‘So, you found an old letter that mentions a book no one’s ever heard of, hidden in a bookshop that doesn’t exist.’

May Bookclub read: The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods. 

Lost indeed.

This one was not for me, which is disappointing because accordingly to my kindle I tagged ten quotes within the first few chapters. I was in it. I was enjoying it. I loved Madame Bowden. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DELIGHTFUL READ. 

Dual time lines, multi POV, great all things I love. 

Trying to tackle a multitude of complex traumatic issues flippantly, while weaving between past and present, fantasy and real life, less so. I think something editing would have really boosted the enjoyability and if Martha and Opaline had more distinct voices. Pick one struggle, treat it appropriately and with some depth, not throw every struggle at the characters and shoulder shrug the details away. In a way, this read like a debut where the author is still trying to find their footing so I was shocked to find out Evie Woods is a pen name for an established author. 

The last quote I tagged was at 42% and frankly it went downhill well before that, it all started after a man writing a PhD level paper didn’t think to use Google.

A lovely idea of a book that could have been a treasure, but ultimately a poorly delivered unsatisfying story.