okay wow! Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. If it were not for receiving this through netgalley Im not sure when I would have gotten around to reading it and I would have missed out on a new favorite!

I adore Penner's writing style. It is cozy and mystical and enticing all in the same story.

I listened to the audio book and the narrators are incredible. Would recommend to all!

3.5 stars. The Lost Apothecary is an enticing debut about a well-respected healer turned poisoner of oppressive men. Nella will only provide poisons to women who will poison men who are causing harm to them. Following in her mother;'s footsteps, Nella only serves women but unlike her mother, she sells poisons to other women. Those poisons must never be used against another woman until Nella finds herself in a situation that forces her to do just that, create a poison that will harm a woman. It is this situation that entwines 3 lives together. The story switches between two time periods, the late 1700s in which Nella lived and the present-day life of an aspiring historian named Caroline. Caroline makes a discovery that draws her into researching an apothecary killer.

I think this is a strong debut because the author manages to entwine 3 POVs and two time-periods in such an interesting way. I found the story to be very engaging with the only drawback being Nella's narrator was extremely slow-spoken. I had to speed up the narration each time she was speaking. I do believe this style of speaking was intentional and supposed to be a reflection of Nella's character. I can imagine her behaving in a slow and precise manner since she worked with poisons. I would've liked to have seen a bit more fast-paced action in this book but that's just a matter of preference and not a flaw in the story.

The Lost Apothecary is a very solid debut novel from Sarah Penner. She uses the duel timelines well and the way that Eliza, Nella, and Caroline's experiences overlap and blend together creating a very intriguing story. I found myself relating a lot to all three characters (though less so to Eliza as she's only 12) and could find periods in my life where I have felt like all three women. The audio narration itself could be a bit plodding at times, though for Nella especially this is also a character trait, Overall I enjoyed the story and loved the imagery that Penner included.

The Lost Apothecary, by Sarah Penner, was my first experience listening to a fiction audiobook. I have listened to biographies narrated by the author, but never to a fiction novel.

With that being said, I find it only fair to say that listening to this much anticipated book, instead of actually reading it, for me,  was the wrong route to take.

I feel that listening to the descriptive text does not enhance the experience, it does not invigorate the imagination, and does not do the book justice.

At heart I am a book lover. I want printed text that I can hold in my hands. I want to smell the pages, feel the words and dream the story.

What I enjoyed most about the story was the triple narrative and the two time lines. However, there were times when I felt that the language was a bit juvenile and that the book was written for a younger audience.

In all I would say that The Lost Apothecary was a story about sacrifice and courage, and finding ones true self. And I would recommend this book as a YA fiction and give it a 3/5☆ rating.

"No matter the underlying betrayal, no woman would suffer at my hands... This shop is meant to help and heal women, not harm them.

Sarah Penner's debut novel, The Lost Apothecary, is a masterfully-woven tale, told in dual timelines and from varying perspectives, about a female apothecary who lived in the late 1700s, secretly dispensing both remedies that would heal women of various ailments, and poisons that would help rid them of the men in their lives who had wronged them.

"Killing and secret-keeping had done this to me. It had begun to rot me from the inside out."

In 1791, an unexpected partnership between Nella, the apothecary, and 12-year-old Eliza Fanning, a lady's maid in a nearby estate, has unintended consequences and threatens to reveal all of Nella's secrets. In the present-day timeline, Caroline Parcewell is reeling after learning of her husband's infidelity, when she makes the amazing discovery of "the lost apothecary." But she's not entirely prepared for the consequences of her discovery...

"I now stood at a crossroads, and I didn’t dare look back at the road behind me - the road littered with monotony, complacency, and other people’s expectations."

This was such a delightful read to get lost in! Packed with history, drama, and intrigue, I fell in love with The Lost Apothecary right away. Sarah Penner creates an immersive setting, especially in the 1700s timeline, weaving in just enough details to make you feel like you're there, without adding so much that it slows down the pacing. And she knows just when to jump to the next character's perspective - I felt like she ended nearly every section on a cliffhanger, building anticipation at every turn!

"The things a person most wanted to say were often the things they should keep tucked away inside."

Penner's debut work explores themes like loss, betrayal, women supporting women, and the need to take responsibility for our own healing. I had high hopes for this book, based on the stunning cover art and intriguing synopsis, and it did not disappoint.

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A huge thank-you to Sarah Penner, Harper/Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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Caroline Parcewell does not know what to do next. An American in London, she finds herself wandering the streets of the big city. This was supposed to have been a celebratory trip with her husband. They had planned to see all the sights they had always wanted to see in celebration of their ten-year anniversary. Caroline also hoped that their baby would be conceived here, during the celebration. However, since she found out her husband’s secret, she came alone, telling him that she needed space. That is when a mud larking tour guide invites her on an excursion, a search for treasures washed up by the Thames. With nothing better to do, Caroline accepts his invitation and finds a long-lost artifact that starts her life on a new path, reawakening within her a long-lost dream.

Narrated by three persons, this mystery unfolds enticingly for both the reader and for Caroline. This book is about how women support women through life’s trials. The characters are realistic and endearing. The settings are vivid and provide an enveloping background for the reader. This valuable book has a few awesome messages.

I was given the audio book for review by netgalley. The characters chosen for each part were perfect. They made the book really come alive!

I like the premise of the book. A young woman, a historian by education , who has recently discovered her husband's infidelity goes to London. On a mudlarking tour in the Thames, she discovers a relic and embarks on a quest to discover its history. So far, so good. This takes us to the alternate timeline where we follow Eliza, a young woman in the employ of an upper class couple, and Nella, an apothecary known for helping women with potions to stop, let's just call them, creepy men. Again, so far, so good. About halfway through the book I realized that other than Eliza, none of the characters are likeable. The story bogs down and becomes unbelievable on several points in the current day timeline.

The hardest part for me was the voice the narrator chose for the apothecary, Nella. It was so annoying that I had a hard time listening to it. It seemed to get worse as it went along. Not being mean, just honest. We finally get back to solving the mystery with the clue, object, etc. revealed only to have the explanation spoon-fed to the reader. Ugh. It did have some nice twists at the end. That is the only thing that saved the story for me. Caroline's character is one-dimensional and the conclusion to her story is not realistic.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Audio for the Advanced Listener's copy in exchange for my review.

#netgalley #harperaudio #bookstagram #thelostapothecary #sarahpenner

This was a duel timeline story set in the 1790s and present time. It was interesting how the two storylines twined together as the story progressed-different but also with similarities. The book was paced well and kept my interest. Although I did like this book, I thought it needed more connection between the past and present. I did like the author’s writing style and look forward to check out any future books.

This has the good stuff that makes me pick up a book... strange female murderers with a cause, dysfunctional families on vacation, creepy 18th century back alley London settings, mudlarking, recipes for noxious tinctures and a librarian.

The Lost Apothecary is a dual time story in London switching between the late 1700’s and our current time. In the 1700’s we spend time with Nella, the owner of a small apothecary whose main business is whipping up poisons for women to distribute to their male abusers. In the current time we hang out with Caroline, who is on her celebratory anniversary vacation (sans husband) and stumbles upon an old apothecary bottle. You can see the connection.

This is an entertaining story with some sweet historical action going on. It is a page turner! (I audiobooked it, so it’s a time turner). There were some places were I thought the characters seemed a bit too naive. Me: “Why are these complex women not seeing the obvious? Hello? No way are you going to do that. That was brainless. You just did it again!”

It was an enjoyable read. I am really looking forward to more by Sarah Penner.

Thank you so much Harper Audio, Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for providing me an ARC version of this book in exchange for my honest review.

#TheLostApothecary #NetGalley

The Lost Apothecary is quite a journey! A journey through modern and Georgian-era London, a journey through the life of a woman in the era of absolute patriarchy, and a journey through a rocky marriage.

The story is quite engaging, and moves quickly. The characters are generally likeable, except for the ones that aren't supposed to be. And underneath it all is the old and majestic city of London, as important a character as any in this tale.

Great narration moves the story along, and the journey is a pleasant one indeed.

This has been named one of the most anticipated books of 2021 and I can see why!

I listened to the audiobook and when I hit play and went about my grocery shopping I definitely didn't expect to be HOOKED while I was still in the produce section. Narrated by three different women, which I think is really engaging, they all do a fantastic job bringing their character to life.

Nella was especially superb, she's the woman behind the hidden apothecary who helps women deal with the men who wrong them. In the present-day storyline, Caroline is discovering the history of the apothecary in the midst of navigating her own personal crisis.

Sarah Penner does a fantastic job in her debut, creating a very female-forward historical fiction novel. She leaves you wanting more as you flip between timelines often, driving you to turn the page (or in my case, keep listening). There were even a few twists that I didn't see coming as well!

I could totally see this as Reese's Book Club or Book of the Month pick when this comes out March 2nd!

Special thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for an advanced reader copy of this audiobook!

“The Lost Apothecary” is a highly anticipated debut coming out in March 2021. So I leapt at the chance to review the audiobook. And it was a fun way to spend a Friday afternoon.

It’s a 18th century historical fiction mystery mixed with a modern-day storyline. The link between the two worlds is an apothecary vile found along the Thames River.

The American Caroline Parcewell is on a solo vacation in London to find herself when she unexpectedly finds an ancient vile. Suddenly it’s much easier to forget that her husband cheated on her and she thrusts herself into solving a mystery. Who owned the vile? What was it used for? And how did it get into the Thames?

Then we go back a few hundred years to meet Nella, the owner of a secret apothecary shop who only mixes up potions and poisons for scorned women. We meet several of Nella’s clients and a lovely young girl, Eliza, who becomes her apprentice.

Overall, “The Lost Apothecary” is a clever, easy-to-listen to story with enjoyable, head-strong female characters. As the blurb says, we follow the “remarkable ways women can save each other despite the barrier of time.”

I enjoyed listening to the characters portrayed by the narrators Lorna Bennett, Lauren Anthony and Lauren Irwin.

Special thanks to Harlequin Audio for the advanced copy of the audiobook, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Such an interesting and unique concept for a novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is so well-written I wouldn't have guessed it's a debut novel.

A very interesting book. I loved how the chapters went between past and present. So much detail it made me feel as though I were there. There were a couple questions I wished had been answered but it didn’t take away from the story. Also I wish a character or two from early in the book had been revisited but that just goes to show how great the author’s character development is when even minor characters matter.

I listened to the audio version and quite enjoyed the narrators. They added a depth to each character.

The story of three women and how their lives intertwine, one in present day and the two others in the 1700s. I really appreciated the use of three different narrators for the characters, as it really helped feel more engaged as I was listening.
These women all struggle with who they are and what they want to be in very different ways. And there is no wrong way to live a woman's life.

I really liked this book, although I had thought the apothecary angle would be good to teach history and the progression if medicine through time. Although ultimately I felt that the poison angle would probably be inappropriate k-12..

As an adult , I thought the book was fascinating and well written.. Some of the situations were implausible but it gave a more mystical feel to the book.

An apothecary turned murderess-by-proxy, Nella uses her craft to help the wronged women gain their revenge. Eliza, a 12-year-old who is sent to buy poison by her mistress becomes interested in learning the trade from Nella.
In the present day, Caroline finds an old, blue bottle that leads her down a path of discovery, both about Nella, Eliza, and herself.

I usually don't read or listen to multiple timeline books, but this one drew me in from the opening lines. Set in both the 1700s and present-day London, the story of three young women intermingles in unexpected ways. Every chapter kept me wondering what was going to happen next. I love the way that the author used both timelines to give you the complete story.

The only downside to the book was that, at times, it was confusing with the time jumps. Only at the end did everything come together to make sense. I am looking forward to more from this debut author!

Thanks go to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio, and Harper Audio for giving me access to the ARC for this book in exchange for my honest review.

“No woman would suffer at my hand.” - Nella

This is a review of the audiobook version of The Lost Apothecary. I am a frequently listener of books and always excited to get a good narrator, and here we get three great ones: Lorna Bennett as Nella, Lauren Anthony as Caroline Parcewell, and finally Lauren Irwin as Eliza.

But on to the book itself. Sarah Penner’s debut grabbed me at the first sentence and I could not put it down. The Lost Apothecary tells two stories, both of which span a week in time in London but two centuries apart: one in present time and one in 1791.

Both timelines are full of suspense. Nella is an 18th century apothecary shop owner that caters exclusively to women, and even helps them kill the men that oppress them. Nella is the strong female character that we all need, and her beliefs on women helping women is a breath of fresh air. One fateful day, a young girl named Eliza walks in to her shop and we are shuttled through a series of events that at first seem to follow an expected path but instead twist in ways that left me shocked.

Meanwhile, in present time Caroline is figuring out who she is as a person apart from her husband. Her tenth anniversary vacation to London has become a solo one. After unearthing a bottle with a mysterious etching she soon finds herself plunging into the history of Nella’s store. At first, Caroline’s story seems straightforward: one of playing detective and figuring out whether to stay with a cheating spouse. While this still would have lead to a good book, what made The Lost Apothecary a great one is that Caroline’s story was able to surprise me just as much as Nella and Eliza’s.

All in all, I highly recommend this book (and audiobook!) for those who love a page turner and need a book full of women helping women.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper/Harlequin Audio for this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warnings: discussions of miscarriage, assault, and suicide.

The Lost Apothecary is a dual timeline set in 18th-century London; Nelly is an apothecary who creates poisons for women to rid them of men. One day she meets 12 year old Eliza and never would Nella imagine this child is about to flip her world upside down. Present-day Caroline has been married to James for about 10 years when she discovers he is having an affair, so there goes her wish to carry his child. She runs away to London to figure things out when she stumbles on a very old vial that will lead her to Nella's abandoned apothecary.

I am disappointed by this read, I expected so much more: mystery, potions, vengeance, curses, slow and excruciating deaths,.. it fell a little flat to me.

The cover is gorgeous, the audio is ok. and I learned about mudlarking, which was a term I never heard of before. It is such a neat activity!

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for this AAC in exchange for my h9onest review.

One of the best dual-timeline books I've read. I typically avoid dual-timeline reads. I find myself putting up with the half of the story taking place in the present day to try and enjoy the historical part. And I'm usually disappointed.
This book was just too intriguing to resist. And I was far from disappointed. I enjoyed both time lines, the tie-in between them, and the historical mystery.
I received a copy of the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed the narration. There are three different readers for the three main characters, and I thought all of them were very engaging. It was a little distracting when one character would change their voice to say what another character said to them and it sounded so different from when that character actually speaks, but I still thought the audio was very well done.
The ending is a surprise, and absolutely satisfying - a resolution but with an air of mystery remaining.
I would definitely read more by Sarah Penner.