This was a well written book that is told by three different characters. It has a dual time line and both were really interesting. It was a quick book for me . I really enjoyed it!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

Once again, we have an historical fiction using the split time period device. And once again, I was not taken by the present day story. The historic story grabbed me. It’s 1791 and Nella is a woman’s apothecary, providing formulas for all sorts of women’s problems, especially problem men. When 12 year old Eliza is sent to her shop for a “remedy”, they form a friendship. Unfortunately, it’s not long before a client seeks to violate one of Nella’s rules (harm no women) and everything is put at risk.
Caroline is the character from the present day. She’s come to London on what should have been her tenth anniversary trip. But she just caught her husband cheating, so instead she’s on her own. While mudlarking, she finds an antique apothecary’s bottle and her interest is piqued. Caroline seems nothing more than a means to advance Nella’s story. Caroline herself is the typical story of a woman growing into her own independence.
I had one other problem with this historical fiction. I want my historical fiction to be as much a lesson where I learn about a time or place, as a good story. I didn’t feel I really learned anything here. It’s a decent story and if that’s all you want, it does the trick. It’s a quick bit of entertainment. I would have preferred a story that delved deeper into the characters, especially Nella. The endings for both stories seem contrived and the pieces of the story fall too easily in place. Oh, if only my historic research was as easy as Caroline’s!
I both read and listened to this book. The writing lacked a meaningful difference in the voices, despite a 200+ year difference in time. The narrators made up for this a little, and I give them credit for bringing the characters to life.
My thanks to netgalley, Harper Audio and Harlequin Books for advance copies of this story.

4.25 Enchanting Stars!

“The best apothecary is the one who knows intimately the despair felt by her patient…”

RELEASE DATE - March 2, 2021

As soon as I read the blurb for this book (and saw that gorgeous cover), I was immediately intrigued. The idea of a lost apothecary buried in the walls of London that catered to a secret network of women was fascinating to me.

The story is told in three different POVs that take place between two distinct timelines - one is modern day with Caroline Parcewell who is an American with a love for history, travelling to London for what was supposed to be her tenth wedding anniversary, where she makes a HUGE discovery. The second timeline takes us back to 18th century London where we meet Nella, who runs the lost apothecary, and Eliza, a twelve-year-old girl who is asked to...umm, procure some goods from The Lost Apothecary shop.

The writing was strong and the book read like one written by a seasoned author rather than a debut. Penner’s writing style lent a mysterious mood to the story. It was elegant and flowed well.

I was engaged in this story the entire time and NEEDED to know just what the heck was going on here. Why did the shop exist? How? What happened to Nella to make her end up in this profession? Why was it "lost" in the past? The story unfolds gradually and these two storylines begin to weave together in some pretty incredible ways. I LOVED the parallels to the 18th century storyline that Caroline's character found herself in.

“The best apothecary is the one who knows intimately the despair felt by her patient…”

This book was unique to probably anything I've ever read/listened to before. There was a pretty good amount of suspense and mystery to it, along with the historical piece. I wouldn't say it's "dark," per se, but it has some definite edge to it.

“Vengeance is its own medicine.”

The last 25% or so is intense and unputdownable. This was also a story that took female unity to a whole new level, and I loved that about it. Not gonna lie, a couple of ex boyfriends come to mind who I would've LOVED to have had this little shop for....kidding! (Kinda..lol!)

I do wish the author would’ve delved further into the backstories on more of the shop's targets (we did get this on a few and I gobbled it up!). And I wish we would gotten more at the end from the Nella/Eliza/18th century timeline. I also wish we would've gotten more on Eliza's love story, but I know that's just the romantic in me. Caroline and the modern-day storyline was definitely more character driven, whereas the 18th century storyline with Nella and Eliza was more plot driven.

All in all, this was an amazingly strong debut and a truly unique read about what lies in the past, finding the truth, magic, revenge, and friendship.

"The hardest truths never rest on the surface..."


An ARC was provided by Harper Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Y'all this was so good!!! I consumed it within a day and I don't know to articulate how I feel. I thought wasn't going to like the switching timelines, but near the end I couldn't help but get excited when it switched from present to past.
Only real thing that have nit pick about is I wanted this to be way longer than it was and learn more about Eliza.

What an unforgettable story! The intertwining tales of Nella, the apothecary in the 1700s, and Caroline in the present day had me turning pages as fast as I could to find out what happened next. The characters were wonderfully written, and the story well-plotted. I finished it quickly and had to take a breather before starting another book. Excellent read!

I was immediately drawn into this one by the cover, it's stunning! The story itself kept my interest and I enjoyed the journey. I liked the premise of women in the 1700's forging their own path and how it wasn't completely historical as we had our present day main character with her own struggles.

Historical fiction is my favorite genre and I'm particularly interested in novels with dual timelines. There's something so wonderful about immersing oneself in the past and then stepping back into present day. An excellent writer crafts both settings with skill and takes readers on a roller coaster of a journey that always leaves you anticipating the next step for each character and how their stories converge across the years. With The Lost Apothecary, Sarah Penner has succeeded in creating a compelling story of three women, separated by more than two centuries, with personal struggles that cause them to make decisions with life changing consequences. Nella, an apothecary for women, dispenses poisons meant for men only. Her secret workshop, hidden down a dark 1790s London alleyway, is known by word of mouth alone, Women desiring to be liberated from malignant men seek her out for the 'cure' to what ails them. One late afternoon a new patron, 12 year old Eliza Fanning, arrives to collect a poison for her employer. This meeting of Nella and Eliza just might be the beginning of the end for both women. Caroline Parcewell arrives in present day London expecting to celebrate her 10th anniversary with her husband James, except that James has been uninvited on this trip because Caroline has learned about his recent infidelity. Emotionally bruised and insecure, Caroline walks the streets of London without the joy she anticipated. A chance meeting takes her to the muddy banks of the Thames where she discovers a tiny blue vial etched with what appears to be a bear on it - her spirit, confidence and independence is renewed as she seeks to find out the history behind the vial. With optimism, she begins her quest for answers - from the past and for her future. Perhaps a touch melodramatic at times but unexpected twists reward the reader in this most satisfying feminist tale of the strength of women to persevere and continue to forge ahead for the future they desire. This novel will be a recommendation in the Spring New Release Reading Guide for Biggest Little Library Podcast!
Thank you to NetGalley for the Advance Reader Copy - I loved it! Thank you to Park Row / Harper Collins for seeing this book to publication!

The Last Apothecary is told in dual time-lines, which span centuries. At first, seemingly unconnected storylines of Nella who runs a secret apothecary which helps women rid themselves of untoward men, and Caroline who is on her 10 year anniversary trip alone, begin to intermingle . Caroline happens upon an empty vial with an interesting mark on it and as she begin to unravel the “apothecary murders”, we find out from Nella, and her unexpected partner, 12 year old Eliza how the vial ended up where it did. A completely engrossing atmospheric read, this will keep you hooked right to the end!

Present day: Caroline goes to London on her tenth anniversary trip unexpectedly alone. After figuring out that her husband has cheated on her, she takes this trip to heal. The history major in her gives into a whim to go mudlarking and digs through the mud of a London riverbed. When she finds a curious looking vial with the faintest etching of a bear on it, she’s determined to figure out where this vial came from.
1791: Nella is an apothecary who assists women in taking care of men who have wronged them. She provides the poison and instructions on how to best prepare it. A string of events lead to her having an unexpected apprentice who throws herself into the work headfirst.
These dueling timelines will have readers looking for parallels between the stories Part historical fiction, mystery, and thriller, this genre-bender will have readers on the edge of their seats.

The two parallel stories of two women divided by hundreds of years in this novel both keep your attention as the suspense builds. This will be a hit for fans of historical fiction.

It’s 1791 and Nella doesn’t run just any apothecary. She sells poisons to women for use against the men that have done them wrong. Her only rules are that the poison cannot be used on a woman, and the name of the murderer and their victim must be logged in her registry. In present day, Caroline is working to heal her broken heart by going on her anniversary trip alone. She finds an old apothecary vial, and is reignited in her love of investigating as she tries to find the history of a 200+ year old vial.

This book pulled me in from page one. I feel like there are a lot of female badass killers books coming out these days and I am totally here for it! Normally when I am reading a book with dual timelines I have one timeline I prefer and get excited to get back to. I have to say with this one, I didn’t have a favorite! Both timelines and stories were so fascinating, every time it changed I was sad to leave the other storyline behind! I have to say from the beginning I was not a fan of Carolines husband, and I became less and less of a fan as the book went on! I almost wish Nella was still around to end him! Overall, this was a fantastic debut and I can’t wait to see what Sarah Penner does next!

Please excuse me as I scream into the void about how much I absolutely fucking loved this book.

A dual-timeline narrative? My favorite.

The phrase ‘unsolved apothecary murders’? Oh my god, tell me more, right now, immediately.

An angel of death disguised as a middle-aged, arthritic apothecary who sells poisons so women can murder the terrible men in their lives? Talk about an idol.

A spunky, fierce 12 year old sidekick? Perfect.

The introduction of mudlarking into my life? Great, now I absolutely need to find a mudlarking club as soon as humanly possible.

The writing was engaging, the characters were lovably flawed, and the plot sinks its hooks into you and refuses to let you go until you’ve finally read the words ‘the end’. This book was a journey and it’s one I’m so glad to have gone on.

Told in dual storylines, this book left me completely mesmerized and spellbound! Such beautiful writing, a terrific story and engaging characters.
Note: I was granted access to both the ebook and audio and chose to go with the audio.
Thank you so much!

Thank you NetGalley, Sarah Penner, and Harlequin Books for allowing me to read this ARC.
-- Shared review from the audiobook as I used both format when reading. ----

Nella runs an apothecary in 1790s London that formerly belonged to her mother; although, she has changed the purpose of the apothecary after a former lover used her substances against her. Now, she runs the apothecary to help women (and the poisons are only used on men). Eliza, a young farm girl, works as a servant for a wealthy couple, and she meets Nella when the wife sends her to collect a poison. A unique friendship is formed between Nella and Eliza as life experiences and knowledge are shared. In current day London, Caroline is on an anniversary trip, alone, when she finds a glass vial while mudlarking in the River Thames. As the book unfolds, the characters discover the power of secrets, the importance of friendships, and how to be true to themselves in a world that often revolves around men. While I loved the unique storyline of this book and thought the character development was great, I wish the author would have included more facts about the poisons that were commonly used during this time as this information often felt a bit underdeveloped.

I read this book using predominately the audiobook, but I did switch over to the ebook some. I love historical fiction, and I thought the dual narratives were done quite well. In terms of the audiobook, I liked that the narrator noted the character and timeframe (day/year) at the beginning of each chapter as this makes it much easier to follow the dual timelines! In addition, the narrators did a great job telling the story of Nella, Eliza, and Caroline with the necessary emotion and emphasis. However, Nella's narrator spoke much slower than the other narrators. So, while I listened to Eliza & Caroline on speed 1.25, I needed to hasten Nella to 1.5 to keep the same pace.

I finished this book in a day it was that good. And look at that cover! It's gorgeous. Heres my review:

I love dual timeline books and The Lost Apothecary did not disappoint. This book is told from the point of view of three women. Nella and Eliza from the 1790's London and modern day American Caroline on a trip to London.

Nella runs a hidden apothecary shop that sells poisons to women in need of ridding themselves of troublesome men in their lives. After running this shop for roughly two decades she meets 12 year old curious Eliza and forms a friendship. The chapters narrated by Nella and Eliza tell the story of how the Apothecary shop came to be and how it came to its end.

Caroline is on a trip to London that was supposed to be her 10th anniversary trip with her husband. Days before they depart for London she learns he has had an affair and so she chooses to go to London on her own to try and make sense of her life and marriage. While there she discovers a glass vial while on a mudlarking tour that sends her down the path of a historian that she abandoned when she got married. While researching she finds clues that tell about the Apothecary killer and eventually finds the Apothecary itself untouched for 200 years.

The story really picked up about half way through. Each chapter is told from the point of view of each woman and the end of each chapter left you wanting to know more. I finished the book quickly because couldn't put it down!

Solid historical/contemporary dual storylines. The action dragged a bit at the 2/3 mark, and I would have liked more descriptive details, but an enjoyable read overall.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I love historical fiction, I love a good mystery, and I LOVE angsty female avenger tropes :)

This is definitely a genre-defying book. While it is clearly historical fiction, and CLEARLY meticulously researched, it had some thriller vibes while reading. To me, this just had a much faster pace than typical historical fiction.

This story follows 3 different women's storylines and how they all connect, even over more than 200 years. I love the way this was written, and how unapologetically feminist the story was. While I had trouble relating to to the characters (especially Caroline, the one from modern day) I was engrossed in all their stories and needed to know what happened to them.

My only critique here is that I could have done with a bit more darkness. The idea of a secret apothecary serial killer who only helps to kill bad men - AMAZING. I would have preferred a bit more insight into these bad men and how they met their end. BUT, I imagine the average reader might not be as twisted as I am....

I definitely recommend this book if you like historical fiction/mysteries and are looking for something unique, and I DEFINITELY recommend this book if Hannah was your favorite character in Dexter ;) IYKYK

The dual timeline takes place in the 1790's and present day London. Caroline has arrived in London on a 10 year anniversary trip on her own, after finding out her husband was having an affair. After trying out 'mudlarking', she finds an old apothecary vial. She goes to the British Library to investigate the origin of this lost apothecary.
We meet Nelly, an apothecary in the 1790's who dispenses poisons which must never be used against women. Twelve year old Eliza comes to her on behalf of her mistress.
I really enjoyed how Sarah Penner wove the stories of the three heroines together. It was fast-paced, with strong characters and wonderful descriptions of 1790's London.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#TheLostApothecary #NetGalley

I liked the premise of the story and the historical storyline. As happens often with dual timeline novels, one timeline was better than the other; in this case, I felt like the story happening in the present was not as interesting and not even necessary. Too often both storylines were bogged down by over-explanation of the characters' every boring thought and their reasoning which could have been inferred. I don't typically get too hung up on accuracy of historical details, but was struck by the unlikelihood of a maid entering a home through the front door. That seems like a pretty careless and obvious error. I am really interested in historical fiction like this that tells the stories of ordinary people, but overall this one ended up being kind of disappointing.

The Lost Apothecary follows three narrators, Caroline, Nella, and Eliza. Caroline is in the present time, investigating the story of Nella the apothecary and her young friend Eliza, who lived in the late 18th century. While Caroline is learning about their story, she is coping with complications in her own life and finding some odd similarities between her life and the other two women. This book is beautifully written. The style of switching back and forth between time periods and narrators makes it a hard book to put down. The characters and the setting were well developed, which made for a fantastic debut novel.