Dual time lines tell two different stories about women finding their way and purpose. As our modern heroine is questioning her life choices, she stumbles upon a lost apothecary shop and book in London. While she solves the mystery of the lost apothecary she begins to understand herself and discover what she wants. Her story alternates with the story of the apothecary and a young girl who lived two hundred years ago and looks at the choices they made. As a reader, you become engrossed in the what will happen in both timelines. While occasionally the two story approach can slow the plot, overall it was a good read, with characters you can become invested in.

In the beginning of the ARC a quote notes that this book is one of those that you can't put down. "Oh-ho, high praise." I thought. And here I am, 2 days after beginning this book and I have finished. This is my first book I have completed since C-19 lockdown that wasn't a DNF. I have been revitalized.

I generally dislike those books that jump from perspective to perspective. They are either hard to follow, the characters are all the same or the story just isn't deep enough to support it. The Lost Apothecary had none of those issues.

Is this book going to change the world? No. Is it a fun journey of coincidence or fate? Yes. Do you root for the characters to get their shit together? Oh yes. Is the journey, as well as the ending, something worth your time? Most definitely. I would fully recommend this. It's a mostly clean read with [SPOILERS AHEAD]


the theme and continuous mention of losing a child. There is also themes and continuous mention of cheating/affairs.

For fans of The Discovery of Witches or The Thirteenth Tale, this debut features multiple narrators and a dual timeline as three women all search for meaning in their lives. Fast-paced and well-researched with fabulous descriptions of herbs and their uses.

In the present day, Claire uncovers her husband's affair just before they're supposed to leave on an anniversary trip to London. She decides to go on the trip alone to figure out what's next for her.

Nella is an 18th-century apothecary who serves only women clients. She seeks to heal her heartbreak caused by her lover's betrayal by helping other women. Even when that means offering them poison for the cruel, abusive men in their lives.

Eliza is a young maid whose mistress sends her to Nella for a poison to kill the master of the house.

Mudlarking on a whim, Claire finds an apothecary's vial and starts researching it, twining together her story with Nella and Eliza's.

This lush debut has me eager for more!

I read this book while sick in bed with food poisoning and it was such a welcome respite from feeling like crud! This fast-paced, intriguing book is full of lush characters, descriptive settings, and brilliant story telling. Dual narratives in dual time periods can be hard to do but this was flawlessly executed. Ultimately, this story is about two women over 300 years apart who are finding their ways back to themselves. Highly recommended for an engaging, quick read!

Fair warning: Normally I don't mind blood and guts. Doesn't bother me. Except when it is all about menstruation. But, if you can get beyond that, this is a women's story that braids three strands of womanhood together from first blood (cringe), to croning, but each stage of a woman's life offers a place of perspective that is an awakening of herself. Each stage is its own kind of beautiful.
Beyond this tribute to the feminine, there's also a mystery of a small apothecary bottle discovered in a place of fate. There's a poetic line that asks each of us to look for the patterns to find the place where it changes, that is where the moment of discovery happens. Don't allow life to go on without you . . . there's a place for each of us on the continuously turning wheel, and The Lost Apothecary gives wisdom to what happens when we seek to alter fate. There is given and take, what we do to ourselves and what happens to us, but to each moment there is a purpose.

I adored this story! I tend to like books that have multiple POV, as well as books that take place in multiple times, this story had both. The reader jumps back and forth between 1791 and present day London, and the story is told from the POV of 3 women .

The idea of locating an item that is over 200 years old is fascinating to me, and that is precisely what starts Caroline's search for answers. During her search Caroline does some self searching as well. I definitely lost sleep because I didn't want to stop reading this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy.
I give the book 4.5 stars (with taking back an half a star for a little bit not polished ending part).
It was a big pleasure to read this book. The Lost Apothecary was a captivating journey trough time , beautifully written, with addictive atmosphere. The book grasped me in reading just from the start. The author's way of leading the story was very subtle making a reader compassionate and fully understanding actions and feeling of the characters.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this amazing book!! I absolutely loved it! It was exactly the kind of historical fiction that I enjoy reading: focused on unknown individuals and their contributions to the time period in which they lived, rather than well known historical figures. The characters and the storyline gave me a clear understanding of the time period of the late 18th century, and I loved the focus on female characters and their interactions. I also loved the timeline switching between past and present, and the ways in which Caroline's story in the present intertwined with Nella's and Eliza's stories in the past. It was fun discovering more about the characters through both their own narrative voices and through the the eyes of others. This is a beautifully written, beautifully crafted book, and I highly recommend it, both to lovers of historical fiction and to anyone else who loves a delicious mystery filled with great character building.

Loved this book! Very talented debut author. Dual timelines follows the history of a 1700's apothecary that catered to the needs of women who had been wronged by their man. You won't predict the ending!
If you like Alice Hoffman or Erin Morgenstern this book is for you!

Nella is an apothecary in 1791 in London who secretly helps women poison men. She refuses to take part in any harm to other women. Eliza is 12 years old when she comes to the apothecary shop and unknowingly finds herself involved in a plot to poison someone's mistress. Nella and Eliza must figure out how to extricate themselves from the plot and the chaos that ensues.

In present day, Caroline is looking forward to a trip to London to celebrate her 10 year anniversary when she finds out her husband has been cheating on her. She sets out for the anniversary trip alone instead. After arriving in London, she goes on a walking tour and finds a vial in the mud on the River Thames. Caroline puts her former research skills to work to find out the origins of the vial.

Each chapter is told from the POV of one of the 3 main characters, jumping back and forth between Nella and Eliza's shenanigans in 1791 and Caroline's soul searching and research in the present time. I got a lot of Kate Morton vibes with this book, which I love.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sarah Penner's The Lost Apothecary is a love letter to everyday women's history. The alternate perspectives shift between 1791 with world-worn apothecary Nella and her accidental apprentice Eliza to contemporary London, where American traveler Caroline is spending her tenth wedding anniversary apart from her unfaithful husband. When Caroline finds a blue bottle engraved with a bear etching on the banks of the Thames, it leads her down a frenzied path as she hunts down a mysterious apothecary murderer in the archives and the streets of London. The truth reveals itself to readers along with Caroline, with Nella's and Eliza's chapters filling in the gaps of Caroline's research. The 1791 plot bubbles with the energy of a brewing potion, and Caroline's desperation to find fulfillment through these women's pasts is a profound and relevant way to explore the societal pressures for women in our own society.

[4/5: Great historical fiction that showed Penner's true appreciation for social history. My only issue with the novel was Caroline's approach to research (her reliance on Google made me desperate to help her improve her information literacy and historical research skills!!!). But she did ask a librarian for help, and she happened to be a great character! :-) This was a really engaging read, one that readers of historical fiction and even mysteries or fantasy will enjoy.]

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner. Fast moving story involving mystery and revenge from three different POVs, two in the past and one in the presents. Highlights the history of London and also interesting information on herbs and their usage.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

This was a very entertaining book that did keep me guessing on what was next.

I really enjoyed the herbals and women's relationships.

Good read. I like a book that has two linked stories that are very easy to keep up with. I especially enjoyed the parts in the British Museum.

A fresh and interesting book, The Lost Apothecary is a wonderful story. The mystery was interesting and kept me hooked, and the characters were lovely, especially those from the past.

It was a lot of fun reading about the plants and their various uses, nefarious or otherwise. Jumping back and forth between present and historical doesn't always work for me but there was a nice balance in this story: you ended up wanting to learn more about each character who all had nice resolutions to their stories.

Three heroines and one riveting story about poisons, revenge, and courage. The Lost Apothecary is a  page-turner from debut author, Sarah Penner. 
Travel back in time to 1791 where the actions of Nella, an, apothecary who makes poisons for women who wish reparation against men that have wronged them and her helper ,twelve year old Eliza, are uncovered 200 years later by Caroline, a woman traveling to London after learning of her husband’s infidelity. As these three women's lives become intertwined, they find an inner strength and resilience.

I definitely recommend buying this  fast-paced, highly enjoyable book that will keep you guessing until the very last page. A special thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin  for sending me an e-ARC.

Lovely story which kept me reading late into the night. Unexpected twists and turns. I'm so glad I got to read this book!

Great mix of feminism, old london and new london. Interesting mystery, but well played in the end. I thought the younger female character was the brightest star in the book. And i loved the librarian!

A unique, well written, historical fiction told from 3 point of views. The timeline alternates between Nella and Eliza from 1791, and Caroline in present day London.

Nella is an apothecary who lives in secret, making poisons only intended for women to kill men who hurt them. Eliza only 12 years old helps Nella at her shop, and Caroline is a woman traveling to London alone after the discovery of her husband’s infidelity. With the help of an employee at the British Library, Caroline pieces together a 200 year old mystery. Though at different stages of their lives, these 3 women are intertwined, finding strength within their own circumstances.

This novel would be an excellent choice for book clubs. If you love history and research check this one out!
A special thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC.