Dora is certain she knows the ins and outs of her comfortable life as a London florist. Her world orbits around her shop, her best friend, and her aunt, who has raised her since her mother died when Dora was young. After a mysterious man comes into her flower shop, seeming to know her, Dora discovers that everything she thought she knew about her life is wrong. She soon learns from her aunt that a centuries-old-curse has plagued their family since the Salem witch trialsin 1692. This dual-timeline novel flips back and forth between the witch trials and the present day. As the truths of Dora's family emerge, Dora goes on a mission to uncover a vanishing bookstore where she can break the curse.

As a character, Dora feels very young for a 33-year old, but perhaps that is because she has been intentionally sheltered by her aunt. This immaturity gives the novel a bit of a coming of age feel that will resonate with young adult readers. There is a low-key romance included with one closed-door sex scene.

Read this if you like cozy mysteries with a twist of adventure. While it's not dark, it does focus on witchcraft in more than just a historical way, so it's best for readers who are comfortable with that type of content. As such, for many readers, it will make a great seasonal read for fall and Halloween.

I could not put this down! Witches, bookstores and women kicking ass, what's not to love! I flew through this. i hate to sound cliché but if you love Charmed or Practical Magic, you'll love this. It gives off the same vibes.

Dora believes she lives a normal life running her flower shop in London with her aunt Lenny, but her life turns upside down when they take a trip to Salem, Massachusetts together. Dora learns the truth about her family’s history and works with them to end the curse set upon them once and for all.

Based on the beautiful cover and title of this book, I expected the plot to revolve more around a vanishing bookstore than it really did. I enjoyed the flashbacks to 1692 Salem, but these moments were few and far between. The present day storyline lacked a little something but I can’t place my finger on what it is. I just wasn’t completely immersed in the plot, I didn’t feel fully connected to the characters, the relationship between Dora and Ambrose didn’t feel as “tale as old as time” as it was described to be, and 33-year-old Dora felt more like a 21-year-old coming of age character than a grown adult most of the time. Overall, the story started off very promising, but it lost its luster halfway through. I pushed through and made it to the end because I was interested enough to see how it would play out, but the ending left something to be desired. If you enjoy historical fiction and you’re looking for a simple read you’ll probably like this one.

Helen Phifer’s The Vanishing Bookstore is a captivating journey where mystery, magic, and the power of books collide. From the very first page, this cursed witches novel hooks you with its intriguing premise, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end. The story centers around a seemingly ordinary bookstore that harbors a hidden, almost mystical secret—one that ties 17th-century Salem to the present in unexpected, fantastical ways. Told via dual timelines 1692 in storied Salem, MA— A bookstore mysteriously vanishes, never to be seen again. - And Phifer effortlessly blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, pulling readers into an enigmatic world where the past lingers in every shadow, and every book holds a key to an ancient mystery. Though the book shines with its magical premise and suspenseful narrative, the character of Dora, a woman in her 30s, feels somewhat out of sync with the novel’s tone, which often reads like a young adult or coming-of-age story. While Dora’s journey is compelling, the more youthful undertones may leave some readers feeling slightly disconnected from her experiences. The novel explores rich themes of loss, love, and the profound impact literature can have on our lives. The bookstore, a central figure in the narrative, becomes a powerful metaphor for the way stories shape our destinies and preserve memories across time. Phifer’s evocative writing draws parallels between the magic of books and the enduring power of the past to shape our present. For fans of Practical Magic, Hocus Pocus, or the storied history of Salem, Massachusetts—including its infamous witch trials—this book is a must-read. If you love tales that combine mystery, magic, and a hint of the supernatural, The Vanishing Bookstore will captivate you. The Vanishing Bookstore is set to hit the shelves on January 7, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this enchanting novel.

It's a great witchy read. That's an interesting reincarnation plotline. The MFC had a cute romance with the MMC, loved how their love surpassed time!

Such a lovely narrator for this audiobook, which is such a great bonus to a wonderful book! Follows a family of witches who keep living new lives after death since Salem, trying to break the curse that haunts them. Very reminiscent of Weyward. Very good!

Who doesn't love and book that combines witches, books, and historical fiction. The Vanishing Bookstore does it all, past meeting present.

Love books set with either bookstores or books themselves as a character. Interesting storytelling and loved the narration, would read more by this author

I listened to the audiobook of The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer, which was narrated by the exceptional Stephanie Cannon. The story centers around a family of good “herbal-type” witches whose main goal is to help others. The dual story timeline begins at the time of the Salem witch trials and also during present day. Unfortunately the family is cursed to live their lives over and over again, while also retaining the memories the past lives (for the most part). The rest of the story focuses on the family trying to break the curse.

The premise is one that should appeal to most who enjoy fantasy and are interested in the history of the witch trials. I would also classify this as more of a young adult or “new” adult story.

This was incredible.

Since reading Weyward, I’ve been looking for something that gives me the same feels and this gave me them all!

This book centers around Dora and her family who are cursed and keep being reborn to live their lives again, ever since the Salem witch trials. Dora never remembers her previous lives but it's up to her to break the curse before Corbean can kill her again.

The book is fun to listen along to and had me wondering how it was going to end. It's definitely a cozy read and I enjoyed the narrator.

The Vanishing Library
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoyed the story. You will cheer for the characters.
I couldn't put it down the whole first half of the book. It felt like the later part got confusing. This was my first time with this Author. It was fun & interesting!
Thank you NetGalley

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to this early. Review has been posted on Waterstones and Amazon.

This story follows the English family, a family of influential female witches, through their first lives and present-day existences. Dora English knows nothing of her family's complicated history and the role she and her vanishing bookstore play in breaking a centuries-old curse and changing the trajectory for her and her family.

THE VERDICT: 3.75 (rounded up)

WHAT I LIKED:
- I've read so many fun witchy books lately, and this one reminded me a lot of Weyward in some aspects, which I loved.
- The different periods were fun to explore
- Each of the English women had such a unique personality, and it was fun once the four of them all got together
- Despite the threat to their family, this book still gave cozy vibes, and I enjoyed the settings of Salem and the UK

WHAT WAS A MISS:
- The pacing felt off; the book didn't pick up until at least halfway through
- The description felt off-base; I was expecting more of a story about a bookstore, where, in actuality, that was only a tiny part of the plot
- It took a long time to get a complete picture of what the conflict was and what the English family needed to do to break the curse
- It was sometimes hard to keep track of everything going on, but this may have been because I did the audiobook for this one
- Some inclusions felt random (ex, Lenny's foray when she was heading to the airport)

Not sure what I expected when I picked this book but I was pleasantly surprised by it. This is the first book of Helen’s that I’ve read that wasn’t a thriller, but it was equally as good. The title is a bit deceiving, it’s definitely more about the English women than about a bookstore, but the bookstore does hold the key.

I love that this book takes place mainly in Salem Massachusetts. Books that take place close to home always thrill me. Even though I’ve never been, I know enough about Salem to make me feel connected to it.

The majority of this book is about the connections between Dora and her mother and aunts, what they’ve been through back to when they were hung during the time of the Witch Trials. But there’s also a little romance in it. Dora and Ambrose, even through hundreds of years, still share a special bond.

Stephanie did a great job with the narration of this story. She does a great job differentiating between the characters and made me feel connected to each of them.

I would happily read another historical fiction by Helen.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ALC of this book.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. Two of my favorite Halloween movies are, 'Hocus Pocus' and 'Practical Magic'. This book sounded just like those movies and in fact they are even mentioned in the book, but the book was far too cheesy and lacked a good plot.

This book was delightful! Cozy, with just enough suspense to keep me intrigued. The characters were charming and the plot interesting.

adventurous mysterious medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0

Tropes:
Fated love, magical family, reincarnation, witch hunter, epic battle good vs evil
Bio:
Present day- Dora is heading back to Salem to reunite with her aunts & mother. However Dora will also be reunited with the secrets the family are keeping & the English women legacy.
1600s- The English women live amongst the witch hysteria. This is a particularly dangerous time for women who are magically inclined. The men that love them are connected to the witch trails, but only one of pair is truly in love.

Love this 💕:
💕Hades the talking crow
💕 Magical family
💕reincarnations of the family members

Cup of tea ☕️:
☕️ Original bio I felt wasn’t an accurate description of the story and it’s strengths
☕️ Vanishing Bookstore wasn’t central to story the entire time
Ideal Reader:
✨Someone looking for a final battle against evil
✨Fans of practical Magic

This story has two timelines - 1692 and present day for the English sisters (and niece). Dora has a flower shop in England where a man comes in for flowers and makes her uncomfortable. Enough so that she decides to join her aunt on a last minute trip and leads her to learn about her family and so much more about their lives. I enjoyed the descriptions of Salem. The characters were interesting and the urgency for them to find a book in the vanishing bookstore had me on the edge of my seat.

I listened to the audiobook. Stephanie Cannon did a good job with the narration. I was easily able to distinguish the characters.

Thank you to the author, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the Advanced Listener Copy (ALC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This is a fantastic story that mixes Groundhog Day vibes and the Salem Witch Trials as the four English women are cursed to live a portion of their lives while being hunted. I loved the story and the relationship between the English women - the writing is vivid and engaging. The only thing I wish is that the bookstore played more of a role throughout the book, but I did love the last chapter of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publish for an advance audiobook (ALC), all opinions are my own.