Adelaide, Jo, and Kye's lives collide as they meet in bookstore.

This emotional and heartwarming story tell their stories and Oh my how I loved it.

It is a mystery with a magical theme and how books change lives and minds for the better. These unlikely friends have their stories told in such a gorgeous and creative prose that the reader cannot help but love this book..

I have to admit—I fell for the cover first 😄 But the synopsis drew me in too. It reminded me of the fantasy books I read as a child, the kind that transported me to magical worlds I could build in my imagination. I guess I’ve missed that feeling, especially amidst all the “adulting” lately 😅

The story follows three characters, each going through their own struggles. They are brought together by a mysterious flyer and find themselves in a peculiar bookshop run by Fay, its enigmatic "owner." As the book cover says, “they don't choose the books; the books choose them.”

It was a warm and magical story with the healing power of books and friendship. I really enjoyed how the characters’ lives began to shift little by little. There’s something comforting in the idea that the right story can guide you to where you need to be and it reminded me how powerful stories can be. What more could a book lover ask for? 😊

That said, I did have a few small issues. The pacing felt a bit slow at times, and some parts were repetitive. Also, the book reveals the endings of the three books the characters read. Even though they’re well-known books, not everyone wants to be spoiled like that! 😅 Lastly, I wish we had learned a bit more about the magical bookshop itself. I was left with some unanswered questions.

Still, The Midnight Bookshop was a charming and cozy read. If you love reading books about books, with a touch of magic and friendship, you might enjoy this one too!

3.5/5

Amanda James just gets better and better. I thought her previous book, The Garden of Memories, was wonderful but this one is superb.
Great characters in Jo, Kye and Adelaide, all with stories that weave together well, and a truly wonderful bookshop with Fay in charge. I read past lights out to finish it as I had to know how it all ended. With thanks for the e-ARC to read and review.

<b><i> You don't choose the book. The book chooses you.</b><i>

As is often the case with a three-star rating, I'm split in my opinions. This is a novel that will work for some readers and not for others. There's the sense that it is following a trend as of late where characters read recommended novels and gain perspective however, in the case of <i>The Midnight Bookshop</i> we see this done with magical realism thrown into the mix. I don't want to spoil anything so no details.

There are three main characters Jo, Adelaide, and Kye who meet at a local food bank and feel drawn to a flyer for The Midnight Bookshop. All three experience an urge to visit its location. It is virtually impossible to find during daylight hours, making its appearance noticeable at midnight. Our three protagonists have serious problems, and they sure could use a hand. Faye works in the whimsical bookshop and provides a gentle guidance, uplifting words, and hot chocolate as needed. The beautiful cover did justice to the mysterious magical bookshop.

The tone of the novel is lighter than the struggles these characters carried. The mismatch of energy felt like a glaring lack of authenticity. I'm a reader who can just go with a lot, but this had me giving side eye a few times. The worldbuilding and the magical system are both woefully underdeveloped. There were exciting and adventurous moments within these pages don't get me wrong, but I needed more connection. I appreciated the found family vibes, the fibromyalgia rep, and healing growth.

If you're looking for a bit of escapism this will likely be a solid choice. However, if you find niggles worrisome you may want to pass.

I'm including a list of novels below which are explored to varying degrees in the narrative. Be forewarned if you consider that a spoiler. The list may be helpful to those who haven't read these and would like to at some point without any prior knowledge going in or if you're a superfan of one of these popular reads and want to check out how the author incorporated a favorite.

⚠️Book List to Follow⚠️
.
.
.
.
.
.
As is often the case with this kind of book there is discussion surrounding other novels. So be aware that this discusses some classic novels including: <i>The Great Gatsby</i>, <i>Oliver Twist</i>, <i>One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest</i>, and <i> Lord of the Rings</i>.

Thank you to One More Chapter|HarperCollins UK for providing an Advance Reading Copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Oh my goodness! If you love books you will love this story! Three very different people who are experiencing a crossroads in their lives stumble upon a mysterious bookstore. They meet the very mysterious and beautiful owner (who should be played by Eva Green in the movie). They each have a book “choose” them and basically have very late night book club meetings.

An enjoyable fantasy read with plenty of magic within. Three people, each with seemingly desperate lives come together and discover a bookshop which is hidden from most people's eyes. Set in Truro, Cornwall, Jo, Adelaide and Kye come together and not only find solutions to their problems through books, under the guidance of Fay the bookshop owner, and form a strong friendship group. Feelgood and heartwarming with some hope in dark times.

It had a lot of promise… magical bookshop.. journeys through books. This book didn’t quite work for me, it felt under done in the narrative , superficial characters. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

The Midnight Bookshop by Amanda James is a love letter to the power of books and storytelling and a reminder that we all have agency in our own lives and are in charge of our own stories.
Jo, Adelaide and Kye are an unlikely trio but each of them are facing challenges in their lives. Jo is struggling to find direction, On the surface she seems to have everything, a nice family home,a good education and anything that money can buy, but the one thing she needs has no price.She craves the love and approval of her parents who are emotionally distant and unfailingly critical. Adelaide is trapped in a marriage to an abusive alcoholic and lives in a daily state of fear. Kye is struggling to care for his widowed mother who has a chronic illness and has resorted to dealing drugs to help make ends meet. The three people each find a flyer advertising a mysterious Midnight Bookshop and little do they know that it holds the power to help them transform their lives. With the help of the owner of the bookshop they learn that the book choses the reader and each of them finds a story that resonates with their personal circumstances. This is where an element of magic enters the story and allows each of the trio to "edit" their own stories and change their futures for the better.
As a lover of books about bookstores, books and reading I was really excited to pick up this beautiul book. It is always incredibly satisfying when the writing and storytelling are just as beautifu as the gorgeous cover. Despite tackling some difficult themes and topics the book is filled with optimism and will tug at your heartstrings and have you rooting for each of the trio, especially since the author has done an incredible job of making them come to life on the page. If you are looking for a cosy book that will make you love reading even more than you already do this is a must read.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Midnight Bookshop is lovely, painting a picture of a bookshop any reader will fall in love with but its heart lives in the stories behind the three lost souls drawn to meet there at midnight.

Our three main characters are not in the best place in their lives and the bookshop seems to be the only light in their lives. Kye is a young man caught up in drug dealing trying to figure out where his life went wrong after his father died. Adelaide is long married to an abusive man and has repressed herself in order to protect herself. Jo is extremely intelligent and the only active reader leading to her run in with the bookshop but her relationship with her parents is stifling and the foil to her arrested development. The three are unlikely friends but the bookshop, and the owner of the bookshops ability to help them realize that their imaginations and the lessons they take from the books that find them there can save them, add magic to their lives and bond them.

This is a supreme comfort read and tugs at your heartstrings while weaving optimism and hope throughout. It really is a shame if we no longer have the independent bookshops and the libraries that help us find the books and those passionate about the stories together, because even if they don’t have magic they impart the same lessons we need.

Any story which focuses on books is one I will quickly seek to read. I found this a heartwarming story of self discovery, understanding, and seizing control over one’s life. All of this occurring around books just made the entire story even more wonderful.

Beautiful novel with engaging characters. I really enjoyed the magical and enchanting story about the power of books to help, perfect for book lovers!

Dreamy in a good way perfect for young adults in its style and theme. A magical experience that should be had by many while the subject of bookshops seems to be such a current trend.

Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for sending me this magical book to read.
Jo, Adelaide and Kye were three strangers from different backgrounds, all very unhappy and feeling trapped, all wanting something better in life but not sure what. They did have one thing in common however, a love of reading and books.
Their paths crossed after they all received a leaflet about The Midnight Bookshop which was hidden away in an alley, you couldn't see it in the daytime. Jo had been along there one night on her own and 'broken in' and had convinced the other two, to return with her the next evening. She told them, you can only enter at midnight.
When they were all inside, they found that "certain books' found them, a reading therapy if you like.
This was a beautiful read as normal. This was probably Amanda James best book yet! A 5* read!

I was very excited to read this book as I loved her previous novel, The Midnight Bookshop didn't disapoint. It was one of those books that you can't put down but at the same time you don't want to finish it!
As readers we pick up a book & escape into it, this is what our three characters, who are strangers, do when they visit the bookshop.
They have different backgrounds & struggles from one another, & would not normally become friends, the bookshop bonds them magically together.
Each chosen book takes them on a very personal journey of discovery.
The author has written it using three POV's, which I feel works well, we get invested in the characters, eager to travel with them on their journey of discovery.
A beautifully written novel to curl up with, so looking forward to Amanda's next novel.

Thankyou to Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review

A heartwarming story of self-discovery and reclaiming control of your own life.

Three people, with very different lives, meet at the community foodbank and are drawn to each other, and the leaflet they have, advertising the midnight bookshop - if they can find it.

The bookshop and the books they delved into, in more than one way, was very sweet. I liked the concept that the book chooses the reader and the escapism and learning each character took from their book.

The characters themselves weren't entirely believable and I wasn't drawn to them.. Adelaide and Kye were likeable enough, Jo was highly irritating though and her mother was vile! There are similarities to other books I have read and enjoyed more, this didn't flow well in places and was repetitive. I feel that this will appeal to a young adult audience more than mature adults.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Amanda James and Harper Collins for an ARC in return for an honest review.

As a lover of books and the genre of magical realism, I thoroughly enjoyed entering the magical world of The Midnight Bookshop. Each character was developed with a loving touch by the author and the descriptions of the bookshop and the imaginative journeys are highly evocative and beautifully crafted.

The lives of three strangers converge as they find their way to a bookshop that they are unable to locate until they venture there at midnight. Adeleine, Kye and Joanna are all struggling with unhappiness and feeling helpless in their respective relationships. Upon meeting Fay, the owner of the shop, she advises them that books choose the reader, not the other way around. Fay, of indeterminate age (wink) and flamboyant wardrobe, appears to possess the mysterious ability to know far more about their lives than would seem logical. Her charming and supportive presence, coupled with the magical qualities of the shop, enables the trio to put their lives in perspective through their respective books and imagination. The transformation each achieves sets a new trajectory for self-fulfillment and empowerment.

This is my first exposure to this author, and I am deeply impressed by her sensitivity and compassion as each character’s circumstance was explored, resulting in a hope-filled, uplifting storyline. At a time when world events feel chaotic and defeating, this book sheds light on the resilience of the human spirit.

My deep appreciation to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

The Midnight Bookshop by Amanda James

Fay owns a bookshop , but not any bookshop for the books within draw you in and chose you to read them.
I liked the concept of that because we all get different things out of the books we read.
We are introduced to Kye who feels out upon by his ill mother and a little bullied by his brother .
Jo seems to have it all a great life,and,a family who gives her everything she needs and lastly, unhappily married Adelaide who's husband is very I kind to her .
All 3 are drawn into the library and we find out about their individual stories and what the bookshop and the books can do to change their situations.

You don’t choose the book. The book chooses you.

In The Midnight Bookshop by Amanda James, my latest review book from Net Galley, three strangers that are dealing with problems in their lives find a magical bookshop that will change their lives forever.

After finishing the intense amazing book that was Angel Down, I knew I needed something a bit lighter for sure. As it happened, my next book was The Midnight Bookshop. While the book does deal with some serious issues, overall, it is a very cozy, magical book.

I don’t want to give too much of the book away but I do want to say that the book deals with how books affect us. Every book will read differently for different people. The imagination can create the world of the book in our head and provide an escape but also, perhaps, let us see something in our own life that we weren’t seeing. Books can change us if we let them.

I’ve loved reading since I was really young. I picked up reading and writing quickly and they have always been my favorite things. I couldn’t tell you how many books I’ve read over the years. I don’t even know what my first book was. Some books I’ve forgotten and others will never leave mind. I think The Midnight Bookshop will be a book thats stays in my memory. It was really wonderful.

The three characters in the book are complex, interesting, flawed humans. The book itself lets us see their lives and the magic of the shop. The book is descriptive but not overly so and the dialogue feels nice and cozy. The Midnight Bookshop is a book that long time readers will love. It gets to the core of why many of us read. It was a nice break in between all of these super serious and sometimes scary books I’ve been reading. The Midnight Bookshop is a nice, cozy fantasy about three people in need of hopes and dreams.

I know I could use a little bit of hope and dreams right now. I wish I had a physical copy of this book, so that I could write a thank you note to it and put it inside. Maybe I’ll write the note anyway. If you want to know what I’m going on about, well, please check out The Midnight Bookshop. Its waiting for you.

The Midnight Bookshop releases on May 16th, 2025. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing an early digital copy of this book.

Not my usual read but so happy the cover jumped out at me
The cover is so stunning
This was such a beautiful read i literally felt all the emotions
A lovely easy read I really enjoyed
A magical world such a intriguing story
Will definitely be recommending loved it

Give me a book about books, bookshops, and book lovers; you know I'm there. Add in the fact that there may be a magical bookshop, and I'm a goner!
Amanda James' books have delighted me over the last few years, and The Midnight Bookshop's blurb hooked me immediately!
It's not a straightforward story. Three main characters, each with their troubles, and a bookshop they had never seen before, bring them together.
Adelaide is a married woman stuck in a painful marriage with a narcissistic husband who spares no opportunity to put her down.
Jo is lucky on the face of it. She has everything. A magnificent house, parents who are more than well off and leave her to want for nothing, no inclination to work... but she feels no connection to her mother, and her mother constantly belittles her.
Kye is a young man stuck in a life he hates because of circumstances. An unwell mother, and an overbearing brother who has overridden all of his dreams, and he is in trouble of getting sucked up into worse scenarios.
In a somewhat fantastical way, the bookshop helps each character to explore the power of books, and the owner, Fay, helps each of her new readers to interpret the messages the books they choose wish to convey.
There is fantasy, romance, family expectation, and much more within!
Once I was into the story, I didn't want to climb out! I want to visit that bookshop, too, and let a book choose me, so I can 'edit' my life, too!
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins, One More Chapter for an ARC.