This was a cosy little audiobook, felt a little unrelated to the description but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Very descriptive and a good plot, well paced and enjoyable.

You’ll enjoy this book if you like:
- cozy mystery
- family relationships
- magical realism
- Salem history
- witches
- long-lost romance
- Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic

This was a cute and entertaining book!

I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
✨️Magic
✨️Salem Witches
✨️Centuries old family curse
✨️ Sisterhood
✨️A fight for survival
✨️ and of course a Vanishing Bookstore

The Vanishing Bookstore follows the character of Dora, and her aunts, as they work together to fight a curse cast onto their family centuries ago during the Salem Witch Trials. This curse causes the family to repeatedly re-live their lives, whilst being hunted by the same, horrible witch hunter.

I enjoyed being taken along through this journey, as Dora recalled more details of her previous lives. I loved exploring the relationships that the characters had built over lifetimes, and seeing the different memories as they were recalled.

I also enjoyed Helen Phifer's world and character building. I loved how enchanting the concept of a Vanishing Bookstore was, and the magic around this.
I look forward to reading more of Helen Phifer's novels in the future.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook arc.

The Vanishing Bookstore offers a unique and imaginative premise that blends history, magic, and family secrets. It’s a cozy read with an intriguing dual-timeline structure: one set in Salem, MA, during the witch trials of 1692, where a woman accused of witchcraft hides her journal in a vanishing bookstore after her family is cursed, and the other in the present day, where Dora, a 33-year-old Londoner, discovers her family’s ties to this curse. Dora’s mission to uncover the secrets of the past and break the curse carries the promise of adventure and mystery.

However, one of the major challenges I encountered was with Dora’s characterisation. At 33, Dora often feels misaligned with the story’s tone, which comes across more like a young adult or coming-of-age novel. Her behavior and dialogue lean toward being overly simplistic and childlike, which made it difficult to connect with her as a protagonist. This disconnect detracted from the emotional weight of her journey.

Additionally, while the vanishing bookstore is a fascinating central plot point, the journey to uncover it feels rushed and underdeveloped. Key moments—such as a sudden and jarring sex scene—lack the necessary buildup or emotional resonance, making them feel out of place. The dialogue between characters also tends to fall flat, failing to elevate the stakes or create deeper connections between them. This lack of depth left me largely indifferent to the characters and their ultimate fates.

Despite its shortcomings, The Vanishing Bookstore is an enjoyable read for fans of cozy magical tales and dual-timeline narratives. However, its uneven execution and shallow characterisation prevent it from reaching its full potential.

This was a fun listen. Was a little cliche, lots of similarities to other witchy stories like Hocus Pocus & Practical Magic. Overall fun, but nothing earth shattering in terms of unique storytelling.

3.5 ⭐️ - The Vanishing Bookstore follows Dora, a florist living in modern day London. She’s in for a big surprise, not only is she from a family of witches but they have to solve a mystery and find a hidden book to break a curse that has followed them since the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. This book has dual storylines (1692 Salem and present day). A fun, light witchy story that would be a great spooky season pick.

I expected a bit more emphasis on the bookstore itself and the romance between the main characters but it was narrated well (Stephanie Cannon) and had a good pace. I especially liked the glimpse into modern Salem. If you like Hocus Pocus, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, or the Lost Apothecary check out this book when it’s released 1/7/25.

Thanks to Bookouture & NetGalley for advanced access to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This had me hooked from the first few chapters and I devoured it in one day. It follows a young woman in Salem in 1692, and Dora in present day London. I love books with dual timelines, but I craved more from 1692, maybe that’s the history geek in me though.

It’s a witchy, empowering, and heartwarming story, and I loved it. It fell slightly short of being a 5* read, but I would recommend this to everyone.

I was lucky enough to be given an ARC audiobook copy for my honest review.

I normally love a witch book, any kind, but this was so sacchrine and trite. I made it 45% and then had to abandon it.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Dora, and her aunts died in the Salem Witch Trials. Her mother had died from a mysterious illness just before them. But, they keep coming back for life after life. They are accompanied by a crow, a witch hunter, who hunts them through the generations, and Dora's love.

Just before they are killed, a valuable book of spells was secreted away in a bookstore that the women have been searching for in each of their lives. But this time may be the right time for Dora to find it and stop the cycle.

Dora, living in modern day London, has no idea that her mother is alive and that she's actually from Salem. Nor does she have a clue that she has supernatural powers - not until her aunt brings her back to Salem.

This is a fun read, not scary for most readers. I think the audience could be teens and older.

I listened to the audio version and the narrator was very good, but I would have expected Dora to have an English accent.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this ARC audiobook for review. This was an interesting read that bounces back and forth in time between present day and 1692 Salem, Mass. and a woman named Dora. She is about to meet her mother who she was told died when she was young. But now Dora is about to learn a lot more about her family and her history than she ever thought possible. I read this book in a day. It was great as an audiobook and it was my first Helen Phifer book, but will not be my last.

Wonderfully written and the narrator did an amazing job bringing the story to life. 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 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. The narrators were great. It was so easy to listen too.

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.

I was lucky enough to get hold of this book as an audio with net shelf before publication date and really enjoyed it. It reminded me of practical magic, bewitched and Sabrina the teenage witch style of magic that is relatively light hearted and nothing too complicated unlike some other books I’ve read that included magic. The characters were likeable and the bond between them seemed genuine and not too far fetched, it was perhaps a little predictable in the way that some romance are boy meets girl happy ever after, but enjoyable regardless. I especially enjoyed the side character Hades and found some parts humorous. The audible narrator was pleasant to listen too and I was able to listen at a reasonable pace. I would happily listen to other books by this author having now read this and feel the title and book cover is reflective of the novel.

I'm new to the magic realism genre and this one was a very interesting one with rich history of witchcraft and generational knowledge.
I really liked the concept of rebirths as the same people and how the English sisters and Dora have been fighting the witch hunter through the ages. This was a captivating read and I finished it in one sitting. The narration was very immersive and transported me into the world of the story - London and then, Salem, of old and new.
I love the note the story ended in, with a possibility of a sequel. Would love to read more of this world.

This was an adorable, witchy story full of family backstory and some historical drama. The narrator was fabulous and everything was intertwined so well. I was hooked from the beginning and loved Dora so much. Thank you for the ALC of this lovely story!

I read this in one sitting. I will be thinking about this book for a long time. I am a big fan of The Crucible and the history of the Salem Witch Trials, so the concept of persecuted witches returning for centuries afterwards, just to meet the same fate at the hands of the same man feels like it was made just for me.

This book was emotional and addictive and I am truly astounded at how it has three and four star reviews. It earned every single one of the five stars I gave it. It is going to stick with me for a while. It is rare that I want physical copies of audiobooks for my trophy shelf, but that's exactly what I want from this book.

It says something really special about the author when I am absolutely terrified to read anything else they've written because I can't bear the thought that their other work might not compare. So you tell me- is Helen Phifer a literary genius or were we gifted with one perfect book?

It's always just been Dora and her aunt Lenny against the world in london. When Lennys sister falls ill- she has one last wish to bring Dora home to Salem Massachusetts. Arriving in Salem Dora learns she has an entire family of witches and they need her help to stop a curse that has been affecting their family for centuries. i love love loved this book and enjoyed it so much.

This was such a great cozy read. Witches, familiars, and a guy that can't handle being told no.

The narrator did a great job. Very easy to follow at an increased speed.

The only thing I didn't like was how the friends storyline was kind of forgotten. It felt like that plot point could've been done differently or just left out completely.

This was exactly what I needed today, a really cozy escape into a little fantasy. I escaped to Salem with some new friends.

With a split timeline of modern day and 1800’s, we meet a family of witches, fated to live their lives on repeat for all eternity.

I instantly warmed to and connected with the characters and the storyline, the plot was fantastic and Stephanie Cannon narrated it with such ease.

Warm, endearing, captivating.

Probably more suited to fans of light fantasy, similar to Hocus Pocus or Practical Magic 🪄 I could picture this screen ready, and I even had a soundtrack running through my mind.

I loved it!

Thanks as always to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

This was an enjoyable light read. I enjoyed the characters, but struggled with the magic. I felt there were several things like selective memory and slipping in an out of older or newer language patterns that just were t explained well. The main romantic relationship could also have been given a few more pages of development.