Mixture of:
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue
Outlander
A Touch of Darkness


Synopsis
A generation of time travelers (using the bookstore) seeks to figure out why the time traveling has been happening. Dora also is struggling with finding out who she is and who she is in the world around her.. Dora is also trying to survive the danger of what time traveling entails.

Thoughts
I really loved this book and I didn't expect to love it this much. It's bought back memories of when I was reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and A Touch of Darkness. Both of which are some of my favourite books. It also reminds me a little of Outlander from the way the adventures are carried out. The writing in this book was really good, it kept me hooked on what was going to happen next. There aren't many mistakes for the author to correct.

Audience
This book can be read from a teenagers' perspective as well as adult. It generally leans more into young adult - new adult section. It's also a really interesting book for fantasy and time travelling fans. I enjoyed it. Thank you to the publisher and author for sending me this novel.

This was a fun read, with dual timelines alternating between 1692 Salem and the present day. We’re introduced to the English sisters, as they navigate their lives and attempt to unravel a family curse. I feel the title and blurb do this book a disservice as I was expecting a very different focus for the story, and was looking forward to spending a lot more time in a magical bookstore. While the ‘bookshop’ plays a part, this story is very much a family tale of strength and struggle – with light magical elements. The alternate historical chapters were handled well, though Dora’s character read a lot younger than her 30 years and my interest dipped a bit in the second half. I enjoyed Hades the crow and think this would find a solid reader base if marketed for seasonal readers looking for a cosy witchy read in October.
Thank you to Netgalley and Publishers for the advance reader copy. Review to also be promoted to FishbirdCentral.com closer to publication date early January 2025.

I've never really been into the historical fantasy genre, but this book was amazing and I loved the mystical feeling to it. The idea of a vanishing hidden bookstore that has been protected for hundreds of years creates a magical sense to the already magical story. Isadora is such a unique character but I wish she was more talked about as she didn't have her memories in the currently cycle and they never got into why she didn't. Isadora and Ambrose are literally true lovers and star-crossed lovers; I loved the idea of Isadora discovering her past lives all over again. This book really made me see how amazing this genre could be and I'm definitely going to be reading more like this.

Magically, spellbinding page-turner.
Helen Phifer did it again. This book was mesmerizing. I fell absolutely in love with Dora and the English sisters. The story was captivating and pulled me in from page one. I’ve always wanted to visit Salem, but even more so now that I read this beautiful story. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC and thank you to Helen Phifer for writing another amazing book!

Thank you to #NetGalley for another ARC read and the opportunity to join the English sisters on their quest to end George Corwin’s curse. I want to begin by stating I was thoroughly engaged in this book from the beginning and love anything related to witches and Salem history. I loved the beginning of the story, and continued to not be able to put the book down until Dora and Lenny traveled to Salem. Once they arrived I felt like the book was a bit rushed and kind of lost some of my interest unfortunately. I did like the journey Dora went through to remember her past, and did like the parts where Dora was reunited with Ambrose, Hades, and her mother. I also liked that they knew time was ticking for them to find the lost book, but I really felt like the events leading up to the end were rushed and I couldn’t really enjoy the small victories before they were moving into another feat. Also, I really wanted to be excited about the ending and missed an epilogue with Dora and Ambrose finding their happy ending or having children of their own. Overall, I liked the book but wished the second half of the book was better developed like the first half.

Thank you NetGalley, Helen Phifer and Bookouture for an Arc of this book. The following opinion is my own subjective one:

The premise of the book was promising: witches, magic, an evil nemesis, a mysterious bookstore. Set in Salem? Count me in!
However, while the general plot was alright and enjoyable enough (especially the description of Salem), I did not connect with any element in the book except Hades maybe.

The tone of the book felt more like a work of young adult literature, which is nothing bad at all just not my cup of tea. Some of the dialogue was rather clumsy. In many sections I am quite sure that no human being would actually speak like this. Furthermore, the originality was missing for me - the book reads like a reversed version of Hocus Pocus with some rather stereotypical witchy elements. While I love Hocus Pocus I need more from a story that is not connected to the movie. Never once during the read did I feel like I didn’t know what was going to happen. In fact, I expected a bit more as I found the ending and climax rather disappointing.

The reactions seem bit off too. Why is everyone so strict with Dora after she literally just discovered the whole witch extravaganza? Also, whenever anyone assumes something the other person almost always immediately admits it. This seems so unnatural as there is a variety of reasons why one wouldn’t share everything with others. What also confused me a bit is why Dora in all of her previous lifetimes never managed to find the bookshop. And(!) why did Ambrose really need her to simply locate it? Overall, this book just didn’t hit the mark for me.

Also, a bit more info on Katie and Mable would’ve been nice!

’m always in the mood for a good fantasy read, and this book delivers a fascinating premise! The dual timeline adds such depth to the storyline, plot, and characters, making it both interesting and unique.

I found myself fully engaged throughout, and I appreciated how easy it was to put down and pick back up—perfect for our busy lives! The author’s vivid writing truly brings this atmospheric story to life.

While I was hoping for a touch more magic and a bit more focus on the vanishing bookstore, I still found it to be a very good read. It just fell short of a five-star rating for me.

A big thank you to Bookouture for providing me with this ARC! It’s set to publish on January 07, 2025, and I highly recommend adding it to your TBR and preordering if you can!

As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤

The Vanishing Bookstore unfortunately did not meet my expectations. The bookstore did not feature enough in the story, even though it was an interesting part of the story and very original. The overall storyline was different, but I felt that the writing let it down. There was too much dialogue and the prose came across a little amateur. Beautiful cover and some interesting ideas, but the execution fell a little short for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this Arc! (Spoiler free review)

"One moment there is just you and Lenny against the world, then she brings you here to introduce you to a whole new one with a talking pet crow, a curse on all of our lives and a failing mother you knew nothing about."

This beautiful story follows Dora. A simple florist who lives with her aunt Lenny in the city of London after her parents presumably die in a tragic accident... or so she thought.
Going on a simple holiday with her aunt to Salem, she is to find out that it isn't really a holiday after all, but a battle that should end once and for all.
She discovers big secrets, and behind those secrets, a curse and a hunter are ready to ruin the family she just found out about. And the key to freeing herself and her family lies in a book hidden in a bookstore no one has seen in years.

DORA
She kinda reminds me of myself if I'm honest. Sometimes brave, sometimes scared and anxious but cares about her loved ones more than herself even. And her going from confused and bewildered about her family's magic, to being in love with it was fitting to the story.

LENNY, SEPHY & LUCINE
They gave off the powerpuff girls vibes but darker and more witchy?
Sephy being a witchy bubbles, Lenny as a witchy buttercup, and Lucine as witchy blossom (Regarding personalities more than looks).
The bond these three sisters have was beautiful and sometimes I felt like they were the main characters of the story more than Dora herself.

AMBROSE
I feel like even tho he was hinted at as the one to always help Dora out, she didn't really need that much of his help at the end so I had more expectations from him in a way and I was kinda let down, but I liked his character nonetheless.

Honorable mention:
HADES
Going into this book, I didn't expect to love a pet crow this much but oh well. I love crows, so seeing a pet crow have that much personality was quite a treat for me.

Overall,
This book was magical and I liked it quite a lot. The last ten chapters felt a bit rushed in my opinion, as if the author that wrote them isn't the same author who wrote the rest of the book. Regardless, the pacing of the book was mostly perfect, not too slow where it gets boring or too fast where you can't keep up with it)
And the changing setting and shifting between each timeline was something I enjoyed a lot.
4/5⭐ can't wait to see what else Helen Phifer has to offer!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC of The Vanishing Bookstore in exchange for an honest review.

After finishing this one, I had to sit with it for a minute before I could properly get my thoughts together because my emotions are certainly mixed. On the surface, I love everything about the premise of this book. Three sister witches whose timelines’ span several centuries, a curse to unite them, a villain you can properly hate, a thrilling mystery that revolves around a missing spell book, and just a hint of a love story. If you are a lover of Practical Magic, Hocus Pocus, or Weyward, then this one will be right up your alley and you will want to add to your TBR.

Throughout the book, Helen’s storytelling and ability to describe a physical location makes you feel as if you’re right there looking at what you’re reading. The descriptions effortlessly jump off the page, especially when describing Salem in 1692. That being said, there are points in the book when the descriptions can almost take over the storyline and you just want to keep things moving forward.

My biggest hold up with The Vanishing Bookstore is two fold. The first sticking point for me was that I felt the origin story of how the English sister’s magic came to be was a bit convoluted and lacking. The reader really has to suspend their disbelief and just go with certain points, even though the story isn’t always clear. This may also be because the story also is not linear, jumping back through time at several points.

My second speed bump came with the ending, which is why I wanted to gather my thoughts before writing my review. I felt that after all the build up, the ending was very abrupt. There was no wrap up to the story of the English sisters. Did they succeed in breaking the curse? Is this officially their last lifetime? What happens with Dora and Ambrose? Do they have baby witches? And what in the world is the epilogue hinting at? Will there be a part 2? I’m so confused…I feel like 99.9% of the book was right on par with my expectations and then the last 15-20 pages careened everything right off a cliff into the land of unfulfilled confusion. If I could even get a do over on just the epilogue, I’d be beyond happy. If Helen’s intention is to write a sequel, can someone please let me know because that ending has me so confused.

Ending aside, I loved everything else about this book. I wish I had read it this fall because it was an 11/10 for quintessential witchy fall vibes. After stewing in my thoughts for a while, I do secretly wish that this book would be adapted to film because I feel that it would translate perfectly (with a new and improved ending). A girl can dream right? The release date is right around the corner for this one so make sure to check it out Jan 7th!

I have chosen to DNF this at 66%, and therefore will refrain from providing a star rating or a detailed review on Goodreads and Storygraph.

The premise of this book is fantastic, the idea that Salem witches have been cursed to live their lives over and over, with a witch hunter cursed to the same fate - hunting them in each lifetime.

Unfortunately, the premise is where my enjoyment of the book peaked. I found the writing to be quite chronological (I did this, then I did this, then I said this and they said that), and it was missing the glue that holds it all together - the heart, the emotion, the personal connections between the characters but also between the reader and the characters. I had quite a few plot questions - why did this person curse them? And why only these individuals? And why repeat lifetimes, but not just be immortal? What happens when a new lifetime starts, do they all just pop back into being? And how old are they, are they all born and need to find each other? All of this is left unexplained (at least, up to the 66% mark) and left me not feeling an investment in this current lifetime and the character struggles as a whole.

The primary driver for my decision to DNF was that at 66%, I still didn't know what the goal of the plot was. There wasn't much of a plot arc, it was a straight line so I wasn't feeling any of the build-up and anticipation. But also, I still didn't know what their goals were. Were they planning to kill Corbin? If they killed Corbin, would they have more lifetimes or would the curse continue? Or perhaps their goal was to end the curse entirely? I just wasn't sure where we were going and I didn't have the personal connection to the characters and their stories to have much of a desire to find out.

As a romance reader, the romance plot is always one that I gravitate towards. Being told that Dora and Ambrose were a love for the ages, I just didn't see it. The reader is told about their history in 1692, and told that they feel drawn to each other, but we are not actually shown or given enough time together to see it for ourselves.

I do believe that many folks will find this story highly enjoyable. If you prefer your writing to be on the less flowery end of the spectrum, if you prefer to be dropped into the stories immediately and learning the world as you go, you may enjoy this immensely.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced digital reader copy. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoy witchy and mystical reads, and this book was no exception. The storyline was interesting and kept me captivated from start to finish. I particularly appreciated the use of dual timelines, which was executed so well. It added depth and suspense, allowing me to see how the past influenced the present in fascinating ways. Dora, the main character, was wonderfully developed. I loved how she discovered her heritage and embraced her identity as a witch, going through challenges that made her grow stronger and more confident. The other witches in the story were also very likable, each bringing their unique personalities and strengths to the story Each character’s story intertwined, creating a rich and engaging tapestry of relationships and experiences that really resonated with me. I can’t wait to read more in this genre!

DNF :( I really struggled to get into this book and I feel the blurb was rather misleading. I should have expected witches but I didn’t and I just really didn’t enjoy what I read. All I can really say is that what I did read was odd and I couldn’t really get into it.

Helen Phifer has crafted a magical and spellbinding tale about a family of women accused of being witches during the Salem Witch Trials. These women have been cursed to live their lives repeatedly while being hunted by the same diabolical man. Phifer enchanted me with Salem, witches, mystery, a hidden bookstore, and a quest for survival!

Salem, 1692

A young woman accused of being a witch hides a journal in a vine covered bookstore and runs. The bookstore mysterious vanishes and is never seen again.

Present Day

Dora (Isadora) meets the mother she thought was dead. With that meeting she also meets her aunts and learns of the curse that has been on their family since 1692. The family of women have been cursed to be hunted over time and through various lives by George Corwin who originally sought their downfall in in 1692.

This book touches on family, family secrets, memory, witches, history, survival, relationships, and being alive. As Dora learns more and begins to remember, the situation becomes more dire as the women once again try to break the curse.

I enjoyed the writing, the vivid descriptions, the dual timelines, the plot, the awakening of memories, the quest to break a curse, the search for a missing bookstore, and the drive to survive. I would put this book in the lighter witch book. Although it deals with the persecution of those accused of being witches, the book is on the lighter side. There is nothing scary or horrific in the book.

Atmospheric, captivating, and magical!

I had the chance to ARC read this beauty of a story. This is not my first book by Helen Phifer, but it is the first one that isn't a thriller.

The story is so good, throughout the story you'll learn about the witch trails and how this little group of witches was affected by it. How they got cursed to be hunted, die and be reborn again. After all the lifetimes they've had, will they finally be able to break the curse? To do so, Dora just needs to remember.. She needs to find the book that she hid hundreds of years ago, but how will she do that with no recollection?

This book was such a lovely and cosy read

I really enjoy witchy and and other mystical reads and I loved this! Helen is one of my favourite authors to read so I was so happy when I got this. The story line was so interesting and really kept me captivated. I've never really read anything like this before. I really love books that do dual timelines and this one was done so well. Dora English is a well written character and I loved her development throughout the book and the way in which she found her heritage. The other witches were so likeable and I loved their relationship. I hope that they'll be another installment of this book because it would be great to have a follow up.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5 stars rating rounded to four!

The Vanishing Bookstore is a whimsical tale set in dual timelines and multiple POVS.

This story starts in 1692 with the witches of the Salem Witch Trial and the puritans set out to destroy them. It features a love story across the year, and a curse where the witches are forced to be reborn and live out the same horrible fate.

The story focuses in present day London with Dora our main character, Lenny, Sepphy, and Ambrose our love interest. Dora and her aunt take a magical trip to Salem. I enjoyed this book, but found myself a bit less enthused halfway through. For me, I really loved the plot. I thought it was so extremely interesting, but during the middle I was a bit bored. The love story and love interest also fell a bit flat for me. However, I loved the familial relations and enjoyed the concept of modern day witches in Salem. The ending seemed rushed, and I had to read it a few times due to the abrupt ending! Overall, it was an enjoyable read, and one of my more unique reads of the year.

Read this if you’re looking for
✨ dual timelines
✨modern witches
✨ a fated curse
✨timeless love
✨ Salem
✨family
✨cozy witches that do magic , but not really

Thank you to NetGalley, Helen Phifer, and Bookouture for this ARC copy for my honest review!

Salem and a bookstore, I was sold instantly. I love that this is a story that spans across multiple centuries. And, I thought the idea of having a witch lives multiple lives, but she can’t remember them until she breaks the curse was brilliant

It’s 1692 in Salem, and the English sisters, apart from the youngest, Isadora, have been sent on an errand.
Young Ambrose comes to rescue Isadora from the danger coming her way, but she won’t leave home without a special book. They leave the special book under a floorboard in the vanishing bookstore.

In the present day, Dora runs a flower shop, and feels there is something wrong in her life, but has no idea what it could be. Her aunt, Lenny, plans on going to Salem and wants Dora to come with her.

Once they reach Salem, Dora meets another aunt, Sephy. She also meets her mum, who she believed was dead. Many things start to happen in Salem, and Dora starts having the odd flashback. Can she find the lost book, and more importantly, can she protect and save her family from the darkness surrounding them?

What an unusual and beautiful book The Vanishing Bookstore is. Full of magic and history, it was a joy to read.

It’s a captivating story that I couldn’t put down - who needs sleep!

I loved the characters, they had me spellbound, each one had such strength and wisdom.

I must also finish with the cover for this book, it is stunning and so vibrant. One of those covers I could sit and stare at all the time.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Cozy vibes was just what I needed when I started reading this ARC.

I found this book really easy to follow despite it following different time lines.
I loved learning about the characters througout the books, whilst also giving the history behind her family and witches.

An exchanting read and excited to read more from this author!