I read along while listening to the audiobook and enjoyed the story although it isn’t the genre I typically read. I loved the close bond of the sisters and their niece over the centuries.

Thank you to netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance copy to read.

I am already a hufe Helen Phifer fan, so I was extremely excited to have the opportunity to read this.

It's a super cosy witchy read, full of mystery and great characters. I love the historical elemental and the flashbacks to life in the 1600s. It's a very practical magic meets hocus pocus vibe. I can imagine it being a huge hit, particularly in autumn.

The characters are well written and sweet, as to be expected from Phifer. The book has great pacing and an easy to follow story.

If you are looking for something witchy to read, I would give this a go.

The Vanishing Bookstore is a story of Salem, witches and reincarnation.

Isadora. “Dora” English owns a flower shop in London and lives with her Aunt Lenora “Lenny” who has raised her from an infant. While working at her shop a strange man named George Corwin comes in looking for a bouquet for his girlfriend’s funeral, or so he says. There is something off about him that Dora cannot place. Then her aunt tells her that she has a business trip planned in Salem Massachusetts and asks Dora to come with her. Dora agrees and they fly to Salem, where Dora finds out that she has another aunt Seraphina, and her mother Lucine whom she had been told was dead. Then Dora discovers that this is not the 1st life she and her aunts and mother have lived. They lived in Salem in 1692 during the infamous witch trials where they were healers with a touch of magic and fell victim to the madness. They have been cursed to live their lives over and over while being chased through time by George Corwin, the sheriff in 1692 who arrested and hung them. He has chased them through time trying over and over to capture their souls as he did the other accused witches. Lucince was given a book of magic by her lover, Dora’s father and in 1692 Dora hid the book in the shed that her love, Ambrose Corwin had in the woods. Ambrose’s bookstore was a place where he hid books that the puritan elders would have confiscated. Lenny and Seraphina are sure that if they can find the book, they can defeat George and have peace to live their final life. With a race against time Dora must find the courage and magic within herself to save herself, her aunts and Ambrose.

The story was a quick read and I loved the descriptions of Salem and some of the history of the witch trials. I enjoyed how with each life the Englishh sisters and Dora never lost their humanity. If you like Practical Magic and Hocus Pocus this is the book for you.

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

What a ride with lots of surprises. I wasn’t expecting this book to be…well, what it was…but it was fascinating and full of tension. The ending was intense! This is quite the departure from Helen Phifer’s usual police procedurals, but the writing is first-rate. (It’s hard to review this one without giving away key surprises!)

Thank you to Bookouture, Netgalley, and the author, Helen Phifer, for early access to this latest entry in this intriguing series.

Although magic and witches are not of great interest to me, I was lured in to reading this book by the title.
But I'm quite glad I did read it, as the historical element made the book interesting to me.
For those who do like magic and witches, I'm sure this would be great read!

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this amazing book

if you are into witches and witch hunters with a touch of magic then this is the book for you oh and did i say that most of the book is based in salem

its about a family of sisters who help heal that are one day accused of being witches and they are all hanged.....

but the storyline is so much more and as you read it there is more information and rather than give the whole plot away its best that you read it for yourself....

you wont be disappointed at all... its the stuff of legends and will grip you so that you cant put the book down at all and it will stay with you for a few days after....

cant wait for the next book from this author

If you enjoyed Heartless Hunter you will definitely love this.
I was immediately hooked to the characters and plot of this book. 1600s? Salem? Witch trials? Bookstore? Sign me up! The descriptions were so vivid that I actually felt like I stepped inside the novel. I particularly enjoyed the setting and atmosphere that was set up by the author. The twists were exciting.
My only issue with reading this was that sometimes the dialogue was a bit stiff and unnatural that it would take me out of the story.

I had such a hard time getting into this book unfortunately. The synopsis sounded right up my alley with mysterious bookstores, witches, family bonds, etc. But the story didn't keep me interested, and I tried both reading and listening to the book. I felt very little connection to the characters and although there was a lot of descriptive writing, I felt like I was often told instead of shown. I also wish there would have been more on the bookstore itself. However, this would be a perfect read for someone that likes a blend of historical fiction and a touch of fantasy!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this title.

Thanks to Netgalley & Bookouture for the ARC of this book.

I've a read a lot of Helen Phifer's crime books, so was curious to try something a little different. Especially with the title. However, I would have liked a more about the Vanishing Bookstore than what was in the book. The mentions of it seemed a bit rushed and that it wasn't given the importance I expected.

Dual timeline set in 1692 and present day, we follow the story of Dora, her mum and 2 aunts. In 1692 they are persecuted by witch hunters - which leads to them being cursed to constantly relive their lives. Will this lifetime be the one when they can finally break the curse?

The descriptions, especially of Salem were good, I could really picture the setting. And I did like all the witchy vibes. It's not too dark despite the witch hunting. At times there could have been more depth and emotion with some of the characters and some parts felt a little rushed.

Overall a good storyline, I liked the magic and dual timeline, but some parts did leave me wanting a bit more.

I very much enjoyed reading this witchy book. I am always drawn to books in this genre which I enjoy, but what I particularly liked about this book was that it was a more light hearted version. Moving between Salem USA and London Uk in timelines of 1692 to present day, with a few mentions of past lives in between. This was fun.
I warmed to the family of ladies immediately, known as the English sisters.
The writing was very descriptive and detailed, and although I have never visited Salem I felt like I did in the book, in my armchair travelling.
The end left me speculating if there may be another book to follow regarding the vanishing bookstore? I wonder if there are more magical stories to come out of it? I hope so.
I look forward to reading more books from the author Helen Phifer.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

The premise of this book hooked me immediately -- an old bookstore (that vanishes!), a family saga that covers multiple centuries, the historical element of the Salem witch trials -- what's not to love? I loved the dual timeline. In the end, this was an okay-good read for me, though many would love it. I tend to enjoy historical fiction more than fantasy/magic, and though this is billed as both, the historical part didn't grab me as much as I anticipated. Overall, this would be a great read for someone who loves fantasy/magic/witches.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and author Helen Phifer for the complimentary advance copy! It was my pleasure to write this candid review.

This book is the perfect comfort read! It’s nice to watch the FMC grow and develop through the story.

With elements of:
Witchcraft
Family love
Reincarnation
Love
Enemies
Grief
Hope
Murder

It has enough to keep you hooked and want more.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read this before it was released.

A family of witches has spent every lifetime trying to get away from a witch hunter and the key to their survival is hidden in a bookstore that no one has seen for generations.

This was a cute cozy, witchy fantasy with a bit of mystery too. It very much gave me Practical Magic meets Hocus Pocus vibes. It’s one of the best witchy books I’ve read!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

"Every story needs a happy ending. And you can’t have yours until you find the bookstore."
The Vanishing Bookstore is a magical read that is about a family of women who end up being accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials and sadly these women have to live their lives repeatedly all while being hunted by the same wicked man. This drew me in by the cover and had me captivated from the first page. I was turning pages until the very end. The author wrote this beautifully well and I look forward to reading more of her books. Every character in this was amazing. Overall, this was such a spellbinding tale that I loved and would recommend to any reader especially if you love fantasy. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this magnificent read in exchange of my honest review of The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚅𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚢 𝙷𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚗 𝙿𝚑𝚒𝚏𝚎𝚛

Available tomorrow! (January 7, 2024)

📖 Read if you like:
🧙🏼‍♀️ Witches
🐈‍⬛ Set in London and Salem
🔄 Reincarnation
✨ Cozy vibes
☠️ But also murder 😱

💭 My Thoughts: If you love Hocus Pocus vibes and cozy magical realism, you NEED this book. The story jumps between the late 1600s and present day, which kept things super interesting, and the whole reincarnation/multiple lives angle was so fun to follow.

Even though there were a few darker, violent moments, the overall vibe was still fun and cozy. I kept saying, “This is such a cozy read,” and I stand by that. Perfect for curling up with on a chilly night.

⚠️ CW: violence, death of a loved one

#bookstagram #pastpages
#thevanishingbookstore #helenphifer
#magicalrealism #fantasy #arc

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 (tag NetGalley and publisher) 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

3.5 stars - The plot was unique, and this was mostly enjoyable but a little YA-ish at times. Of course I love everything Salem and witchy, and I liked the dual timeline (especially the 1692 chapters, of which there were not many). I liked the first half better than the second, which felt somehow both predictable and rushed. Overall, an enjoyable & light witchy read. (And Hades the crow was definitely the best character!)

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was really cute and I enjoyed most of it. I loved the premise and the characters. Truly loved the concept too. I was really invested the whole time and wanted to know where it was going. The setting was fantastic. The way it evokes Hocus Pocus, Practical Magic and dash of Charmed worked so well. I was invested in the shifting timeline. In fact I would have enjoyed even more insight into their past lives.

But a little underwhelming in a few ways. I didn’t really believe the romance and I still feel there are a lot of questions about how the constant reincarnation really worked. It didn’t make sense to me that this was the life time where they finally used their powers. If they knew he was coming, why not make this plans decades ago? And then there’s the epilogue that almost sets up a sequel?? I would have rather the page count gone to a little more of us seeing the HEA.

This story centers around what appears to be an ordinary bookstore with a dark and enigmatic history. The MC is a determined investigator with a knack for solving the unsolvable.

Thank you, Helen Phifer and NetGalley, for this ARC.

Rating: 4.5/5
Recommendation: Perfect for readers who love atmospheric mysteries with a hint of the supernatural and a touch of bookish charm.

Tropes:
* Dual timeline
* Memory retrieval
* Family secrets
* Fiction based in history
* Old school magic

This was a wonderful palate cleanser book for me, so unlike other books I’ve read. The descriptions and timeline changes provided a great plot and story! The Salem parts provided great background and I love all the history surrounding that period. I loved the aunts, who were perfectly quirky and what I want from a witch character! Especially with their use of magic being more old school through herbs, positions and stones.

I did wish there was a bit more about the bookstore itself & more about how Dora and Ambrose met. But it was a great magical fiction steeped in history.

3 ⭐️

Quotes:
* Life was supposed to be a wonderful thing, but sometimes life was not as good as you imagined.
* the power of three was the strongest magic of them all and it was about time that they reclaimed it.
* Even when a beloved pet passes, they are always with us in spirit.

I enjoyed this book so much. It combines witches, magic, and historical fiction. There is plenty of intrigue and fantastic world-building. It was a rollercoaster to see Dora's memories return. Helen Phifer has an amazing way with words. Her story ebbed and flowed beautifully.

At the end of the day, this is a book about women, their struggles, and everything in between. It was atmospheric, bewitching, and a joy to read. The entire time I read it, I could picture everything in my head like I was watching a movie. Phifer's writing was so descriptive and vivid.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the eARC! I look forward to reading more of Helen Phifer's work.