Beginning in 1692 when many were executed for being witches, The English women were among them. As The English women are being hung they are cursed by George Corwin to relive their lives over and over again. Skipping to present day, Isadora "Dora" English along with her Aunt Lenny travel home to Salem, Massachusetts. Once there, Dora learns the mother she thought was dead is alive, she has an Aunt Sephy and she is a witch who is cursed along with both of her aunts and mother. Additionally, they have all spent centuries fighting and failing to break the curse from George Corwin because the book needed to do so is lost and hidden in a bookshop that had vanished on the day Dora had stashed back in 1692. Now she has to find it or chance reliving another life all over again.

For a book that is supposed to be about a vanishing bookshop, there was very little about said bookshop. I guess I just expected to read more about this "magical" shop. I did enjoy the story, but it was closer to a 3.5 for me than a 4. The imagery was vivid enough and the story was easy to follow. It wasn't scary, but a little suspenseful. It did have a scene that was sexually "suggestable" but nothing revealing. It would be a good read for a teenager/young adult.

Thank you to NetGalley, Helen Phifer, and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book before its release on January 7, 2025.

For the women in Dora’s family, death is not permanent. They’ve lived many lives and suffered many deaths, the first of which in Salem accused and hung as witches. They just need the book of spells Dora hid on that fateful night. The only problem is, she can’t remember her past lives, and the bookstore she hid it in vanished to protect the book. With the help of her aunts, Dora must reignite the magic within herself and find the spell book before it’s too late.

I loved this story and the relationship between the family members. I also loved that the relationship between Dora and Ambrose wasn’t an instant connection thing until she fully remembered him. I never fully understood how the bookstore vanished? Was it magic itself? Did Dora’s Magic cause it to disappear or perhaps the book’s magic? I still enjoyed the book and its conclusion.

3.5⭐ This plot was so unique and I was definitely entertained. A nice cozy book with a bit of magic. There are two timelines here.
In the past, we're in Salem, MA (1692) where a woman is accused of being a witch. Her and her family are cursed to be hunted. She hides her journal in a bookstore that mysteriously vanishes after.

In the present timeline we have Dora who visits the US from London and meets her family that has been living their lives under this curse. She must figure out how to break the curse by finding this bookstore and revealing these memories and secrets of the past.

I definitely loved the atmospheric description of all the places and all the witchy vibes. I thought the writing felt a bit more YA than I was expecting but overall a very enjoyable read. The ending was a bit of a let down though. I wish there was more to the end.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

The Vanishing Bookstore has all the elements to be a really great read. It’s got witches with interesting powers, a reincarnation plot, dark and spooky vibes, a curse, and like the title, a mysterious vanishing bookstore. For the most part, I did like this book. It starts off really interesting, taking us back to the Salem Witch Trials in the 1600s. I also enjoyed Dora’s POV and her powers - the way they were written felt very interesting. But maybe because I am not used to the writing style of this book, it felt a little too slow for me. The book was pretty good, and as I mentioned, the plot is very interesting too. However it felt dragged down by the writing style it felt - it felt clunky at parts, and I personally felt like it was hard to get a grasp on a character’s emotional state. It felt a little more ‘felt’ rather than ‘show’. I could have enjoyed this read but it just felt far too slow for me.

Although, I will say, if you’re a fan of witches and what happened during the Salem Witch Trials, then you should give this one a try. The historical elements are done pretty well!

A present-day woman’s reunion with her long-lost mother is cut short by a chilling warning. To save her mother, she must uncover a family secret hidden within a centuries-old, seemingly vanished bookstore, a quest that puts her life in grave danger. This is a suspenseful novel with magical elements.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The Vanishing Bookstore
by Helen Phifer
Pub Date: Jan 07 2025

"The Vanishing Bookstore" is a great fantasy! It's told in dual timelines. It has a great plot, an extraordinary storyline. The story starts in 1690 following Salem's proclaimed witches up until the current time. A fabulous tale that includes a lot of mystery. I highly recommend this book.

Synopsis: 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 ‘my life is in danger, and now so is yours…’

Many thanks to #TheVanishingBookstore #NetGalley and #Bookouture for providing me with an E-ARC of this 5 star read!

The English sisters were cursed during the Salem Witch Trials and continue to be reborn in a loop that always ends with their deaths. I thought the characters were likable, and that this “loop” was a distinct alteration from how they had attempted to solve their problem, previously. It was an interesting story and new take on Salem and witches. The sisters were very sweet! I like the idea of the vanishing library, but it played a minimal role in the story. Perhaps working it in a little more would have made the story more exciting.

I liked the idea of this book but the execution fell short for me.

I don’t know if it’s because I switched to audio half way through but the first half really dragged setting up the conflict while the second half, the actual conflict, flew by.
The aunts did an absolutely atrocious job explaining their history to Dora which is completely confounding because their lives quite literally depend on it. It’s also baffling to me why they chose for Lenny to move with Dora to London when they could’ve skipped all of the dead parents trauma by simply letting her very alive mother do that instead. What was the purpose?

I also want to take a second to say that Dora got over the actual death of her mom VERY quickly and the rest of the book unfolded in a flash too. It was like once we got to the conflict, the author was just checking off boxes. Mom died, check. Fall in love, check. Find book, check. Defeat villain, check.

This is obviously minor but the author referenced Hocus Pocus a bunch of times which felt heavy handed considering there are dozens of witch movies out there to choose from. Some of them are even set in Salem. Just saying.

What a magical story! From the very first sentences, I had this gut feeling: This is going to be something special. The writing created a beautiful atmosphere, built tension right away—and it didn’t disappoint.

Dora, the protagonist, immediately won me over. She’s authentic and lovable, like almost all the characters in this story. The bond between her and the English sisters warmed my heart—so much love, hope, and resilience in the face of an ancient, dark curse.

The different timelines in which the story unfolds are masterfully done. Each has its own charm and remains compelling, whether it’s Salem in 1692, present-day London, or Salem now. The fates of the sisters, having already lived eight lives, are touching and make you root for them to finally break the curse.

And yes, I constantly felt Practical Magic vibes—and I loved it! Hades, the raven as a pet? Brilliant! The love story? Beautiful and heartfelt. Salem as the setting? Perfect! I would love to go there one day.

This story is an ode to magical tales, slightly dark but full of hope and love. It made me laugh, hope, rage, and smile. An absolute recommendation—and for me, it’s an easy 5 stars.


I will provide the social media links once they are published.

I was given The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer in exchange for my honest review from Bookouture and NetGalley.

We follow a cursed family through generations in Salem. The book has a cozy feeling while centering on witches and family.

I enjoyed the book and found it an entertaining read.

This is the Salem witch trials with a twist. I found the story to be all over the place throughout the book, and the pacing felt the same. At parts it felt like it was overly descriptive where it wasn't necessary, and then not as descriptive in places where it should have been. It felt odd having sex scenes thrown in, they felt like they were only put there to appease the spice-loving crowd even though they weren't overly spicy at all. Overall the story felt like it was written for YA not adult.

For the characters, Dora I didn't like at all. We're meant to believe she's 33 but she carries on like she's barely 18, and the way she is treated by Lenora and Seraphina almost shadows this. The monologue from Lucine felt very shallow and more like an excuse for the character to get some "show time" rather than an integral part of the plot. The character's emotions feel either over the top or very shallow. There could have been more of Mabel and Katie's characters, they felt like they were just put there to further the plot and didn't feel like "real characters"

The premise of the England sisters being witches from the Salem witch trials cursed to live their lives over and over again is definitely interesting, its not something I've read before. I feel like the vanishing bookstore is a misleading title, while central to the theme of the story it isn't exactly what the story is about so I expected a very different story to the one that I read. I really enjoyed Hades the crow, that was the one redeeming feature of this story.

The prologue opens in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 during the period of the infamous witch trials. Isadora is running from the witch hunters with Ambrose. She leaves a book under a floorboard in a bookstore hidden in the woods and continues to run. In the present Dora owns a small flower shop in London and lives with her aunt Leonora ‘Lenny’ English in her luxurious home. But when a strange man seems to keep appearing her Aunt persuades Dora to go with her to see family living in Salem. Although written in dual timeline it’s mainly set in the present and in dual locations.

Briefly, arriving in Salem Dora is shocked to find that the mother she thought died when she was a child is still alive although seriously ill. But there are much bigger secrets she is about to learn. The English women are witches and they have lived many lives all of which have ended in the same way but now it is time to change their future history.

This was a very easy atmospheric read, I felt like it was possibly aimed at a YA audience. Clearly well researched (I’ve been to Salem and recognised a lot of it) and I did enjoy the historical elements of the story. I thought the English women were great characters but I loved Ambrose - a man who cared unconditionally, who forsook his family for the woman he loved, a man who never gave up. An entertaining and enjoyable read.

The Vanishing Bookstore is told in past and present. The past has us learning more about the witch trials of Salem. The present gives us a modern take on witches.
Suspense
Witches
Duel timeline
Secrets
I thought there would be more going on around the bookstore aspect. It is there, though not as much as I thought it would be from the title.
Perfect reading for fans of a story with a magical witchy theme and the Salem witch trials.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I picked up 'The Vanishing Bookstore' because of its stunning cover and the promise of magic, family secrets, and time-hopping adventure. While the book has its charms, it left me wanting more than what was delivered.

I liked:
🧙‍♀️ Dora’s Aunts, They are endearing and their care for Dora brings warmth to the story
⏳ Dual Timelines: The shifts in time from Salem, 1692, to present-day London and Salem add intrigue
🍂 Cozy Atmosphere: With witches, hidden libraries, and a centuries-old curse, this book is a lovely choice for readers seeking a low-stakes fantasy read

I didn't like:
✨ Missing Magic: The magical elements felt underexplored for a story about witches and curses. I craved a deeper focus on the titular vanishing bookstore, which doesn’t appear until 62% and plays a surprisingly small role
🖤 Emotional Disconnect: While the premise is intriguing, I struggled to feel invested in the stakes of the curse and how the characters were going to overcome it
🕰️ Pacing: The first 20% was engaging, but by the halfway mark, the plot slowed considerably and I didn’t enjoy the chronological narrative (“I did this, then I did that”)...

If you enjoy lighthearted YA with strong family bonds, a sprinkle of magic, and a cozy read, 'The Vanishing Bookstore' might be for you!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Helen Phifer for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 Stars

The Vanishing Bookstore was an enjoyable read. The English women are witches who have been cursed to relive lifetimes along with the witch hunter who is after them.
We begin the story in present-day England, she owns a flower shop and lives with her Aunt. After something happens the Aunt decides its time to take Dora home to Salem, and let her in on the family secrets which involve her meeting the mother she never knew.

Dora is kind of thrown into this new world full of magic and witch hunters, and living more than one lifetime. She is introduced to her family which includes a Raven named Hades who has been her companion throughout her life, and Ambrose who was the man she has been in love with over and over again.
It is Dora's job to find this mysterious hidden bookstore, and uncover something that was lost the first time around that will help them stop the curse.

While I did the bookstore aspect, I did think going in that the bookstore was going to feature more heavily in the story. I did like Dora quite a bit, but had a hard time connecting to the story or any of the other characters we met along the way. It seemed like at every turn there wasn't actually that much mystery, every time we needed to know something it was immediately revealed which lessened any buildup or suspense.
I do think the premise is enjoyable, and if this ends up being a series, the end suggests there is a chance we could get more, I would check it out to see where the series goes.

Such a great book, I had such a great time with this read. Cozy spin on the Salem Witch Trials, well developed and well paced character introduction. This book has everything a cozy fantasy reader is seeking. A big congratulations to the author.

**Review on Fable - chrissyskindle

Thank you to the author and the publisher for allowing me to read this title in advance.

What a lovely find this was!
Firstly, let’s just stop and appreciate the cover! When faced with so many books you totally would judge this one by its cover and take it home with you. Luckily the beauty of this book doesn’t stop there, the first page will captivate you and you will be pulled in by the magic right until the very last page.
I’ve read a few other books around this genre, and must admit I’ve found the history side of it a bit boring and heavy but not in this one! The history is so integral to the story and it moves seamlessly between the past and present.
The character development is great and the story releases its secrets throughout, which keeps you engaged and captivated.
It’s written in such a way that you can really visualise everything and you feel that you are there within the story.
I don’t want to give anything away, I just want to say buy it!
This is the first book I’ve read from this author but I have already been seeking out more.

This book is set in the 1600s and current time, going back and forth between the two which I really enjoyed.

The idea of a hidden, disappearing bookstore that holds secrets and mysteries is captivating, I expected the bookstore to feature more in the book than it did, although it also makes sense that it didn’t based on the fact it’s the vanishing bookstore. The book focuses more on the witch family who are cursed to keep reliving their lives for hundreds of years who need to find a spell book within the vanishing book store.

I liked the main characters who could be the typical witch but with their own quirky ways,

The pacing throughout the book is fantastic—until the ending. While the conclusion ties up the key plot points, it feels a bit rushed and over too quickly, leaving me wishing for just a little more depth and reflection in those final moments. It doesn’t ruin the experience, but I had been expecting more of a battle.

Overall, The Vanishing Bookstore is a great book involving witches with twists. With a slightly more developed ending, it would have been perfect

Dora English is a flower seller in England totally unaware that she has links to powerful witches who were killed in Salem in the 1600's. However her history is about to come crashing into her when she takes a trip to Salem to meet a relative.
The English sisters have been fighting their curse since 1692 when just before they were hung a mysterious book was placed in a bookstore which then proceeded to vanish. With each 'generation' they have tried to rediscover the missing book but so far to no avail.

I really quite enjoyed this book. The switching between timelines was handled well and the characters were well crafted. What did surprise me was that the bookstore though integral to the tale did not feature much in the story. Also the ending seemed more rushed than the rest of the ebook and I was rather blown by the epilogue. Is that an English woman, a descendant or relative? Who knows, maybe it will be a further story.

I really enjoyed this light hearted read. The storyline was intriguing and engaged me to the very end.

I thought the MFC growth throughout the book was well written.