The Vanishing Bookstore is a new genre for myself and it did not disappoint. This story has a really good storyline that is enjoyable to follow. While I am not one typically drawn to the fantasy side of the book world, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

This book follows Dora, who is a witch but doesn't quite know it to start with. Her world is turned upside down when her aunt brings her to Salem to meet some family members as they are needing to find a long lost hidden book in a vanishing bookstore to save them from the Witch Hunter.

The characters were relatable and easy to connect with. More focus on the vanishing bookstore and the ending of the story would have made it a 5 star for me.

Helen Phifer is an amazing author and you will not go wrong with picking up The Vanishing Bookstore. I read it quickly!

Thank you to NetGalley, Helen Phifer and Bookouture for the eARC!

This is a great book about witches, past and present.
We follow Dora who lives in present day London and who runs her own flower shop. A man comes into the shop and whilst she is strangely drawn to him, her instincts tell her he is dangerous.
Dora lives with her aunt Lenny and when she takes home some flowers given to her by this man, Lenny knows it’s time to take Dora home to Salem.
Dora has no memory of her past lives but when she sees the house where her family live in Salem, small flickers of memories start to come to the surface.
Her Aunts explain about their past and the danger that they are all in from the man who came into Dora’s flower shop and Dora is initially overwhelmed, but then realises they need to fight him.
This is a gripping magical story that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.

I really liked the three main female characters and their love for one another, but other characters were thrown in and they really didn’t add anything to the story. The plot felt slow in some spots and rushed and out of sync in others. It was fine but not fantastic.

I love a Salem setting, so I was super interested in this book going in. I feel like this book gives the PERFECT fall/ cozy spooky season vibe. If you like cozy fantasy, I think you will enjoy this one. I like the different time jumps that this book had, and I didn't find it hard to follow.
Overall, I enjoyed this read and think I might pick it back up again in the fall.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Fantasy and supernatural books can be very hit or miss for me, but I was intrigued to read this as I have read, and loved, some of Helen Phifer's brilliant thrillers. I was completely immersed from the very start of this incredible story and safe to say this was absolutely a big hit!

From 1692 until the present day, a family of cursed Salem Witches live their lives on repeat, whilst being hunted down by the same evil, reincarnated form of the man who tried to harm them in 1692.

In the present day, Dora is the focus of the story, oblivious to her chequered history, the secrets her family hold and the real reason her mother gave her up. As Dora's family nurture her and guide her to recover her buried memories, the women are once again in danger as they strive to triumph against evil and break the curse that hangs over them all.

The writing was captivating and I loved the descriptions, the characterisation and the magical story.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Helen Phifer and Bookouture, for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I was so excited to be approved for this book, I love stories with dual or multiple timelines and was intrigued that this one involved the Salem witch trials and a hidden bookstore lost to time. While I did overall enjoy the story and characters, I felt that it was a little dragged out. Up until about the 60% mark, the story is just building to the climax. I found that I was having difficulty dedicating time to reading this book as it felt like it was taking forever to get to the point. That being said, I still enjoyed parts up until that point, I just feel that some details and scenes could have been omitted to shorten the story. Overall, I really loved the character development most in this story; reading about Dora coming into her powers was really beautiful and inspiring, as well as seeing the relationship between Dora, her aunts, her mother, and Ambrose unfold. I would recommend this book to those looking for a mix of historical fiction, reincarnation, and a touch of magic and badass witches.
Thank you for the advanced copy!

Really interesting read, duel timeline but easy to follow a little of the “ The Witches of Eastwick / Hocus Pocus but all in all I really enjoyed the book. Characters were really well written and it’s based around a girl who comes back to Salam on the pretext that her aunt has to take a work trip but is happy to go,home to Salam to see her family. Story about history, witches and revelations
My thanks as always to NetGalley for the early read and too corse to the publisher Bookouture for granting the early read.

Salem Massachutes is one of my favorite places to visit and reading a book set in Salem with a vanishing bookstore was just what I was looking for. I enjoyed the cast of characters, the sisters had such a strong bond throughout the years. This book definitely has cozy fantasy vibes, so if that is something you like then you will like this book. I thought the magic was just enough and I was kept interested throughout the book. I could visualize Dora traveling through Salem and seeing The Witch House because I had been there many times so that really added an immersive element to the story for me.

My only critique is there wasn’t much about the vanishing bookstore, I thought there would be more to that since it is the title of the book. Also, I thought some parts were a bit redundant (constantly talking about traveling back to London, staying in Boston etc..) and parts could have been edited out. I also thought the part where Lenore goes to the airport and sleeps with the bartender was very odd and didn’t seem to fit the story. I still enjoyed the book and would recommend it to cozy fantasy readers.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this! I raced through this to get to the satisfying conclusion. Lots of historical info meshed with the magical story. I particularly loved the sisters story and the over the centuries romance of. Dora and Ambrose. One of the best magic stories I have read.. Alice Hoffman obviously had an influence but the author made the story complex and all hers.

1692: On the outskirts of Salem, a bookstore stands covered in overgrown vines. Inside, a young woman hides a linen-wrapped journal under a loose floorboard and runs away, panicked by the sound of hounds barking in the distance. The bookstore vanishes into thin air…

Present day: Stepping inside a pale-pink house on one of the oldest streets in Salem, Dora can’t believe she’s about to finally meet the mother she thought died tragically when she was just a child. But the excitement is short-lived. Dora’s mother has fear in her eyes, and with a trembling voice she whispers: ‘my life is in danger, and now so is yours…’

Desperate not to lose her mother all over again, Dora digs into her family’s mysterious past, and stumbles upon a seemingly impossible secret: the key to their survival is hidden in a bookstore that no one has seen for generations. Losing herself amongst thorny brackens and twisted ferns, Dora eventually finds the path that leads to the bookstore. But someone is watching her. They’ve been waiting for her.

Lovely cozy read. I'll read anything about the Salem witch era and anything to do with bookstores or books, so this was right up my alley! It has just enough of the magical element while still seeming relatable to me. I definitely recommend this if you enjoy books about book, anything to do with Salem, or cozy reads in general. 4⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

A hidden bookstore, a family secret, and a touch of Salem’s magic make this an enchanting and suspenseful read. Dora’s journey to uncover her past is filled with twists and eerie moments that keep you hooked. While some parts feel familiar, the atmospheric writing and intriguing premise make it a worthwhile escape.

The writing style felt juvenile, inconsistent, and underdeveloped - as if the writer couldn't decide what to focus on. The characters degress (if you will) back to their earlier selves and some of these details seem to upset the fluidity of the story. I love the idea but did not love the execution. I found the characters to be likeable and relatable. Of course, I was rooting for Dora and Ambrose...of course, I was rooting for the sisters to break the curse! I would consider reading another book by this author in the future.

When you combine books, witches, and historical fiction, I'm all in. Such is the case with Helen Phifer's new book, The Vanishing Bookstore. Loved how the past connects to the present, and we're dealt mischievous men who want to hunt down the women who wouldn't fit in their boxes. Terrible POVs but the women win in the end... thus I enjoyed the story's conclusion. Much to applaud. Lots to get sentimental and worried about. And I enjoyed the various generations. Crazy how the past can come back to haunt you too.

Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy. I think the title is misleading as the vanishing bookstore hardly plays a part in the story, and it was the title and the cover that initially drew me to request this book. Additionally, I read a lot of books on witchcraft/witches, including the Salem witch trials, but this book, for me, did not live up to expectations and was quite lighthearted- often like a children’s book in places, with its rhyming spells. Decided to stop reading at 65%.

This book was very promising. It has a great cover and a great synopsis. However, I feel that it fell flat in some areas. The story felt rushed to me, kinda juvenile in places. I would have loved if the story actually was centered around a "vanishing bookstore." The book did mange to keep me hooked to the end. But it was to just see what happened. There was also a sample of all her other books at the end, which made me think that that was what she really wanted to promote. A lot of others loved this book and normally I would too.., but for the reasons above I just gave it 3 stars.

I received this ARC digital copy from NetGalley and Bookouture. Thank you.

Wonderfully written. A family of witches are hunted thru all their life times and killed before they’re 35 by a witch hunt that has a vendetta against them, but each time they start over their life they have to regain their memories.

I think the summary is a bit misleading considering the main plot of the book. I was under the impression that it was primarily going to be about the bookstore, or at least Dora’s journey to find the bookstore.

Other than that, it was an enjoyable and magical read. The switching between the different points of time made for a compelling story structure. Overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to those who are fans of the genre.

I loved this book. It was such a good story about witches, powers, and a witch hunter. It had all the feels and all the things I love in a good book. I laughed in places and cried in others. I rooted for the three witches to prevail. This author did a fantastic job of capturing my attention and keeping it until the very last word.

Dora lives with her aunt in London and owns a flower shop. She loves flowers and does good with this shop. When a stranger comes in and says he is looking for something for his deceased girlfriend little does Dora know that her life is about to change. And quickly.

Dora and Lenny leave London to go back to Salem, MA. Dora has no idea what she's in for when they get there. Or the secrets that will be revealed to her. Lenny, Sephy, and Lucine are sisters. All are witches who have lived many lifetimes. Over and over. Dora has lived many lifetimes also but does not remember it. These women have been cursed with living their lives over and over. Seeing each other die and grieving. It's time to put a stop to it.

Told from different timelines and filled with magic. A curse was cast on the women and on a couple of men. They live forever, over and over again. You can feel the tension and the laughter both. The love of this family of witches. The hate from the witch hunter. The love of one man for one woman. The power of setting things right. I loved reading this book. It was such a good one. Each character was lovable, except Corwin that is. When Dora realizes that one of her "aunts" is really her mother she has mixed emotions. Anger of course for being lied to. But also excitement for getting to see her mother again.

What was done to women back in the 1600s was horrible. Being accused of witchcraft and killed. If you crossed a man he could call you a witch and have you taken. Have you hanged. You get a feel for what happened to the English sisters. What the people in this town did to them.

I loved it. The dual timelines were perfect. The different points of view were great. This book was just the best. So enjoyable.

Thank you #NetGalley, #Bookouture, #bookoutureaudio, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Five stars.

The Vanishing Bookstore has a fascinating premise, blending historical intrigue, family secrets, and a touch of the supernatural. The opening in 1692 Salem is captivating, and the idea of a hidden bookstore filled with mysteries is intriguing. However, the story doesn’t fully deliver on its potential.

While the atmospheric descriptions, especially of the overgrown bookstore, are a highlight, the plot feels scattered and underdeveloped. The connection between the past and present timelines is unclear, and many questions are left unanswered.

Dora is a likable protagonist, but her emotions and motivations lack depth, and the supporting characters feel rushed and one-dimensional. The pacing drags in places, and some twists are too predictable to be satisfying.

Overall, while the book has its moments, it struggles to maintain suspense or provide a satisfying payoff. It’s a decent read for fans of Salem-based mysteries but falls short of being truly memorable.

I enjoyed this book! Wish I would've read it during October. It's a cool witchy book and I found I was deeply invested by the time the climax came. Very cool ending.

I do wish that the author had gotten into a lot more detail on some things. I have so many questions. I also wish the author had been more detailed. You read a book called "The Vanishing Bookstore" for the vibes so I would've liked a more detailed description of the bookstore, the witchy shop, the cottage, etc.

I also really would've loved more detailed flashbacks. Especially if it gave us a more visceral hatred towards the villain.

But overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys witchy books.