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The Story Collector begins when Sarah from modern-day (2011) NYC decides on a whim to visit Ireland after her marriage falls apart. While she's there, she comes across Anna's story from 1911 Ireland. The timelines weave together to paint a rich picture of the Irish setting and its history and folklore. Young Anna is tasked with helping a young American, Harold, who is collecting and translating Irish fairy stories. I thought Anna's story really brought the magic of this one to life, but I struggled more with Sarah's storyline. I found myself wanting more of Anna and Harold's narrative, but Sarah's took longer to really get going, and I just wasn't 100% on board with her ending. I feel like this had potential to be a great book, but it fell flat for me because of the issues with Sarah's storyline. It should also be labeled as romance. I wouldn't have requested this one if I had known.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper 360 for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The Story Collector by Evie Woods.

The first 1/3 of this book dragged a bit but as soon as it picked up, I had a hard time putting it down. You will probably like this book if you liked Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, it has the same cozy vibes, fairies and folklore in a magical wintery Ireland.

Love this book! It hits on all the emotions. This book has it all tragedies, heartbreak, healing, building of character. Wonderful characters and storyline. I was given an advanced reader copy of this book by NetGalley and I am freely sharing my review.

4 ⭐️

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me access to The Story Collector in exchange for an honest review.

I really did enjoy this book, however, it was a bit of a slow burn until the last 25% for me.

It carried strong messages about overcoming grief, love after loss, new beginnings, not focusing so much on how we expect our lives to turn out rather than flowing with the reality of what it.

This book is told from two female perspectives, one in the modern age and one in the early age.

Sarah is your modern day pov. She traveled to Ireland on a whim after going through a painful divorce after she lost a baby at 7 months. She is struggling to grieve as she feels very much responsible for the loss. The book mentions how guilt is a way of our bodies not allowing us to process grief which is felt was a quite poignant view. I could relate to this story thought as I lost my grandfather a few years ago and didn’t make it home in time to hold his hand as he transitioned and I felt very guilty. Thinking back on that time, he sent me a dream shortly after his passing where he reassured me that the reality at hand was what was meant to be and it could have been more traumatic had it happened differently. I felt so blessed to receive that dream.

Anna is your diary pov. She is quite young and has lost her sister milly. She feels quite guilty as well because she was so distraught after her passing that she was unable to attend her funeral. She never got a proper goodbye.

The magic of this book is the town, the folklore of the fairies, the history of the town and the beautiful humans (and possibly fairies) who reside there.

I really hope to visit one day and reread this special book.

This was such a great follow up to the Lost Bookshop! The dual timelines were so well done and I really enjoyed this.

The concept of this book was very interesting. Personally I felt very disconnected from Sarah's character and did not really like her. I also felt like the style of writing from Anna's diary was a bit odd. I don't know if this was this author's debut, but I think the Book Collector was a much more polished and cohesive story.

This story has a little of everything, magic, history, romance, mystery. I usually read pretty quickly but I moved slowly through the story. It has a dual timeline which in parts were a little confusing - some chapter changes weren't clear as to which timeline I was in. Once I kept reading I could figure it out - but it could have been a little more clear. That being said, this is a great read and I enjoyed the story. I was instantly drawn into Anna's story through her diary. I found that much more compelling than Sarah's story. I think I could have followed Anna's story much farther!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a sweet book that intertwined two timelines. The past and present blend together allowing us to see how the past has influenced the future. While not both timelines end happy, we do get resolutions and character growth.

Evie Woods' *The Story Collector* is a captivating journey that seamlessly intertwines dual timelines, weaving together the past and present in a way that enriches both the plot and the characters. This novel is a treasure for readers who appreciate well-developed characters and a narrative that artfully explores the echoes of history on contemporary lives.

One of the novel's standout features is its dual timelines. Woods masterfully balances the past and present, allowing the reader to gradually uncover how the lives of the characters are connected across time. The historical narrative is vivid and immersive, bringing to life a world that feels both distant and intimately familiar. At the same time, the contemporary storyline is engaging and relatable, grounding the more mystical elements of the plot in real human experiences.

The characters in *The Story Collector* are richly drawn, each with their own unique voice and depth. Whether set in the past or present, they are compelling and fully realized, making their journeys both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The protagonist’s growth throughout the story is particularly well-handled, as she navigates the mysteries of the past while also confronting her own personal challenges. The relationships between the characters are complex and layered, adding emotional resonance to the unfolding mystery.

Woods' writing is lyrical yet accessible, with a flow that keeps you turning pages late into the night. She has a gift for creating atmosphere.
Overall, *The Story Collector* is a beautifully written, deeply engaging novel that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, mystery, and character-driven stories. The dual timelines are handled with finesse, and the characters are so well-developed that they stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. This is a book that invites you to lose yourself in its pages and discover the stories that connect us all. Highly recommended!

I was really intrigued by the cover art, title, and blurb and really thought I'd enjoy this one, despite my general lack of interest in books that self-categorize as romance. Unfortunately, I struggled with this one early on and just never found the threads to connect to either the contemporary or historical storylines... It felt like reading two novels combined into one, and while that can work it also runs the risk of pulling the reader out of both stories on a regular basis - and that's how I felt. This one just wasn't for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper 360 for ARC. I really liked the premise, and the promise of its two timelines, and certainly the Irish folklore and fairy stories. But the execution fell a little flat for me. Anna's early 1900s story was told through her "diary" which wasn't really a diary, but rather a novel within the novel, complete with verbatim conversations about her work assisting an American researcher who is writing a book on Celtic fairy faith. Sarah's story is in the present day, and she is a hot, grieving mess, dealing with alcoholism, a failed marriage and another loss that I won't spoil. She finds Anna's diary, meets a widower and his daughter who bonds with her about the diary's fairy stories, and meets a wise woman healer who cures her grief with a special tea, and then boom, she is in a new relationship. I think I would have liked it better with just Anna's story.

4.5 Stars
This was a beautiful story that wove the past and present together with a common thread: fairies. Following the stories of Anna (from 1911) and Sarah (present day, 100 years later), we learn about these women, their relationships, and the secrets that haunt them. This book provides a reminder that while not everything happens the way we want it, everything happens as it should. I loved the connection of fairy folklore and beliefs that were woven into the story – it was unlike other stories I’ve read in the past.Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360 for the eARC.

Was kinda nervous I would not like this book .. Ended up finding myself drawn in to the 2 stories so delicately entwined with each other … I got caught up in it all !! I truly felt like I was living the story along side all the characters. I can’t wait to read what else this author has written …

I love a novel with a dual timeline. Sarah on 2011 finds a diary written by Anna in 1911 at a time she could really use a distraction. I was worried about Sarah in the beginning I’m not going to lie. This was a great story of grief and love, heartbreak and magic.

This story was delightful. I loved the dual pov and dual timeline as it kept things very fresh and exciting for the reader. I loved Anna’s storyline with the story collector and I kept wanting to get back to that story to see what happened. The romances are definitely subplot but I could have used a bit more from them. Overall, I think the book could have used 30-50 more pages to have more time to wrap things up a little better. But it was a fun, great read full of Irish folklore which made the book for me.

Evie Woods writing is enchanting. After loving The Lost Bookshop, this was a logical next read. My only complaint was wanting more. The touch of magic weaved into everyday life and the flawless execution of tying timelines together make this book a must read. It made me wish for adventure and magic in my own life. The author gives so much depth to her characters and their experiences that you feel as if you’re living their life with them. This book tells the story of a woman who instead of leaving for Boston and her family after a divorce, leaves on a plane to Ireland. There she finds a diary and the story splits. It’s beautiful and captivating and a must read.

I wasn't exactly sure what to expect when I opened the pages of this book. I saw the cover and only read part of the blurb before requesting a copy. I was anticipating the historical part, which is what drew me in, but I wasn't expecting the magic. I thoroughly enjoyed the combo! I love when there is a little bit of magic thrown into everyday life, when it's intertwined within the history. I'm looking forward to checking out more of this authors books.

3.5 stars. The Story Teller is a romance entwined with a bit of fantasy.The story is set in Ireland and told from two perspectives, Anna (her diary) in 1911 and Sarah in 2011.
Sarah impulsively decides to fly to Ireland after reading an article about the strong belief in folklore (fairies) in the country. Sarah is introduced to a family that allows her to reside in a small cottage house of theirs. The very same cottage that an older teen, Anna, writes about in her diary which Sarah discovers and reads.
Anna is your typical teen girl (circa 1911). She wears rose colored glasses and dreams of the impossible. A college scholar, Harold,comes to Ireland to record stories of fairy encounters for his research paper. He hires Anna to help him. They discover there are many stories out there, ones that no one ever speaks of in fear of being told they’re crazy. Interesting twists and turns in their relationship.
The story involves some difficult topics such as rape, miscarriage and divorce however I feel that it’s told in a light manner so it’s a light read. Love and healing is in store for both these ladies.

The writing in this book was better and more cohesive than in her previous book. I enjoyed the read, although the fantasy elements were somewhat darker. It's an engaging story laced with self-discovery by more than one character.

The Story Collector is told from two different POV and two different timelines.

2011, Sara leaves her husband during Christmas and is going to fly home to her sister's to lick her wounds and figure out her life. But at the airport she drinks too much and wakes up when the plane lands in Ireland.

1911, Anna is helping an Oxford graduate, Harold, write a story about faeries and the fairy faith. I found this point of view and timeline to be much more enjoyable than Sara's.

I think my biggest struggle with this book is that Sara had absolutely no business getting in to a romantic situation when she literally just left her husband and has a substance abuse problem.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.