I’m always a sucker for books about libraries and bookshops, and this one did not disappoint. The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs is about Natalie Harper who lost both her mother and her boyfriend on the same day in a plane crash. Natalie, who is not happy with her inventory specialist job at a winery in the Napa Valley, is suddenly the proprietor of her mother’s San Francisco bookstore, a venture heavily in debt and in much need of repair.

The most immediate repairs are handled by a local contractor Peach Gallagher, who just happens to be a very nice man and the father of one of the store’s best patrons, Dorothy Gail. Besides running the bookstore, Natalie is also assisting her ailing grandfather who grew up in the store’s living quarters and had a typewriter repair shop there before the age of computers.

When little Dorothy realizes the bookshop is in trouble, she writes to a famous children’s author, who takes an interest in the bookshop and its manager. A sold-out event with the author infuses the bookstore with some much-needed cash but it’s not nearly enough to pay off all the debt Natalie’s mother had accumulated. Will The Lost and Found Bookshop be just one more independent bookstore to close?

I haven’t read much of Susan Wiggs but I would classify her as a writer of women’s fiction. Her fans will surely love this tale of the trials and tribulations facing bookstores today.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting April 29, 2020.

I’d like to thank HarperCollins Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

I will be highlighting this book in our library newsletter this summer, What a lovely book, but Susan WIggs always delivers! Her charming story with historical backdrops was just such a treat to read. I loved the descriptions of California's Sonoma Valley as well.

Thanks so much to the publisher for an ARC to read and give my honest opinion. Stunning read by this author, I absolutely loved it. This book was rich in world building and history with a cataclysmic HEA. Aptly named book since this bookstore is full of lost treasure and featured in the heart of San Francisco.

What did I like? The characters were amazing and the story itself detailed over several generations and historical events. The book also scans a ton of different ethnic marriages that are mixed with a flush of genealogy. The story itself was highly engaging, from the loss of Natalie’s lover and mother, to the conclusion of finding a real love for herself. It just sucked me in until the last page.

Would I recommend or buy? Yes, this author is worth her weight in gold and always readily available with an engaging tale. This story was just amazingly detailed and full of treasure. Loved it.

Thoughts for the author? Congratulations on your new release! There is still a little bit of time before this book releases but it brought me to such lovely tears. Loved it! Five stars.

I usually love stories set in bookshops, but I did not like this one. Was a bit dull for me, the characters didn't grab me and the tragedy was a bit much. However, other reviewers love it, so to each his own. We did order it for the library. ARC provided in exchange for a fair review.

Told with a warmth that only Susan Wiggs can achieve, The Lost and Found Bookshop is about Natalie, who was raised in her family bookstore. When a tragedy brings Natalie back to the bookstore, she is forced to examine her life through a new lens. She reexamines the truths she believed about her mother and uncovers some surprises. This story wraps the reader in the comfort of books. A well told story that you will want to savor.

For those looking for a fun and interesting literary escape this summer, I highly recommend the Lost and Found Bookshop. Set in San Francisco, it chronicles the journey of a young woman who, when faced with tragedy digs in and cares for her dapper grandfather. A cozy mystery and romance are interwoven with early California history, and plenty of literary references for avid readers. You won't want to put this book down, and yet, at the same time may slow down your page-turning just to linger a little more with the lovely characters in the Lost and Found Bookshop.

I really enjoyed this book until the end where everything was wrapped up so quickly.. Peach and Natalie were excellent characters but some of the others were too static. I did like the inclusion of dementia, as so many are dealing with that. The ending was easy to surmise and I didn’t mind that, what did bother me though was how easily and quickly everything was brought together at the end. All in all though a really good read!

The Lost and Found Bookshop was a magical read, and a reminder of how much I enjoy Susan Wiggs' and her novels! I could not put this down! Natalie's character was extremely easy to identify with and care about- and I especially was touched by her loving, close relationship with her grandfather and the way she looks after him.
In The Lost and Found Bookshop, Natalie receives a huge shock when she learns of the sudden passing of two very important people in her family. As a result she returns home to San Francisco to temporarily care for her grandfather and take over her mother's beloved eclectic bookshop. The events that follow start to reshape her life and make Natalie take a new look at her late mother's life and at the way Natalie thought her childhood unfolded. She starts to see their past through different eyes; and simultaneously, she is trying to cope with her grandfather's declining health. There are many facets to this well written story and it is truly a "feel good" read!

Not bad for what it is -- a romance with a bit more frosting.
I found it a bit of a slog through A LOT of grieving for a mother who died, A LOT of hand-wringing about a grandfather who's suffering from dementia, A LOT of worrying about finances, and A LOT of platitudes.
On the plus side the references to books and authors, and the struggle for independent brick-and-mortar bookstores to survive in the age of online shopping was interesting.
If you're a Susan Wiggs fan, you'll probably like this one.

Since I am new to this author, I had no expectations of style, depth, characterization, or grace. I found them all, in abundance. Why did I request the ARC from NetGalley? Because I am a total sucker for fiction about books, book stores, and book sellers. I was not disappointed.

Remember The Little Paris Bookshop? Blythe Harper, the recently-deceased owner of The Lost and Found Bookshop in San Francisco, was also a bibliotherapist who know how to match a book to a reader, no matter the age of either. What she could not do was to keep her little indie shop solvent, the building maintained, and her daughter involved in the business.

Natalie Harper, who had long decided against book selling in favor of an unfulfilling but steady career, and a good-enough boyfriend instead of a true love, finds herself thrown back to it when a plane crash kills both mother and lover. Returning to San Francisco, she tries to rescue the shop financially, and retains her mother's handyman, the delectable Peach, whose pigtailed daugher Dorothy reminds Natalie of herself as a child. Dorothy's favorite series of children's books, featuring familiar tales told from two points of view - both hero and villain - provides the theme and harmonies for the stories of all of this book's characters.

The man Natalie loves most is Grandy, her ailing grandfather Andrew, who lives in the bookstore, and whose story is both clarified and obscured by the onset of dementia. We read, through his point of view, about his family history, which include the earthquake of 1906, the historical damage of the Great War, how Buffalo Soldiers were recruited and treated, and the treasure that he is certain is hidden in the walls of the building ... somewhere. Is his narrative unreliable, or do some memories remain true? We also struggle along with his inability to focus on the present, as he confuses Natalie with her mother, and becomes increasingly feeble.

As he works, Peach finds objects in the old walls that may corroborate some of Grandy's memories. Natalie, attracted to Peach even before she learns about his history and true passion, refuses to act on the attraction out of guilt over her boyfriend's death. Peach, attracted to Natalie, holds back as he sees new people come into her life and recognizes her emotional fragility. A book signing by Dorothy's rich and suave favorite author, a mysterious DNA report found amongst Blythe's paperwork, and the lure of security... can true love find a way? Let's say that the reader will be intrigued by the characters, how history informs and repeats, and the company of fellow book-lovers.

Is this book perfect? No. I removed one star because of a few too many coincidences, and a few too-perfect characters. However, I hope Susan Wiggs will revisit them. I'll gladly go along, teacup in hand.

Four stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this love letter to readers, booksellers, and librarians! Susan Wiggs writes finely drawn and appealing characters, and the San Francisco setting was also a bonus. The portrayal of increasing dementia in main character Natalie's beloved grandfather is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. I loved spending time with these characters!

This romance novel set in San Francisco demands more credulity than I could muster, especially when the characters find street parking "right in front" more than once! The book hits a a handful of tourist spots and digs into local history, but the setting feels like a hastily sketched pastiche of the city by the bay that I know and love. Nevertheless, the story lines tackles several contemporary themes of interest, including: biracial love, children of divorce, addiction, and aging in place with a sensitivity and sense of humor that elevates the book beyond straight up romance. It's no home run, but If you enjoy romance and bookstores, this story of loss and love will get you to second base!

An enjoyable read. Very visual with an interesting plot. I found a few things really annoying. Without giving anything away, the motivations of Blythe and the suddenness of the ending were up there and detracted from the story. Bug overall, a fine read.

Natalie, becomes the owner of the Lost and Found Bookshop after her mom passes away. The bookshop is in trouble financially. Trying to figure out a way out of the debt, Natalie discovers much about her past and her grandfather, Andrew, who raised her along with her mom.

This book is like a hot cup of coffee on a rainy day. It's comforting. It reinforces why we have independent bookstores and just how important they are to our lives.

Books about bookstores, books, and libraries are always on my must read list so this was on my radar. I was glad to get a copy via netgalley so thank you.

Natalie, our main character, starts the story with a promotion but then comes a rude awakening followed by tragedy. Suddenly she is overseeing a bookstore that she knows and loves but this was not her agenda. She is dealing with grief, and aging grandfather and a host of problems that go with this. The reader feels for her and the struggles. All the while, we see the behind the scenes of what it is to run a bookstore and it give a read some appreciation for that.

The bookstore itself is a story. It's historic and has its own secrets. Since I do not want to spoil, I will just say there are stories to be hold and they take their time revealing. Meanwhile, Natalie meets an interesting man who doe repairs/restores, interesting customers and a famous author.

I enjoyed this a recommend. It's part mystery, part redeeming and just a fun ride.

Susan Wiggs never fails to write enjoyable books with great characters and settings. This would be a good choice for readers of women's fiction and of course, a good beach book. It's a feel-good book that is so needed right now.

I loved how family was very important in this book. I felt like there were a few strories this book intertwined and made it all the more interesting . I enjoyed this book very much and could’t wait to get back to it when I needed to put it down .

Probably a 3.5 rating.

Natalie seems to have it made - a secure job, a so-so boyfriend (but he's a really nice guy). In an instant her life changes. A plane crash kills her mom and her boyfriend. She returns home to San Francisco to run her mother's indie bookshop, take care of Grandy who is struggling with dementia, and her mother's massive out of control debt. Grandy remembers that treasures are said to be hidden in the bookshop. The old bookshop which was standing at the time of the 1904 earthquake needs many, expensive repairs to its run-down interior and to bring it up to code. Peach Gallagher, hammer-for-hire, saves the day with his spot on repair skills, and his daughter Dorothy makes it her personal mission to keep the bookshop from closing. The whole crew of oddball characters come together to live out the bookshop adventures.

The Lost and Found BookShop
by Susan Wiggs

Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC of this book. It by far is one of my favorite reads of the pandemic!

I will recommend this book to friends and patrons when we reopen the library. Don't miss this great read!!

5 stars for sure!

I reviewed this title for Library Journal to read the review please read it in the journal's July 7th issue.