The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods on June 1, 2023
Genres: Fiction / General, Fiction / Historical / General, Fiction / Magical Realism, Fiction / Multiple Timelines, Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Women
Pages: 448
Format: Paperback
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This nod to bookshops by Woods and Gaughan was whimsical and charming. I’m always a fan of a book with magical realism, especially one with a bookstore!
‘The thing about books,’ she said ‘is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of.’
On a quiet street in Dublin, a lost bookshop is waiting to be found…
For too long, Opaline, Martha and Henry have been the side characters in their own lives.
But when a vanishing bookshop casts its spell, these three unsuspecting strangers will discover that their own stories are every bit as extraordinary as the ones found in the pages of their beloved books. And by unlocking the secrets of the shelves, they find themselves transported to a world of wonder… where nothing is as it seems.
This was told in multiple timelines. In the present day, Martha has escaped an abusive marriage and is working for Madame Bowden. Madame Bowden has some eccentric tendencies but is very patient and understanding with Martha.
Henry is a student going for his PHD and is obsessed with locating an old manuscript. He is looking for an old bookshop that should be next door to Madame Bowden’s house but he finds Martha instead. Those two form a connection on finding an old bookshop that might not want to be found.
Then we get the past, Opaline’s story. It starts in 1921 England and we see how her dream to be an independent bookstore owner lead all the way to the current timeline.
This was a cozy, charming story about love, loss, and dreams. The characters were very unique. I like how the story tied everything together and the elements of magical realism were also fun. I wished a little better for Opaline’s story and was rooting for her throughout the book. I was also rooting for Martha and liked finding out where her story went. If you like whimsical historical fiction, this one is for you.