The Lost Bookshop: The most charming and uplifting novel for 2025 and the perfect gift for book lovers!

**Evie Woods' stunning new novel The Story Collector is available now**

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.

Readers have fallen in love with The Lost Bookshop:

'Beautifully written and captures the wonder and awe that a story can bring to its reader...a delightful story for any book lover...an ode to storytelling and the connections that books can make!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Wowwww!! It's been awhile since I read something so fascinating, captivating and special all in one...It takes you on a journey like most books do, but this one, I just want to inscribe on my back and hope that it becomes a part of me so that I can carry it with me always' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A must read for readers that love books' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A beautiful story that begs to be read in one sitting...a magical story filled with beautiful prose and many surprises that readers will not soon forget' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This spellbinding book hooked me from the very beginning and I couldn't put it down til the end' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A love story, one with books and booklovers at its heart. A warm, wonderful novel that sweeps up the reader into an absorbing, magical tale' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'If you enjoy books by the Brontë sisters ... then I would fully recommend you read this book' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This novel has it all: wit, a dash of magic, and a large heart. A fantastic read'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Published Nov 7, 2023

448 pages

Average rating: 6.82

1,646 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

allisonconti
Feb 05, 2025
5/10 stars
2.5 ⭐️ - rounded up

"The Lost Bookshop" by Evie Woods is less a cohesive novel and more a literary potluck, with five better novels crammed into one undercooked dish. The result? A narrative that’s both overstuffed and unsatisfying. The book teeters between historical fiction and magical realism but doesn’t commit to either, leaving the magic unexplained and the historical setting sadly neglected. Instead of weaving an intricate tale, it leans on clichés and predictable twists, offering little in the way of originality or depth.

I have nothing against open-ended books that invites the reader to fill in the gaps, but this one doesn’t just leave threads loose—it unravels entirely.. It feels more like a first draft, with the author still trying to figure out how to tie it all together. Characters are forgotten, plot lines left unexplained, and the reader is left feeling unsatisfied with a story that feels unresolved.

The silver lining here is Opaline. Her chapters sparkled, and the twist involving her brother genuinely surprised me. But the novel overextends itself by juggling three points of view. Had the novel limited itself to just the dual POVs of Martha and Opaline, with a deeper dive into Martha’s character and the connection these women share, I think the book could have been a four or five-star read, as the premise of this novel is fascinating and Opaline felt like the most flushed out character in the book.

Meanwhile, Henry’s chapters had me skimming. His character felt like an afterthought, with trauma tacked on for depth that never materialized and seemingly existed only to serve as a foil to Martha. His supposed growth was rushed, existing only to move the plot along, and his connection to Martha felt flimsy and unconvincing. The author frequently told us how characters felt, instead of letting their actions show it and many of Henry's choices and actions genuinely made no sense.

In the end, this book had all the ingredients for something magical but needed a stronger editor to bring them together. Instead, it overreaches, with unresolved plot lines, abandoned characters, and half-baked magical elements leaving readers with little more than disappointment.
ljzsreadsandreviews
Oct 26, 2024
10/10 stars
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!
PSB
Jun 26, 2025
7/10 stars
Fun but not believable.
AK47
Jun 12, 2025
5/10 stars
Two poorly-wed storylines with interesting female leads and several characters that were woefully underdeveloped. The fantasy/magic element was also confusing and somehow managed to be both essential to the plot and a nebulous afterthought with no throughline. It was a cute love story on one hand and a harrowing (if vague) tale of domestic violence. The author could have benefited from an editor telling her she either needed to commit to the dual timeline and flesh out both worlds better, or write two separate books. Overall, a disappointing read that was only mildly entertaining.
avbgreen@hotmail.com
May 19, 2025
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