Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - The Lost Apothecary

The beginning was a bit slow but when it picks up, it picks up! This book was such a pleasure to read. I love the historical accuracy of the events that occurred in this book and I love that the story behind the apothecary. Looks truly can be deceiving and the truth was bittersweet.

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kelisabeth's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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hales_1243's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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bzliz's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

In the present, Caroline is dealing with processing her husband’s infidelity and the possibility she might be pregnant when she finds a blue vial marked with a bear that leads her into a whirlwind research journey to discover its origins and secrets. In the past, Nella dispenses poisons to women looking to off men in their lives who had wronged them, set off by her own betrayal at the hands of a man she had loved and trusted. Eliza comes into her life as one such customer, on behalf of her employer, and is endlessly curious about Nella’s work.

If you can overlook the sheer luck Caroline has with her research, this is perfect for any fans of forgotten history who also search for answers in historical texts and can formulate theories but will never be able to fully corroborate their findings. The Lost Apothecary does not mince words here- so many women have been forgotten by history without any record of their existence. At times, it re-treads conflict already in motion and gets the tiniest bit repetitive but I still found the story satisfying and

Spoiler

I’m so delighted that Caroline is leaving the man who cheated on her, then gaslit her about it and the poisoned himself to try to trap her into staying with him.

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cady_sass's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Every time I read historical fiction I’m tempted to say “usually I don’t like HF but…” but at this point I think that’s a lie, and I actually love it. This is SO good! It certainly helps that we are following two storylines: one of Nella and her secret business that exclusively caters to women and dispensing with their shit husbands in the late 1700s (absolute queen), and one of Caroline and her shit husband in the current day, uncovering the secrets of the ~*lost apothecary*~. And then there’s Eliza, the absolutely precious 12 year old who inserts herself into Nella’s life and unknowingly puts many tragic pieces into motion. The two storylines unfold beautifully, poetically, tragically; individually and together.

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