If a good story always begins with tea, what does an amazing story begin with? This book totally captivated me to the point that I couldn’t stop thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading it, leaving me antsy to get back to it. The characters were so vividly created that I felt as though I knew them personally.

I loved this storyline as it took twists and turns that I never expected. With every page I anticipated that moment when Opaline’s and Martha’s stories would intersect, not knowing even if they would. Through the whole journey I was met with mystery, heartache, and intrigue, as well as a reminder of the horrors women have had to endure.

This book went beyond my expectations and left me saddened that it had ended, but so glad I was able to experience it.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book. Overall, I really enjoyed this. I had some issues but would definitely give it a solid 3.5.

What I liked:
The 3 storylines was really fun and I felt that they did a really good job of weaving the story together nicely over time. I also appreciated the struggles of each character and how real that made them. I especially enjoyed Joan one of the timelines was set in a different time period. I felt that really enhanced the story.

What I felt needed improved:
The first half of the story really dragged, up until the part where Martha finds the book in her room. I understand that we needed to build a story to have a better understanding of the events to come but I felt that first half was just a little too drawn out for my taste.

I love books and bookstores. I also love the fantasy and magical realism genres. So, when I saw this book about a fantastical bookshop that only reveals itself to chosen individuals I thought it was perfect. The story follows three points of view, Opaline, a young woman in 1920s England who flees her home after her brother tries to marry her off to a stranger; Martha, a young woman in present-day Ireland who escapes an abusive husband and finds herself in London; and Henry, a young Englishman also in Dublin trying to make a name for himself in the rare book dealers’ world by locating the lost bookshop and Opaline’s mysterious manuscript. The book started out very strong, I enjoyed Opaline’s plotline when she arrived in Paris and started working at Shakespeare and Company and I was interested in seeing where the author was going with Henry and Martha’s friendship. However, the story started to drag with not much actually happening. the author kept adding more and more subplots and it was hard to understand how they added to the end goal many of the storylines were not resolved at the end or were forgotten and never properly explained. The characters did not seem well-developed either. There were several moments where I assumed a character would react in one way based on previous interactions and instead, they would do the opposite which didn’t make sense to me. The reveal at the end was intriguing but not as satisfying because I wasn’t very invested in the ever-changing plot. The concept is great but the execution was poor.

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. Sitting down with it felt like sitting down for a hot cup of tea with a friend. It has the most interesting magic system and pairs it with a touch of history that really brings the whole story to life in such a special way. Prior to reading this book I had never put much thought into the stories that may have been lost throughout time but now I'm obsessed with the thoughts of what was lost, where it went, what led to the stories in the first place, and all the histories behind all of my favorite books and authors. I have to thank Evie Woods for that. It's truly such a wonderfully written book... romance, a magic bookshop, revenge, history, women's rights, and even a bit of found family. I fell in love with some of these characters, I felt disgusted with some of them, I laughed at others, and I cried for some. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for their next read...

Here's some of my favorite quotes!
"I couldn't explaine it, not even to myself, but booksgave me an unflinching sense of stability and groundness. That because words survived, somehow I would too."

"The human heart does not weigh these cold facts. It sees hope in the impossible, love where perhaps there is only desire. It acts without rhyme or reason."

"Children were the real pioneers of every family and would lead their parents through any street or thicket to chase their hearts' desires."

"If you're not scared, you're not living.

"I don't just love her for how she makes me feel. I love her because when she came into my life it was like the lights came on."

"Conformity is a death sentence."

UGH I love when books make you feel things, and this book did exactly that.

The story really follows two main storylines - Opaline, a woman from the early 1900s who's brother wants her to get an arranged marriage to one of his friends. Distraught, she flees and starts a journey that leads her from book shop to book shop as one of the most prolific book traders of her time. The other storyline focuses on Henry and Martha, Henry being a PhD student in search of lost manuscripts that led him to interest in Opaline and her hidden bookshop, and Martha, who has recently left her abusive husband to work as a housekeeper for Madame Bowden, right next to where Opaline's book shop is.

I immediately was rooting for Martha, the depiction of abuse from her husband and the fear that she felt immediately felt close to home, but as the story progressed, the one I ended up feeling the most sympathy for was Opaline. Both women in this story are strongly developed, and while I could see the thread that holds them together coming from about 50% of the way through the book, it was still nice to see.

Henry really serves no purpose. Wait, I hear you say, he is the person that gives Martha motivation to go back to college! And she would have no interest in Opaline and Bronte if Henry did not bring up this idea! I disagree. Henry's main purpose is to be a dunce and to have a love interest in the book. I think the book would have been stronger without him, because then we could actually focus on who the hell Madame Bowden is, which is a far more interesting story.

It feels like that part was rushed in order to facilitate this stupid relationship that I couldn't care less about. Henry is an elitist and honestly classist PhD student, despite the fact that he is attempted to be made sympathetic by having an alcoholic father, and while I do think his nuanced feelings towards his dad's recovery was useful, I couldn't say I necessarily liked him.

ANYWAY - all this to say, I loved this book! There are some things I wish were done better, but I will be thinking about it for awhile afterwards.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so so so disappointed in this book. Everything about it made me want to escape into the magical realism of a book store in Ireland. The writing was just so bad I couldn't finish this book. I tries to fight it out but just couldn't. Everything else in the book got lost in the glaringly bad story telling.

This book was a pleasant surprise. A little bit of mystery, a little bit of history, and a little bit of magic made for a very entertaining book. Set in both the past and the present, the story interweaves seamlessly to it's conclusion. A very cozy, entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for allowing me to read this ARC in an exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

After I finished The Story Collector, I jumped right into The Lost Bookshop, and I was just as drawn in as before.

Told from three POVs; a book dealer named Opaline from the early 1920s, Martha, a young woman escaping her past and trying to move on, and Henry, a young man searching for a lost manuscript and notoriety.

I absolutely loved this story. The connections between the characters, the magical realism, the in-depth dive into books. I couldn't put it down.

This story does have some disturbing moments that might need a trigger warning for some people. The treatment of women, both in the past and now, doesn't seem to have changed much, and I respect that the author included them in this story. It made the characters more relatable to me as a woman. Despite the way they were treated and the awful things they went through, both women were strong and determined. I loved that.

I enjoyed this story so much that I immediately bought a copy for a friend. Can't wait to read what Evie has coming next.

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods follows a parallel timeline as we learn about the exploits and trials of Opaline, and the two current-day characters, Martha and Henry, who are trying to find out more about her, as they endure their own struggles.
Perhaps I read this at the wrong time for me, I came close to DNF’ing it several times but did make it through to the end. I think that it comes down to the story feeling too cute and light for the heavy topics that it covers: domestic and family violence, PTSD, alcoholism, institutionalization, Irish mother and baby homes, misogyny, etc.
The characters often make weird, seemingly out-of-character choices. Martha is afraid to read and doesn’t know how libraries work, but she is going to university for a literature course? Opaline, who has a stronger storyline, has a one true love who isn’t what she imagined him to be, so she moves on to her next one true love.
I like magical realism in storytelling, but it still needs to have some logic to it. Why find a magical stairway if it doesn’t go anywhere? There is a whole segment around a tattoo that doesn’t make any sense.
Despite sounding pretty negative above, I did enjoy the mystery of a potential manuscript by a famous writer, the quest to find it, and some of the aspects of book buying, selling and research.
Overall, this just did not come together for me, although I can see where some of the whimsy, and the theme of overcoming adversity, appeal to other readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for providing the digital ARC.
2 stars

An absolutely magical read so beautifully written anyone who loves books will devour this novel.From beginning to end I was enchanted engrossed rooting for the characters.A book I will be recommending.#netgalley #thelostbookshop

The premise of this novel sounded so fantastic when I first read the synopsis; a magical disappearing bookshop, a lost manuscript, and a connection between characters over the span of generations. The author combines magical realism with historical fiction and a touch of romance - could there be a better mix of genres? I opened this one with excited anticipation of being drawn into a magical, bookish world; however, I ended up struggling to get through it. In my unpopular opinion, it just wasn't executed as well as I'd hoped it would be. It left me wanting more magical elements and for the bookshop to take on a more main character role in the story. I didn't feel a strong connection to any of the characters (I found Opaline's story to be the most compelling out of three, but even her's fell flat) and thought that Henry's POV felt somewhat disruptive at times. The plot felt a little disjointed which prevented me from feeling fully invested in the storyline, and by the time the bookshop gets its moment at the end of the novel, it feels rushed. Overall, it was a bit of a frustrating (leaving me with more questions than answers) and often tedious read. I recognize that I'm in the minority in regard to my reading experience, so definitely check this one out for yourself if you enjoy multiple POVs, alternating timelines, stories about books and the people who love them, and books with a hint of magic! I will say, the audiobook narration was great; the narrator for Henry reminded me of early aughts rom-com Hugh Grant at times and I was here for it!

A special thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins, and espeically to Evie Woods for the honor of reading this copy in exchange for an honest, thoughtful review.

Thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley for a reviewers copy of this book

This book would be better called “The Magical Bookshop,” as it is a fantasy centering on a disappearing bookshop that brings together several lost people. The story raises vital issues about women’s lack of agency and power in the past and present. But the coincidences, cliffhangers, damsels in great distress and soulmates finding each other make it a less serious look at these issues.

Taking place in two time frames, this novel moves back and forth in the characters’ lives: Opaline, in 1921, on the run from a forced marriage; Martha, in the present, on the run from an abusive marriage; and Henry, also in the present, seeking the missing bookshop and a manuscript that will make his name as a rare book expert.

In the prologue, Martha is working in “Opaline’s Bookshop,” and encouraging a young boy late for school to be even later by talking with him about the shop. With that opening, immediately three of this book’s major story lines are wrapped up: Martha has gone beyond her painful beginnings, Opaline realized her dream, and Henry found the “lost” bookshop he sought. The book’s focus is on how they all arrived there.
The writing is strong and evocative, with the voices in the first person, but Martha’s and Henry’s are not distinctive, and unfortunately, often it is difficult to distinguish which of them is narrating.

There is suspense, mystery, love lost and found, and other-worldly moments: Martha can “read” people, to a limited extent, in great detail; there are creaks and cracks into shifting times and places; wooden bookshelves like branches appear through the walls of a room; a stained glass window has images that change.

The author herself refers to the genre of this book as magic realism; it seems to me that it is a romantasy, best enjoyed by those looking for such a tale.

I loved everything about this book! Following Opaline’s and Martha’s struggles through their respective hardships and seeing them come together as one story in the end was so satisfying to me. I wish the ending was a little more drawn out- I was furious when she revealed the final location of the manuscript, but all in all I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something whimsical and heartwarming.

The Keeper of Stories meets The Lost Apothecary in this evocative and charming novel full of mystery and secrets.

4.5 stars, what a beautiful story! Historical fiction and magical realism at it’s finest. I cannot wait to read more by Evie Woods. I listed to this, and the narrators did an amazing job! Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360 for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion!

I loved how magical this was. A magical bookshop that finds you when you need it most. Realizing that we can have adventures off the page just as we can on it. So good!

There is a LOT going on in this book. Past and present have a lot of stories going on. There's social commentary, relationships, secrets, family drama, and book drama. Not to mention a twist of magical realism. It's a good read that moves quickly! I really liked the way the characters come together and, even though it was a little predictable, I loved the end.

Full review can be found at http://michelleardillo.com/2024/08/19/book-review-the-lost-bookshop-by-evie-woods/

This book just wowed me. It was nothing like I expected and I loved it. Written over many years by several women, they are intricately connected by a very special bookstore. From before WWII to long after, these strong women hold their own sense of purpose and never waver on who they are or where they need to be. Meet the men who hold them back or help them rise, each story is heartbreaking and heart fulfilling. For bibliophiles everywhere, this one is for you.

First, I want to give a huge thank you to Harper 360 publishing for providing me an ARC copy via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I adored this book! This book created a new perspective for me on the value of older books. The lengths people go through to obtain historical artifacts, and the pure passion for it was inspiring. I greatly appreciated the fact that it brought the main characters, Henry and Martha, together. The sense of magical realism was done so well. It was eclectic and fun. I felt invested in the characters lives and captivated by them. It was fun and whimsical and provided joy throughout reading. I only wish there was some more information on Madame Bowden, but I can appreciate the sense of wonder it left at the end of the book. Overall, this was a great read! It is not my typical genre of book, but I am so glad I tried it out!