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

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods is an absolute delight — a gentle, heartwarming read that swept me away from the very first page. If you’ve ever dreamed of stumbling across a magical bookshop tucked away from the world, this story will speak straight to your soul. Woods weaves a beautiful tale full of charm, mystery, and quiet hope. The characters are layered and lovable, the writing is lyrical without being heavy, and the atmosphere is just enchanting. There’s a sense of wonder throughout the book — like anything is possible if you just believe in the power of stories. What I especially loved is how the narrative feels both comforting and empowering. It’s a reminder that books can offer us second chances, that the past can whisper its truths to the present, and that sometimes the most unexpected places lead us exactly where we need to be. It’s the perfect read for a cold afternoon, a cozy weekend, when you have strong head cold, or any time you want to fall in love with the magic of books all over again. Highly recommended for anyone who adores fiction that feels like a warm hug!

This story was very creative, with great characters. The only reason I took one star away was because the ending was entirely too rushed. The book had this amazing, well paced build up and then a lot was thrown at us in the last couple chapters. We earned the beautiful ending and then didn’t even get a chance to enjoy it. We were also introduced to a very important character in the last 1/4 of the book and then she’s barely mentioned again. Even 10 more pages would have satisfied me.

The Lost Bookshop is a delightful read that’s both heartwarming and uplifting. The story draws you in with its charm, making it perfect for anyone who loves books or cozy, feel-good novels. I finished it in no time and already want to share it as a gift.

This was a wonderful, beautifully written story. It goes through all the emotions as you read. It's almost mystical at times. Probably one of the better books I've read this year.

“Books help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of.” The Lost Bookshop is centered in the world of antiquarian books. The story alternates between two time periods and three points of view. Opaline’s story begins in 1920s London, she is rather unconventional and wants to be a collector of rare books but her older brother is forever putting dangerous obstacles in her way. Martha has run from an abusive marriage to present day Dublin had to “save herself” and is determined to find herself and determine what to do with her life. She is working temporarily as a live-in housekeeper for the somewhat mysterious Madam Bowden. Henry is working on his PHD, his thesis centers around a lost bookshop (and manuscript). He is certain he saw the bookshop once, but it disappeared again. An unusual story centered upon the love of books with its “roots in the golden age of rare books”. Themes of mystery and romance - as well as magic - abound. "A book is never what it seems." Books are "...portals to other places, other lives.” I read this book described as: "The most charming and uplifting novel of 2023 and the perfect book for book lovers.” While it is true that book lovers tend to love books about, well, books and other book lovers, this particular book was lacking. For starters it’s at least 50+ pages too long - there’s a lot of repetition. Even with all of those pages, the characters were likable, put poorly developed. The many asides could have been more succinct and fewer in number. Finally, the ending felt scattered and rushed. Still, I’m giving it 3 stars, it was an okay book, good enough - just not one I would go out of my way to recommend. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book surprised me. I expected a cozy mystery but it contains quite a bit more. Lovely characters, some fantasy, a couple of love stories and a bit of the super natural . Enjoyable too

I will admit to getting this book because the cover got me real good. Then the synopsis hooked me and then I started reading! I loved this book! I loved the characters and I loved reading their stories. Even though I hated what was done to Opaline, but her story was a dark truth for a lot of women in the world. Which is probably why it sadden me so darn much! I loved Martha, I loved her because she reminded me of me, I tend to underestimate and underplay my talents and understanding. My school teachers always told me I needed to stop second guessing myself and let go of the fear. It’s because of my eighth grade teacher that I write now. Henry was an adorable foot in mouth man, I loved he’s quirkiness and I adored how he simply fell in love with Martha and saw in her what she didn’t. That’s the type of men we should have in our lives lol. Opaline, being the face of the dark side of women’s history yet still fighting and believing she get her happy ending. I loved her fierceness and her headstrong personality, I think if she had been written in 2025 she would be a great advocate for women♥️ I came because of the book cover, I stayed for the story and now I’m a huge fan of Evie Woods and will be reading the next few books of hers I have. 10/10 📚 I recommend!

1⭐ is for the quality of the book Martha has escaped from an abusive home, seeking refuge in Madame Bowden's house as a housekeeper. Henry is a Ph.D. student who is in a quest for an old lost manuscript, and a lost bookshop. When, the two strangers end up in search of a lost bookshop, which should have been next door to Madame Bowden's house, but isn't! However fate intertwines their paths in the search of the lost bookshop and missing manuscript. The secret becomes more intricate and profound as they begin to unravel it. What secret does the bookshop hold? This book is a charming novel blended with magical realism, historical fiction, bibliophilia, and romance. The story follows three main protagonists which are set in Dublin, London and Paris. It has multiple POVs with a dual timeline; it is narrated back and forth at alternative chapters. Opaline, is a headstrong character who built her own dream against all odds. Martha's character was a polar opposite to Opaline, she was naive and a girl with dreams, holding up to herself. Henry's character was full of ambition and charming. Madame Bowden is my favourite side character, she is quirky and mysterious. The character development was great, and the readers will get to know them throughout the book. The plot and the world build up was impeccable, with unexpected twists and turns. The magical element was subtle and charming. The author's writing was lyrical and whimsical. She also highlights female liberation, domestic abuse, healing and loss. The author was excellent at weaving stories inside a story. I love how beautifully she involved classical literature and those authors in it, which literally gave life to the plot. It was a heartwarming and heartbreaking read. Overall, I devoured every page of this book

really nice plot that gives you expectations till the end.

Starts off slow.. Then the momentum picks up as u go.

This book is simply scrumptious. An incredibly cozy read that I wish I could read for the first time again! Each chapter is from the perspective of one of three main characters and time hops do happen occasionally within a chapter so you need to make sure you’re paying attention but it is not difficult to follow, nor did I find any part confusing. The plot line is unique and it deals with some heavy subjects, particularly domestic violence and violence against women in general. The female characters are strong, intelligent, resilient, and brave. You will enjoy this book if you like fantasy and even if you don’t, I suggest you still give this book a try and keep and open mind. It’s beautifully written and will make you feel all sorts of things.

Es una historia que mezcla la fantasía con la realidad, me gustó mucho, se lee muy fácil. Muy interesante cómo se entrelaza la vida de los 3 protagonistas. La historia en general es muy relajada.