I wanted to like this one more than I did. The plot sounded intriguing but the execution fell flat for me. I was bored for most of the story.

Synopsis: Sarah is dealing with some difficult life events. She is set to leave Boston and head home to spend the holidays with her family. Instead, after one too many cocktails, Sarah boards a plane and ends up on the west coast of Ireland. She ends up finding accommodations in a small cottage on the property of a local family. In the cottage she finds the journal of Anna from 100 years ago. Anna is assisting a young American scholar in translating Irish fairy folklore into English.

Honestly, the book was just ok. I was intrigued by the Irish Folklore but I didn’t get out of it what I expected. The whole storyline felt vague. The storylines of Anna and Sarah felt like they just ran parallel to each other. It was hard to find the connection in the stories which just made it feel out of sync to me. I didn’t feel any real connection to the characters. It just wasn’t for me.

A delightful (albeit sometimes slow) tale through Irish fairy folktale, sprinkled with love, loss, family loyalty, and small town life.

The Story Collector was a wonderful love letter to Irish folklore that reminded me of The Stolen Book of Evelyn Aubrey. Complete with complex characters and beautiful scenery, this was a splendid read about love and heartbreak. Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun book! Sarah finds herself spontaneously in Ireland. There is a parallel story in the book about a young girl from long ago. There’s a touch of magic in the story. I loved the characters in this book!

I was transported to Ireland with this story. The premise of the story was entertaining and interesting, and I enjoyed the mystery within. So many dark secrets within, which kept me guessing. I always love a dual-timeline and the historical aspect was great. I also enjoyed the love story within. Overall, a great read!

Thank you, NetGalley, for and e-ARC of The Story Collector by Evie Woods.
The Story Collector is a cozy mystery with elements of magical realism. The story is predicable yet endearing and will appeal to a variety of readers.

This book was very cute. The romance was enjoyable and the fantasy aspects were fantastical. A good fun time that I would recommend to others.

I received a copy of The Story collector by Evie Woods from HarperCollins and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. I’m usually not a fan of magical realism but I really enjoy this novel, and it combines well the everyday and the otherworldly, the Irish people’s belief mythology, fairies, and Celtic folklore. Five stars from me, I learnt some fairies are good and others are bad and I’m keen to read Ms. Woods previous book, The Lost Bookshop. t's a historical fiction novel mainly about Irish beliefs of fairies, and superstitions. In the description it says it's a historical romance. And there's romance in it, but it's not the focus of the book. It would be undermining all the other elements in it. The book is written in a way that it's alternating between past and present, which is a style I love. It's very beautifully and skillfully written in my opinion. I loved the main characters. I loved the different stories integrated into the main stories. This book also has a very magical vibe that's close to movie "The Holiday". That's why I couldn't put it down, it just warmed my heart. I would definitely recommend this book to people who love to travel through time, or to different places and learn about different customs happening somewhere else.

This appears to be a re-release of the book (originally published in 2018) and is a dual timeline (1910 and 2010) taking place in the small village of Thornwood on the west coast of Ireland centering around Anna, a young farm girl and Sarah, a New Yorker trying to find herself following a tragic event and subsequent separation from her husband.

When an intriguing American academic (Harold) shows up on her family’s doorstep, Anna volunteers to assist him in translating local folklore surrounding the Good Folk (fairies) for a book he’s writing. We get lots of fascinating folklore tales, and Harold is eager to perpetuate the art of storytelling to keep Irish traditions alive for the next generation. Following an otherworldly, horrific event/murder in which an innocent person is arrested, Anna and Harold have some difficult and heart wrenching decisions to make concerning their futures.

Sarah “accidently” finds herself in Ireland as she seeks time alone to come to terms with a devastation loss. While there, she discovers Anna’s diary and becomes immersed in her story. She also meets her landlord who is recovering from his own loss and raising a teenaged daughter.

I actually preferred Anna’s story here. It’s filled with intriguing stories, and I found both Anna and Harold very compelling. Sarah’s story did not have the pull for me that Anna’s did. And for me, the endings for both timelines left me a bit disappointed and unsatisfied.

My thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for providing the free arc of The Story Collector for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

What a cozy, magical story. The dual timeline was super easy to follow and I loved all the Irish folklore. This was my first historical fiction with magical elements and I couldn’t put it down!

This books has great reviews but I just could not get into it. I don’t feel like there was enough character development to keep me interested in the story, or perhaps it just wasn’t my thing.

Absolutely loved the dual timeline, magical setting of the book. The main character was complex and well written. I wish we got to know more of Anne and Harold’s life.

I enjoyed this book. Magical and romantic are the best words to describe this story of love, loss and grief. I liked the dual timelines built around the same magical location through the use of a diary. The characters were well developed and relateable. I felt the ending was a bit rushed, though.

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

This was such a magical story. I loved the different timelines and stories and the sense of Irish magic in the book. This was such a fun and endearing story. I was so enamored with it and the characters journeys.

The Story Collector was a enjoyable book. I really liked the characters and it was well written. I was pulled into the story and lost myself in the lives of the characters. This was a quick read.

Two story lines. One about a young American escaping her life and the other about fairies in Ireland. Story telling was very nice.

Another great novel by Evie Woods. Ireland, fairy folklore, and the power of healing. This story sets us up to believe in all of this. I loved each character Evie’s writing. You can tell her love of Ireland through her storytelling. Amazing characters and I loved the fairy aspect.

Evie Woods' "The Story Collector" is a mesmerizing blend of historical fiction and magical realism that transports readers to the enchanting landscapes of Ireland. The beauty of the country is brought to life in the book and you will find yourself immersed in the story of two women which takes place in two different times.

The storytelling is evocative and immersive, capturing the essence of Irish culture and the magic that permeates everyday life. The characters are richly developed, and the dual timelines are seamlessly interwoven, creating a narrative that is both compelling and thought-provoking.

It is a lovely book that will have you longing to visit the land of the magic - in your reading and in real life!

Many thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the digital review copy via NetGalley

Two times, two women, one place full of secrets and mystery.

The Story Collector by Evie Woods is her second book and is a really interestingly interwoven story of two timelines brought together by a singular location. It’s a really fun, mysterious, slightly frightening story that would be interesting to see on screen.

I really love that it starts with a mini horror story to get things revved up while also introducing the idea of fairies, changlings, and death. But then flipping to present time and expressing the chaotic world of a woman in New York.

I enjoyed the familial themes within as well as the dichotomy of the relationships between the characters. Plus only giving just enough information at a time to keep us wondering what the heck is going on while also keeping us intrigued to keep going.

I love the randomness, thoughtless, and spontaneousness of Sarah and how it’s on a whole other level. I’m all for it! I don’t want to go into too much detail and give anything away, but I can definitely say this one kept me engaged and trying to answer questions that popped up. Some of which I may or may not have gotten totally wrong! Haha Anywho, it’s really interesting to see how the two timelines flow together and you should check it out too.

Once again, I’d highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys parallel storylines, mysteries, dark secrets, magical realism, and lost, forgotten, or unheard folk stories.

Other books to check out: The Garden of Memories, Misplaced Magic, Found in a Bookshop, The Bookbinder’s Daughter, The Lost Bookshop, and Evie’s next book!

*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of The Story Collector from Evie Woods via NetGalley

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I read this book last Fall, but somehow forgot to submit my review. I was mild on this book, neither loving or hating it. I did like the dual time narrative and the little touch of magic but also had difficulty connecting with the characters and the story.