The Story Collector

'The Story Collector' by Evie Woods is a whimsical and enchanting novel that transports readers to a quiet village in Ireland, where a mysterious local myth begins to unfold. The story weaves together the past and the present through the experiences of two protagonists: Anna, a young farm girl from a century ago, and Sarah Harper, a modern-day traveler from New York.

Anna's journey starts when she volunteers to help an American visitor translate fairy stories from Irish to English. She finds herself entangled in a mystery that threatens her way of life. In parallel, Sarah arrives in Ireland with a mission that leads her to uncover dark secrets blending the everyday with the otherworldly.

Evie Woods has written another story that is both magical and grounded in the charm of everyday bookish life. Her ordinary characters have extraordinary courage, making the novel a delightful escape. As Sarah and Anna's stories intertwine, the book explores the transformative power of stories and their emotional impact on our lives.

One of my favorite components of this novel is its exploration of antiquarian books. Readers will find themselves learning about rare books and lost manuscripts, enhancing the novel's appeal to book lovers and literary enthusiasts alike. The search for a vanishing bookshop adds an element of mystery and adventure that keeps the narrative engaging.

Favorite quotes from the book include:
"There was an awkward silence in which I realized that being an expert in rare books and lost manuscripts could sometimes be construed as quite boring."
"He was letting me into his world and it felt good to be out of my own for a while."
"There's no limit to what I want to know about a book."

'The Story Collector' is a charming literary escape for anyone who loves books and the magic they hold. Evie Woods successfully captures the essence of how stories can forever change us, making this novel a must-read for scholars, book dealers, and literary enthusiasts. Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!

My favorite, a book about books! And it was awesome! I loved this book. It’s a must read for the book lovers!

A charming story that skillfully blends past and present with folklore and romance! I finished this book with a smile on my face. Definitely one to buy for my bookshelf!

The Story Collector weaves an Irish tale so intriguing, even the most skeptical of the paranormal would be caught off guard. It blends the stories of two women, one from 2011 and the other from one hundred years earlier, as they struggle to find bits of themselves. Sarah, "the American," on the surface is dealing with overcoming a new divorce. Near the end of the book, however, readers learn the pain there goes far deeper. When Sarah makes a split second decision to travel to Ireland, she doesn't realize the implications it will have on her personal life and the lives of everyone she meets.

Sarah, a woman devastated by the stillbirth of her daughter and the end of her marriage, embarks on a spontaneous journey to Ireland. Upon her arrival, she stumbles upon the diary of Anna Butler. Anna’s life takes center stage as she meets Harold Krauss, an American deeply immersed in his thesis on the local beliefs in fairies. Through Anna's diary, Sarah is transported back to a time when the belief in fairies was more than just folklore.
An uplifting read that celebrates the power of belief, where the past and present collide in magical ways.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper 30 for the.opportunity to read The Story Collector by Evie Woods. I loved it! Magical a delightful.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was another fun read by Evie Woods. Filled with nostalgia, romance, and mystery it will definitely warm your heart. This is one I will read again at Christmastime.

Sarah’s marriage has ended at Christmastime and she spontaneously boards a plane from Manhattan to Ireland. Upon arrival, she finds herself in a unique cottage and discovers a diary, lost for 100 years. As she spends Christmas in this beautiful place and meets wonderful people, she dives into the diary of Anne and learns about local fairy legends and a young romance.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC and allowing me to provide this voluntary review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. This review will appear on goodreads and the opinions expressed are my own.
For anyone interested in learning more about Ireland and its local legends, this book explores both. There is romance and magic as we learn about the some of the mythical characters of western Ireland (or are they a myth?) The book is told in two simultaneously developed timelines as visitor Sarah finds a journal in a tree (which was a little weird) and learns a lot about herself while the story of Anna unfolds in the journal's pages.
It was a delightful surprise, this read. Its clean with no swearing or anything too graphic.
It looks its due out in America next month, so put yourself on the hold list. Its a nice little journey and a nice diversion from some heavier topics in the news for sure.
4*

Two timelines, two women, born a hundred years apart. Sarah’s story set in 2011 briefly begins in America as Christmas is approaching, and she can’t bear to spend it with her family. Sarah’s grieving over a recent divorce, and another loss, as well, and she just wants time to heal, to not be around people who know what she is going through, to grieve in her own way, and in her own time.

This is not planned, but she just knows she wants to get away, away from those who know what she is going through, and just allow her to process her grief on her own. And so, she takes a flight to Ireland, where no one knows her or what she is going through.

When she arrives, she finds a place to stay, a quiet village where she learns of a local myth which seems to become a part of her story, as well. When she is settling in, she comes across an old diary that shares the life of Anna Butler, which she finds fascinating. A time when most people in Ireland believed in fairies.

A story that shares some magical moments, of believing in oneself, and perhaps a sprinkling of what seems like magic.


Pub Date: 13 Aug 2024

Many thanks to for the ARC provided by Harper 360

The Story Collector, a charming historical fiction novel written by Evie Gaughan, showed up on my NetGalley feed and immediately captured by interest. Ireland. Secrets. A curse. Love. Death. Drama. Books. Everything I need in my reading! From the elaborately woven descriptions of the magic with fairies (minor fantasy element) to the divine local stories of all the villagers, every chapter offered something new. Created a wonderful imaginary space to transport temporarily to, and left me excited about the adventures of love for both the main characters, one in the past and one in the present. I always prefer a tightly sealed happy ending, but you will not find that here. Love escapes some. Truth comes hurdling forward. Things settle, but I wanted some more. Definitely intrigued my reading urges, so I'll check out more from the author.

The Story Collector by Evie Woods is a charming novel steeped in secrets and mystery. Set in a quiet Irish village, the story unfolds across two timelines. A hundred years ago, Anna, a young farm girl, becomes entangled in a mysterious adventure while helping an American visitor translate fairy stories. In the present day, Sarah Harper's journey to Ireland uncovers dark secrets that blur the lines between the everyday and the otherworldly. The author blends historical fiction with elements of Irish folklore, creating a narrative that's both romantic and magical. The richly painted settings and enchanting characters enhance the beauty of this story.

Loved this one! Great and fun read. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for my ARC.

Running from her grief, Sarah finds herself in a tiny Irish village where residents have successfully defended their century’s old culture and traditions from the unrelenting march of progress.

While there, she discovers the journal of Anna Butler, a young girl fighting to come to terms with a loss of her own. As Sarah follows Anna’s journey, she realizes that though a hundred years separate their lives, some struggles transcend time.

Evie Woods masterfully weaves both women’s stories into a compelling narrative that is hard to put down. Her exploration of the fairy world enchants readers, prompting them to wonder what supernatural forces might be at play in our own lives. She also shines a light on how we handle - or sometimes avoid handling - the pain and complexity of grief.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.l

I highly recommend this wonderful book. The story was mesmerizing and I became lost in it. There was a mystical feel to it that I adored. The characters are well thought out and have great depth, I found myself thinking about them long after I finished the book. This is my first read by this very talented author and it won't be my last. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up, you will not be disappointed.

I loved this story! Imagination required but still neat. Books and bookshops ARE magic and can change lives.

Ireland - 1911 and 2011

1911 - Young Anna Butler lives on her parents small farm in western Ireland. It's a simple life although Anna yearns for some excitement. That excitement turns up when American scholar Harold Griffin-Krauss turns up in the village. His anthropology studies are centered on Celtic folklore, fairy faith in particular. Much to Anna's delight, he hires her to accompany him around the area to speak to those who believe in fairies, and why. As they interview various members of the village, they are drawn to the Thornwood Estate, and the story of its origin when the Hawley family purchased the land and built the house. Lord Hawley was told by locals that he should not cut down the ancient hawthorn tree on the site, as it would bring his family bad luck. Well, of course, he cut it down, and after his wife gave birth to twins, she soon claimed that they weren't her babies, and days later threw herself out of the second floor window - dying. Harold was determined to learn more.

Anna and Harold are drawn into the odd lives of the Hawley twins. While Anna thinks George is handsome and overly friendly, she is not sure what to think of his twin sister, Olivia, who seems brittle and at times, cruel. Are they affected by their mother's death, and would that explain their differences? Soon, it becomes clear that there are secrets that may not be safe to learn.

2011 - Sarah Harper makes a rash, last-minute decision to fly to Ireland instead of retreating to her family in Boston after leaving her husband. When she lands at Shannon Airport, she is confused, and heads to the airport hotel. But there are no rooms available. Taken under the wing of the hotel manager, Sarah finds herself ensconced in a tiny cottage in a small village. Exploring one day, she finds a box stuffed into the crevice of a tree. Inside she finds a diary written by a young girl who used to live in the very cottage Sarah is renting. Delving into the book, she is drawn into the life of Anna Butler.

THE STORY COLLECTOR is an inspiring, emotional, and lovely tale of people finding answers in their lives, whether good or bad. Do the fairies truly hold sway in some people's lives? Do they affect the outcome of decisions, right or wrong? A sweet, and sad at times, story of everyday people dealing with everyday lives, but with a touch of magic.

The Story Collector is an enchanting story in which the past and present are intertwined in a mysterious web of love, loss, myth, and lore. I loved the element of the past rippling into the future and the power that folklore and myths have through generations as shown through the alternating lenses of 100 years past and present. As someone who gravitates towards historical fiction, this novel had enough historical and geographical references to satisfy that interest, while the introduction of fantasy and myth offered a refreshing spin. The author does a remarkable job at bringing the fairies of Ireland to life and making the reader believe in their power. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy and captivating read.

Whew, I am NOT a crier but I am still wiping tears from my eyes after just finishing this book! I'm not quite sure what I was expecting from this book but I got 100x more than expected. I feel like a small part of my heart that needed healing, which I didn't know needed it, was healed after reading this story. I need a prequel...I need a sequel...I need supporting novellas...I need them all!
The author has created a tale that is both enchanting and thought-provoking, leaving readers with a lingering sense of wonder and a renewed appreciation for the stories that define us. Central to the novel is the theme of the power of stories themselves — how they shape lives, connect people across generations, and reveal universal truths.
This would make an incredible movie...Benicio del Toro needs to read this book!

An endearing story that magically whisks you away to the Irish countryside!

Have you ever wished you could drop everything and flee the country to escape the drama in your life? Sarah does that in ‘The Story Collector’ as she impulsively travels to Ireland for Christmas leaving behind her overbearing family and failed marriage. I immediately appreciated Sarah’s witty and refreshingly honest internal dialogue.

Through Sarah’s journey, we are immersed into the Irish countryside in a charming cottage and welcomed into the fold by the people in her small town (think The Holiday meets Eat, Pray, Love). Soon Sarah discovers a diary written over 100 years ago by a young local farmgirl, Anna Butler, that details the complicated feelings of the locals and their fairy folklore. It’s ultimately a poignant story about love and loss, with enough whimsical fairy magic to nudge us to consider whether our lives are ever truly within our control.

My favorite quotes from the book:
* “The easiest thing would have been to fall into his arms and bury her pain somewhere neither of them could find it, but she’d tried that already and two years later, it still wasn’t working. They were living in a house of unspoken needs and muffled emotions.” 🥴
* “She couldn’t recall the last time she had done something so impulsive and purely for herself. She kept expecting the panic to set in, but as she took in her new surroundings, all she felt was joy. ‘Maybe’, she thought, ‘this is what following your heart feels like.’ 💫
* ‘If I’m honest, I thought it would kill me. The grief. But you know what’s worse? It doesn’t kill you. You go on, living… surviving, whether you want to or not.’ ❤️
* “My ankle has healed well enough, though I still have a slight limp. Billy says I’m beginning to waddle like a duck, so I’m doing my best to remedy that. Paddy is keeping a sensible distance from my father, and despite warnings from my mother to keep our family matters private, today I spilled the beans about Danny to Harold before we were even past our gate.” 😂

Content warnings for sensitivity:
* Loss of a child
* Attempted rape
* Divorce

Ultimately, Sarah tries to find love again, and while I would have enjoyed seeing more of that relationship develop, we see a glimpse through a few sweet encounters. I especially appreciated how relatable the main characters were; they often had me nodding along and laughing out loud.

‘The Story Collector’ would be the perfect cozy read fireside over the holidays! THANK YOU to Evie Woods, NetGalley, and Harper360 for the e-arc copy in exchange for my honest review!

I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely story! It’s a charming historical fiction novel that weaves a bit of fairy folklore into modern day reality. The dual time line narrative begins when Sarah Harper, still reeling from a broken marriage, impulsively boards a plane for Ireland. A borrowed cottage in the Welsh countryside of Thornwood makes the perfect setting for Sarah to pause and reexamine the state of her life. These timeless landscapes and cozy village are the perfect ambiance for an unfolding story as she stumbles upon a journal nearly one-hundred years old.
This dusty tome transports us to our second timeline, also in the village of Thornwood. In fact, in the same cottage where 100 years in the future, Sarah Harper is reading this very book. In this timeline, our main character is Anna Butler an intriguing farmer’s daughter on the precipice of womanhood. We are also introduced to Harold Griffin-Krauss an American scholar who’s come to record the stories of fairy folklore firsthand from Celtic villages across Ireland. Harold is drawn to these first-hand accounts and rumors of fairy mischief. Anna eagerly offers to serve as his translator and assistant to this task. Together they work to compile a scholarly record of fairy lore and superstition. One such account is of Thornwood House, ancestral home of the wealthy Lord and Lady Hawley. According to the local seeress Maggie Walsh, it is cursed by the fairies!
The weaving timelines held my attention and kept me turning pages right up until the very end. A great read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction mixed with a bit of superstition.
*I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Sarah Harper is going through a divorce. She leaves her husband to fly home but she doesn't make it home. Sarah decides mid flights to fly to the West Coast of Ireland. She finds a wonderful little village known for their fairy tree. She visits the tree and discovers a diary written a hundred years ago by a girl named Anna. Anna a farm girl helps a man named Harold to explore the local folklore about fairies. This story has a wonderful cast of characters and is beautifully written. I loved the Irish folklore and the tales of love and loss. One of my favorite reads of 2024.

I’m a reader that typically has five to six books going at once. With that being said, I couldn’t stay away from Evie Wood’s “The Story Collector.” The Irish setting is enchanting with the lush landscape descriptions and the incredible details of all of the homes and lifestyles (both in 1911 and 2011). The story explores Irish folklore and beliefs while toggling between two different time periods. I really enjoyed the pacing of jumping back and forth between both timelines. Although there is a romantic element to the characters’ stories, it is by no means the main focus. I found the read to be equal parts cozy and suspenseful with a general sense of foreboding that creeps along in the shadows.
Thank you, NetGalley, One More Chapter, and Evie Woods for allowing me to read the ARC of this charming story! I rate it a 4.5.

The Story Collector by Evie Woods which takes place in Ireland is full of Irish lore, mythical creatures, and about finding oneself after loss. I love a story with a dual timeline and this book keeps the reader enthralled with a present day artist going back in time while reading the journal of a young girl from the early 1900’s. It’s so interesting to see how each young woman finds herself, each in a different time period, while in the exact same place. I couldn’t wait to finish this one to see how it would end!
#TheStoryCollector #NetGalley

This is a beautiful historical fiction book that was overwhelming delightful. The novel is rich in Irish folklore and superstitions.

The book alternates between the present and the past. It was beautifully written. I enjoyed the interweaving stories.

I highly recommend this magical book. I intend to read more from this author.

This is what a warm hug feels like.

From the outset, Sarah's story drew me in. Her impulsive actions felt familiar as if I was encouraging her. Her trip to Ireland and the chance discovery of the diary were pivotal moments. The diary, a magical life jacket, was the answer she had been seeking, even if she hadn't known it.

I thoroughly enjoyed the quaint Irish country life that the author painted for us. I felt transported there, drinking my magical tea and dunking my biscuits until they were teetering on their soggy ends. The stories of Anna and Sarah were beautifully interlaced. I learned so much about Irish folklore, which has intrigued me and made me want to learn more. I absolutely loved what Harold speaks about folklore, how a scholarly man, despite his skepticism that perhaps comes with the territory of being a scholar, believed that the beliefs of the people were the most touching and thought-provoking.

Sarah’s pain and anguish were palpable throughout the pages, and Fee’s remarks of “believing in yourself and trusting your heart” almost brought me to tears.

The book's message about the power of serendipity and the right words at the right time resonated deeply with me, inspiring me to believe in the magic of life.
This book is a masterpiece, a tapestry of emotions and beauty that left me spellbound.

A 4.75 stars for me

Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to review this beautiful book

The STory Collector
by Evie Woods
Pub Date: August 13, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
An evocative and charming novel full of secrets and mystery, from the million-copy bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop
In a quiet village in Ireland, a mysterious local myth is about to change everything.
I highly recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction, learning about Ireland and Irish beliefs of fairies, and superstitions.
This book was totally unexpectedly delightful. I read it all in one day, and that alone says something! 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.

Evie Woods is the author of The Lost Bookshop. This one looks cozy and magical - I can't wait!

From GR:
In a quiet village in Ireland, a mysterious local myth is about to change everything…

One hundred years ago, Anna, a young farm girl, volunteers to help an intriguing American visitor translate fairy stories from Irish to English. But all is not as it seems and Anna soon finds herself at the heart of a mystery that threatens her very way of life.

In New York in the present day, Sarah Harper boards a plane bound for the West Coast of Ireland. But once there, she finds she has unearthed dark secrets – secrets that tread the line between the everyday and the otherworldly, the seen and the unseen.

With a taste for the magical in everyday life, Evie Woods's latest novel is full of ordinary characters with extraordinary tales to tell.


I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book. My review rating is based on the summary of this book.

This is my second novel by Evie Woods so I was delighted at the chance to read this.

This involves dual timelines, 100 years apart, in a small town in Ireland.

I like how the author did manage to connect the two FMCs very nicely by the very end. The two FMCs are two ladies you do want to root for.

However, for a book said to explore Irish Fairy Folklore.. i felt this didn’t really touch on that too much. It felt like an afterthought for the most part.

Regardless, solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I did enjoy this and would recommend to someone looking for a historical fiction with some fantasy elements woven in (even if very loosely).

4 ⭐️ Set in Ireland with two timelines , 1911 and 2011, this story focuses on two women Anna and Sarah.
Sarah goes to Ireland on a whim after her divorce and finds Anna’s diary from 1911 in an old tree. Anna is a 17 year old farm girl who is enlisted to help Harold, a professor from America to document the local Fairy Faith. I really liked Anna’s story in 1911 the best. The ending tied everything together very well.

I was totally immersed in this tale steeped in Irish tales of Fairies and the two different stories and lives of Anna and Sarah. Great characters and fast moving plot. Quick read! Well written, loved it!

Thanks NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Harper 360 in exchange for my honest opinion.

I originally gave this 4 stars because after the first chapter it seemed to be slow going for a bit. Upon reflection I think that was necessary to fill in the story and round out the characters. Some of it was my own life getting in the way of delicious, unspoiled reading time. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. I've always wanted to visit Ireland and I felt as though of all of the books I've read about the country I probably learned the most from this one. The author created a world that I could envision in my mind as I read. She portrayed the people as realistic with their gifts as well as faults included.
The story begins with the main character Sarah making a life altering decision to travel home after her marriage has fallen apart. During a layover she suddenly decides to impulsively buy a ticket for Ireland with absolutely no plans for once she arrives. Perhaps it was the alcohol making the decision for her but I saw it as a courageous move. She was listening to that inner voice telling her that going home to stay with family while she sorts her life out was just going to be an extension of the same life she was trying to leave behind. She would be stuck in the same cycle of depression and despair which is something I can relate to. Life isn't going to happen to you, you have to go out and find it! Sarah finds a diary written 100 years earlier to the date that she discovers it. The rest of the book winds in and out of the story lines of the two women, one living a complicated life that seems out of her control in 2011 and one living in 1911 who doesn't have a lot of control over her life due to economical and cultural circumstances but mainly due to the accident of being born a female. I love historical fiction because I find it fascinating to read about characters who lived lives long before my own however, in this case I found myself often anxious to get back to Sarah's present.
I loved the dual timelines and the magical aspect of the fairy faith in western Ireland. I also loved the use of the Irish language throughout. Unless I missed it (which is possible) not all of the phrases, names and words were translated which was a little frustrating to me as I'm someone who likes to learn how to properly pronounce so I can get a feel for the language of the characters. I highly recommend this book. I'm looking forward to going back to read more from this author.

Any story set in Ireland with ties to myths and folklore is a win in my opinion. This one is quite unique in that it takes a 100-year-old diary, mixes it with a present-day woman running from a failed marriage and trying to forget her grief and loosely weaves them together. It sort of works. If I'm being brutally honest, I actually think this might have been better as two separate stories; but, to be fair, they do come together in the very last chapter in a satisfying way. I think some of the other parallels that the author tries to draw between the two throughout the book are a stretch though. Having said that, I did enjoy this book. The premise of the 100-year-old story was especially intriguing, and I enjoyed Anna as a character. I also loved the myths and fairy stories woven throughout the story and the bit of mystery surrounding some key events. I would definitely recommend this to those looking for a walk through the Irish countryside with the possibility of one or two of "the good folk" along for the journey.

I really enjoyed this book!
The alternating view points were easy to follow.
I loved Sarah's spontaneous travel and the subsequent places she managed to go.
I love that SHE found HERSELF. ♡
I really enjoyed the journal she found and the way the story flowed.

Great book! Thanks #netgalley!

This is a great cozy read. I love a story that has two timelines and it was very interesting to see how events from the early 1900’s affected the village in the 2000’s. The characters were likable. I wish there was a little more character development with the modern day characters, but I still enjoyed their story as well.

This book does not disappoint! I adored it from start to finish, I only put it down to go to work! The Dul-Timeline was amazing and it honestly was so very captivating!

A cozy fantasy in the vein of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.

In this dual-timeline story, Sarah flees her marriage to grieve in Ireland, a last-minute decision that changes her world forever. In addition to befriending the local inhabitants-including a handsome-yet-grumpy Irish conservation officer- and learning the local fairy legends, she discovers a diary kept by teenage Anna Butler, a local farmer's daughter, in 1910.

My favorite part of the story was Anna's perspective. In pre-World War 1 Ireland, Anna's chosen as a local guide and research assistant for a professor interested in the local fairy legends. Anna's a believer who thinks her sister who died of consumption now lives with the fairies. She's also sweet, naive and protective of the professor. When Anna attracts the attention of a rich lord - rumored to have been a changeling - she finds herself in danger she doesn't see coming.

I enjoyed this charming introduction to several generations of an Irish town and its local legends. The magic and romance reverberates through the years, providing a delightful escape that will make you long for some lazy weeks in an Irish village.

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

The Story Collector was a delight. I enjoy books about Ireland and I believe in the magic that land holds. This novel wove the story of Harold and Anna seamlessly with the story of Sarah as she searches finds herself after a great loss. Good books are impossible to put down and this novel was a very quick read as I was eager to have the stories unfold. Wonderful setting, believable characters, and satisfying ending. Who could ask for anything more? I will be recommending this book to my book club and all my reading friends.

One hundred years ago, Anna, a young farm girl, volunteers to help an American visitor translate fairy stories from Irish to English. But all is not as it seems and Anna soon finds herself at the heart of a mystery that threatens her very way of life. In New York in the present day, Sarah Harper boards a plane bound for the West Coast of Ireland. But once there, she finds she has unearthed dark secrets – secrets that tread the line between the everyday and the otherworldly, the seen and the unseen.

This was an interesting book full of colorful characters and was very well written. Evie Woods is an excellent author and always throws a little whimsy and magic in the books she writes. The books also introduces you to Ireland and its history. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request to read this book.

A story about grieving, the journey to healing, and allowing others into your life despite their beliefs and differences. Sarah, an American, finds herself leaving her husband in New York on Christmas Day with every intention of going to stay with her sister in Boston. After her husband drops her off at the airport, she makes an unexpected decision to head to Ireland where she ends up staying in a cottage in a little village.

I really enjoyed this book. A slower paced story, it gave me the chance to get to know and connect to the main characters. I relate to them closing themselves up after the passing of a loved one. Struggling to grieve, the idea of Sarah finding the diary of a young lady named Anna who lived over 100 years ago was a great concept. I enjoyed how the book toggled between the two women’s stories and how Irish Folklore brought them together. Through Anna’s belief in the Good People and Sarah’s vested interest in the topic, I felt like they were the perfect pair for each other. I found myself wanting them both to find peace in their grief.

An amazing book that I highly recommend.

The story Collector :

This book was great! I loved how it intertwined magic with grief and Good/Evil.

I was rooting for Anna and Harold...

It was a bit slow at first but it got me losing sleep as soon as it got me hooked.

Having someone experiencing the story with me was great since I felt Sarah was having my same thoughts/feelings.

To enjoy this book, you will need to embrace the magical weirdness of it all. It’s a creative story, albeit heavy themes, told from a triple point of view. You have Opaline’s story starting in the 1920’s and leading to her bookshop over the next 30ish years. Her story is very sad and heavy. The other two povs are in modern times. Henry is a phd candidate researching Opaline’s shop. Martha is the new housekeeper in the home where the shop used to be. She is escaping an abusive husband so there are abuse themes too. Henry and Martha team up to investigate. Then the story gets weird and magical. I appreciate the creativeness of the story and it had me guessing to the end.

Thank you Harper360 for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to @netgalley and Harper360 for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to see Evie Woods writing another dual-timeline Irish novel after the Lost Bookshop, and they did not disappoint. I don’t think I’ve ever read dual timelines written so beautifully. They are subtly linked in little ways beyond the obvious which I adore. All of the characters are well written and lovable. The plots are interesting and move at a great pace without being overly intense giving nice cozy vibes. And I love that the 1911 plotline doesn’t end the way you’d assume.

The author is masterful at winding real historical places and events into a charming book laced with just a hint of magic. And I’m desperate to return to Ireland with ever page. So yes, I’m in love with this book.

3.5 star rating, rounded up to a 4 star.

Thank you so much NetGalley & the publisher for a free copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’d seen this authors previous works out and about & it seemed perfect for me. I’m so glad I request this ARC! This is a short read at under 350 pages & reminded me of the atmospheric vibes & mystery with a touch of darkness from the classic fairy lore from Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries, but with a duel timeline POV.

Sarah is recently divorced and plans a truly last minute trip to Ireland to escape her problems. She finds Anna’s diary from exactly 100 years ago as they uncover the secrets of Thornwood (and their hearts), while we learn the secrets of their past in the Irish countryside. I was skeptical the first chapter or two but fell into the countryside and duel timeline.

Very rarely do I think books should be longer; this is the exception. I truly longed for more here & thought this book could have been drawn out more with explanation & exploration of both Sarah & Anna’s POV, especially toward the end of the book. The ending felt a bit rushed and sudden & left me wanting more, and not just because it was over. Regardless, I truly enjoyed this read! If you want a short atmospheric & location based read set in Ireland with classic fae folklore, I’d recommend!

✨ The Story Collector - Evie Gaughan(Woods) ✨
ARC E-Book Review

“The moon had grown tired of her antics and pulled the clouds back over its face, leaving Sarah in total darkness once more.”

What a delightful surprising read! Would definitely recommend this book if you like dual timelines, magical realism, folklore and romanticize the Irish countryside.

The story provides two timelines with Anna in 1911 and Sarah in 2011. Both women work through grief and finding themselves in the backdrop of lush Irish countryside and faerie lore, working the magic within themselves and nature into their healing. I had a good time reading this, and especially liked Anna’s story. This would be a great read around the holidays!

🧚🏻🌳❤️✍️

Thank you @Harpercollins360 & @netgalley for letting me read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Books that take place in Ireland are always like a cozy blanket for me. And then you add in some folklore; fairies and whatnot--and it's like crack.
This book wasn't all rainbows and unicorns, however. It did deal with some sensitive subject matter as the main character, Sarah, deals with some painful memories.
Told in dual timelines, The Story Collector, uses two different main characters to tell a remarkable story of magic, folklore, and mystery.
I loved the characters and setting. I felt truly transported and have fallen in love with this author.

Thank you to Harper for the opportunity to read and review this lovely book!

Thank you Netgalley, Harper 360 and Evie Woods for the eArc of The Story Collector.

This is a beautifully written story about Irish folklore and fairy folk in Ireland. Set in 2 timelines, present day and back in the 1920's Anna, a farm girl, who helps an intriguing American translate these myths from Irish to English. In the present day, Sarah boards a plane from New York to West Coast Island and once there she finds she has some mysterious linkage to this place.

The characters in is historical fiction are so wonderfully described, they just pop out the page! They feel as real as if you were sitting in the room with them. I loved both of the main female characters, both on roads to personal exploration and looking for answers.

The world building was breathtaking, Ive only ever been to Ireland once and Evie has managed to capture they beauty of the land as well as the whimsical myths and legends of fairy folk.

The plot line ticks on at a medium pace. There is enough going on, combined with the 2 storylines that entwine and the beauty of Ireland, you don't realise that you have read most of the book. The ending is well wrapped up. If you like historical fiction with myths and legends thrown in. Then this needs to be read!

4.25 stars for Storygraph, 4 for Amazon, Netgalley, Goodreads and Waterstones

Once I started, I couldn't put it down!
Fantastic storyline and relatable characters. Highly recommend!!!

I loved the unique but relatable style of the story. The characters are sympathetic but not predictable. I loved that this was not a story I had ever seen before and it was so beautifully written, with obvious love and care for every character. I bought another one of her books, based on the strength of this one. I look forward to many, many more from her!

Will be doing a video review on TikTok and leaving written reviews at Amazon and Goodreads. Thank you for the galley!

******Publishing August 13, 2024*****

The story begins with the legend of the Thornwood house where a Hawthorn tree was cut down, which cursed the people who lived in the house!

This book alternates between 1910 and 2010 surrounding the Legend!

2010-Sarah’s marriage was not working out, so she leaves her husband, Jack, on Christmas Day to move in with her sister Megan, who lives in Boston. She gets to the airport, but in her drunken state, somehow gets on a plane to Ireland instead! Megan is upset when she finds out! Sarah is welcomed by the community and finds Anna’s diary at the house she is staying at. Sarah begins to investigate the Thornwood house. Who will Sarah meet and what will she find out? Does this experience help Sarah give direction to her life?

1910-Anna meets an American visitor, Harold, when his bike breaks down at her family’s farm. Anna agrees to be his assistant, investigating the fairies and lore surrounding the Thornwood Village and house! Anna translated stories for Harold!
What will they find out? Will the curse live on?

Definitely not an uplifting book, but it was an entertaining read! I enjoyed both timelines and loved how Sarah found Anna’s diary! Which set Sarah on her own journey of discovery! Perfect for book clubs as this book will lead to interesting discussions!

Thanks to Harpercollins360 for the gifted copy!

The two timelines flow and fuse well together. In 1910, you follow the story of Anna and Harold at times with bated breath as it takes a dark turn. In 2010/11 a bruised and damaged Sarah comes back to life and begins to accept the things that have been weighing her down. Much of this is with the aid of the 1910/11 story and by the characters she meets in County Clare.

Overall, I enjoy this novel from start to finish which has a lovely end to a lovely read.

I read The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods and was enthralled with the story. When I had an opportunity to be an early reader of The Story Collector by Woods, I jumped at the chance. The Story Collector is equally as absorbing as The Lost Bookshop.

In 2010, Sarah Harper and her husband Jack are divorcing amicably after a few years of marriage. Later in the story, readers will learn of the tragedy that tore them apart because of their inability to grieve together. Sarah, drinking too much, makes a sudden flight change and flees to the West Coast of Ireland rather than going to her sister’s home for Christmas.

Sarah finds a quiet cottage in Thornwood Village. Soon after her arrival on a late-night walk, still suffering from jetlag, Sarah throws an empty whiskey bottle toward the base of a tree. When the bottle hits, Sarah hears a clank rather than a soft thud of the bottle hitting grass. She digs into the earth and finds a tin box which she takes back to her cottage.

Once she opens the box, Sarah finds a diary from 1910; the writer is Anna Butler, a young woman, born and raised in Thornwood Village. Sarah becomes enthralled with reading about Anna’s life, thoughts, and experiences.

Woods throws in a bit of magical realism, romance, and stories of the Good People, otherwise known as fairies, to create a satisfying story. Sarah meets some of the local people and becomes friends with them, especially Hazel, the granddaughter of the man who owns her cottage, and Oran, Hazel’s widowed father.

The dual storyline kept me reading to see what happens with Anna and Sarah. The answers are not all straightforward, which makes for an intriguing story. Along the way, readers learn about Irish folklore, especially about the faeries. The Story Collector is a delightful story.

Thank you, NetGalley, Evie Woods, and Harper 360, for this ARC!

4.25⭐️

I’ll be honest—I picked up this book purely out of intrigue based on the cover art, without knowing what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was set in Ireland! Ever since my intense Sally Rooney phase during the pandemic, I’ve had a soft spot for anything set in Ireland.

From the beginning, I was a bit unsure where the story was headed, but Evie Woods beautifully connected the past and present. I felt particularly connected to Anna and Harold, but seeing Sarah and Oran use Anna's story to process their own grief was poignant and well-executed.

Evie did a fantastic job of capturing the complexities of grief and the journey of learning to live again.

All in all, this was a wonderful read—cozy, sweet, and lyrical. I highly recommend enjoying it with a nice cup of tea!

I thought 'The Story Collector' by Evie Gaughan was a beautifully written tale that intertwines Irish folklore with historical fiction and romance. The narrative follows two timelines: Sarah in present-day New York, who impulsively travels to Ireland after a breakup, and Anna, a farm girl from 1911 Ireland, who helps an American translate fairy stories. The characters are vividly described, making them feel incredibly real, and the world-building captures the enchanting beauty of Ireland and its myths. While Sarah finds solace in Anna's story, I wished Anna's journey had a more satisfying resolution. The plot moves at a medium pace, seamlessly blending the two storylines and keeping the reader engaged. This book is a must-read for those who enjoy historical fiction with a touch of mythology. 4/5 stars.

Set in both Ireland and the USA in dual timeline, this book wasn't like any I've read before. Anna and Harold are an unlikely pair that meet when Anna is asked to be his assistant as he is writing stories of the fairies often present in Irish folklore. Meanwhile Sarah is fighting her own demons and ends up in Ireland and comes across a book — the one Harold wrote about the fairies. Are they real or representative of things unseen? Sarah does some healing of her own as she reads the fairy stories.
This book was given to me by the publisher but all of my opinions are my own.

A delightfully charming, quaint & cozy story with deep roots in the fairy lore of Ireland, this book captures the story of both present day Sarah as she attempts to escape from her grief and failed relationship, as well as a young girl 100 years in the past - Anna - as she grows up and navigates life. The parallels between them, exactly 100 years apart, is stunning, and the gorgeously written and often times spooky tales of the beyond through the fairies makes for a fascinating read!

I loved The Lost Bookshop by the same author and was delighted to be gifted this ARC of her new novel coming out later this summer!

Wow. Thank you Netgalley and and Harper360 for the arc

This is set during two timelines but the present day is in Ireland…in the winter. And boy oh boy do those cozy vibes come spilling out of the pages. I don’t want to spoil the plot but just know there is a chunk in the first half that is slow and you’re worried the book isn’t going to go in the fantastical direction you thought it would, but it does. That second half makes it impossible to find a place to pause your reading.

This book is released next month so be sure to add it to your TBR!!!!

I loved how this story was told. The back and forth of the times and how each story kind of intertwined in a way made it so much more interesting. This book was a great breather for me as I was reading a lot of dark romance and heavier fantasy. This was perfect and a nice light read that gave the reader some insights to the thoughts and beliefs of the Irish back in the day. This is a great story with a sad and happy ending! I highly recommend reading this book!

I finished this book and instantly put down her other book on my tbr! Very atmospheric and the perfect amount of faerie, whilst still seeming to be in the same vein as the real world. I also liked the dual timelines.

I really enjoyed this book. It takes place in Ireland in a small village and is two stories in one. In 2010 Sarah Harper has decided to divorce her husband. She is supposed to be spending Christmas with her family, but on a spur of the moment decision she books a flight to Ireland - she has read about a tree the town has fought to save if they cut it down - it will upset the "fairies". As she has no reservation she finds lodging in a small Irish village Thornwood where the tree is. Sarah ends up in Butler Cottage where in 1910 Anna Butler, a farmer's daughter, helps an American Harold Griffin-Krauss who is researching folklore for a thesis. Sarah finds Anna's diary and the story that it tells makes the book more interesting as you get to know the Butler family. As you know more about Sarah's life, you really begin to care about the characters-both Sarah and the entire Butler family as well as Harold. The 2 timelines work very well. All in all this was a very enjoyable read. I look forward to reading other books by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

Sarah’s marriage has fallen apart and she is heading back to her family in Boston. In the airport, she impulsively (and drunkenly) decides to go to Ireland. Once there, she ends up in a storybook village and begins to heal from the painful event that led to the end of her marriage and her drinking. She meets a man and his daughter who are suffering from their own pain.
Sarah finds a diary of a woman who lived in the village years before and is drawn into the woman’s life and their belief in the faeries. In this quiet time in a small Irish village, Sarah heals enough to return to America and finds a new purpose in life.
The Story Collector is set in a beautiful location and full of interesting characters. The story drew me in and I was transported to another world.
Thanks to Harper 360 and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a super sweet, magical story that would find a good home in an advanced high school classroom. All the folklore was absolutely wonderful!!

Fun story told in 2 time frames. A man comes to an Irish town looking for stories about supposed fairies, and a woman helps him. She of course falls for him. Later in time, a woman finds a diary, and reads it.

I was so excited to read another book by Evie Woods, having just finished The Lost Bookshop. First, I love the magical realism and the folklore about fairies. Having been to Ireland, it is a magical place so this story was just waiting to be told. This story is rich in character development and has such beautiful language that I paused often just to write a phrase or two down to remember later. "His face was well used like an old leather shoe that had seen many roads," Isn't that a wonderful way to describe an older person, wise in what they've experienced in the world? Told in a dual timeline with present day Sarah, an artist seeking to find herself and lost in her grief so she flees to Ireland, and that of the past with Anna, a young Irish maiden helping Harold collect stories about the fairy world, both in the small village of Thornwood at the Butler cottage. It seems as if both storylines are connected somehow. Fast paced, this story engages you and will keep you reading. A bit of romance, a bit of mysticism, along with redemption, renewal, and hope for second chances. A most enjoyable book. Another 5/5 for Evie Woods. Many thanks to #netgalley #eviewoods #thestorycollector for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a story of hope, friendship, and discovery. It is set in two different time lines, I enjoyed Anna's story better! The story itself moves at a slower pace than I am used to, and took a bit to get into. Well worth the read thought!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

My thanks for the ARC go to NetGalley and Harper360. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Books About Books, Fantasy, Mythology
Subgenre: Romance
Format: Dual timeline, 2 main POVs, a third slipped in rather unobtrusively

Dual timelines are my catnip! *THE STORY COLLECTOR* has all of the best aspects of a Susanna Kearsley novel with the added twist of Irish fairies and secrets.

In the early 1900s, Anna has a secret—her family knows part of it, but not the entirety. And when she meets this American scholar, she volunteers to help him collect stories. She struggles to decide if she should share hers with him. But then her life completely changes.

During the more modern time period (I'm not quite sure why it's also set in the past except for the parallelism of the year), Sarah's life is in the dumpster. She ends up in Ireland. Sarah also holds a secret—again her family knows part of it, but not the depth. Her path converges with the past through a diary written by Anna.

This is a lovely story. I enjoyed the entire ride. It has the sense of found family, being lost and finding yourself, love, friendship, and hope.

The interplay with the Hawthorn tree is wonderful—do fairies exist? Do people still follow the superstitions? Is it worth believing?

*THE STORY COLLECTOR* is going among my favorite books of the year.

Happy reading!

*Spoiler alert in the content warnings: Some readers may be upset from incidents of assault, child loss, death, and excessive drinking.

Evie Woods' "The Story Collector" is a lovely tale that beautifully weaves together folklore, romance, and the intertwined fates of two women separated by a century. Set in a quaint Irish village, the novel transports readers through vivid imagery and rich descriptions, making the village feel alive with history and myth.

The story begins with Sarah Harper, a modern-day artist from New York, who's struggling to cope with a profound trauma. Her life is unraveling, and her reliance on alcohol to numb her pain only deepens her despair. On Christmas Eve, Sarah dreads the thought of facing her family and their concern for her emotional state. At the airport, a whimsical sheep figurine and a peculiar newspaper story about a centuries-old Harthorne tree that halted a freeway construction catch her attention. In a twist of fate, Sarah finds herself landing in Shannon, Ireland, instead of Boston.

In Ireland, Sarah stumbles upon Anna Butler's diary. Anna, a young farm girl from a hundred years ago, had volunteered to assist an American scholar in his quest to find proof of fairies. Through Anna's diary, Sarah learns about Anna’s own struggles with loss and her journey of healing and love.

The narrative alternates between Sarah and Anna's stories, drawing parallels between their lives and the magical elements they encounter. Sarah's journey of facing her trauma and finding love again mirrors Anna's own experiences, creating a poignant and heartwarming connection between the two characters.

Woods’ writing shines in its ability to blend the everyday with the otherworldly. The secrets that Sarah uncovers and the myths she explores tread the delicate line between reality and fantasy, adding an enchanting layer to the narrative. The village and its inhabitants, both past and present, are vividly brought to life, making the reader feel the magic and mystery that surrounds them.

"The Story Collector" is a tale of healing, love, and the enduring power of stories. Woods’ deft storytelling and rich character development make this novel a delightful read for those who enjoy a blend of history, romance, and a touch of magic.

I love the symmetry of the past with the present and how they intertwine. There was romance, mystery, magic, legacy, tradition, and so much more! I was hooked following both lives. This wasn't the twisty thriller I am accustomed to but I was invested nonetheless. The writing style was meticulous and well thought out and the inclusion of Irish culture was beautifully meshed. You dont have to believe in faeries to relate to this book, you just have to respect the stories. Im only deducting a star because I was far more engaged in the past with Anne than in the present with Sarah. She came off as too much of an alcoholic jumping into a relationship far too soon after her divorce. But I understand the author needed to give her a reason to jump ship and stay there.

5 *****

This was delightful. Dual timeline, set in Ireland, anthropology and faerie history / legend (you choose). One timeline’s protagonist is a young local girl; the other is a more mature woman, an American visiting the area on a whim. As a bonus, it’s a story about stories and their value in our lives. We’re all readers here, so of course that resonates with us – we already understand and appreciate the power of story!

I assume everyone reads the provided synopsis before looking at reviews so I won’t repeat the plot outline. I really enjoyed this peek into the simpler farming life from a century ago, and how mutually supportive all the neighbors were.

The stories developed naturally and the characters emerged in more depth as events transpired. I was immediately drawn into both timelines and rooted for the protagonists in both. The story of the past occupies more of the book than the present storyline. Especially toward the end of the book I appreciated how the present-day character learns from the past and finds her own personal way to contribute to the anthropological / local lore work done a century earlier. It was all very nicely wrapped up at the end.

I greatly enjoyed this book. I largely read for escapism, and this book in particular gave me a pleasant escape without the stress of a thriller or murder mystery (of which I read many). I will definitely seek out more from this author.

My appreciation to the publisher and NetGalley for this advance review copy; my opinions are my own, and freely given.

5 ⭐️

This imaginative book sparked all my childhood dreams. If you were ever a little girl (or adult woman) that believed in faeries and love, then this book is worth checking out. It hit home for me on so many levels - an adult woman that lost her identity during a marriage, seeking her independence after a split, making decisions on a whim, a glimmer of hope that faeries are real, and a love story that we’re all just dying to hear the ending of. Throw in a splash of faeries and you have yourself a winning book!

The main story collector reminds me of W.Y. Evans-Wentz who collected reports and encounters with faeries in the Celtic Countries and published his work in 1911, which is still regarded as scholarly and culturally important today.

Do you believe in faeries? 🧚🏼‍♀️ 🧚‍♂️ 🧚🏼

4.25 stars!!!

“Our wills and fate so contrary run” - Shakespeare

The Story Collector is a cozy, magical, wintry novel. Think fall/winter season, sitting by the fireplace… or at least a YouTube video of a fireplace with the crackling sounds and wrapped in a blanket.

I enjoyed reading the dual timelines centered around life in the same setting/location in Ireland. It was interesting how similar the experiences were between the two main FMCs throughout the story. The way the author paced the story so that their experiences were volleyed back and forth to each other made me excited to read both journeys.

There are times in dual timeline or dual POV novels where one is far more interesting than the other, but I’m thankful that wasn’t the case here. I was rooting for both characters.

There are topics that could be triggering to some, such as attempted rape and dealing with grief due to the loss of a loved one. I feel that these topics were handled with grace.

Also, finding out that parts of the story is inspired by a real-life anthropologist who also traveled to Ireland to collect similar stories discussed in the book was exciting! It makes me want to read his published thesis as well. 😊

The Story Collector is a beautifully written fantasy-romance-mystery novel that encompasses stories from two centuries intermingled with fantastic fairies that make the action more exciting and remind us of how important folklore and stories are in our lives. I loved the book

This book is a departure for me. Folklore, fairies and historical fiction isn’t typically my genre, however from the first sentence (yes, the first 6 words on the page) I was hooked. This book also takes place in Ireland which will always have a special place in my heart. I loved the mystery, the intrigue and the dual pov this book gave. It’s a perfect book to break up a streak, or get you out of a reading rut!

It's a grown-up's fairy tale! Wonderful story of two women's lives and fairies! Evie Woods paints such a picture of her characters world that you feel as though you are there right along with the characters. Loved it.

4.5 stars

I found myself drawn in tightly to this dual-timeline story set in both Ireland and America, staying up WAY too late to read. I found both Sarah and Anna's stories compelling and deeply moving. They are well-written main characters, flaws, dreams, and hopes all relatable.

Definitely some adult themes, but certainly appropriate for mid- to late-teens and up.

I received an ARC; this is my honest review.

This is my first read by Evie Woods and I was not disappointed.

The story is essentially told in two POVs; two women separated by a century, but connected by their time in Ireland. Sarah, a woman struggling with her new divorce and trying to find herself in the 2000s, and Anna, a young woman also trying to find herself and her own voice in the 1900s.

I really enjoyed how Evie weaves the fabric of their stories from a century apart. It's filled with folklore, which I loved, mystery, love, family, friends, and books. Gotta love a book about books! It was a truly magical read.

I was instantly drawn into the story because anyone that makes an uncharacteristic, life-altering decision such as Sarah's flight commands my attention. In The Story Collector, Woods has crafted a two for one bargain: we get the story of Anna's life as told through her diary, and Sarah's life in the present day. I felt connected to Anna and was excited to 'read' her diary entries. In the past, Anna lived a puritan lifestyle in a culture of folklore and superstition. Current day, a mystical force seems to be guiding Sarah, and even the manner in which she finds Anna's diary is magical. As Sarah learns more of Anna, we see a shimmer of the past still touching on Ireland of today. The tale is magical and romantic and full of gumption and resolve. I was just a titch surprised at the endings, though. Why did Anna make that decision (no spoilers)? And I felt that Sarah's ending was a little too Hallmark for me. Regardless, it is a feel-good story with a lot of magical character!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper360 for the ARC of this book.

“If we lose our stories,’ he wrote, ‘we lose ourselves.”

This was an amazing book about growth, love, grief and finding the magic in the world. I couldn’t put it down and it was a 5 star read for me. I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t enjoy this book if they like romantic fiction / historical fiction genres. The only thing I could possibly say I would change is while the author is Irish and the majority of the book is based in Ireland the main character is American so it is a bit odd when she randomly uses slang that isn’t American, but this only happens a couple of times.

This book has Sarah who on a whim after too many drinks at the airport and a random newspaper article finds herself in Ireland. As she struggles with the issues that brought her there she makes friends with the locals and finds a diary from 100 years ago written by a girl who lived in the cottage she is staying in.

Evie does a great job of having the story flow with the time jumps, with the past being revealed as the diary is read it helps to immerse you in the story. I loved the way she made magic seem to come alive in the story that is based in reality. Showing how important everyday magic is in life. I have already bought the other book she has written and look forward to seeing what she writes in the future.

Only warning I would give (please stop reading here if you don’t want a spoiler about a theme) …..










Ok if you are still reading this book does deal with the aftermath of miscarriage / child loss which if you have trauma around that please make sure you are emotionally and mentally ready to read about it.

I'll start by saying Evie Woods prior book, "The Lost Bookshop" was an incredible book. I love the way Evie flows multiple timelines together and keeps you on your toes for both sets of characters.

With that, I was so excited to read The Story Collector. Taking place in Ireland in 2011 and 1911, we run into two women, Sarah and Anne, who live completely different lives, but lives that will be forever changed by the faeries of Ireland. In 1911, Anna is brought on by an American, Harold, who is researching local tales about faeries and needs a local guide and translator. It's the perfect job for Anna, a local farm girl, who has her own personal connection to the local faeries. Fast forward to 2011 and we have Sarah, who on Christmas Day drunkenly decides to fly to Ireland in search of connecting back to her roots. The two stories connect when Sarah finds Anna's old diary and begins to unravel what really happened back in 1911, all while learning how to be "Sarah" again after breaking up with her husband.

Overall, I really enjoyed the characters and the dual timelines were written beautifully. I do think the book ended very abruptly and was expecting more of a resolution, I'd love to see a sequel or even another book based on Anna's life after the events of her 1911 diary. I also appreciate a bittersweet ending, but this one made me more than a little sad after getting so invested in the lives of these characters. At the crux of this book, it's about how we carry our stories and how sometimes the supernatural exists, even if we don't see it everyday. I would give this a solid 4/5 stars and I can't wait for her next book.

Thank you to Evie Woods, NetGalley and Harper 360 for this ARC.

This book is about a woman who is looking to find a better way to manage her grief. She ends up in Ireland and finds the change to be just what she was looking for. I wanted to keep reading to see where things would go in this book. It's a dual time line and that added to some of the suspense. There is grief and healing in this book and I enjoyed reading it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for the advanced reader copy.

After reading the last bookshop, I was so excited to read another Evie Woods novel. 'The Story Collector' was an absolute treat of a novel that captivates from the very first page. Set against the backdrop of a quaint Irish village, the story unfolds with rich, lyrical prose that effortlessly transports readers into a world where folklore and reality intertwine. The protagonist, Sarah, discovers an old manuscript filled with tales of love and loss, sparking a journey that not only unravels the mysteries of the manuscript but also delves deep into her own heart. Woods masterfully weaves together past and present, infusing the narrative with a sense of nostalgia and wonder that keeps you eagerly turning pages.

I loved The Story Collector!
Two stories are told, one in present day and the other a hundred years earlier. In 1911 Harold came to Ireland to collect fairies stories experienced by the local people and was assisted by Anna. In 2011, Sarah ‘escaped’ to Ireland from NYC to get her life in order after dealing with a tragedy; she discovered Anna’s diary.
Both storylines are compelling with likable characters and convincing happenings; both are page-turners. The author did a great job jumping back and forth from one century to the other with details appropriate to each.
In the end I wonder, are fairies real? Hmmm … I wonder.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Story Collector. I enjoyed it immensely.

A beautiful book about love, stories, family, Ireland, and magic. A wonderful read. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced read!

The Story Collector is a cozy sentimental story following Sarah as she struggles to find herself during life's unexpected plot twists. Hopping a plane set for Ireland she learns about herself and what path she may follow now with the help of Anne Butler from 1911. This dual POV and dual timeline novel had me hooked from the first chapter; not only did I love reading Anna's timeline bur Sarah's pulled at my heartstring as I have felt many of the emotions Sarah has. Incredibly touching, heartbreaking , comforting The Story Collector reminds us that we all have an incredible story to tell no matter our lives. I would say be aware of tigger warnings I was caught off guard by a few however I feel the lend to being a slight spoiler so I won't mention them here.

I absolutely love this story! There is a bit of the supernatural and a lot of finding your way back when you're lost in grief. The characters, both past and present, are well-developed and interesting so I became invested in their outcomes.

I read The Lost Bookshop by Evie Gaughan and loved it. So when I saw the Story Collector I knew I had to read it.
The story follows 2 timelines, 100 years apart. In the present day timeline we follow Sarah as she navigates loss and grief, traveling to Ireland on a whim. Once arriving to Ireland and settling in she finds a diary. Anne Butler’s diary and now we come to the past timeline.
Following Sarah and Anne’s story we learn about love, loss and the fae of Ireland.
This story was so heartwarming and just what I needed to read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Story Collector by Evie Woods

✨Historical fiction
✨Duel timelines
✨Romance
✨Magic
✨Irish folklore
✨Grief and loss

In the present day, Sarah is grieving over the end of her marriage.

One hundred years ago, Anna volunteers to help an American visitor translate fairy stories from Irish to English.
The author has a way of painting Ireland so beautifully in the reader's mind! Another 5-star read from Evie Woods!

Thank you, Net Galley and Harper 360 for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Featuring the stories of two women, Anna in 1911 and Sarah in 2011.
On an impulse, Sarah boards a plane to Ireland rather than to her siter's family in Boston. While exploring
the area, she comes across Anna's diary which causes her to seek out more information on Anna and her
family .Anna's life is forever changed when she assists a writer about the myths and lore of her community. As
Sarah learns what happened to Anna, she examines her own life and regains interest in pursuing her artistic career.
Life in an Irish village, full of the magical stories passed down.
#TheStoryCollector #Harper360 #NetGalley

Travel to Ireland to discover a land of fairies. Evie Woods has written a novel full of mystery, love and magic. Set in two time periods, the transitions are seamless. This is a delightful book for a weekend read to get away.

Sarah is at a crossroads in her life. She is dealing with a grief of a tragedy that has ended her marriage. On a whim she decides that she is no longer going to go home but travel to Ireland instead. Once there she finds a place thanks to the kindness of strangers. There she finds a journal written 100 years prior that tells the story of an American man who comes to collect stories of fairies or the Good People. As Sarah reads about Anna’s adventure in collecting these stories she finds the healing she needed to start to deal with her grief.

I really enjoyed this one! It was a sweet story that had some twists and turns but it was a very human story as well. It dives into how we deal with grief and the belief of another world can help us cope but also hold us back. I like the aspect of someone going and collecting these oral histories that often become lost to time. It brought out the magic of what you think when you think about an Irish countryside and was a great summer read. This story was beautifully written and I found myself sucked in every time I picked up the book.

Sarah is at the airport flying to move in with her sister as she is leaving her husband. She is entranced by a newspaper article of a hawthorn tree being saved by Irish residents and finds herself boarding a plane to Ireland. It’s the Christmas season and the inn is full but she is put up in a small peat cottage. Sarah is still coping with the loss of her baby several years ago. She makes her way through the day, then drinks to sleep, wakes and runs, then tries to sleep again. In her first night in the cottage, she gets up to run yet again but the weather won’t allow it. Instead, she’s drawn to a tree where she finds an old diary in a hollow. The diary is written by a young girl, Anna, who grew up in this cottage. Anna tells the story of an American who comes to her village to hear stories of the faeries and to record them for posterity. This was a good story which you’re quickly drawn into.

This book alternates between Sarah's story (modern day) and Anna's story (found in an old journal) and speaks with compassion about the way that life doesn't always turn out the way one plans or hopes. And throw some Irish fairy stories into the mix!

I truly enjoyed this book! There is some language, and some very heavy topics (divorce, death of a spouse, loss of a child) making this one most suitable for adult readers.

My favorite parts of this story were the portions of Anna's diary, which recounts her time helping an American scholar search out stories of the Good Folk. Anna's story in the diary actually felt more well developed than Sarah's. Sarah's story took several twists that I didn't feel were fleshed out in a way that made sense.

Overall, an enjoyable read!

I received a free ARC from netgalley, all opinions are my own!

The Story Collector by Evie Woods

In 1911 American scholar Harold Krauss travels to Ireland, collecting Celtic stories with the help of young local woman, Anna Butler. In 2011, Sarah Butler impulsively changes her travel plans, intrigued by a news story of a hawthorn tree saved by locals. She finds Anna’s diary, and the
two stories, 100 years apart, connect with lessons and delight. This book is rich with lush descriptions, wonderful stories, characters I will carry with me, and a message hope for going on despite sorrow.
Life has a way of changing our plans, and sometimes those unexpected paths are sad or scary, but often they bring us to wonders. Telling stories, making art, growing or preparing food, we can share our creations with others, and maybe share love as well. As for the otherworldly involvement of the Fae, it’s all part of the mysteries of life. Who’s to say?

The Story Collector is a novel with two women narrators, one in 1911 Ireland and the other in 2011 Ireland. These two women embody the title--they are story collectors. Evie Woods' novel is a dual time line and a dual POV. I will be honest, I liked this novel much better after I finished it, then while I was reading out, I had to resist skimming. The Story Collector was very slow in the first half, and I needed to push myself to get over the slow start and hope that the narration would pick up, which it did.

At its heart, The Story Collector is about someone who collects stories and someone who tells stories. Both the collector and the teller present one POV in 1911 Ireland. Anna accompanies an anthropologist who is writing a thesis and wants to learn the stories of the fairies in Ireland. She is both translator and narrator of these stories, which she records in her journal. In 2011, Sarah is escaping grief and a failed marriage to "find herself" in Ireland, the land of her ancestors. She finds Anna's journal and as she reads it, readers enter Anna's world. As a result, Sarah learns these fairy stories and also becomes a collector of stories, which she finds a way to interpret.

I liked the theme of how people need stories to live, as a way to also heal. Shared grief works as a way to acknowledge grief and its power. However, I was bothered by depictions of excessive drinking and the escape into drinking. Any reader with any kind of family history of alcoholism with likely find this a difficult novel to read. The alcohol is unnecessary to the story, and I wish Woods had left it out.

Thank you to publisher, One More Chapter, and to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. I am recommending this novel.

This was a very magical, enjoyable read. Told in two different POVs and in two different eras.

Sarah lives in the year 2011, she's leaving her husband in NYC to go back home to her parents in Boston to heal from a traumatic experience. At the airport, she hops on a flight to Ireland at the last minute. There Sarah finds the diary of the daughter who lived in the cottage she's staying in 100 years ago. There, she finally heals from an event that had changed her life.

Anna lives in Ireland in 1911, she's the daughter of a farmer in a small village. The people of the village rely on the tales of magical fairies who protect them. When an American student comes to the village to hear stories about magical beings, he falls in love with Anna at the same time. He's known as a story collector, trying to preserve ancestors' stories for the next generation to learn.

This book was a wonderful read!

*Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

I really enjoyed this story. It was cool to see the storylines go back and forth. Both had great moments and were very engaging. The only thing I didn’t really like was the super quick nature of the relationship that formed in the present day storyline. Also, the two storylines didn’t integrate like I thought after reading The Lost Bookshop. I was expecting them to relate to each other more than they ended up doing.

What a great summer (or anytime) read! The Story Collector is a tale of two women, one hundred years apart and how the tragedy of one helps heal the heart of another, via an old diary.
It's Christmas 2010 and Sarah finds herself in County Clare Ireland after a spur of the moment, alcohol-induced decision. New friends and an old diary are exactly what she needs, even if she doesn't know it.
St Stephen's Day 1910 finds Anna happily going about her chores and thinking about what a nice Christmas it had been and the beautiful journal she received. Little did she know that her life was about to change.
The book introduces colorful characters along with their stories of The Good People (who aren't always 'good'). It is well written with believable characters. It is an easy and relaxing read.
I could have easily read another few chapters but the ending wrapped things up nicely.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿
𝘣𝘺 𝘌𝘷𝘪𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴

Sarah boards a plane to Ireland in 2011, unaware that it will change her life forever. Upon arriving, she discovers Anna’s diary and is transported into the past. Reading and learning about Anna’s story the more she reads. All while trying to navigate her day to day in a new place with new friends.

Anna, a young woman living 100 years earlier, writes about her adventures with Harold, a man who she helps translate the folklore stories from her town.

The stories beautifully intertwine, with both women finding themselves after struggles and discovering love when they least expect it.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 is a cleverly written magical historical fiction and folklore love story that draws the reader in with detailed and heartfelt situations. Evie Woods has a way of making the reader feel the emotions of her characters, which left me feeling slightly heartbroken at several points during the read.

Qᴜɪᴄᴋ ʀᴜɴᴅᴏᴡɴ
- Dual POV
- Romance, but it's not the focus of the plot
- Mild-paced reading

This review is based on an ARC copy I received from NetGalley. These opinions are my own and were given freely.

100 years ago, a young farm girl named Anna took on the role of translator for a young American scholar who was researching tales of the Fairy Folk in Irish history. Currently, Sarah keeps drowning her misery in alcohol and finds herself on a plane to Ireland on Christmas Eve, when she was supposed to be headed from Boston to New York. Both women have sorrows in their past and each is trying to escape those hurtful times in their lives. In a wonderful blending of past and present, author Woods draws reader's into each woman's personal story. We become invested in the young naive farm girl's crush on the local landed gentry's son and in Sarah's struggle to cope with a past that she just can't forget. Healing comes in the wild an beautiful Irish countryside and the local people's willingness to help their neighbors no matter the circumstance.
An enchanting read from start to finish.

Evie Woods (The Lost Bookshop) delivers another rich exploration of finding love after loss, discovering faith in the midst of disillusionment. in this dual-timeline blend of historical fiction, romance, and magic set in the lush backdrop of The Emerald Isle.

Woods deftly intertwines two compelling stories:

On Christmas Day, 2010, Sarah escapes from her failed marriage and unspoken grief, impulsively catching a flight to Ireland instead of home to her family in Boston. In a remote village in Shannon, she befriends a widower named Oran, and his daughter, also dealing with unspoken grief. Meanwhile, she uncovers dark secrets, both worldly and magical, as she reads the diary of a farmer's daughter named Anna, which Sarah discovers in a tree purported to be protected by fairies.

In 1910, young Anna, a farmer's daughter, records the details of her life as the assistant to American scholar Harold Griffin-Krauss, who is researching stories about fairies for his Oxford thesis. Set against the backdrop of Anglo-Irish tension and division between the privileged and the poor, the tale of Anna and Harold compels Sarah to confront her own internal strife and seek a path to healing.

Both timelines are populated with charming local characters who serve as foils to the protagonists and their companions. While it is categorized as a historical romance, this novel transcends the genre by integrating a strong sense of culture and its expression through stories and legends.

I really enjoyed this story. While the plot centered around grief and loss, the story was not too heavy. I enjoyed reading the stories of The Good People and thought the historical sections were really well written. As an American, I felt that Sarah’s voice really missed the mark. The British spelling didn’t bother me, but the word choice did. While I appreciated the symmetry of Sarah being American, she came across more British than American.

Sarah travels to Ireland after losing her baby and divorcing her husband. she stumbles upon a diary and is transported back in time. wonderful dual timeline story.

4.5 stars! This book is the perfect mix of magical realism, historical fiction and romance. The Story Collector tells the present day story of, Sarah, who travels to Ireland after separating from her husband. While there, she finds the diary of Anna from 100 years earlier. As she becomes absorbed in Anna’s story, Sarah begins to heal and process her grief.

I was completely absorbed in both Sarah and Anna’s stories and so invested in their outcomes! Atmospheric stories are my favorite Woods masterfully transports the reader to the lush Irish countryside.

Read if you like:
✨Irish folklore
✨Well-developed characters
✨Dual timelines

Note that The Story Collector is being republished under the author’s pseudonym, Evie Woods (formerly Evie Gaughan). The book was originally published in 2018.

Thank you Net Galley and HarperCollins360 for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Will post to Instagram and Goodreads on the publication day.

"An evocative and charming novel full of secrets and mystery, from the million-copy bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop.

In a quiet village in Ireland, a mysterious local myth is about to change everything...

One hundred years ago, Anna, a young farm girl, volunteers to help an intriguing American visitor translate fairy stories from Irish to English. But all is not as it seems and Anna soon finds herself at the heart of a mystery that threatens her very way of life.

In New York in the present day, Sarah Harper boards a plane bound for the West Coast of Ireland. But once there, she finds she has unearthed dark secrets - secrets that tread the line between the everyday and the otherworldly, the seen and the unseen.

With a taste for the magical in everyday life, Evie Woods's latest novel is full of ordinary characters with extraordinary tales to tell."

All about the fairy stories being translated. Perhaps something was released?

Thank you to Harper 360 and NetGalley for the ARC of The Story Collector in exchange for an honest and independent review.

While I have to say that romance, magic, and mysticism are some of my favorite feel good reads I could ever ask for, this is my first read centered around fairy lore and the folklore of 1900s Ireland where fairies are concerned.

In a dual timeline spanning 100 years apart nestled in the hills of Ireland, we find two women enthralled in a mystery on a journey to self discovery. The year is 1911 and Anna Butler is a farmer's daughter who sets out on a quest with American journalist, Harold Krauss, in search of the unspoken fairy lore of Ireland that has been passed down through generations. It is an upspoken culture that is so deeply engrained in society that it directly impacts the day to day operations of peoples lives, whether you believe in them or not. Anna serves as Harold's translator and happens to have her own unique tie to the fairies that helps to fuel her passion for this project, and eventually for Harold himself. Throughout their time together, Anna journals her travels with Harold and their experiences as they take in stories from other townsfolk that span centuries.

Fast forward 100 years and Sarah Harper, an American artist, has escaped on a last minute trip to Ireland to grieve the loss of her unborn child and her marriage as well as clear her head. She finds herself as a resident of the old Butler cottage and happens upon Anna's old diary hidden in the hollow of a tree. In an escape from her own demons, Sarah dives into Anna's diary and becomes engrossed with her tale and her research into fairies, all the while watching her grow and morph into a very courageous young lady. No matter how many years separate Anna and Sarah, the simple fact remains that something is afoot in the hills of Ireland and it stands to reason that fairies may not just be the simple folklore we've made them out to be.

The beauty in this novel rests in the dynamic between the two strong willed female characters, Sarah and Anna. Both have faced their fair share of hardships and learn to process their pain in a healthy way, all the while growing into the women they always sought to become. There are moments of pain where you feel for them so deeply and then moments of such pride when you see their resiliency. Their stories are beautiful and woven through time in such a manner befitting of some of our favorite fairytales. This novel truly made me slow down and absorb each sentence as so much of the insight gained was so profound in measure. I loved every minute of their journey's and I'm confident you will too. The Story Collector is out August 13th and I would be doing you a disservice if I didn't recommend going out and picking this one up this summer. It's a great story to lose yourself in and allow yourself to believe for just a moment that maybe the stuff of fairytales are in fact rooted in something much deeper and magical than we could have ever even imagined.

I absolutely adored this book! I rated it a 4 star. I loved the modern and historical aspect with also a bit of magic in there. I LOVED Anna and Harold’s story the most I think those were my favorite parts of the book. Overall it was a fantastic read I will be purchasing a physical copy when it releases. Thank you for the ebook ARC!

I’m not a fan of Hallmark Channel romances, but I have a soft spot for any set in Ireland. These films all feature Irish folk music and great shots of the magnificent landscapes. How wrong can you go, no matter how silly the plot? Evie Woods’ “The Story Collector” doesn’t have the music or the cinematography. Still, it has a healthy dose of Irish fairies and two heroines trodding the same landscape a century apart. The novel has plenty of charm and plenty of blarney, but one half of the story doesn’t always live up to its potential.

First, a word of explanation about the book. “The Story Collector” was first published several years ago under the author’s given name, Evie Gaughan. It has recently been re-published (with much better cover art) under the author’s pen name, Evie Woods. I don’t know what changes, if any, have been made to the book’s contents. I agreed to read the book’s current (Woods) version at the publisher’s request.

“The Story Collector” begins on a miserable Christmas night in 2010 in New York City. Sarah Harper’s marriage has fallen apart, and she’s trying to decide whether to move in with her sister or her parents in Boston. However, when Sarah stumbles across the Aer Lingus gift shop at the airport, she impulsively buys a ticket to Dublin instead of Boston. When she arrives, Sarah finds the airport inn booked solid, but the hotel manager offers her a ride to the “nearby” village of Thornwood (almost an hour’s ride), where she finds an unofficial Airbnb cottage available. Sarah’s stay in Ireland will soon be considerably more extended than expected.

At this point, “The Story Collector” has all the makings of a typical Hallmark movie, especially when Sarah befriends a young girl living nearby with a widowed father. However, Sarah’s tale is only half the story and the less interesting one. While exploring her environs, Sarah finds an old box hidden inside a tree trunk. The box contains the diary of Anna Butler, an 18-year-old girl who lived in the cottage a century earlier. To her surprise, Sarah discovers the diary begins precisely 100 years before the day she found it. Further, as Sarah reads the diary, the present-day events usually dovetail the diary entries one century apart.

Anna’s story is far more interesting than Sarah’s. She’s a bright girl destined to lead a typical existence as a rural housewife. Then, she meets an American traveler, Harold Griffin-Krauss. He’s a student researching fairy tales in Ireland and the various parts of the United Kingdom. And I don’t mean Hans Christian Andersen’s stories. Harold is researching stories of actual fairy sightings and encounters. Anna soon becomes his tour guide and assistant. As Harold does his research, he finds fairies have been prevalent in the Thornwood area for many years. Many Thornwood residents share their stories of fairy encounters with Harold and Anna. These stories are more one- or two-page flash fiction than fully plotted tales. Usually, the fairies are up to no good. Combine all the stories from Anna’s journal, and Harold and Anna formulate a theory about how the fairy underworld beneath Thornwood’s fields works. I can see how the book Harold later publishes would be entertaining (I’d read it if it were real).

Anna’s journal ends before Harold’s work finds its way into print. However, readers of “The Story Collector” learn the book was published in 1912 by the Oxford University Press, thanks to Sarah’s young friend Hazel, who has a used copy. That’s just one example of the author’s clever use of foreshadowing. Instead of burdening the book with “had I but knowns,” Evie Woods has Sarah discover seemingly trivial bits of information, like the area’s grand estate that had fallen into disrepair. In 1911, it was the home of a wealthy young man who courted Anna. Other examples include several 21st-century characters who are direct descendants of those mentioned in Anna’s diary.

Anna’s diary has everything that Sarah’s story lacks. The author notes some tragedies (including her divorce) that happened in Sarah’s life and how she eventually comes to terms with them. However, it’s a flimsy structure for a novel, even an Irish romance. Sarah uncovers details about Anna’s story that aren’t contained in the teenager’s diary, but her inquiries don’t rise to the level of an entertaining mystery.

By contrast, Anna’s story has it all: a classic love triangle, political intrigue, and even what may have been an actual encounter between Anna and some fairies (at a crucial moment in the story). Even though the present-day scenes give away some details of how Anna’s story ends, the last few pages of Anna’s diary still pack an emotional wallop. If I were making “The Story Collector” into a movie, I’d have scrapped Sarah’s story almost entirely and concentrated on filming Anna’s diary.

It’s hard to assign a rating to “The Story Collector.” Unlike books in which an author includes two shorter works to form a novel-length book, these two narratives are entirely intertwined. My only quibble with Anna’s diary is that the writing style is far beyond what a home-schooled 18-year-old in rural Ireland would compose. The colorful descriptions and turns of phrases are the work of a skilled adult author. (Similarly, Sarah’s relatives in America wish each other a “Happy Christmas” instead of a “Merry Christmas.”) But I can easily overlook that flaw because the story is so entertaining. Sarah’s story is rather bland and interrupts the flow of Anna’s tale whenever the older woman takes a break from reading to go about her daily activities. “The Story Collector” is a collection of one fascinating century-old story and one not-so-fascinating modern-day tale. Put them together, and the book is still solid entertainment.

NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book.
First the positives: I thought this was a really sweet story. The characters were lovable, the atmosphere of the book was immaculate. It made me want to visit Ireland in the winter because the weather and the vibes sound right up my alley.
Now for the… I’m not going to say negatives because I don’t think there is anything wrong with these things but something to consider… Sarah is from the states but there are quite a few phrases she says throughout the book that are quite British. The way her words flow sometimes isn’t quite how we would say it in “American” English. If she was living in Ireland for longer than she did and picked up on these phrases it would make sense but she was only there for like a week at this point. Something for the author to note. The ended although I felt very realistic left me a bit “meh” feeling. I understand not every book has to have a HEA, but some closure would be nice. I wished we could see a fuller development of Sarah and Oren’s relationship, it felt very rushed. And her relationship with Jack never felt over- it felt very open ended still. I wished their last conversation had felt more final- they can still be friends- but she was still referring to herself as his “wife” at one point after she had already started developing feelings for Oren.
All in all I really enjoyed the story and will be recommending it!

Delightful with just a touch of darkness! Just like The Good People. I thouroughly enjoyed this novel by Evie Woods and I am looking forward to picking up The Lost Bookshop. If you are interested in a feel good story this should be on your TBR.

Oh my goodness, this book #TheStoryCollector was a delight, giving you all the feels! There was heartbreak, romance, mysteries, curses, fairy folklore. So enchanting, very descriptive, felt like I was there. This was my first read from this author #EvieWoods, but definitely not my last! If you want a good quick, charming, and fun read, then this is for you!
Thank you #NetGalley & Harper360 for the ARC and chance to read and review this beautiful book.

This is a book full of magic and the women it affects from 2 different generations and 2 different countries. 100 years ago, Ann helps an American translate from Irish into English, the fairy tales around her. In present day New York, Sarah goes to Ireland, but once there she discovers a lot of dark secrets that tread the line between real and unreal. This is a wonderful book that will make you escape into a different world for a while.

Evie Woods has touched my heart again. I loved The Lost Bookshop and I love this new book by Evie The Story Collector. The story develops between two timelines. I found the book hard to put down as I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I love books that take place in Ireland and have that touch of the Good People in them (fairies). But this book is not one that casts the fairies as a cartoonish character but in my opinion much more like a realistic look. I loved everything about this book and that is my honest opinion as I was giving this book as an ARC for an honest review.

Evie Gaughan’s The Story Collector is a beautifully crafted novel that intertwines love, grief, and the enchanting world of Irish folklore. Before diving into this book, I had limited knowledge of Irish myths, but Gaughan's vivid storytelling has sparked a genuine curiosity in me to explore them further. The dual narratives are skillfully woven, creating a rich tapestry of emotion and magic.

I found myself deeply engrossed in the storyline of Anna and Harold. Their journey is poignant and compelling, though I must admit the ending was so surprising and somewhat unsatisfying that it cost the book a star in my rating. On the other hand, Sarah's story had a slower pace, but it offered some truly memorable moments. Her conclusion was a satisfying payoff, and I appreciated how it resolved her narrative.

One minor disappointment was the lack of a more direct connection between the two storylines. I had hoped for a more integrated conclusion that would tie everything together more cohesively. Nonetheless, Gaughan’s writing is enchanting and her ability to blend folklore with personal stories is impressive. This book is a recommended read for those who enjoy stories that explore the intersection of myth and reality.

My first Evie Woods book but definitely not my last. This was a break from my usual genre of thrillers. Perfect break and great palate cleanser. Filled with a little magic, a little more mystery and a lot of emotion. Fun dual timelines and fantastic characters.
Thank you NetGalley, Evie Woods and Harper 360 for the opportunity to read and review this book

This is a warm and cozy story about the parallel lives of two women, a century apart. And about the folklore and Good People of Ireland. Once I got past Sarah "accidentally" ending up in Ireland, I really got into the book and had trouble putting it down.

In the Story Collector, by Evie Woods, is a whimsical book about 2 souls who are finding their way in their respective worlds as women of their time blended with the Irish culture and folklore surrounding fairies and magic. We follow Sarah through the modern-day timeline of finding herself after a divorce and family trauma, and we also follow Anna through her early 1900s timeline, as she tries to find a way in a world that believed women should not have rights, and who is also dealing with family loss. Both our heroines find ways to discover themselves through loss and love.

You do have to suspend believe a little because we go from Sarah being in an airport, heading home to Boston, to somehow finding herself embraced by locals in the Shannon area of Ireland. In addition, she just happens to find a hidden book that just so happens to tell the story 100 years ago, that is related to events 100 years later. In addition, there is a heavy dose of fairy lore that figures heavily in the culmination of the story. Sarah’s character grows into a strong character who overcomes the trauma that she was dealing with and finds love in the end. Anna’s character overcomes adversity and deals with a family trauma that held her back and allows her to also find unexpected love and safety. The pacing of the story is even and mostly holds your attention, as it is told in a dual timeline POV and jumps back and forth between our two main characters and their stories. Overall, I liked the story. I though it was a sweet telling and an interesting attempt at incorporating Irish folklore into a story. However, it does switch POV frequently and it feels a little too convenient that Anna’s story just happens to fill in all the holes in the events that Sarah and her timeline are investigating. The intended audience for this story is adult general fiction readers, those who enjoyed Woods’ previous book, will enjoy this story as well. Trigger warnings: miscarriage and attempted sexual assault. I would recommend this story to book club readers, adult fiction readers and even young adult readers. I gave this book 4 stars.

In conclusion, Woods’ The Story Collector is a story that deals with trauma, loss and love in a sweet, whimsical way.

Sarah wanders through the airport waiting for departure of her Boston-bound plane. It is Christmas Eve and she is divorcing Jack. Too much wine and reluctance to return home brings her to a ticket swap for a plane to Ireland. Fascinated by a small village in Clare that defended a beloved old hawthorn tree, she heads there upon arrival. In the weeks to come she meets new friends and most importantly finds a diary written 100 years before by the daughter of a farmer, Anna Butler. Her story is the catalyst that moves Evie Woods’ storyline and keeps the pages turning. Anna is hired by Harold Krause, an American scholar who is studying anthropology and wants to learn about “The Good People,” the fairy community that dwells below ground on a local hill and any possible encounters. Anna introduces and translates for her companion, growing fond of him. Not, however, fonder than the son of the local lord, George Hawley. The story is magical and frightening for both Anna and Sarah. This novel is my second experience with Evie Woods; I look forward to my third.

This is such a beautiful novel about loss, maturity, fantasy, and dreams. The collection of stories and the dual timelines are so beautiful. You can feel the pain the first few chapters, and throughout the story you can feel the wounds heal. The duality of Sarah along with the Story Collector and their relationship to each other centuries apart was perfect. I cried at least three times reading this book.

This cozy little book has me dreaming of winter.

2011: Sarah Harper is supposed to be going home for the holidays to Boston after recently separating from her husband, but in a booze-induced impulsive moment, she boards a plane for Ireland instead. Initially she panics at her hasty decision, but as she spends more time in her quiet cottage in the small village of Thornwood, she realizes this “layover” might be the best path forward. With the help of several locals, and a very old diary, Sarah finds her way back to herself.

1911: Anna Butler dreams of a bigger life than the one she leads on her family’s farm in Thornwood. When tasked to help scholar Harold with his research of Celtic folklore, she jumps at the chance to step away from her mundane chores and help. Anna is friendly with almost all the locals and knows the language and is determined to do her best to help Harold learn about the Fey and what they represent to the Irish people.

Though tenuous at times, the connection between the two women and the mythical is an underlying current throughout the whole novel. Both women are in a state of self discovery and though tragedy shapes their paths, they find ways to move forward. The Story Collector is a sweet piece of magical realism that will inspire readers to sit by a fire, have a cup of tea, and dream of mythical guides in their lives.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper 360, and of course the author Evie Woods for the copy of the book. The Story Collector is out on August 13th! All opinions are my own.

This dual timeline book set in Ireland gives a glimpse into the lives of two young women. Sarah is a woman from 2010 who is searching to find herself after her recent breakup with her husband. She leaves her life with him in New York City and boards a plane to stay with her sister in Boston ... but she doesn't quite end up in Boston. The other main character, Anna, is from one hundred years earlier in Thornwood, Ireland. Sarah learns about Anna from a diary she finds near the home where Anna lived in 1910. The two stories are magically woven together with threads of faerie stories from the past and the present. Irish folklore is written so wonderfully and vividly in this charming story, the characters are beautifully captured and you really get to know them well through the author's wonderful descriptions and narratives. Make yourself a nice cuppa, snuggle into a comfy chair, and get to know these two young women and the others in this delightful story.

Thanks to Netgalley for the re-released arc! This is such a charming little story. The details intertwined with the characters and their stories is purely magical! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This was my second Evie Woods book, and I’ve enjoyed them both!

Do you believe in fairies? This is a story within a story with good characters and plot development.

Unexpectedly lovely and lyrical novel. Ireland, fairies, two timelines -- sign me up. Although it was a little hard to keep all the characters straight at first I loved the way the dual timelines played out. I also liked that there was never a definitive proof one way or another on the existence of fairies.

This was a very enjoyable book. The swap between Anna in 1911 living in the cottage and Sarah living in the cottage in 2010 was easy to follow.

I have posted a review on Goodreads.

This was an amazing story! I could barely put it down for wanting to know what happened in 1911 and 2011. It was incredibly easy to keep up with the stories of the two different times periods.

My heart broke that both characters had experienced such deep losses and that they both worked through them their own way!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for this ARC! "The Story Collector" by Evie Woods is a charming novel that blends historical fiction, folklore, and a contemporary love story. Set in both present-day Ireland and 1910, the story follows Sarah Harper, who, while dealing with personal loss, is drawn to the magical lore of an ancient hawthorn tree. Renting a cottage near the tree, she discovers an old diary that intertwines her fate with Anne Butler's life from a century ago. The novel beautifully weaves past and present, capturing the magic of Irish folklore and the healing power of stories. With elegant prose and well-developed characters, it is an enchanting read that leaves a lasting impression.

I have a very good friend that lives in County Clare, so this story was close to my heart. I love the folklore aspect and dual time-lines. I have only recently discovered Evie Woods and I can't wait for her next novel.

Evie Woods is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. The Story Collector was a sweet story full of Irish folklore, romance and mystery. Thoroughly enjoyed this quirky cozy read.
Thank you for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I just adored this story! The combination of history, a bit of romance and a bit of magical realism is enchanting. And since I have ancestors from County Clare, Ireland, I was particularly fascinated. I’ve been to visit Ireland 3 times and now I’m ready to go again!

Evie Woods is a phenomenal writer and I loved how this novel was set in two time periods while the story intertwined. A story of dreams, magic and the fairies that hide in the hills of Western Ireland.
Thank you NG for this ARC!

The Story Collector is a novel with dual storylines. The novel begins on Christmas Day, 2010, in New York City. Sarah Harper is leaving her husband, Jack. Something tragic has happened between the two, and it has driven them apart. Sarah plans to fly home to Boston. However, while she’s at the airport, she has a bit too much to drink, makes a snap decision with her foggy brain, and finds upon landing, she’s flown to Ireland, not Boston. She gets settled into a cottage and her adventure begins.

She is prone to panic attacks, and her way of coping in NYC was running. Here in the Irish countryside, she copes by talking a walk in the dark, with a bottle as her companion. Events lead her to a deep hollow in a tree, where she finds a box. Once she returns home to her cottage, she finds a diary inside, and that is how the second storyline is introduced. The diary belongs to Anna Butler, and the first entry is on Saint Stephen’s Day (day after Christmas), 1910. The two timelines alternate throughout the novel, healing one broken heart, and breaking another.

At first, I found Sarah Harper a bit irritating, and I think that’s partly because the secret she carries, the one that has driven her and Jack apart, isn’t revealed until later in the novel. Without knowing why Sarah is the way she is, she initially came across, to me anyway, as a self-absorbed, possibly alcoholic, character. Anna, on the other hand, was very much a likable Irish girl, even if her head was too easily turned by the local wealthy landowner’s son. But as the story progressed, I found my opinion of Sarah changing, as she begins to show another side away from those who know her well. In Ireland, she’s free to rewrite her story, the way others see her, and how she sees herself.

Irish folklore is the foundation for this story. Sarah is drawn to Ireland after reading a newspaper story about how locals had forced a major roadway to be built in order to preserve an old hawthorn tree. Hawthorn trees are important to the Irish and fairy stories associated with them. During her visit, she becomes friends with her landlord’s granddaughter, a teenager drawn to the stories of fairies and Irish folklore.

Anna, the 1910 character, is very much a believer in the world of fairies and their ways. After milking the family cow, she lets a drop of milk splash onto the ground for the Good People. So when an American, Harold Griffin-Kraus, shows up at their cottage with two flat bike tires, she finds herself with a job. Harold is a scholar. He’s an anthropology student at Oxford, and for his thesis, he’s traveling Ireland collecting stories to see if the fairy faith is still alive. He needs someone to introduce him to the locals willing to tell him their tales. Harold and the reader are both exposed to the stories of the Good People, tales both good and bad. Anna has her own fairy story, but she is reluctant to tell it to Harold, because she doesn’t trust him with it.

Trust and betrayal are the issues at the core of this novel. Woods does a fantastic job of interweaving the stories of these two women, a hundred years apart.

If Irish folklore, magical realism/fantasy, and/or historical fiction interest you, give The Story Collector a try. I’m glad I did.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for an e-copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

This is an interesting story. It shifts back and forth between the past and present. Sarah is at the end of her rope. She has left her husband and is heading home. But, instead of heading home, she ends up in Ireland. She just needs some time to herself to get it together. While there, she finds the diary of a young girl named Anna from 100 years ago. As Sarah gets into Anna's story, she finds pieces of herself. A moving story of resilience and love.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of The Story Collector by Evie Woods. I had my ups and downs with this book, but I am so glad I kept on reading. The main characters were very likable. I normally don't enjoy when books flip around from past to present, but this was done tastefully and wove it together seamlessly. My only criticism was I wish the ending included what happened between two people in particular. I recommend reading this book.

This story line followed the story line of two characters at different times (one living in 1911 and the other in 2011). Overall four stars, mainly because I could not connect with Sarah Harper as much as I tried. The search and struggle to understand faeries was much appreciated. It kept me on edge and I still see the magic even though I did not get the outcome I was expecting.

Anna - I could not get enough of Anna. She was a diamond in this book. I quickly read through the chapters regarding Sarah so that I could get back to Anna's story. The ending for Anna is not what I had hoped; however, it left me with some happiness. I wish there was more of an ending for Harold, but I am leaving that up to my imagination. As for the fairies, I am still a believer even though a Tinkerbell never appeared.

Sarah - Talk about a hot mess. I tried to connect with this character, I am not sure if I disliked her because I did not think she was as well developed as Anna or because she just seemed to make her own life miserable. A little perturbed she got the happy ending that the readers did not get to experience with Anna.

Evie Woods’ The Story Collector is an enchanting journey that seamlessly blends historical intrigue with otherworldly charm. Set between early 20th-century Ireland and contemporary New York, the novel follows Anna’s involvement in translating fairy tales and Sarah’s quest to uncover long-buried secrets. Woods' lyrical prose brings to life a world where the mystical intertwines with the mundane, creating a narrative rich in atmosphere and emotion. The dual timelines and layers of folklore make this book a captivating read that celebrates the magic in everyday life and the power of stories.

Thank you, One More Chapter and NetGalley, for my free e-book for review.

I am forever enthralled by faery lore, and this book beautifully encapsulates stories collected from the residents of a small Irish village.

Evie Woods introduces us to two protagonists whose lives diverge yet intertwine as we delve into their narratives. My favorite is Anna's story, rich with superstitions as she guides a young American man on his quest to uncover the truth about faeries. The villagers' accounts reveal the true nature of these supernatural beings, often steeped in darkness and tragedy. The journal format of Anna's narration adds a refreshing touch that keeps the pace engaging.

As we get to know Sarah, her character elicits an instinctual desire to offer her a comforting hug. Her journey is marked by grief, yet the author skillfully weaves a thread of hope that emerges by the end.

This book is a delightful blend of historical fiction and magical realism, making it a captivating read.

This is my 2nd book of Evie Woods and I really love her style of writing ! Such a charming historical fiction with a dash of magical realism ! I normally don’t gravitate towards tons of historical fiction but when I’m reading from Evie Woods I get so immersed in her world and just can’t put the book down ! I also love the fact that it’s not only 1 journey that she takes us on but 2! 2 different perspectives in 2 different time frames but intertwined beautifully. There are also some slight trigger warnings ! Overall great read ! Highly recommend !

Beautifully fantastic story of healing, finding peace and magic.
Two extraordinary women who carry grief differently find their way in the world, and look for the magic of hope.
Absolutely bewitching. The setting, the myth, and search for truth had me hoping for magic and love throughout it all. Fate brought the Yank and Irish together again in Butler cottage.
I do believe this is my few favorite book

Review posted:
There are stories that bring magic, and then there is "The Story Collector" that paints a vivid land engulfing the reader. From the first page of Sarah & the first entry by Anna, you will be immersed in the magic of Ireland & The Good People.
Even ordinary people have extraordinary stories to tell...
Past and present dance with each other as these women search for freedom from their past and hope for tomorrow. Eloquently written, and heart-wrenching, Evie Woods will have you racing to find the ending.
After all, one should always listen to the whispered wisdom coming from Cnoc na Sí, and take care for the bees.

I really enjoyed The Lost Bookshop, and The Story Collector has some of the same charming/sad elements. In The Story Collector, we meet Sarah on Christmas Eve. She’s supposed to fly back to Boston to stay with her sister after becoming estranged from her husband. She instead flies to where her ancestors are from, the West Coast of Ireland. There she finds a diary of a girl named Anna that was penned 100 years earlier.

Both Sarah and Anna find solace and healing in the stories of fairies and the people of the village.

NetGalley provided a copy of this novel. The paperback version of this will be available in the States on August 15, 2024.

This was a really great book because it was back and forth in time. This woman named sarah that comes with her marriage. She lost something very precious to her was a child. My husband jack and her could not get along anymore. But she was going to leave him and go to boston to live with their sisters for a while. At the airport she started reading this story about how this fairy tree was saved. She ends up going to ireland and staying in this house. She still had a drinking problem but she minced herself and all the fairy tales around. And then I went back into the past about Anna who lived in this college in the 1900s, and she meets an American who is interested in the fairy tales and was writing a book about it.. This was interesting because it really showing a lot of class.Distinction about the big Mansion on the hill. The lord's son named george had a reputation with women and he fancied anna. Sarah found a diary in a tree and she started to read it.Find out more about anna's life. There's a lot of twist and turns in the story but it was very interesting. We're focused on the story collector because they were collecting stories about the fairies who live in this area based on Celtic MYT. H.. I learned a lot about these different types of fairies and how they played a very important part of their lives

Anna's and Sarah's stories in The Story Collector are enchanting and captivating. I personally enjoyed Anna's story more than Sarah's; however, I still have love for both. Anna's story is uncovered through a journal that Sarah finds shortly after arriving in Ireland. Anna's story is about her figuring things out as an underclass woman in the 1910s. Shortly into her story, we are introduced to Harold, an American traveling to find information from the locals to support his thesis. Anna impulsively offers to help as a guide for the local area, helping him get information about faries, a local superstition.

Meanwhile, Sarah is dealing with the struggles of a failed marriage, issues with alcohol, and also finds herself in Ireland. Having no place to stay, she tries to stay at a hotel in the area, but all rooms are unavailable. Luckily, they set her up at Bulter's Cottage, owned by a local family. Two particular members of the family, Hazel and Oran, have frequent visits/run-ins with Sarah. With these characters, Sarah learns how to grow from her past and forms relationships with locals. Both stories have their ups and downs, some better than others; regardless, I could not put this book down.

Evie Wood's writing style draws me in and makes me forget I'm reading. Their books are magical, fit many genres, and are just well written overall. Any book from them is automatically added to my list to read next. I love how they normalize issues in their characters lives, not making them the big issue in the end. It's more than just about the issues each character has; it's about the story in the end. There are no words to describe how much I appreciate how I feel after reading their books.

Thank you to Harper 360 and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I really enjoyed The Lost Bookshop by Woods. I'm not much of a historical fiction person but she intertwined it with modern day magical realism and that really drew me in. The same can be said with this book. Though the magical realism isn't quite as prominent in this one.
I loved the idea of an American abroad in Ireland learning about the culture through the locals and a diary hidden in a tree! It was fun to jump between the present of 2010 and the past of 1911. And the folklore of the fae as related to Ireland was really fun.
The prose is eloquent and easy to read. Each chapter easily moved the story along. Woods inserted the historical parts at just the right times to ensure the reader understood the story line. This made it easy to see the story unfold.
The modern romance was nice enough but not really a huge part of the story. I liked watching the FMC, Sarah Harper, grow and learn about herself. It was interesting to see how she was able to come into her own while being in another country and trying to learn their traditions and understand their culture.
Going into this book, I was not aware of the Irish folklore associated with fairies. I know about them from reading some paranormal books. But never in the context of Ireland the the superstitions that go along with them in that country.
I will admit the pacing was sometimes a bit slower than I would have liked. Mostly with the chapters set in 1911. But overall I enjoyed the story and I really enjoy the way this author writes. I will be picking up future books by her! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves stories by TJ Klune and/or Meg Shaffer.
3.5 stars rounded to 4

Loved this sweet story! Sarah makes a spontaneous trip to Ireland to recover from a failed marriage. She finds a hundred year old diary and reads of local faerie lore while she learns to heal in this close knit community. The book jumps from past to present as we discover old stories and legends with Sarah.
Now I’m not a huge fan of typical faerie books but this story was still rooted in reality. Definitely recommend!
I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.

A charming storyline that goes between two timelines. The characters are engaging and magical. If you like folk stories and magic give it a read.

Enjoyed this book, I love old crazy folk tales that are told by older generations. In some ways this was a very sweet story, albeit with a lot of disturbing happenings along the way. I’m Irish and loved learning about the history, whether real or not.

Unhappy wife gets drunk at the airport. Hearing a story about a fairie tree, she swaps ticket to Boston for one to Shannon and wakes up in Ireland with a hangover.

Her story parallels one told in a diary she discovers shortly after arrival. Written in the early 20th Century, the diary author is a young Irish girl hired to escort an American collector of fairie stories.

The experiences the people interviewed share are magical and mystical. Evie Woods' writing is especially grand in the diary.

A very enjoyable read.

I loved the author's previous book, The Lost Bookshop, so I knew I had to read this latest book! Going back and forth from present day, to the diary that tells Anna's story, it is an interesting look at the culture of Ireland before their civil war for independence, and how superstitions still played a part of their life, and how some of those have remained to present day. In the present day, Sarah doesn't know why she is called to Ireland, to a mysterious town of Thornwood, far off the beaten track, but once she gets there she feels at home, and realizes she was called their for a reason- not to find Anna's diary, but to heal herself, and in doing so, help heal others in Thornwood. It's a book that will have you entranced and ready to head to Ireland, so it's perfect for late summer reading!

I really enjoyed this book. The characters, setting, magical realism and the magic of books all gave off such a cozy vibe.

This book was so charming. I loved the setting and the alternating time line. I preferred the timeline from 100 years prior. As a lover of books and stories I enjoyed the idea of the idea of preserving history, stories, beliefs through writing and art. I wish there would have been more to the historical story line in the end. I feel like it abruptly cut off and the resolution was a bit short. All in all a good read.

Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it”.
This book was the equivalent to a cup of warm soup on a cold day. It had just the right amount of whimsy and amazing story telling that it just warmed my soul right up.
When Sarah, newly separated, finds herself at the airport planning on going back to Boston to be with her family she decides on a whim to go instead to Ireland. There she ends up meeting a cast of characters that helps her to heal her heart. She also finds a diary of Anna, a woman who lived in the town early 1900’s that became an assistant to a man researching fairies.

I loved the dual time line and was invested in both Anna and Sarah’s stories. This book was a joy to read and I thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy.

4 Irish charm stars

This was the perfect one to read while I was on vacation in Ireland. Folk stories, fairies, magic, and great characters filled this one and made for an atmospheric read.

With a dual storyline, I was pulled right into this one. The contemporary storyline features Sarah, an American who has fled to Ireland after trauma at home. She lands in a quiet western Irish village and begins a healing process. She discovers a hidden diary and that’s the perfect segue to the other storyline.

The earlier storyline (by about 100 years) features another young woman, Anna, who helps an American academic research fairy stories. She’s an insider and can get the local Irish to open up to Harold with their stories. As you can intuit from the title, Harold is the story collector.

Harold and Anna talk with various people in the community and spend some time at the local manor. Some of the stories were charming, and some were horrifying as people try to make sense of their world and sometimes believe that magic is to blame for their problems.

I loved the descriptions of the countryside, and I searched for my own fairy Hawthorn tree!

What a lovely story! The dual time storytelling works beautifully here as we follow Sarah and Oran in the present learning about Anna and Harold in the past. There’s some suspension of disbelief needed here as we follow Sarah’s unexpected journey from NYC to Ireland and her discovery of Anna’s diary. However, every good story requires that suspension and it’s not hard to do here. Woods spins a gentle but gripping tale of past small village intrigue with a modern tale of a woman examining her life and wondering how she got so off track. This will appeal to fans of Susanna Kearsley and those who enjoy dual time stories.

Recommended

I received a temporary digital copy of The Story Collector by Evie Woods from NetGalley, One More Chapter and the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sarah Harper finds herself in a small Irish village after a few too many beverages in an airport bound for Boston. While exploring, she finds a diary of a young girl named Anna who assisted an American in collecting stories on fairies. Through the land, time and Anna's story, Sarah begins to heal from a recent experience that landed her in Ireland in the first place.

The Story Collector was a good read on Irish traditions and their folklore. I enjoyed Anna's story much more than Sarah's, but both characters were interesting.

I really enjoyed reading this story. Sarah had gone through a divorce and was supposed to be flying to Boston to stay with her sister. She reads a news story and impulsively decides to fly to Ireland. She does not have any lodging or plans. The story unfolds and she ends up getting the things she needs to end up where she is supposed to be.

She stays in a little cottage and finds a diary. The diary is written by someone who lived 100 years before. This book alternates between the two story lines. It is a great read with just a little hint of fantasy.

What a magical and unexpected read! This book had so many elements that I love: historical fiction, romance, and a touch of the mystical. I loved the interweaving of this cast of characters and the FMC’s journey through grief toward self-discovery.

This book was truly magical and the characters were well written! Thank you to Evie Woods and One More Chapter for this ARC via NetGalley!

This was a delightfully unexpected gem of a story! I love anything set in Scotland, dual storylines and time lines, and folklore. Both Anna and Sarah's storylines were captivating and endearing. This story was beautifully rendered from the beginning to the end. The perfect light and fun story for the summer!

This is a dual-timeline story that alternates between the two timelines. The book begins with Sarah Harper leaving her husband on Christmas after their marriage implodes. Her plan is to hop on a plane to her sister's house, but she gets drunk at the airport waiting for her plane, changes plans because of an article she read in a newspaper, and wakes up in Ireland, completely bumfuzzled as to how she got there. Her sister is mad at her because she spent the day getting everything ready for her, and her husband has been waiting at the airport for her. Everyone thinks she is having a breakdown, but she assures them she just needs some time away to regroup and think. She decides to do just that and she rests a cottage for a few weeks. At the cottage she discovers a diary from 1910, belonging to someone named Anna. This is where the second timeline comes in at. The diary tells about how Anna, a young farm girl, volunteers to help an intriguing American visitor, Harold Griffin-Krauss, translate 'fairy stories' from Irish to English. They travel around Thornwood Village together, collecting personal accounts of interactions and sightings of the fae. Sarah becomes fascinated by all of the folklore and superstition and decides to start sketching pictures of the fairies in the stories she is reading about.

I love this author's books. She never fails to draw me in and keep me captivated. I loved all of the stories about the fae, and enjoyed the dual timeline and the way the two tied together. When Sarah finally broke down and confessed what had happened to break up her marriage with her husband, I will admit I shed a tear or two for her. Whether you are a fan of fantasy fiction or just love fiction, I think you will love this book regardless. I highly recommend it!

Evie Woods is so talented at writing imaginative stories, and this book truly delivered an enjoyable experience. I always love her settings, and the dual timelines worked well together. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

Thank you netgalley

I truly liked Sarah and Anna's story. Separated by time but connected by books and library... I liked the unfolding of this story

This book was very out of my comfort zone but I liked it. Any book about a library or stories that has a magical vibe/ aspect I am always down for. If you are looking for a story that is a little different and entertaining I would def suggest this one.

I do love a dual timeline story and the author combines past and present Ireland in a seamless manner. I was able to read this thru NetGalley and glad for the opportunity. It was intriguing and entertaining. Will look for more of this author’s work!

I loved the journey this book took me on. The personal struggle that Sarah was experiencing was the perfect open door for the adventure that Anna’s diary presented. While I was definitely invested in Sarah, I was always anxious to get back to Anna’s world. After all, it was filled with fairies and tales that excited and shook me in equal parts.

This story switches back and forth between two time periods and women, but it was not difficult to keep up with where the story was with each jump. The characters were all engaging and kept me intrigued with each turn of the page. I loved the touch of romance as well as the angst I felt regarding a potential villain.

This was a fast paced read that had both lighthearted and darker moments. I loved everything about this story and found myself completely satisfied with its ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the story of two women, 100 years apart in the same place in Ireland. Anna, a young farm girl who volunteers to help a young Cambridge graduate student, an American, translate fairy stories from Irish to English. A century later, Sarah boards a plane to Ireland as a last minute, drunken decision, made after flushing her marriage away. Both women unearth dark secrets that tread the line between the everyday and the otherworldly, the seen and the unseen.

I really enjoyed this story. The alternating past and present POV were very well done and as a whole, the writing is skillful. Both stories are expertly woven together. I loved the 2 female characters and could relate to both. The magical realism, something that I am picky about when I read in that genre, was splendid and not too far out into the ether. It did not hurt that I do like fairy stories! Also, the bits of romance were a nice touch and added to the story.

Highly recommend!!!

3.75? The story was fine and very easy but I struggled to get through it. The main character is very relatable at times, and I do genuinely adore her.

This is a very comfy read, and if you enjoy a story about starting anew this is for you!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy

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

I had read The Lost Bookshop (also by Evie Woods) just before reading this one, so I went into expecting it to be great. And I liked it, just not as much as The Lost Bookshop.

The plot was simple. In 2010, we have Sarah, who is going through a bad marriage and decides to move back to her parents’ home before deciding what she wants to do next. But through drunk choices, she somehow ends up in Ireland instead. She, again somehow, ends up living in a cottage in a village. In the cottage, she finds the diary of a girl, Anna, from 1910. Anna is our second narrator, and we learn about her story through her diary as Sarah is reading it. Anna’s family lives in the same cottage Sarah is staying at. Harold, an American scholar studying at Oxford, takes Anna as his assistant to help gather stories and beliefs about fairies.

The first half of the book just seemed to introduce the characters and their two worlds. By this point, I felt as though I knew enough about Anna and could connect with her, but I didn’t feel the same way about Sarah. I still felt like I knew nothing about her or her story. The focus of the book seemed to be on Anna’s story and later, the connection between Sarah and Anna.

In the later half, there was ONE moment that set off a chain reaction. And at this point, I was completely hooked. First, my heart was racing. And then, I was giggling. Then, I was holding my breath, waiting and hoping. And finally, I was… content. I can’t say I was happy, but I was relieved things didn’t get worse. The ending, although bittersweet, was realistic, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

An interesting part of this book is how it’s written. Everything in the present was written in 3rd person, while Anna’s story was in 1st person. Overall, I thought the plot was perfect, the romance was sweet and cute, and the magical realism enhanced the plot and message. I liked everything about this book, except the pacing for the first half. It took me almost a week to read this just because of the first. But then I had to stay up late to finish it because it got so much more interesting.

This book was totally unexpectedly delightful. It's historical fiction but also about Irish beliefs of fairies, and superstitions. 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 skilfully written in my opinion. I loved the main characters. I loved the different stories integrated into the main stories. I didn't know about Irish beliefs of supernatural events happening that are related to people who died. I definitely want to read about this. 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.
I will pick up other books from this author. It's a gem.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital arc to preview.

4.5 stars rounded up!

I really enjoyed this book. After reading The Lost Bookshop, I had to read another book by Evie Woods. This one had a good amount of “magic” and her integration of Irish folklore throughout the story was seamless. It gave her writing a magical quality that was different from her previous book in a good way. A must read if you love fantasy, magical realism, and folklore stories. Top notch storytelling!

I think this is such a lovely story. One that shows how powerful beliefs in different cultures can be. The fae have played a role in so many different cultures throughout history. They may go by different names but for the Irish they truly hold a place in their culture’s hearts. This book is enchanting and heartbreaking. I loved how the past and present play out in tandem. Readers are going to fall in love with it right away. This is the perfect book for your upcoming book club, or even if you’re just looking for a lovely book to get lost in.
Thank you so much to Harper 360 and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Seeing as I started this book yesterday morning and already finished it in less than 24 hours, that says it all.

**Rating:** ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
**Format:** eBook

Our story begins with one of the two protagonists, Sarah, who boards a plane to Ireland to escape her life falling apart. In Ireland, Sarah has no plan but discovers an old journal in a tree and begins forming connections with the locals, especially a conservationist named Oran. Reading the journal starts our second protagonist's journey, Anna. Anna, a local farm girl from the 1920s, lives in the same cottage where Sarah (in the present) is staying. Anna meets the scholar Henry, who hires her to introduce him to the locals and explain the village's fairy lore. Readers are taken on a whimsical, cozy, and page-turning adventure, balancing between Anna helping Henry uncover fairy myths and Sarah’s budding relationship with Oran.

**Highlights:**
⭐️ Dual POV chapters between Sarah and Anna.
⭐️ Evie Wood’s writing style. Every time I read one of her books, I’m immediately transported into that world. I lose track of time and find myself 65% through the book before I know it.
⭐️ The world-building. The woodsy, whimsical, and magical setting of Ireland adds a cozy and warm feeling to the book.
⭐️ The plot. Fairies. Strong female protagonists. A whimsical, woodsy setting. Character development. It has it all.
⭐️ THE. TWIST.

**Pitfalls:**
❌ None.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper360, for the free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

An absolutely charming Irish tale!
Ireland✓
Alternate timeline✓
Discovery✓
Romance✓
Magickal realism✓
Destined to be a best seller✓✓
I loved Everything about this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper 360 for an ARC copy of The Story Collector.

The Story Collector is set in dual timelines, the early 1900's and 2010/2011. Sarah Harper is leaving her broken marriage behind, to return home to her family, when a spontaneous decision at the airport takes her to Ireland. There she finds a diary from 100 years ago, written by a young farm girl named Anna. As Sarah settles into her new surroundings and meets the people of Thornwood, she begins to heal from the tragedy that ended her marriage, while also becoming invested in Anna's story. Anna led a simple life in her village, until the arrival of Harold Krauss. She becomes his assistant and travels the village gathering fairy stories from the locals, for his thesis, but Anna is hiding her own story from Harold.

The Story Collector is a book after my own heart, with the dual timelines of the past and present, fairy stories, and being set in. Ireland. It's a great historical fiction story, where we see the problems that both women face in their own timelines, and how they try to overcome them. I did find Anna's story to be the more interesting of the two, because I loved the relationship that developed between her and Harold, and the visits they made to the fellow villagers to hear their fairy stories. My favorite part about Sarah's story, was how Woods tied her and Harold together at the end of the book. I thought it was really well done and a great way to end the book.

Even though I really enjoyed the book and the characters, I felt like the chapters of Anna's diary entries did not read like diary entries. The language and style of the writing didn't differ from Sarah's chapters, and I think it would have added an extra element to the book, if they were written in a diary format.

If you love Historical Fiction, Irish Folklore, and books about books, then I highly recommend The Story Collector.

The Story Collector by Evie Woods is a beautifully crafted novel that effortlessly transports readers to a quaint village in Ireland, where the past and present intertwine through the lives of two women separated by a century. The narrative follows Sarah Harper, a recently divorced woman from New York, and Anna Butler, a young farm girl from the early 1900s, as they navigate their own personal grief and discover the healing power of stories.

When Sarah makes a spontaneous (drunken) decision to spend Christmas in Ireland, she stumbles upon an old diary belonging to Anna, who once assisted an American scholar in collecting local fairy tales. Through Anna’s diary, Sarah becomes engrossed in a world where folklore and reality blur, unraveling secrets that challenge her understanding of love, loss, and belief.

Evie Woods masterfully blends elements of romance, mystery, and folklore, creating a narrative that is both enchanting and grounded in the charm of everyday life. The dual timelines are skillfully woven together, with Anna’s story offering a rich exploration of Irish myths and legends, while Sarah’s journey provides a poignant reflection on grief and self-discovery.

The Story Collector is a delightful literary escape that captures the transformative power of stories and the magic they hold. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction, Irish folklore, and the enchanting allure of books. Evie Woods has once again proven her ability to create a world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, making this novel a perfect addition to any bookshelf.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Told through dual timelines, the story comes from two main characters’ points of view.

2011, after leaving her failed marriage and a tragedy behind, Sarah Harper impulsively ends up in Ireland rather than Boston, unable to tolerate her family at that particular point in time. She finds a diary written by a young girl who had lived in the same cottage she was now renting, only 100 years before.

Anna is the young girl that lived in the cottage in 1911. She’s helping an American who was traveling to various locations collecting stories about fairies, the myths, and the legends, hoping to one day write a book about his findings and help preserve the magical history. He falls in love with Anna while working with her, but a tragic event prevents him from remaining in Ireland.

A story of new beginnings, hope, healing, finding true love, and more.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Such a beautiful, magical read! I love anything written by Evie Woods so I knew instantly what to expect. And, of course, it was right on que! Fun, magical, love,

I loved Evie Woods book The Lost Bookshop, so when I received an ARC from NetGalley for The Story Collector, I was thrilled. I loved this book too! For anyone who loves magical realism and a great story, this is a must read. I look forward to more books from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this magical read, after reading The Lost BookShop I just knew that I had to read this next book by Evie Woods. This is a historical fiction novel and it mainly revolves around two women in different timeframes but also about the Irish belief in fairies and other magical superstitions. There is some romance in this book but it is not the main focus of this book and the stories that you will learn about as you read it. I think that I just love how Evie Woods writes her books and how she beautifully writes her characters that really make you fall in love with them as you go through the chapters. There are some triggers with this book that those who wish to read it should check out before deciding to pick this one up, but overall a great book! Thank you NetGalley, Harper360 and Evie Woods for the ARC of this book!

So good! Love the two different timelines and the women in both. The struggles, the trials, the wisdom they find. Interesting for this Irish girl (me) to read some of the folklore and also the creative descriptions of the landscape. I really enjoyed this lovely book!

This beautiful story of growing through grief, belief in the mystical, and healing is a lovely homage to the fairy culture of Ireland and the people who live there. It is set in dual timelines 100 years apart, with dual POV's from our female main characters who are both finding their way through grief, connected by fairy lore and a thatched-roof cottage. TW: infant loss

The Story Collector looked interesting, and Evie Woods has a good reputation as a writer, so I thought why not? I really enjoyed reading this story and am so glad that I took a chance
Fairies, Ireland, collecting stories. The story bounces back and forth from 1911 to 2011, but is easy to follow. Anna and Sarah are likeable characters, whose stories follow along with each other. A bit of drama, heartache, loss, but followed by heartwarming moments. The story ends well, tying up neatly, which is always enjoyable! I would definitely recommend and look forward to reading more by Ms Woods.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper360 & Ms Woods for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This book really put me in my feels! The author told a great tale about the preservation of Irish Folklore. We get to experience Fairies through her book in a more culturally appropriate way by the stories Harold, The Story Collector, collected. A new understanding of The Good People that as an American I didn’t have. We also get to see how several characters are faced with grief and then how the magic of Ireland helps them heal. I highly recommend picking this book up and reading it!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is an engaging read – split between 2011 and 1911, we learn about the lives of Sarah, an American, who on a whim (and possibly after a few too many drinks at the airport) ends up flying to Ireland rather than returning to her parents for Christmas, and Anna, whose diary is found by Sarah.

A clever way of telling us many stories, which of course fits the title really well too – from the present day sadness, redemption, and chemistry to the simpler, but just as confusing events of 1911. And in amongst it all are the 'Good People' and their mischief-making.

I did wonder at one point whether it was all going to be tied up in a very neat bow, but the author did a fabulous job of changing things up a bit and giving us a few twists and turns. Very satisfying read, thank you.

I love books set in Ireland so this was a great choice for me. And it did not disappoint. Lots of info about Ireland and Irish lore and a good storyline to boot. I would definitely recommend this book.

This was a fun read that focused on the lives of two different women from present and past timelines. I enjoyed the Irish folklore but was also very surprised with the heartfelt content in this story . I loved how the author used a journal to connect the two storylines and kept you engaged in both women's stories.

I did think the dialogue between the present day characters sounded a little immature at times and could have been more in depth. But I absolutely loved Harold and Anna's story! I would recommend this to anyone who wants a little bit of a different take on fantasy and is interested in Irish customs.

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

Not all books have to have action and adventure in order to hit me right where I need it to. This one is one of those.

This book is a cozy, slice of life, book where the main character is trying to find herself after her world turns upside down. Instead of getting on a plane to go home towards her family, she gets on a plane across the pond and finds herself in Ireland and on a new path in life. The land of faerie lore and legends welcomes her in an odd sort of way but she sticks around because, for the moment, she has nothing else going on in her life other than drowning her sorrows in the bottom of a bottle.

When she finds an old diary in a tree near her rented cabin, the diary takes her on a mental journey of discovery and exploration, of faerie lore and loss. I think the one thing I wasn't a huge fan of, was the idea of her finding a new love interest so soon after separating from her husband. Though it seems as though their feelings had been waning for some time, it still seemed she needed time to be on her own and not have the complication of a potential (grumpy sunshine) love interest, and climbing walls with his daughter.

This book made me feel all sorts of feelings but in all of the best kinds of ways.

The Story Collector is a good afternoon's read and Evie Woods does do the two-timelines well, but if the "modern" story were stand-alone it wouldn't stand well.

Thank you NetGalley and Evie Woods for the ARC of The Story Collector! I was so excited to get into this story after The Lost Bookshop!! It was a beautifully written book and it lived up to the hype of the first, it just took a little bit to pick up but once it did I FLEW through the pages!!