After being tied up for most of last year with uni and lots of reading for research, I made a promise to myself to read more books in 2025! I love cosying up with a book. I’m looking at reading at least 100 books this year.
I’m only 3 in at the moment and The Lost Bookshop is one of my latest reads…
The Lost Bookshop unfolds through a dual timeline, told from three POVs. In the 1920s, we follow Opaline Carlisle, a determined young woman who defies her controlling brother’s plans to marry her off. She escapes to the vibrant streets of Paris and finds refuge in a quaint bookstore, immersing herself in the literary world.
Fast forward to the present day, where we meet Martha, an Irish woman rebuilding her life after fleeing an abusive marriage. She takes a quiet job as a housekeeper, seeking solace in routine.
Then there’s Henry, a passionate scholar on the hunt for a long-lost manuscript. His search leads him to a mysterious bookshop that suddenly vanishes without a trace.
Intrigued and unsettled, Henry turns to Martha for help in unravelling the secrets of the missing bookshop and uncovering where it might have gone. As their stories intertwine, past and present collide in a journey full of hidden histories.
I was hoping this story would dive deeper into that enchanting, otherworldly space as I am a big fan of fantastical stories. While there are hints of magic woven throughout the plot, they felt too subtle for my liking. The mysterious bookshop and its vanishing act had so much potential, but it felt like the magical elements never fully got going.
I felt the characters lacked depth, making them seem too similar to one another. At times, I had to focus hard just to tell them apart, which kept pulling me out of the story. I’m really disappointed because I wanted to love this book, but instead, I found myself eager to finish it just so I could move on to the next one.
With that said, it was an OK read with a nice touch of historical fiction thrown in. Sadly it wasn’t for me.
Have you read The Lost Bookshop? Would love to hear your thoughts if so.
I love the mystery sound of this book. Sounds like a book I could lose myself in. Great review.
The idea behind the story sounds like it could have beeen really good. I had not heard of the book before
Sounds disappointing!
This sounds like just the sort of book I like. Your review was very helpful
Looks good
I’m a big book reader,this sounds like my kind of read
I love stories set in bookshops but I haven’t read this one. I’m sorry you were disappointed 🙁
#MMBC
The title brings all sorts of ideas about the potential of the book. Unlike you, at this point in my life, I don’t finish books that are disappointing early in the book. I just quit reading it. Life’s too short to waste time reading something I’m not enjoying. In school and at work, I read lots of things that were required. During retirement, I decided to only read what I enjoy. #MMBC
This sounds like a good book and it’s been on my TBR pile for a long time, I think I might push it down a bit further now though. Don’t forget I run a book linky if you want to join up, it’s every month on my other blog athomealot x
Thanks for the review, I think I might still give it a go as it sounds interesting. It’s definitely one I want to add to my TBR.
I love an honest book review, and you did just that. I’ve read quite a few books, only to be disappointed in the end. Great review!
#mmbc
Oh that’s a shame you didn’t love this book. I totally understand where you are coming from, I hate it when I just want to finish the book so I can move on and this does not sound like it would be something I would want to read.
Thanks for sharing your honest opinion. I’ve been wanting to read this book ever since I first heard of it, but now perhaps I’ll rethink my plan, haha. 🙂
This book looks intriguing and one of those reads that are difficult to put down!