Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house, audiohouse, narrator and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review, based upon my honest opinion.

This had such a good witchy feel, I loved the mixing of historical events and fiction to create a story about these witches who live the same lifetime over and over again, trying to break a curse and allow them to live out their lives.

Dora doesn’t know that she has lived many lifetimes, this time her aunt Lennie took her away from Salem and raised her in the UK, hoping that this distance will allow her to survive longer than she hasn’t any other lifetime. But the curse placed upon them in 1692, finds her Lennie and Dora return to Salem in the present day where Lennie ‘s sisters await. Will Dora remember who she is in time to find the final clue needed to save them. The last book in the vanished bookstore.

This was a really interesting book, it was told in a dual timeline story. I really enjoyed it. I like this author’s style and would recommend this book. I really enjoyed the narrator’s voice as well.

I'm usually not the biggest fan of multiple timelines, but here it worked. The older timeline served well as an explanation without being too prominent or implausable.
The only plot line that did not really add anything to the story for me was the one with Katie (and I felt that once Dora learned what had happened, her reaction should have been a bit more intense - which it is in the first moment but then it kind of escapes her for a little while; this is hard to describe without spoilers...).
I enjoyed the love interest not taking up too much space and also being very respectful and not trying to steal the spotlight from the protagonist.
The book is also rather intertextual, which is something I thoroughly enjoy. I liked the references to the Salem witch hunt and it did remind me of the Crucible a lot. It also brought up memories of the 90s TV show Sabrina the teenage witch, which I loved!
Overall a very entertaining listen and one which I can recommend if you like witchy stories that are not too fantastical.

A combination of historical fiction and magical realism, this is the story of the English Sisters, two living in Salem, Mass. while the third and her niece live in England (UK). They are healers under a curse and must continually relive their lives (and deaths) ever since the Salem witch trials. Their nemesis, a powerful witch hunter, is also continually hunting them down, so they tried something new this iteration and it has been working…until now.
There is interesting historical info about the trials and about how the town of Salem has turned into a sort of theme park, embracing their shameful history for the tourist $$$ it brings in, especially in October (leading up to Halloween).
Then there is the fantasy-fiction part of the novel. The characters are interesting but mostly one-dimensional. Ambrose is 100% good. The witch hunter is 100% evil. The story turns on having Dora, the niece, awaken dormant memories about a book of spells she and Ambrose hid more than a century ago. It’s a fanciful story with lovely bits about plants, herbs, and flowers; familiars; witchcraft. Some loose ends should have been tied up. Entertaining. 3.5 rounded up.
My thanks to the author, publisher, producer, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #TheVanishingBookstore for review purposes. Publication date: January 7, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
What an amazing audiobook. I love the fantasy aspect and the multiple dimensions and multiple timelines and points of view. Phenomenal writing on this book and it’s such a good listen.
Great narration and great story. Loved it.

Lost, mysterious and or haunted bookstores are having a moment. Phifer’s latest deals with a bookstore in Salem in both the 17th century and 21st centuries, a bookstore that disappears in 1692 that a descendant of the original owner must locate in order to save her family’s fortune

Solid 3 stars!

The premise of this book—mystery, hidden secrets, and a magical bookstore—was intriguing, and there were definitely moments that kept me hooked. However, it read more like YA, which isn’t a bad thing, but I tend to prefer adult fiction over YA. Some parts were engrossing, while others felt underdeveloped and left me wanting more detail. It’s a solid 3-star read—good, but not great. If you enjoy YA or atmospheric mysteries, this could be a good pick.

This book publishes 1/7/25 & will be available on Kindle Unlimited.

Thank you NetGalley & Bookouture for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!

A spellbinding tale about a family of women accused of being witches during the Salem Witch Trial. A duel timeline story with the same cast of characters. Magical and enchanting

This was a cozy, magical story about a family of witches that have been cursed to be hunted. In 1692 a witch hides a journal in a bookstore that then vanishes. The majority of the story takes place present day when Dora meets her family and learns of the curse they have been living with since the 16oo's. To break the curse, she must find the vanished bookstore and reveal the secrets from the past.

I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it either. It was just ok for me. I felt like the majority of the story was kind of slow moving but then the climax was short, and it was over. Had a very Hocus Pocus/Practical Magic vibe but felt a bit more YA with the storytelling.

While I did like the narrator and she was good to listen to, one thing that kind of bugged me was there was no English accent for Dora. She is from London and when she first meets someone they even say, "Oh your British!" yet the narrator gave this character no British accent at all. Would have been a nice characteristic to add for her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the audiobook for review!

This was such a great story that elicited a bunch of emotions from me, including anger, fear, and hope. A family of witches, Dora and her two aunts are forced to live each life being hunted by a horrible man. This story follows a couple timelines, primarily 1692 in Salem and present day. Dora is the key to breaking the curse that was put on her and her family, however, she does not remember her past lives. I loved this story because it describes the family as the only witches in Salem, even though many more women were sentenced to death because of men. A man could say the woman was a witch because he was embarrassed and angry that she declined his proposal. I loved the family dynamic and love between these women, and their ties to magic. This was definitely a bit of a cozy fantasy, but it also included some thriller aspects. Such a great read to start the new year!

A magical fantasy that was an absolute delight to listen to. The plot and characters were very interesting and having recently visited Salem, the storyline was a wonderful way to reconnect to the historical significance of the place. Very engaging to listen to and the narrator was perfect. I was torn between a 4 and a 4.5 rating, but since halves are possible, it's a solid four.

This was a fun and cozy witchy read that leans a little more YA. It was easy to keep up with and I really enjoyed the dual timeline and historical elements, along with the descriptions of modern Salem and the pop culture references to Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic. The title of the book throws me off a little because the vanishing bookstore is barely even mentioned or utilized much in the book - I thought it would play a much larger part (plus it never really felt like a bookstore to me). But other than that, this was quite enjoyable!! I will definitely be checking out more from this author.

A 5 -star read! The Vanishing Bookstore is one of those rare books where you don't want to reach the end of the stroy. Repeat read-worthy!

Our past will always haunt us...

This book is proof of that.

It begins in 1692, women are being hunted and killed in witch trials. The English family is targeted and four women are sentenced to death. Right before their deaths the women are cursed- they will have to live their lives over and over, and be hunted by the same man for centuries.

From here we are introduced to several timelines and POVs that weave this story into one.

Present day introduces Dora, the owner of a London flower shop, who has no clue of her family's past, and lives a very simple life.
One day a man enters the shop and nothing is EVER the same. Dora is whisked away to Salem where her family's past (and their shocking PRESENT) is presented to her.
The world building here is done well, slow through the middle, but well. What I loved was all the witchy pop culture humor- when Hocus Pocus is mentioned, I giggled.

I feel a little mystery surrounding the story is good here, don't read too much into the story and you'll enjoy it. I had the opportunity to listen on audio, and the audio version was so enjoyable to listen to.

I loved this audiobook- it was captivating, magical and wow what a great story!!
I loved the mixed eras and learning about the historical element.
It was just brilliant.
I liked the narrator.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Totally enjoyed this one!!

It featured: Love. Family. Friends. Magicks and Familiars…and, a dog! 🐶❤️

Magic. Witches. Salem, MA. Young lovers. Aunts. Mom and daughter… Kind of dual timelines, as the witches have been cursed to live their lives (and die), over and over again by the same wicked man since 1692! 😮😮

This one dragged me in right from the beginning…and I was invested to find out what happens, and why!

Dora is a young girl in 1692. Her aunts and Mom are very involved in her life, and are helpers for the community in that they can make herbal stuff for cures. They are concerned as many woman are being brought up on charges of being witches…and hanged! So they are NOT practicing magic!

Ambrose is a young man who tries desperately to help Dora escape from a horrible future…

Fast forward to current day. Dora is a florist. Her aunt Lenni is very involved in her life…and she seems to have a new admirer…

4 solid stars for me!

#TheVanishingBookstore by #HelenPhifer and narrated nicely by #StephanieCannon.

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #BookoutureAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which is due for release on 1/7/25…So, LOOK 👀 FOR IT IN A FEW DAYS!!


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I got this book on New Year’s Eve from NetGalley for a review before it is published, which is Jan 7.

Fortunately it is a fast paced fantasy about Salem’s witch hunt gone immortal, an enjoyable thrilling read.

1692 in Salem, George becomes the arch nemesis of the English sisters and their niece/daughter Isadora, healers with special powers, when one of them refuses his hand in marriage. He convicts them and some others of witchcraft and kills them. But he is cursed through the trials.

He starts hunting the immortal English women through time for their soul, which Hades the pet crow gets for a reincarnation.

Present day, these women have to face George so they can save their friends and end this cycle. The obstacle, Dora doesn’t remember her past lives.

It is a pretty straightforward plot, no twist or surprises.

I loved the sisters, they are fun characters. Ambrose is like the imaginary boyfriend in inside out animation. George is like a terminator that doesn’t stop, but much nicer.

The bookstore, though is the name of the book is more like a MacGuffin, it is not part of the story. I wish there were more about it. I wanted to know more about the father as well, the handsome powerful wizard who gave the sisters the book.

The narration is very good, I loved the voice and how it changed for every character and crow and how it conveyed the emotions.

I liked this book and would definitely recommend reading it.

Thank you NetGalley and bookouture for the opportunity.

The title got my attention and then give me a family of immortal witches, Salem in 1692, and a friendly crow and I’m going to give it a try.

With a lot of magical fantasy aspects, a hidden bookstore in historical Salem, a mystery, and a love story mixed in this had all the elements for a good story. I did really enjoy the first 65% of this, the history and relationships were done very well. This kinda felt like a mashup of other books I’ve enjoyed like Weyward, Hester, and Practical Magic. But it fell a little flat at the end and I was very confused by the point of the epilogue. Maybe there will be another book that picks up the story but it would be odd and unnecessary in my opinion.

Also, the main character was supposed to be raised in England but had no accent, however the narrator did an English accent for her friend which was very weird. It was fine but not one I’d be recommending the audio of.

Rating: 3.5/5⭐️
Pub day: January 7

Thanks Bookouture Audio for the alc via Netgalley

This story covers 2 different timelines, but about the same people, who are stuck in a tragic loop that can only be broken by a book, that was last hid in vanishing bookstore in 1692, Salem. In present time, Dora needs to work together with her Aunts & her familiar to find a way to survive this time around and free themselves from the clutches of the witch hunter.

Though the overall story was pretty cozy, I didn't really care for the love angle, as I felt there wasn't much depth to their bond, besides being told a few things rather than shown (even the crow had more role to play). I surely enjoyed the aunts as side characters; they were lively, witty, caring, and homely. It was a sweet and sour tale with not a lot of plot twists, so I would recommend this to readers who are looking for a non-complicated book with a smooth narrative.

*** This portion may contain Spoiler ***
There are a few loopholes at the end:
1. How can you not recognize your own familiar... the crow for example, there must be some sort of connection, mistaking him for the dead one?
2. If the bookstore vanishes on its own. How was it still open when she forgot to close it... didn't really understand that part.
3. Why couldn’t the aunts simply use their magic to retrieve the dress from the museum rather than planning a heist around it?

3/5 ⭐️
Genre: Magic, Historical Fiction, Mystery

The Vanishing Bookstore
A spellbinding and unputdownable page-turner
by Helen Phifer
Narrated by Stephanie Cannon

I received an ARC of this audiobook through Netgalley.

This was an enjoyable listen that revolves around a family that is continuously reborn into the same family with the same names.

The premise of the book is great - it is about Salem witches that were in their first life just healers wrongfully hanged as witches. It wasn’t until subsequent lives that they developed magic.

I think this book was lacking in character development.
There are three main sisters, the daughter of one of them, the daughter’s love, a villain, and several friends of the family.

I wanted to connect better to the characters the way that you get to when listening to a romance.

Where were they born?
What are their hobbies? Do they have any talents? Great loves of their many lives? Favorite books? A tale of grief and loss and love and hope? What do their surroundings look like?

There were many scent memories that I really enjoyed and mentions of some flowers and herbs.

But, I only ever came to like the characters. I wasn’t able to relate to them the way I wanted to.

I think if there is a sequel to this book that there is a lot of room to tell each person’s story.

Overall, it was a good listen, and worth the time to read.

The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer is my first book I’ve read by this author. This story has a split timeline in Salem from 1692 to present day. Dora comes to visit Salem from London where she meets her mother and Aunts. This family was accused of being witches and cursed to be hunted by George Corwin and live their lives over and over again until they can break the curse. For his the journal in the vanishing bookstore in 1692. Can she remember where it is? Can she stop the curse plaguing her family?
The narrator Stephanie Cannon did a wonderful job with this book.
Thank you to the author #Helen Phifer, #NetGalley and #Bookouture audio for the Arc read. Publication date is Jan 7 2025