Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - The Lost Bookshop

Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

19 reviews

poetsofsweetpea's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I didn't dislike the book as much as I was disappointed. I thought the book would be about a magic Bookshop based on the title, description, and cover. I was surprised to find instead that it was really about women surviving abuse and also a love story and also a magical bookshop.

There were a lot of things going on, and as a result, a lot of questions were left unanswered. There was also a lot of convenient pieces of information given sentences before it was needed, even though there was ample opportunity to provide that context earlier in the novel.

Some of the relationships felt forced.

The ending was satisfying.

The POV'S were confusing at first, probably a me thing.

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jazzsilvestri's review against another edition

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medium-paced

2.0

I’m not even sure I fully understand what I just read. Nothing about this felt cohesive and this felt like a book about a mystery of a lost manuscript rather than a book about a lost bookshop.

Opaline’s storyline was beyond confusing. I understand that at that time things were much different for women, however, the story of an arranged marriage felt more suited for a story taking place in the 18th or 19th century. On top of that, why was Opaline’s “brother” so obsessed with marrying her off and then one day kidnaps her and puts her in an asylum??? She had zero contact with him and it obviously wasn’t a money grab. The reasoning behind that plot line made zero sense. I understand he’s controlling but this was too much.

Opaline’s relationships were also quite confusing. She was in love with Armand in Paris, and the moment she leaves Paris she’s now in love with Matthew who happens to be married. And they have an affair? Or at least a kiss (which is still cheating. It seems like the author doesn’t have an issue with cheating since the other two main characters cheat as well). And who the hell is Jane?! I swear we were never introduced to this character until Opaline is in the asylum, otherwise I somehow blocked it out.

There was a lot of jumping in between plot points that made this books super confusing. We end one characters POV and when we came back to them we wouldn’t know how much time had passed and it felt as if we missed a lot of the story. I listened on audiobook and did so many double takes thinking I drifted off and missed chunks of the book only to realize I had not.

Now speaking about Martha and Henry, the way we were introduced to them made it seem as if their timeline wasn’t present day. But then we learn about cell phones and such so it must be somewhat present. So why does Martha not understand the concept of libraries? And the way Martha became basically a maid to a Lady was another confusing moment that made the timeline feel awkward and unclear. Also, how did she just get this job without any references???

At the end of the day none of the relationships were believable, the book wasn’t cohesive, and I’m sad the magical lost bookshop took such a backseat as to almost be nonexistent.

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rhi_'s review

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adventurous mysterious slow-paced

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

0.25

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maeghie1408's review

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dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

2.75

I’m really sad to say that this is a DNF at 52%.

I was really invested in this story and it had a lot of potential… but unfortunately, this fell incredibly short.

The romance in this book was all tainted with cheating. This made me infinitely sad.

I think the healing aspect of this book could’ve been done better as well. The execution lacked and I didn’t feel like the research had been done regarding the healing aspects from a toxic parent.

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fkshg8465's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

Considering what a dud my last read was, this one could only be given a full five stars. I normally dislike parallel timelines telling two stories back and forth. This time, it felt less linear and more circular. I was yelling angered, saddened, shocked, elated, hopeful, satisfied, curious, cheerful, and so many other feelings all throughout the book. There are so open questions, but the book felt so good to finish that none of those questions actually need answers for me.

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nawilcox's review

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emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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pasteldaydream's review

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emotional inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

A very intriguing story that isn't my usual go-to for books. While sometimes the characters felt flat, I did find myself needing to keep turning the page to see what happened to them. The mystery and magic of the bookshop and the search for the lost manuscript definitely keeps the reader hooked to see how the past, present and future are all connected.

Of the three POVs used, I felt the most drawn to Opaline's storyline. I felt she was more a ctive in her own story vs. Martha and Henry. In fact, I would go so far as to say Henry's POV wasn't needed at all. I fully admit to sometimes skimming through his just to get back to Opaline and Martha.

Martha did feel somewhat passive at times though. She often had to be pushed by those around to do anything for herself -- the reading, going to school, dealing with Shane, etc. None of those choices really felt like they were truly Martha's decisions, just choices she was kind of pushed to do by those around her (Madame Bowden in particular). In contrast, you hav Opaline, who does have her flaws too, but also managed to run away to Paris with no money, escaped an asylum on her own and confronted her brother.

When it comes to Henry, again, I don't think his POV really added to the story. The entire subplot of him being engaged and becoming an uncle just didn't seem to fit the rest of the story. Maybe because he is not tied to the bookshop in the same way Opaline and Martha are. Often it felt as though Martha was his manic pixie dream girl -- existing only to make him feel better about his dull life.

I would have loved to see Martha take a more active role in her own story, maybe finding the bookshop on her own and Henry coming in as a platonic friend and having a slow romance build between them (did he even have to be engaged at all? I truly hated that aspect of his story.)

Henry just didn't feel as inspiring as Opaline and Martha. His POVs certainly helped us see Martha, but also we could have gotten that from her POVs, too, especially if she took a more active role in changing the circumstances she found herself in.

All that said, I did love how the present mirrored the past. I loved finding out Opaline and Martha were connected and Madame Bowden...listen, she is the real hero of this book.

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