I requested this book from NetGalley for two main reasons the first because it had bookshop in the title so has to be good and the second and main reason because it’s by one of my favourite authors Helen Phifer who as far as I’m concerned writes amazing books that I always love.
I have a bit of a love / hate relationship with fantasy books so it’s always risky but not in this case it’s an absolutely wonderful book and I am desperately hoping that we may have more about The Vanishing Bookstore in the future.
The story is told in two timelines past and present and flowed wonderfully well, I loved all the characters and also the main setting of the story, Salem and it’s now a place I would love to visit as it was so well described.
I read the book in two days and mainly because I couldn’t put it down as I was enjoying it so much but was also desperate to know how it was all going to end!
There was not one thing I didn’t like about this book it had everything a fabulous book should have and it’s one I would highly recommend it’s a brilliant 5 star read.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely loved this story. Magical, beautiful, awesome characters, a 'battle' between good and evil to break a centuries-old curse and the vanished bookstore that holds the key to success. The dual timelines between the Salem witch trials in 1692 and the present day worked so well together, giving insight into the events of the present. The ending (not a cliffhanger!) left me wondering if there'll be another book to follow - I hope so. Brilliant read!
Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Helen Phifer for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Helen Phifer for providing me with an ARC of he Vanishing Bookstore in exchange for my honest review.

The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer is a fantasy novel interwoven with historical elements centered around the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. The story follows Dora English and her enigmatic witchy aunts as Dora embarks on a quest to locate the titular vanishing bookstore, hoping to break a curse that has plagued her family.

One of the standout aspects of this book is its dual timeline structure. The chapters seamlessly alternate between the past and the present, and these flashbacks are crafted with care, adding significant depth and richness to the narrative. It’s evident that Helen Phifer conducted thorough research on the Salem Witch Trials, as the historical details are skillfully integrated into the story.

Initially, I was thrilled to dive into The Vanishing Bookstore. As a fan of fantasy and witchcraft-themed tales, the premise held great promise. The book starts on a strong note, building intrigue and atmosphere. However, it falters midway through and struggles to regain its footing. By the halfway point, the narrative loses momentum, and I found myself persevering more out of determination than enjoyment.

One of the major challenges I encountered was with Dora’s characterisation. At 33 years old, she feels oddly misaligned with the story’s tone, which often reads more like a young adult or coming-of-age novel. Dora’s behavior and dialogue lean toward being overly simplistic and childlike, making her difficult to connect with as a protagonist.

The journey to uncover the vanishing bookstore—a central plot point—feels rushed and underdeveloped, with key moments (such as a sudden sex scene) lacking buildup or emotional resonance. Similarly, the dialogue between characters often feels flat and fails to elevate the stakes or deepen relationships. This lack of depth left me largely indifferent to the characters and their ultimate fates.

That said, there are elements of The Vanishing Bookstore that I enjoyed. The nods to witchy pop culture, such as Hocus Pocus and the Practical Magic kitchen scene with cocktails, are delightful Easter eggs for fans of the genre. These moments provide a spark of charm and nostalgia that briefly rekindles the book’s appeal.

Overall, The Vanishing Bookstore has an intriguing concept and flashes of potential, particularly in its historical components and creative premise. However, it falls short of delivering a fully satisfying story. With more character development and a stronger narrative arc in the latter half, this could have been a captivating read.

The vanishing bookstore by Helen Phifer is such a magical, spellbinding, immersive story that so well written for me that it pulled right into the story right there with the main character. Dora is such an amazing character, I love her and what she stands for. Just her first interaction with the guy in the beginning of the story was hilarious, seeing how she love the body spray he was wearing. Hahaha . Honestly if the guy smells good I would be remembering him too. I would highly recommend this for anyone that loves getting lost in world filled with wonder and laughing with a pinch of magic.

Oh wow, this book was fantastic. It had witches, mystery dual timeline. It really intrigued me and I just couldn't put it down. Highly recommend this one. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Oh that was just a wonderful, magical adventure.
I laughed and cried along the way.
Dora, Lenny, Sephy, Lucine and Ambrose are such well defined characters that I couldn't help but fall in love with them.
This was my first book by Helen Phifer but it certainly won't be the last.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

I love the way the book goes from the past and the present, it was well told and done creatively. It's a must read!

I absolutely loved this book!!! I haven’t read a book of this author before, but J will definitely be reading more, this one had everything for an easy, enjoyable read. A witchy story. Talking familiar pets. And a whole lot more. The plot is excellent and so is the magic system, I loved the characters, the good and the bad. This book was great at creating tension, had an intriguing title, cover, and description, I am so glad I got the opportunity of reading this book! One of my new favourites

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy!

This moves back and forth in time between 1692 Salem, Mass and London in the present as Dora searches for the truth about her family. There's a mysterious bookstore that disappeared, persecution of women believed to be witches, and a bit of a love story over the ages. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. An enjoyable read.

I absolutely adored this book!! Helen Phifer has proved she can turn her author's mind to anything. I was a big fan of Helen's books before but this one had everything for a lovely, easy, enjoyable read. A spooky, witchy story. Talking animal familiars. Salem, who doesn't love Salem? A smelly bad guy and a - not too icky - romance that lasts centuries. I really hope we hear lots more about the English sisters as I love them to bits already. A well earned 5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own

I enjoyed this magical story of witches from Salem and the witch hunter trapped for all times in a loop of hunting and being hunted. Predictable but well done, I found it well paced and interesting for the most part.

I enjoyed this book. The plot is excellent as is the magic system. I loved the characters, the good and the bad. I also found that the book was great at creating tension. My only quibble is that I found the book way too sentimental which ended up interfering with the pacing. Nonetheless, I loved the book. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advance reader copy.

I have only recently discovered Helen’s books but she has quickly become one of my favourite authors! I absolutely love the way she writes, you can visualise exactly what she’s writing and you become totally hooked within the first few pages!
This book was just as brilliant! A duel timeline which I loved, part of which is set during the Salem witch trials! Another masterpiece that I highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my ARC

The Vanishing Bookstore had an intriguing title, cover, and description, so I was excited to read it.

The book started out interesting, as it opens with a scene in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692.
The description of the cabin we find ourselves in is so well written one can feel the cozy fire and smell the drying herbs. We are vaguely introduced to a young women, with mention of her 2 aunts and mother.
With a pounding on the door, the young woman is fleeing for her life with an old book that she needs to hide.
Her friend, Ambrose, is helping her escape a sure death as a result of being identified as a "witch" along with her aunts and mother.
She hides the book under the floor boards of Ambrose' bookstore, and they run.

The next chapter opens in London, present day.

The rest of the book toggles back and forth between present day in England and Salem during the times of the Salem witch hunts and present day.

The book held my attention. For a little while.

At some point, the dialogue lost me. It began to seem very shallow and simple. Not really adding much to the story.
At this point, I found it hard to relate to any of the characters and lost interest in the book in general.

While I did finish the book, it was a challenge.

There is some "witchcraft" in the book, but not as much as one would expect, given the title and description.
Also, there really wasn't much about the actual "Vanishing Bookstore".
Others may enjoy the story, I just had trouble staying connected with it.

I have it 3 stars because it started out strong.
I loved the premise of the story.
It just fell flat for me about 1/2 way through.

Set in two time;ines, one present day and one during the Salem witch trials this is a book that was a divine read.

Dora is researching her family history and what she discovers is something I did not expect.

Every character in this book is just fabulous, They all seem to have a magical quality and I loved getting to know them.

This book is a wow wow wow read and I could not guess the outcome but it is absolutely beautifully written and the author is an amazing storyteller...

What a fantastic magical read. This book hooked me right away. I loved learning about the English sisters and both timelines. 1692 and present. I loved all the magical aspects. I learned more about the Salem Witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts. This book is wonderful and I highly recommend it.

Spellbinding heartstopping page turner and unputdownable.
Oh my i loved reading.
The key to survival is hidden in a bookstore that no one has seen for generations.
1692 to the present day.
Dora English and her tiny flower shop Sugared almond pink shop in London, with her business and her life she always felt a little lost.
Till George Corwin appears she knows him from somewhere.
Her aunt Lenny talks her into taking a holiday with her to Salem town in the states, so leaving her shop in her best friends capable hands she is then introduced to her aunt Sephy and finds her special powers.
You can't have your happy ending till you find the bookstore.
A dynamic book full of witchcraft,healers, magic, and with the language of flowers, Dora has a beautiful gift to do good in the world.
I just loved this book, it has everything.
Enchanting story that is just too good to ever put down.
The vanishing bookstore has been left open, for another story to be told.
Readers will love it.

Wow this is Helen Phifer at her spooky best! Really enjoyed this book I smashed it in one sitting. It was written as two timelines, historical and current times, this made it an extremely interesting and enjoyable read. I highly recommend this book it was a really brilliant and entertaining book.

Dora is on a search to uncover the truth about her family’s past. From the 17th century to modern day, Salem, Massachusetts, she’s in a race against time to find a missing key supposedly left in a bookstore that mysteriously seems to have vanished. This book is a lot of fun to read. A great way to take your mind off all the crazy political shenanigans, going on this November

The Vanishing Bookstore by new to me author H. Phifer, published by Bookouture is a breathtaking fantasy romance that gives all the feels, is literally unputdownable. A cover to cover iin one sitting read.
The story tells Dora and her family's story, jumps centuries. Starting out in 1692 in Salem to todays modern world where Dora is looking into her family's history and leading her to an abandoned bookstore.
A bookstore that carries not only books but secrets she can't even imagine too. But danger lauers around the corner.
A story that had me in suspense from start till the very last page. A fantastic 5 stars read.