The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

Evie Woods' most recent novel The Lost Bookshop is a cozy little book that has great reviews on both Amazon and Goodreads. She is known for writing about people (and places) who do not act the way they are supposed to but still manage to charm you out of your seat and she has a new novel, The Violin Maker's Secret, coming out next year. This novel deals with bullying, death, domestic abuse, confinement and forced institutionalization, kidnapping, pregnancy, grief, and war.

Opaline is on the run from her brother, who is trying to force her into a marriage she does not want. Henry needs to prove to the university, and to himself, that he knows what he's talking about and that his studies have merit and worth. And Martha is desperate to escape her husband, whose violence has been growing and growing, to the point that Martha thinks there may be a day that she does not survive it. They all, along their own journeys, end up in Ireland to find themselves and become the main character in their own lives. And they each find exactly what they need within a small bookstore that seems to appear only to people who need it and then disappear as soon as they turn their backs. They soon come to realize that it was never the bookshop that was lost and needing to be found...they were.

I did not have any preconceived notions going into this story and yet, it was somehow not what I expected. The very best part of this book was the setting, both in Madam Bowen's house, including Martha's room, as well as in the bookshop itself. It was fun and fanciful in a way that made you want to believe. The writing was very good, but I found it lacking somewhat. The way the author wrote reminded me of an older novel, like how Jane Austen's or the Brontë sisters' (who were often referenced in the book) novels would read and it made it hard to connect with the characters. There was not a ton of in depth character building or nuance. The pace feels fast yet the passage of time in the book was not, but all of the romances inside the book seem to spring up quickly with no build up to the point that I felt a little prudish - slow down guys. You only just met! In the same vein, the character development seemed rushed. Nothing felt organic, like the author was just drawing a line for point a to point b and getting her characters there as quickly as possible. However, I did think the plot was very interesting and I wish it had been better executed.

I'm giving The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods 3.5 stars out of 5. It was not terrible but it wasn't really my taste.

For more from the author, check out https://eviewoods.com/

Pairs well with viennetta cake and knowing which Brontë sister wrote Wuthering Heights.

Favorite quotes (there are two):

"'What is something you create, even if you do nothing?' The answer was a choice. Choosing not to do something was still a choice."

"'The thing about books,' she said, 'is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of.'"