I requested an ARC for my unbiased review of The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner because I enjoy historical fiction, and particularly the eighteenth century. Ms. Penner’s novel weaves the story of a modern-day woman whose marriage is in crisis and that of two women in late eighteenth century London with crises of their own. The problem is different for each one but at the same time, they are interrelated. The cuts back and forth between the centuries and the three women are done with skill and the characters are three-dimensional. The mudlarking section made me want to be there searching the Thames foreshore to find cool old stuff. This is evidently her first novel. I’ll look forward to reading her future books.
The only reason I did not give The Lost Apothecary five stars is because of one flaw which many readers will not even notice (though I’m hoping it was corrected before release). It’s a problem not limited to Ms. Penner’s otherwise excellent book. Even those who have written historical fiction for years sometimes make assumptions about past eras: for example, that letters must have been written on parchment or that bourbon was known in 18th century England. Unless a reader happens to be informed and fussy about historical details—as I am—such things will not interrupt the flow of a good story.

I was enticed by the theme, but the combination of a modern day drama intertwined with a historical story line was not what I was expecting. Overall, the story was a balanced perspective of the modern characters with the historical characters. The ending was a bit predictable and the story really only started to pick up for me about half way through the book. I'd recommend, but was hoping for some more "fantasy" as that is the genre this is being marketed as.

I found this to be a pretty good book. The writing style kept me turning the pages to find out how the two timelines intersected - how Nalla, Eliza, and Caroline's story fit together. The slight twist at the end I didn't see coming!

What an interesting piece of historical fiction. From the beginning and mudlarking in the Thames it had me hooked. Changing from present day to the late 1700's this book has it all. Author Sarah Penner weaves a story that is mystical, relevant and magical. Nellie and Eliza from the last 18th century are strong women and Caroline from present day trying to find out who she is combine in this powerful novel that will keep you entertained.
A thoroughly well written story is highly recommended for historical fiction lovers.
I want to thank Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was hesitant to read this book, as it has promoted everywhere, and I've been burned by several "It" books. However, I've never been happier to be wrong- The Lost Apothecary is INCREDIBLE. Penner is a masterful storyteller, and perfectly weaves together two storylines. (A lot of authors will use the two storyline approach, but very few have the skill that Penner does to execute it.) I can't remember the last book I read that evoked heartbreak and happiness in equal measure, and I can only hope Penner is already writing her next book!
Note: I am very squeamish but am happy to say there was nothing graphic!

Behind the beautiful cover of The Lost Apothecary is a beautiful debut. Sarah Penner mixes the two story lines into a potent tincture filled with mystery, self-discovery, and the power of friendship. It is an anthem to women supporting women and learning how to be true to themselves.

Thanks, Netgalley, for providing this perfect poolside vacation read! The lost history of a female apothecary owner who poisoned only men in London is mixed together with the modern day Caroline who just found out that her husband of ten years isn't faithful. Stories collide as Caroline finds an old tincture bottle that belonged in the past and she begins to research the history of the bottle. I love novels about researching old things and finding out interesting tales of people long ago, so this book was a fast and easy read for me. I was at 80% read on my Kindle and feeling disappointed because I wanted the book to be longer!

I don't read a lot of historical fiction, but I was intrigued by the premise. I'm glad I decided to read this. This is a well-written debut novel that had me reading well into the night just so I could find how what happened. Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger, but nothing so obvious as to be cliché where you can guess the resolution. All of the characters are complex and I enjoyed seeing how Nella and Eliza's story in the late 1700s interacted with and influenced Caroline over two hundred years later. The author does a great job at transporting to reader into the back alleys of London with vivid descriptions that gave the novel a dark and captivating atmosphere. I was completely rooting for these characters and felt satisfied by the ending, even though it still leaves one mystery unsolved. If done right, I think this would make for a great movie.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for sharing an ARC of this amazing novel with me in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for review.

It has been ages since I've started and finished a book in one sitting. Sarah Penner's words grabbed me in the story of a cheating husband present day and a cheating husband in the late 1700s. A servant girl loyal to her kind mistress, Eliza visits apothecary, Nell, for a poison to give the cheating master of the house.

Over the course of a few days, Eliza asserts herself into Nell's life, learning the benefits and tragedies items from this earth can cause.

In present day, Caroline takes her 10th anniversary trip solo, after learning of her own husband's infidelity. By chance, she come's across a unique looking vial in the River Thames. Her journey to find the origins of the vial help her to find herself.

I so appreciated this book; both for the historical knowledge and the entertainment value. While I can't keep this in our middle school library, I will be recommending it to all of my reading friends. This one is a keeper!

It all started with a vial. After a shocking revelation about her marriage, Caroline decides to make her anniversary trip a solo adventure. Not long after arriving, she finds a mysterious vial that reignites her lost love of history as she searches for the truth behind the apothecary murders legend.

At the same time, Sarah Penner transports us back to the late 1700s England as we follow along with the apothecary herself (Nella) and Eliza, a local girl of 12 who is discovering the secret world of medicine and poison, and how far some women will go to possess the life they dream of.

This was a thoroughly immersive escape into an engrossing story that’s split between two time periods, transporting the reader to London at the end of 18th century alternating with current day London. The compelling story of Nella, a secretive, isolated apothecary, who dispenses poisons to help women exact revenge on men who have wronged them is told in tandem with Caroline who travels to London seeking space to deal with the discovery of her husband’s infidelity and rediscover herself. Suspicion and tension abound in both time periods, the writer skillfully intertwines the dual storylines, keeping the reader invested in both the past and the present where strong female characters are controlling their own destinies. Engrossing, atmospheric historical fiction that was well worth the read!

This is probably one of the most unique books I have ever read. I loved this different take on feminism and the historical aspect was fascinating!

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner is a dual-timeline novel told from the point-of-view of three women. I found this to be an engaging historical novel. I was transported back to London in 1791 where Nella has a small hidden apothecary shop. Nella catered to women who needed a certain man in their life removed. She only catered to women who wished to harm men. Eliza Fanning arrives one day on behalf of her mistress who needs help taking care of her husband. Eliza is fascinated by Nella’s workshop and asks dozens of questions. A friendship of sorts develops between the pair. Caroline Parcewell is in London on what was supposed to be her tenth anniversary trip. The night before departure, Caroline discovered her husband has been cheating on her. She takes the trip to give herself time to think away from home and her husband. Caroline goes mudlarking on her first day and discovers an old blue apothecary bottle in the Thames. Caroline sets out to find out more information on the bottle and where it came from. It was fascinating learning more about an apothecary shop and what it contained. A small amount of an item can be helpful, while a large amount can be deadly. I admit that I enjoyed the historical time-period more than the modern storyline. Personally, the book could have excluded Caroline’s story and been even better (less repetition too). However, I did like how the three storylines tied together. The Lost Apothecary is a well-written, developed story with great characters and a fabulous, dark atmosphere. It has a spooky quality that I loved. The Lost Apothecary is a dark, mysterious tale that captured my attention and imagination. Sarah Penner created an intriguing debut novel and I look forward to reading Sarah Penner’s next creation.

Happy publication day and a big thanks to @parkrowbooks and @netgalley for sharing a copy of The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner for review.

The Lost Apothecary has a few viewpoints and timelines but is never hard to follow. Part is a contemporary timeline following Caroline who is escaping a troubled marriage in England when she discovers an old apothecary bottle and decides to see what she can learn. The others follow Nella and Eliza in the 18th century as they dispense poison to women in need.

I always think of these historical fiction novels for those who don’t read the genre often. You come in and out of the past often enough that it reads more like a contemporary fiction novel than those that stay strictly in the past. And this one in particular would be a great start for anyone who hasn’t read much, especially those who haven’t read historical fiction set so far back into the past. Eliza and Nella’s stories were the ones I wanted more of but Caroline’s marriage struggles were the parts that drew the most emotion from me. If anyone who has read this wants to chat about that lady’s husband, I am ready to rant.
Overall, I think the change in perspectives and timelines helped moved this story along relatively quickly and made it a fun read.

The Lost Apothecary does not disappoint. Told from the viewpoint of 3 different women spanning 200 years of time. Each story centers around an Apothecary set in London. You will be swept away by each characters' story and how they all discover their own strengths in times of pain and adversity. Present day introduces us to Caroline, on a trip to London what was supposed to be her anniversary trip. Then we meet Nella in the 1700's and Eliza as the Apothecary Owner and client. Each story intersects despite the years between them. Highly recommended. Thank you #NetGalley and #Harlequin for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

You won't regret getting lost in this book! The lives of three women in different points in time intersect in this mysterious and insightful debut story. Each character unfolds before us as we learn about their relationship to the Apothecary and the decisions that they make because of it. Set in London, there is plenty for the anglophile and native British reader to enjoy. At it's heart this is a romance novel, about the people these women choose to love and how they learn to love themselves and honor their own existence.

As a debut novel, Sarah Penner has a hit in The Lost Apothecary. This wonderful dual timeline novel follows the life Nella, an 18th century apothecary who caters to women in need of poisons to rid themselves of the overbearing men in their lives. Meanwhile, Caroline Parcewell finds herself alone in present-day London rather than with her husband, celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary. While out one day, she finds a clue that will lead her on a historical hunt to find out all she can about the apothecary – who she was, what she did, and what happened to her. The unforgettable characters add to this suspense-filled story. I highly recommend this captivating, beautifully written novel.

This is an impressive book for a debut novel! The writing is concise and flows well, weaving back and forth between time periods and characters. The characters are all believable and sympathetic and I liked characters from both time periods equally- something that seems to rarely happen in this type of multi-time period book.

The two stories fit together well and end in a surprising - but fairly satisfying manner. I'll be looking for Penner's next book for sure!

The Lost Apothecary is a beautiful historic fiction blended with present-day problems.

Caroline is in London on what is supposed to be an anniversary trip. When she finds out her husband is cheating on her, she takes the trip by herself to put some distance between them. A chance activity leaves Caroline with an old vial with only a bear engraved on it. This leads Caroline to find the story of Nella, an apothecary working in 1791. Nella does more than tinctures and medicines; she also helps women kill the men who have wronged them. Nella's world is thrown upside down by a young girl who wants to learn from her.

I loved the picture of historic London Sarah Penner creates. The book transport you back in time and looks at the grey area of medicines and poisons. When are women justified in taking justice in their own hands? Should this be a legacy or should everything stop with Nells? And, yes, I found the historical sections of the book more compelling than the present-day section.

I rarely comment on covers, but this one is beautiful. The dark but vibrant colors pull you in. The flowers, beetle, and vial are important visuals for the story, The fonts work well during time periods in the book. I knew I wanted to read this book just by the cover and enjoyed how it foreshadowed the story.

Sadly, the ending wasn't my favorite. It goes from a rich story to a stereotypical almost fantasy ending. I am so tired of the story of the middle-aged woman who is cheated on and must find herself. It's not like infidelity is the only reason for divorce. But I do like that it wasn't fettered by an insanely fast replacement relationship.

Beautifully written, The Lost Apothecary is great even with the too “perfect” ending.

4.5 / 5 stars

I don't know, maybe five stars. I LOVED this book.

Following the discovery of her husband's infidelity, Caroline is spending her 10th anniversary alone in London reconsidering the choices that got her to this point in her life. A chance encounter leads her to a historical mystery, a serial killer that was never identified.

Admittedly, historical fiction is easily my favorite genre, so I was likely a little biased going in. But I really loved the messaging around the empowerment of women, and the dressing down of the men who mistreated them, even if it did involve a little poison (DISCLAIMER: I do NOT condone murder as a means of holding men accountable for their bad behavior).

Caroline's journey back to herself feels really natural if maybe a little cheesy (to be fair, I do love cheese). I thought the characters were really well developed and I appreciate how the story moved between the two time periods. The individual stories tied in together so the switch from the past to the present was also really natural.

Overall I really enjoyed this one. Thank you Netgalley and HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.