all.
I loved the imagery of the bookshop, and I thought the idea of the story was unique. I think plenty of people will enjoy this book, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

If a good story always begins with tea, what does an amazing story begin with? This book totally captivated me to the point that I couldn’t stop thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading it, leaving me antsy to get back to it. The characters were so vividly created that I felt as though I knew them personally.

I loved this storyline as it took twists and turns that I never expected. With every page I anticipated that moment when Opaline’s and Martha’s stories would intersect, not knowing even if they would. Through the whole journey I was met with mystery, heartache, and intrigue, as well as a reminder of the horrors women have had to endure.

This book went beyond my expectations and left me saddened that it had ended, but so glad I was able to experience it.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book. Overall, I really enjoyed this. I had some issues but would definitely give it a solid 3.5.

What I liked:
The 3 storylines was really fun and I felt that they did a really good job of weaving the story together nicely over time. I also appreciated the struggles of each character and how real that made them. I especially enjoyed Joan one of the timelines was set in a different time period. I felt that really enhanced the story.

What I felt needed improved:
The first half of the story really dragged, up until the part where Martha finds the book in her room. I understand that we needed to build a story to have a better understanding of the events to come but I felt that first half was just a little too drawn out for my taste.

I love books and bookstores. I also love the fantasy and magical realism genres. So, when I saw this book about a fantastical bookshop that only reveals itself to chosen individuals I thought it was perfect. The story follows three points of view, Opaline, a young woman in 1920s England who flees her home after her brother tries to marry her off to a stranger; Martha, a young woman in present-day Ireland who escapes an abusive husband and finds herself in London; and Henry, a young Englishman also in Dublin trying to make a name for himself in the rare book dealers’ world by locating the lost bookshop and Opaline’s mysterious manuscript. The book started out very strong, I enjoyed Opaline’s plotline when she arrived in Paris and started working at Shakespeare and Company and I was interested in seeing where the author was going with Henry and Martha’s friendship. However, the story started to drag with not much actually happening. the author kept adding more and more subplots and it was hard to understand how they added to the end goal many of the storylines were not resolved at the end or were forgotten and never properly explained. The characters did not seem well-developed either. There were several moments where I assumed a character would react in one way based on previous interactions and instead, they would do the opposite which didn’t make sense to me. The reveal at the end was intriguing but not as satisfying because I wasn’t very invested in the ever-changing plot. The concept is great but the execution was poor.

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. Sitting down with it felt like sitting down for a hot cup of tea with a friend. It has the most interesting magic system and pairs it with a touch of history that really brings the whole story to life in such a special way. Prior to reading this book I had never put much thought into the stories that may have been lost throughout time but now I'm obsessed with the thoughts of what was lost, where it went, what led to the stories in the first place, and all the histories behind all of my favorite books and authors. I have to thank Evie Woods for that. It's truly such a wonderfully written book... romance, a magic bookshop, revenge, history, women's rights, and even a bit of found family. I fell in love with some of these characters, I felt disgusted with some of them, I laughed at others, and I cried for some. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for their next read...

Here's some of my favorite quotes!
"I couldn't explaine it, not even to myself, but booksgave me an unflinching sense of stability and groundness. That because words survived, somehow I would too."

"The human heart does not weigh these cold facts. It sees hope in the impossible, love where perhaps there is only desire. It acts without rhyme or reason."

"Children were the real pioneers of every family and would lead their parents through any street or thicket to chase their hearts' desires."

"If you're not scared, you're not living.

"I don't just love her for how she makes me feel. I love her because when she came into my life it was like the lights came on."

"Conformity is a death sentence."

UGH I love when books make you feel things, and this book did exactly that.

The story really follows two main storylines - Opaline, a woman from the early 1900s who's brother wants her to get an arranged marriage to one of his friends. Distraught, she flees and starts a journey that leads her from book shop to book shop as one of the most prolific book traders of her time. The other storyline focuses on Henry and Martha, Henry being a PhD student in search of lost manuscripts that led him to interest in Opaline and her hidden bookshop, and Martha, who has recently left her abusive husband to work as a housekeeper for Madame Bowden, right next to where Opaline's book shop is.

I immediately was rooting for Martha, the depiction of abuse from her husband and the fear that she felt immediately felt close to home, but as the story progressed, the one I ended up feeling the most sympathy for was Opaline. Both women in this story are strongly developed, and while I could see the thread that holds them together coming from about 50% of the way through the book, it was still nice to see.

Henry really serves no purpose. Wait, I hear you say, he is the person that gives Martha motivation to go back to college! And she would have no interest in Opaline and Bronte if Henry did not bring up this idea! I disagree. Henry's main purpose is to be a dunce and to have a love interest in the book. I think the book would have been stronger without him, because then we could actually focus on who the hell Madame Bowden is, which is a far more interesting story.

It feels like that part was rushed in order to facilitate this stupid relationship that I couldn't care less about. Henry is an elitist and honestly classist PhD student, despite the fact that he is attempted to be made sympathetic by having an alcoholic father, and while I do think his nuanced feelings towards his dad's recovery was useful, I couldn't say I necessarily liked him.

ANYWAY - all this to say, I loved this book! There are some things I wish were done better, but I will be thinking about it for awhile afterwards.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so so so disappointed in this book. Everything about it made me want to escape into the magical realism of a book store in Ireland. The writing was just so bad I couldn't finish this book. I tries to fight it out but just couldn't. Everything else in the book got lost in the glaringly bad story telling.

This book was a pleasant surprise. A little bit of mystery, a little bit of history, and a little bit of magic made for a very entertaining book. Set in both the past and the present, the story interweaves seamlessly to it's conclusion. A very cozy, entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for allowing me to read this ARC in an exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

After I finished The Story Collector, I jumped right into The Lost Bookshop, and I was just as drawn in as before.

Told from three POVs; a book dealer named Opaline from the early 1920s, Martha, a young woman escaping her past and trying to move on, and Henry, a young man searching for a lost manuscript and notoriety.

I absolutely loved this story. The connections between the characters, the magical realism, the in-depth dive into books. I couldn't put it down.

This story does have some disturbing moments that might need a trigger warning for some people. The treatment of women, both in the past and now, doesn't seem to have changed much, and I respect that the author included them in this story. It made the characters more relatable to me as a woman. Despite the way they were treated and the awful things they went through, both women were strong and determined. I loved that.

I enjoyed this story so much that I immediately bought a copy for a friend. Can't wait to read what Evie has coming next.

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods follows a parallel timeline as we learn about the exploits and trials of Opaline, and the two current-day characters, Martha and Henry, who are trying to find out more about her, as they endure their own struggles.
Perhaps I read this at the wrong time for me, I came close to DNF’ing it several times but did make it through to the end. I think that it comes down to the story feeling too cute and light for the heavy topics that it covers: domestic and family violence, PTSD, alcoholism, institutionalization, Irish mother and baby homes, misogyny, etc.
The characters often make weird, seemingly out-of-character choices. Martha is afraid to read and doesn’t know how libraries work, but she is going to university for a literature course? Opaline, who has a stronger storyline, has a one true love who isn’t what she imagined him to be, so she moves on to her next one true love.
I like magical realism in storytelling, but it still needs to have some logic to it. Why find a magical stairway if it doesn’t go anywhere? There is a whole segment around a tattoo that doesn’t make any sense.
Despite sounding pretty negative above, I did enjoy the mystery of a potential manuscript by a famous writer, the quest to find it, and some of the aspects of book buying, selling and research.
Overall, this just did not come together for me, although I can see where some of the whimsy, and the theme of overcoming adversity, appeal to other readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for providing the digital ARC.
2 stars

An absolutely magical read so beautifully written anyone who loves books will devour this novel.From beginning to end I was enchanted engrossed rooting for the characters.A book I will be recommending.#netgalley #thelostbookshop