The Lost Bookshop: The most charming and uplifting novel for 2024 and the perfect gift for book lovers!

Fantastic.

Love the book! I love the way the book was setup, it has a lot of great twists in it. Just wish it elaborated more on Martha's and her mom's ability.

"The thing about books... is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of." Henry Longstaff is on the hunt to uncover the mystery of a lost Emily Bronte manuscript. Martha Storm is in search of a more fulfilling life than the one she left behind in Hatchards. When Martha accepts a position as curator and caretaker of Madam Bowden's mysterious bookshop at 11 Ha'penny Lane in Dublin Ireland, her world collides with Henry's. Together they discover the magic of the bookshop, uncovering the truth of its previous curator, Opaline (Carlisle) Grey and her connection to the Bronte manuscript. "In a place called Lost, strange things are found." My weakness for a book-about-books had me easily seduced and sucked into the 1920s world of Opaline as she navigated the antiquity books and manuscripts field. Interspersed on a dual timeline, Henry and Martha's stories in present-day interwine with each other and with Opaline's. The story veers to darker themes, illustrating the lack of control and freedom that women in the early 20th century had, as well as the damage that living with abuse can cause. The chronology and sequencing of events is a bit clumsy, leaving holes and questions about when things happened and for how long. And I was much more invested in the Opaline storyline than the Henry/Martha storyline. However, the charm and coziness of the story is undeniable.

This was one of those books I saw and knew nothing about before I dove into it. I was looking for a new audiobook, this one looked interesting so I took a chance with it and I am so glad I did! I ADORED this book. It took me a little bit to get into it but as soon as I did, I couldn’t stop reading! First of all there’s a little mystery, getting the past perspective of Opaline is such a cool aspect to have alongside Henry and Martha's point of views. I knew there was going to be some sort of connection between the past and present day but I couldn't predict what was going to end up happening. As much as I loved the magical piece I also loved the characters and the romantic pieces as well. It was cute and wholesome and every time we get a book about books I feel attached emotionally. I'm not sure how many people know about this one, but you should absolutely check it out if you get the chance! P.S. You get some great accents when you listen to the audiobook!

A quick, easy, lighthearted read which suited me well during a busy month. I will read the next book by the same author; The Story Collector.