The Echo of Old Books meets The Lost Apothecary in this evocative and charming novel full of mystery and secrets.
‘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.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Evie Woods weaves a beautifully layered tale in The Lost Bookshop, blending magical realism, historical fiction, and romance across two timelines.
In the 1920s, Opaline flees a forced marriage and discovers her passion in a rare-book shop in Paris, eventually setting up a secret bookshop in Dublin.
In the present day, Martha, escaping an abusive marriage, and Henry, a scholar searching for a lost manuscript, both find themselves drawn to a mysterious, vanishing bookshop on Ha’penny Lane.
What’s especially magical about the bookshop is that it seems to have a life of its own — it appears and disappears, and seems to “choose” who can see it.
Woods uses subtle, folktale-style magic: for example, Martha wakes up to tree branches growing into her basement room, with books sprouting on the branches.
Beyond the whimsy, Woods doesn’t shy away from real, difficult themes: there’s domestic abuse, mental health struggles, and a powerful exploration of identity and belonging.
The characters feel deeply real — Opaline’s bravery and love for books, Martha’s quest for safety and a new beginning, and Henry’s scholarly obsession all intertwine beautifully.
The Lost Bookshop is a heartfelt love letter to readers, books, and the magical possibilities hidden in everyday life. If you enjoy stories about second chances, literary lore, and a touch of gentle magic, this is a really lovely one to pick up
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