#Evie Woods

[abodeofmagic]

[mortal-pain]

Teraz byli sobie obcy; nie, nawet gorzej niż obcy, nigdy bowiem nie mogą się już poznać. Była to wieczna obcość.

[myinspirationjournalquotes]

Did anyone else get a lot of A.Z. FELL & Co. vibes from The Lost Bookshop? The way the bookshop was clearly alive and conspired about the people in its vicinity, the way it was capable of way more power than expected, the way it had whimsical little trinkets and odd books in so many places. (And especially in how it forced people to read specific books.)

It would be a fantastic au for an Ineffable Husbands fanfic.

[inlovewithquotes]

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

-The Lost Bookshop

[opulentquotes]

He made me laugh without meaning to. In fact, that was how he seemed to exist in the world. Just making it better, without meaning to.

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

[wort-schaetzchen-blog]

Rezension: Evie Woods, The Lost Bookshop

Evie Woods "The Lost Bookshop" verbindet Elemente des historischen Romans, der Romantik und des magischen Realismus. Die Geschichte spielt in zwei Zeitebenen: in den 1920er Jahren und in der Gegenwart, mit Handlungsorten in Dublin, London und Paris.

1920er Jahre: Opaline flieht vor einer arrangierten Ehe und findet Zuflucht in dem bekannten Pariser Buchladen "Shakespeare and Company". Ihre Leidenschaft für Bücher hilft ihr, durch viele Herausforderungen zu navigieren.

Gegenwart: Martha, die vor einem gewalttätigen Ehemann flieht, findet Arbeit als Haushälterin in Dublin, wo sie auf mysteriöse Weise Bücher in ihrem Raum entdeckt. Henry, ein Doktorand, sucht nach einem verlorenen Manuskript und dem gleichnamigen Buchladen, der scheinbar spurlos verschwunden ist.

Der Roman wird oft als eine bezaubernde und geheimnisvolle Erzählung beschrieben, die sich mit Themen wie Selbstentdeckung, Mut und der magischen Kraft von Büchern auseinandersetzt.

Versprochen wird eine Liebeserklärung an die Literatur, aber die Ausführung lässt leider zu wünschen übrig. Zwar hat die Geschichte durchaus Potential, jedoch fehlt es ihr weitestgehend sowohl an Tiefe als auch an Originalität.

Die Charaktere, insbesondere Martha, bleiben durch ihre unrealistisches zum Teil kindisch wirkenden Verhaltensweisen und unrealistischen Entscheidungen flach und wirken oft wie Karikaturen, die in einer Welt voller Klischees agieren.

Woods' Einsatz des magischen Realismus fühlt sich oft an, als ob Magie und Zufall eingesetzt würden, um logische Lücken in der Handlung zu überbrücken. Die Balance zwischen Realität und Fantasie ist so unausgewogen, dass die magischen Elemente eher wie ein billiger Trick wirken, als eine bereichernde Erweiterung der Erzählung.

Letztendlich bleibt "The Lost Bookshop" eine enttäuschende Lektüre für alle, die nach einer tiefgründigeren Erkundung der Welt der Bücher und Literatur suchen und dessen charmante Idee nicht über die Schwächen hinwegtäuschen kann.

[marauderjojo]

“In a place called lost strange things are found.”

Evie Woods- The Lost Bookshop

[lakecountylibrary]

Read -> Reading -> To-Read

Here's what's been in Beth's TBR pile lately!

✅ Just Finished:

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

This magical novel is a love letter to books, readers, authors, libraries and bookshops. Traveling between 1922 and a modern timeline, Woods captivates the reader by weaving magic with reality. She builds extremely strong, passionate and complex women in Opaline, Martha and Madame Bowden while keeping in line with the events evolving around them. Small but special appearances by James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway will delight readers, as will locations in France, England and Ireland.

Last Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

A charming rom-com, especially perfect for March (set in Cobh)! Raine and Jack's charisma and connection will have readers chuckling and cheering. Jack has OCD and runs the LOCAL pub. Raine has recently dropped out of medical school, copes with ADHD and travels the world playing music. Full of lovable characters, readers will breeze through this novel and feel full-hearted after.

♾️ Currently Listening: Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen

Perfect match for viewers of series Derry Girls. Maeve Murray and her friends work in the local factory as they await the results of their exams and what they hope will be the start of their new lives—away from their small town and The Troubles.

🔮 To Read: We Don't Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland by Fintan O'Toole

I'm looking forward to reading this author's viewpoints on growing up in a changing Ireland. The prelude indicates a promising journey through his experiences.

See more of Beth's recs

[thebookwormsdiary]

The Lost Bookshop

By: Evie Woods

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.

The Keeper of Stories 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.’

To find out more about this book click here.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Keep tags and info in the post if you re-blog!

[i-am-the-page-turner]

"The Lost Bookshop" by Evie Woods.

"The Lost Bookshop" by Evie Woods is a heartwarming novel that follows the journey of Maddie Hanson, who inherits a struggling bookstore from her beloved grandfather in the quaint town of Cavern Cove. Determined to honor her grandfather's legacy, Maddie embarks on a mission to revive the bookstore and restore its former glory. Along the way, she encounters a cast of charming characters, including the enigmatic James Gallagher, whose presence adds a spark of romance to her life. As Maddie delves deeper into the bookstore's history, she uncovers family secrets and hidden treasures that shed light on her own identity and purpose. With the support of her newfound friends and the magic of books, Maddie learns valuable lessons about love, friendship, and the power of community. Evie Woods crafts a delightful narrative filled with whimsy, nostalgia, and literary charm, capturing the essence of small-town life and the enchantment of bookstores. Through Maddie's journey of self-discovery and personal growth, the novel celebrates the transformative power of stories and the enduring bonds of family. With its endearing characters and uplifting message, "The Lost Bookshop" is a delightful read that will leave readers feeling inspired and uplifted.

[books1311]

Better late than never. 😅

My December list.

[janchei-reads]

(The english cover, because the german one is the exact same one, only that the title is "Der verschwundene Buchladen")

Synopsis:

"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."

My thoughts:

I bought this book solely because of the pretty cover. Yes. I'm a shallow cover victim, sue me. I had zero idea what it is about when I started reading.

I'm not sure what to make of this book. I didn't hate it, but I was bored during the middle part. When the story picked up steam again in the end, it ended abruptly without a satisfying end for Opaline. I realize that this was on purpose, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. She got a happy end, somewhat, but to me it felt like the story didn't really deliver.

I like happy endings and I'm really annoyed that Opaline didn't actually get one - and I didn't even like her that much. I won't get into details on why her end was what it was to avoid spoilers - because I think reading the book was worth my time, despite the annoying end - but I'm genuinely unhappy with how things turned out for her.

Still, I recommend giving the book a try. Maybe I'm just too tired to pick up all of Opalines story and she was super duper happy in the end depsite... everything, lol

Edit, February 9th:

Coming back to this because the end of this book won't get out of my head. Full spoilers ahead (I usually try to avoid those):

It was so so so shitty?? The modern plotline very much spells out that there was no real happy end for Opaline.

Yes, she married the man she loved, but her whole arc was about breaking free from men and being independent! Not saying that she is not anymore, but it left a sour taste in my mouth that the only happiness she found was in marrying. We don't know if she ever met any of her old friends from Paris again, we don't know what really happened to her bookshop - which allegedly never existed! - but we do know that she never get to meet her daughter. Because her daughter, Marthas grandmother, died on her way to see her mother at the train station. What the hell?? I hated this so much! Which is a shame, because, generally speaking, I liked the book! A lot! But I will never again touch it because Opaline lived the most horrible life possible and found her happiness in the one thing that made her flee London: marriage. Just. Why.

I finished reading this book on February 4th, 2025.

[myinspirationjournalquotes]

He looked at me as though he wanted to strike me, and the woman inside of me that I was still in the process of becoming raised her chin to him. His eyes burned and his jaw tightened.

From The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

[polelover91]

Sometimes Running Away Means Finding Yourself Again: The Story Collector

"It will never go away completely, but instead of a hardness, it can become a tenderness. Your heart will make room for your memories and you won't be afraid of them anymore." ~Evie Woods, The Story Collector

Written By: Lauren Long Date Published: January 10, 2025 Photo by Steven Hylands on Pexels.com “Possibly she was avoiding the truth – that perhaps this story wouldn’t have the outcome she hoped for. But that seemed to be the nature of things. You made your plans, but life had other ideas and somehow you had to make peace with that. Find the meaning in it and let it change you. Fighting to stay…

[rainbowofcrazy]

100th read. Let's roll.

The Lost Bookshop, by Evie Woods 💙📚👀

Bookshops and trauma, and love! and trauma, and magic! and trauma. Emotional, beautiful, frustrating, shocking, and oh yeah, traumatic.

Full review: https://rainbowofcrazy.wordpress.com/2024/11/05/reading-goals-a-book-review-the-lost-bookshop-by-evie-woods/

[the-book-junkie]

The Lost Bookshop - Evie Woods

Started: 14.11.24 Finished: 19.11.24 No. of pages: 434

Man, oh man. What a book. It was simple. It was powerful. It was magical. There was nothing show-stopping or out-of-the-worldly about the book. Yet, it connected to me in a manner that few books do. This book spoke to my soul in the most subtle way. It was so subtle that I didn't even realize my soul was listening until I reached the end of the book and let out a sob right from my heart.

There was nothing extraordinary about the characters. Opaline, Martha and Henry were just normal people trying to find meaning and purpose in their respective lives. They were all special in their own ways but nothing about them stood out to make me fall in love with them. And yet, each of their stories were intriguing. I was eagerly flipping the pages to know what happens next. I don't know what that says about the writing of the characters, but it does say a great deal about the plot.

Yet again, the plot was nothing special. There was no action, not too much drama. It was a slow-moving book with enough happening to keep me going. There was no sense of urgency or no intense need to immerse myself into the world as I do with other books. But there was something about the plot, about the writing that just wouldn't let me put the book down. The way the lives of the three protagonists were intertwined was probably one of the most interesting things about the book. And the magic woven in was unexpected. I was not expecting to see elements of fantasy and magic when I picked up this book, and when it was delivered, it was done so delicately and so beautifully that it was surprising yet easy to digest. It was not forced in and sat really well with the tone of the book.

I absolutely loved this book. Being a crazed maniac for books, if you give me a book that hosts a story about other books and booklovers, you can't expect me to not fall in love. The aspect of bookdealers and bookshop owners and book scholars was just so fascinating to me. This book caters to literally every inch of my book-loving soul without giving in to hard fantasy (which is very hard to achieve).

Overall, 10/10.

I genuinely loved everything about the book. There was nothing distasteful about it even during the bits of angst. It is not my most favorite for sure. But something about the book, about its whimsical, mysterious, magical nature makes me rate it higher than other books which have stimulated me more. I guess the ease and enjoyability of reading plays a huge factor in that.

100% would recommend. Definitely a comfort-read.