We all want to get lost in a bookshop, I do certainly. But what if it is the bookshop which is lost?

This dual timeline novel, switches between the present with Martha, running away from her abusive husband and finding solace as a housekeeper to Ms Bowden, a rather eccentric lady living in a big house.

In the past we meet Opaline, who is fleeing from her abusive brother and finds herself in Paris, in a book shop. The well-known ‘Shakespeare and Company’, she learns about the value books, the love of reading and finds herself back in her own magical bookshop.

Henry is the other main character in the book, in the present as PhD student, researching the missing manuscript of a well known dead author and convinced that the house of Ms Bowden is next door to a bookshop.

Not everything is as it seems in this book, and neither does it seem are the characters. There is some strong emotional scene played out and treated with a delicate nature that the author must be applauded. The magical realist aspect of the book was a surprise and whilst this is not normally a theme I would generally go to, I think because of the setting it worked really well.

Add to all of this is the strong setting of Dublin, Ireland which transports us to the modern university and the unpleasant past which Ireland is still coming to terms with. All of it the perfect setting for this story.

I was hooked, I was invested and I was waiting to see the how everyone grew in this story and whether the lost bookshop as ever to be found? But then did it even exist to begin with?

For those who enjoy bookshops, history and dual timeline novels then this is the book for you.

4.5/5. I wasn’t hooked I the first few chapters but, soon enough, I was invested and really interested in this book. It is a risk to generation-hop in a book but it mostly worked. I love the enchantment and mystical elements throughout the book - without giving spoilers there are a decent amount of supernatural happenings. The story is woven together nicely, though I did anticipate one of the twists earlier than the author probably hoped. Overall entertaining and could make a great movie or mini series. Thanks to Netgalley for the free arc in exchange for my review.

What a totally breathtaking read about a search for a missing bookshop and a mystery of a missing manuscript and what happened to the illusive Opaline. As Martha tries to rebuild her life helping care for an enigma of an old lady she meets Henry and together they set off to find the bookshop that Henry is convinced he saw in her new home and as things take a very unnatural twist can they get past their history to not only solve the mystery but also to bring comfort to each other, Its a beautiful read which will not only make you cry but also smile and bring some magic into your life.

Loved this book, in many ways. The author's skill full narrative construction ensures this book fast pace and the book will leave you stunned and wanting more.

This book is an interesting read with Evie’s story covering a range of timelines and themes. There are many elements including magical realism, however, this leads to some confusion with many details and events affecting the pace of the story. Alternating chapters and a mystery left me unsure at times.

I really wanted to love this ode to books and reading, especially with the literary references from the likes of the Brontë’s to Sally Rooney. Sadly, it just missed the mark for me but many are sure to find its connections to the power of books, hidden secrets in old bookshops and a twist of magical realism to their liking.

I adored this book. One of the best books I’ve read for a long time. Brilliant characters and I loved the bookshop. Highly recommended.

Thanks for letting me read this book but this wasn’t for me . This is a purely personal view ,I struggled to engage with this book

When people say "I want to curl up with a good book"... this is that book. It was so utterly charming and cosy. I love how the plot draws three people together through books and balances different points of view. Despite reading it during the summer, I wish it had been winter outside – it felt like a Christmas read. It's definetly an easy read but nevertheless had some lovely poignant moments. Certainly a book for book lovers

(Review on Waterstones, Amazon and Feautured on IG)

This book is perfect for book lovers who love multiple timelines and slightly fantastical, magical fiction such as written by Heather Webber or Sarah Addison Allen.

Enter the worlds of Martha, an abused housewife who got away and has taken up residence as a housekeeper for mysterious Madam Bowden; Henry, a Ph. D candidate that is on a hunt for his topic but finds Martha instead; and Opaline, the keeper of the secrets Henry's researching. Through the varying timelines of Opaline and Martha, there is an unraveling of a story regarding a lost bookshop, a mysterious story, Emily Bronte's lost work and what it means to be a strong woman of multiple generations.

#arc
#netgalley
#thelostbookshop

📖My Thoughts📖

Every once in a blue moon, I come across a book that just blows me away with such intricacies that I finish the book and feel completely tranquil. This book did just that. I’ve come to love historical fiction, but this book brought it even farther outside of the box. It also had duel points of view, an alternating timeline and a dash of magic. It was written so beautifully and it was almost like the book wrapped its pages around me. I honestly don’t even know how to describe it. It was like shutting the world around me down and just being completely submerged into this book. The title grabbed me from the start. Any book that includes books and a bookshop instantly gets my attention. This is definitely a must read. I think it would be a nice fall book where you can cuddle up in a warm blanket and drink a hot beverage.
Thank you Netgalley, Evie Woods and HarperCollins UK for the opportunity to read and review this book! It was an absolute gem! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The ebook version got archived too soon. But I have also downloaded the audiobook and it is also excellent!
'𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬,' 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, '𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐟.'

And that is what this book is. A dream, even better than a dream. This book is a dream we all long for.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: Two women, one from the 20th century is fleeing a forced marriage and the other in the 21st century is fleeing an abusive marriage find refuge in books and a hidden bookshop. A bookshop that only those can find who really need help. It's a place full of mysteries. And a place where we all want to get lost.

The book is set in two timelines.
1. One talks about Opaline Grey who flees home to save herself from a forced marriage and becomes a book dealer and bookshop owner.

2. And the other talks about Martha who is running away from her abusive husband who secretly gets a job as a housekeeper in the home of an eccentric old woman who... really isn't what she looks like.

📌The story revolves around finding the missing manuscript of Emily Bronte which supposedly "doesn't exist". But Opaline gets her hand on it but will she be able to keep it safe from the greedy book dealers who want to take advantage of a lone young woman?

📌Martha finds words visiting her like a trance and she tattoos them on her skin like her life depends on it. Why does she sees these words? Why does she have that power to read peotand their stories?

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠. The characters are flawed but good at heart. The timeline is adequately balanced.

The book shows many real life literary characters like Ernest Hemingway and James Joyce, interacting with our characters which greatly tickled my senses.

𝐈 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤.

Thank you so much @netgalley and @evie.gaughan for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a speed read and very enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review.

Thank you to @onemorechapterhc for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I loved this book, I loved the characters (except Shaun) and I loved everything it conjured up in my head.

Martha runs away from a horrid life, and finds the mysterious Madam Bowen who gives her a job and somewhere to stay whilst she decides what to do. Henry is searching for a lost manuscript and a lost bookshop, and finds Martha who turns his life upside down. During their search, they find Opaline.

Opaline runs away too from a horrid brother and flees to France where she finds the wonderful Sylvie in a bookshop, who gives her a job, teaches her all she knows about ancient books and finds her somewhere to stay.

All three lives intertwine through multi view chapters of past and present, secrets and love are uncovered as we search for the manuscript alongside all three characters. We laugh with them, cry alongside them and enjoy the conclusion with all the magic it has to offer.

Thank you netgalley for this opportunity.
This book took me awhile to really sink my teeth into, but if you're like me make sure to give this the space it needs to breathe: the story is absolutely worth it.
Told from multiple POVs, multiple timelines (the 1920s and present day) and multiple locations (the imagery of Paris in this is quite wonderfully done), this story is perfect for people who LOVE books. You can feel the love the author has just jump off the page. The idea of a bookshop that essentially vanishes, and focuses on Emily Bronte, AND has a quiet love story between two leads? a pretty good recipe for success. Magical realism in this capacity really works for me, just a hint, and this book has a ton of great 'grab you' quotes about reading that made me keep flipping the pages.
My biggest compliment: 3 distinct voices, over two generations, is NOT an easy feat, and Woods does this really well. Each character feels unique. It made it a fun read, and I really loved headhopping.

It would be unkind to give too much away. Suffice to say that this beautifully , researched and well written book has left me gasping for air. After all the books I’ve read this is one of the most refreshing ones that I’ve encountered for a very long time.
At the start I wondered what this was all about and as I delved further it drew me in leaving me reading until the early hours of the morning.

I really struggled with this one. I wanted to love it because, yay, magical realism and books! But it was really hard for me to get invested in. I ended up putting it down and coming back to it about four or five times. I did love the magical realism but the story itself was bogged down in trauma and different time periods, and the ending felt really rushed. Glad I finished it but not something I will read again.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Lost Bookshop. It was an easy read but I got lost in the jumping about of the characters per chapter........perhaps I should have paid more attention to the titles at the top of each chapter but by then it was too late. May give it another try later.

The characters are well written especially Opaline. Ms. Woods has talent with using the written word and she is very adept with her insights into human nature. The book is absolutely charming and the ending is delightful. You will not be able to stop reading The Lost Bookshop. I am looking forward to see what Ms. Woods has in store for us next. Top marks!

This is an amazing story about books, love, a vanishing bookshop and discovery and I loved every word. This is not the first time I have read anything by this author, the first time was The Story Collector which was another beautiful story.

The Lost Bookshop is something Henry has been searching for, he has followed manuscripts, links, leads and rumours to find its whereabouts yet to no avail.

Martha is also trying to hide and finds herself working for Mrs Bowden as her housekeeper. She has found her own version of a new life and yet keeps her head down.

Opaline is a character who is from the past, she works in France for the Shakespeare and Company bookshop, another one who is trying to escape from her past.

While these three are the main characters, there are some amazing others that the author has drawn into her storyline. Opaline's story is of her brothers' trying to force her into an arranged marriage, but being the 1920s Poaline has other ideas. Henry is struggling with something that has happened in his past, just as Martha is but for different reasons. These three characters tell their story in their own voices so you do get a personal sense of narration.

As well as having three different voices there are also two timelines, this may sound as if it starting to become a little complex but it honestly is not. The author has woven it brilliantly and I soon found myself automatically recognising the different voices and timelines.

The story is about finding your own future and having the confidence to take the steps forward on that path. Sometimes a little nudge is needed. The Lost Bookshop is a character in its own right, it is an amazing sounding place and it becomes what it needs to be when it is needed. A truly fantastical-sounding place that I would love to visit.

A mix of historical fiction, romance, fantasy and contemporary fiction. I adored this one a huge amount and I would highly recommend it.

A love letter to readers, The Lost Bookshop is a fantastic choice for those who are craving a bit of magic in the mundane.

Following Duel timelines, readers will be introduced to and array of characters who's lives are both touched and intrinsically changed by books and the sacred spaces that sell them.

I think like most books written with bibliophiles in mind, this had the potential to feel a little heavy handed with it's commentary on books but the strong character work and overall themes of courage and reinvention work hand in hand in making it feel just right. The magic realism is subtle making this one feel more rooted in reality. Still the magic is there and helps bouy the story into something special.

Thank You to One More Chapter and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this one early and give my honest review.