Summary
The lives of two present day people and a 1920s bookseller are intertwined through a bookstore in Dublin that's only there some of the time.
Review

I downloaded and read two ARCs at about the same time – this book and A Harvest of Hearts – and a very faint similarity of covers somehow made me consider them together. As it turns out, one had stronger writing, the other a stronger story. This is the one with the better prose.

The writing throughout The Lost Bookshop is smooth and assured. The plot is on the predictable side, but appealing. Unfortunately, while Woods’ prose is strong, the characters are less so. There are three principal actors – a woman in the 1920s, and a woman and man in the present day. While each have different backgrounds and motivations, I found their voices relatively indistinguishable. They appear in succeeding chapters throughout the book, and the chapters are short – too short, perhaps, to allow them to settle in, initially. Because we have so little time with each, and because they all sounded the same to me – in their approach and inner dialogue – I often found it hard to tell which chapter I was in – which decade and which gender.

The problem becomes more marked because the book leans a little more toward romance than fantasy, yet I tended to lose track of who was reluctantly falling in love with whom and why. The why is often thin in any case, and sometimes forced. The fact that the characters sometimes act inconsistently didn’t help.

While Woods has clearly done a fair amount of research into her true-to-history characters, there’s less attention to some of the practicalities. All three major characters seem to generate funds out of thin air; they’re often short on cash, but somehow the magic of economics allows starving runaways to pay rent, buy stock, and immediately make a profit.

The secondary characters are also on the thin side, and often fairly two-dimensional – especially the villains. I think the book would have been more effective and convincing had the bad guys had a little more depth.

One fairly central mystery is never really addressed at all; it’s set up, but then (as far as I could see) abandoned to simply exist unexplained as the book’s magic mechanism. It’s not a crisis, but I did find it disappointing that the story pointed us toward a revelation and wrapup and then failed to provide it.

There’s nothing wrong with this book – it’s a pleasant approach to a familiar but always appealing trope (special bookshops), the writing is good, and there are some intriguing and surprising elements to it. But I did feel that, story-wise, it didn’t deliver what I had hoped for.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

This novel has enough material in it to be the theme of at least three books. Magic, two World Wars, rare books, lost manuscripts, spousal abuse and cruel brothers.
It also has two timelines and connected women in both eras. I found it nearly impossible to separate the two, Martha in the present and Opaline from the twenties to the mid-forties There is so much odd stuff and also several characters who float in and out without explanation.
worst of all, I kept getting the two women mixed up.

I hate to give up reading when I have invested hours hoping that something will grab my interest and appeal to me. I persevered and that never happened. Yet there was enough promise in some quirky sections (putting tattoos of book passages all over your body? Really?) that kept me hoping. Sorry.

Thanks to Harper Collins and Net Galley for a copy of this book.

‘If you tilt your head,’ he told me once, ‘you can hear the older books whispering their secrets.’

This story is set in two timelines, and mainly follows three characters, although there are two main characters, Martha and Henry in the present timeframe, and Opaline in the past. What they share in common is a love of books.

There is a sprinkling of magical realism as this story proceeds, a journey from Paris to London and Ireland, as well as a love of books, but there are also moments of darkness that seem to get a bit darker as the story progresses, at least for a while.

Somewhat recently I read Evie Woods ’The Story Collector’ and so when I saw this one was still available, I quickly grabbed a copy, since I had enjoyed that one so much. I’m so glad that I did. Overall, a lovely read.


Published: 07 Nov 2023

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Harper 360 / Harper360

Every bookworm knows the definition of a good book is when it’s 11:30 p.m. and you’re dosing off while reading, BUT you have to find out what happens next, so you skip ahead a little bit—JUST TO MAKE SURE that said character(s) are okay.

That being said, this is one of the best books I have ever read.

Our story begins with three main protagonists: Opaline (from the 1920s), Martha, and Henry (from present times). Opaline’s brother wants her to marry, but she wants freedom and to share her love of books; Martha has left an abusive husband; and Henry is trying to find a lost bookshop. No, really. The bookshop is gone—poof, missing in action. Readers are taken on an epic yet whimsical adventure that eventually connects all three protagonists’ stories.

Highlights:
⭐️ Dual POV chapters from all three protagonists, always in the same pattern (i.e., Opaline, Martha, Henry, repeat, repeat). I personally enjoyed this because no character was more fleshed out than the others.
⭐️ All the characters. I love Opaline. I love Martha. I love Henry. I love Madam Bowden. I love them all.
⭐️ The pace of the plot and the writing flow. It had a nice leisurely pace without being dull or boring. There wasn’t a moment when I was overwhelmed with a ton of information or plot twists, nor was I ever bored.
⭐️ The plot.
⭐️ The twists. I did not see that coming.
⭐️ Everything else I didn’t mention.

Pitfalls:
❌ The fact that I can’t actually go to the lost bookshop. I’ll be okay, though.

If you are a bookworm, you will absolutely adore this book. Go read it. Now.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper360, for a free copy of this book for my honest review.

This book, “The Lost Bookshop” by Evie Woods was published on November 7, 2023 by Harper360. That was strike one for me, I requested this book because I was under the impression that it was an ARC of a book that had not been released yet. I was sorely disappointed to see that it already has so many reviews.
This is getting a one out of five star review from me, which entails that I had to DNF it. I just couldn’t do it. The writing was incredibly juvenile and underdeveloped. It felt like someone had a great idea for an amazing book, but absolutely had no idea on how to actually write it.
I could make an exceptionally lengthy review about all of the things that I didn’t like, but I don’t want to waste another minute thinking about this book. I definitely do not recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper360 for this e-copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The magical realism is what drew me to this book. And it was amazing… but it wasn’t my favorite part.

At first, I couldn’t tell where the book was going. We have Opaline narrating in the 1920s and Martha and Henry narrating in the present. All three have their own issues at the beginning. Opaline is about be forcefully married to a man she doesn’t know. Martha just ran away from an abusive marriage. Henry is a scholar on the hunt for a manuscript that doesn’t even seem to exist. But how are these three people connected? Parts of the connection are very obvious and revealed right away. Others aren’t revealed until much later in the book, providing beautiful twists and narratives. But all we know starting off is that Opaline, Martha, and Henry are all connected to the lost bookshop.

Like I mentioned earlier, the magical realism was great. There’s magically lost bookshop that was run in the 1920s, but in the present-day, it’s as if the bookshop never existed. And there’s multiple things that bookshop seems to do by itself, in both the past and present, with no human intervention. The magical realism plays a large part in pushing the plot, allowing the story to unfold in the way it does. However, there doesn’t seem to be much logic behind the magical realism. It just happens, and we never know how.

I didn’t mind the lack of logic with the magical realism because to me, it wasn’t the star of the show anyway. My favorite part of this book is how the three narrators feel like real people with real lives. For the first half of the book, I just kept reading because I was invested in the characters’ lives; I wanted to see them solve their problems and achieve their happily ever after. That isn’t to say the characters were perfect. They had their flaws, but it just made them more realistic and easy to connect with. The book is written in first person perspective from the three main characters, yet all three voices felt distinct the entire time.

Then, the latter half introduced us to so many different reveals and twists. Opaline, specifically, goes through so much. Her story was heart-wrenching. As I kept reading, many of the questions I had throughout the book were answered. At the ending, we can really see how these characters and their stories are connected. However, I felt the ending was rushed. There was so much happening in the last few pages that it actually created more questions for me. I wish the ending had tied everything together better.

I had no issues with the writing; it was simple and easy to understand. It worked well for this kind of story. My favorite part about the writing is definitely how distinct the characters’ voices are. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It has one of the things I like best in any media: conveying emotion in a way that makes me feel the same emotion. This book made me feel like I was experiencing the characters’ lives with them.

This book was a book that I couldn't put down! I wanted to keep reading to see what happens. It's a cozy, mystery, thriller and magical realism vibe book. Really love the bookish refernces The story has three characters Opaline, Martha and Henry who's live all intwine around a myth of a bookshop. They story is told in two time frame Opaline in the 1920's and Martha an Henry in Dublin.

Interesting story about a bookshop that has enchanting powers and the people who come across the bookshop.

Do you like mysterious bookshops? A little sleuthing? Strange old lady’s that talk in riddles? Multi-POV? Then this is for you!

I mistakenly requested this thinking that it was an ARC but nonetheless I was not disappointed. Overall a great story that had me hooked from the very beginning. I loved the parallels between Opaline and Marta as well as the twists at the end for both of them. Opaline’s story broke my heart and I wanted to throw hands on her behalf so her eventual HEA was definitely deserved. I have more questions than answers when it comes to Madame Bowden but at least someone was taking up for Marta.

Will there be a book 2 🤔 because how are we just going to end on the manuscript is in an Irish bank just waiting to be found??

Okay maybe I’m glad this wasn’t an arc because maybe Evie will answer my questions.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for this ARC! "The Lost Bookshop" by Evie Woods is a captivating blend of fantasy, mystery, and romance that takes readers on a magical journey through the streets of Dublin. The story follows Opaline, Martha, and Henry, who are drawn to a mysterious bookshop where they discover that the stories within are deeply connected to their own lives. Woods masterfully weaves elements of fantasy and reality, creating an immersive and vivid world filled with unexpected twists and turns. The characters are richly developed, and the themes of self-discovery and the power of storytelling are beautifully explored. This enchanting novel is a must-read for fans of magical realism and heartfelt narratives​.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper360 for The Lost Bookshop.

What I loved:

-The magical realism
-Believable characters
-Heartwarming journey of self-discovery

Things that could be improved:
-dialogue was sometimes a bit stilted; there were some good lines but, in some places, I felt like it was forced and detracted from the impact of the story. Show more rather than tell.

I could tell that Evie Woods poured her heart and soul into this novel. The dual timelines was easy to follow and added to the story's magical quality. I would read more from this author, and have The Story Collector next on my TBR!

From the moment I began reading this book I could not put it down. I loved the way the three characters' stories are interwoven together, from the past through to the present. I enjoyed the magical realism woven into the stories of Opaline, Martha, and Henry.
The writing style, the descriptions, and the plot pace all worked for me. I think I just may have found a new favorite author.


Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the e-book in exchange for my honest review.

I simply had to read The Lost Bookshop after having read and reviewed The Story Collector. Readers should do the same. The Lost Bookshop is a delightful, magical, and yet very realistic story of the women who struggled with personal matters, yet got the strength to move ahead in many ways thanks to a magical shop that opened itself to them. From Opaline to Martha, and to the good men they reluctantly let into their lives, this story embraced the promise of a better life, and love. I highly recommend this sweet book. I couldn't stop turning the pages to find out what happened next!

This book was a heart felt story about a bookstore and the people at were impacted by the love of books as well as the power of a magical bookstore. You get to see three different perspectives and how they all come together. I loved the relationship of Martha and Henry, as they find their way to each other.

Trigger warnings: abuse and death.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

The Lost Bookshop is told with 3 narrators, Opaline, Martha and Henry. At times I had forgotten who was narrating each chapter but I think that's on me and not the author. Opaline's time in the asylum is heartbreaking and shows the reader how in that timeperiod, this happened to many women even without a proper diagnosis. Martha and Henry are very loveable and it was great to see Martha come full circle to trust and love again.

I loved this book and read it AFTER the author's 'The Story Collector.' I liked this book much more!

This book has it all…romance, fantasy, fiction and mystery. How do you find a bookstore that isn’t there? Ah, that’s the fantasy part woven with historical fiction.. You will fall in love with Opaline, Martha and Henry. Their adventures and secrets will lead you to the surprise ending.

Evie Woods’ writing adds a little bit of magic and will take you on an unforgettable journey. Madame Bovine will captivate you along with the 3 main characters One night read for me! Loved it!

Really enjoyed this book. Written well and easy to read. The story is a bit of a puzzler but the author worked hard to make the plot clear yet remain intruiging. Tough thing to do. Especially when using alternate timelines and narratives. Tough to elaborate without giving plot details so I’ll leave it at that.

Quite the intriguing read - a disappearing bookshop that only appears to certain people at certain times until its meant to be found. The backdrop of Ireland, France, England and WWII all provide a fascinating story and history. Poor Opaline suffers so much at the hands of several of the men in her life ,but most especially Lyndon, who ends up p!aying a dual role in her life, which she only learns once she escapes from through cunning and blackmail. She also learns just how deceitful and cruel he was and sets out to try and recover part of the past he stole from her which is how the bookstore becomes the mysterious vanishing place it is. Marthq, another of our protavgonists, also suffers at the hands of a dangerous man from whom she escapes, and ends up in Ireland. She finds a job as a live-in housekeeper for Madame Bowden, who rounds out our trio of heroines. Madame Bowden is elderly eccentric and almost a.shut-in who likes things just so. She provides a small, basement apartment that is magical for Martha and this is where she meets Henry, a nerdy young man who helps Martha find herself and inturn, she helps him find himself. The intertwining of the characters is amazing, the story that develops pulls the reader into all of the lives involved. At firat, the back and forth of the characters got to be a bit of a challenge. I have always liked reading changing timelines and different POV books, each chapter changing to a new POV/character, but this one proved a bit difficult at first. But the farther I got into the book, the less difficult it became as I got wrapped up in their stories and the magic of Martha's rooms. And the ending was wonderful. Madame.Bowden was simply and angel when Martha needed one! A very good read!

I read this book as an arc for the publisher.

Thank you for this arc ! I love magical realism and all things Ireland. I loved the whimsical magical feel weaved throughout this story !

A young boy in Dublin on his way to school is distracted Opaline’s Bookshop, a magical looking bookshop with twinkling lights, trinkets, miniature hot-air balloons, music boxes, and carousels. Since the bookshop holds far more interest than school, he enters and begins a conversation with Martha, the shop’s proprietor. She promises him a story about Opaline, and the rest of the novel is that story and more.
Opaline’s story is one of two timelines, and three points of view. Her tale starts in London in 1921. Opaline’s life revolves around reading and books, a love she inherited from her late father. But her family, namely her brother, Lyndon, is forcing her into a marriage she doesn’t want. Opaline realizes her books are her way to a new life. The sale of her first book sets her off on a journey full of fear, heartbreak, and love. But the story Martha tells isn’t just about Opaline, a young woman seeking independence from her domineering older brother, in an era when young women did what they were told.

The second timeline and point of view is Martha’s. In many ways, it mirrors Opaline’s, only in current times. Martha has fled to Dublin to escape from an abusive marriage. In hiding from her husband, she is offered a housekeeping job to the eccentric Madam Bowden. Martha’s quarters, she’s a live-in housekeeper, are in the basement. Next morning Martha is distracted by a pair of boots walking back and forth outside her basement window. They belong to an Englishman named Henry. Their initial conversation gets off to a rocky start. Only when she threatens to call the police does Henry try to tell her what he’s looking for, but Madam Bowden calls Martha away before he can explain.

The story then becomes Henry’s point of view. He’s in search of a lost bookshop. This is his chance to make a name for himself in the world of rare books, but so far, his search has left him empty-handed.

The Lost Bookshop integrates touches of magic, especially Martha’s mysterious tattoo of sentences on her back. Not to mention the tree that begins to appear in her room. But this isn’t just a story of a mysterious bookshop. It is also about three people trying to find their way in a world that hasn’t been easy for them. Traveling alongside these characters put me through all the emotions. I enjoyed watching them grow and change as they confronted and overcame the obstacles they faced.

I love books with fairy tale touches/magical realism woven into the story. Woods does an excellent job tying together all the loose ends in ways I didn’t see coming. I’m looking forward to reading her soon-to-be-released novel The Story Collector. If magical bookshops, multiple storylines/points-of-view, and touches of magical realism are your thing, this book may very well be for you. It certainly was for me.
Five stars.