Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

17 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War

fkshg8465's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

jadior's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Violence, Alcohol, and War

aclancy974's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. The author really developed a picture for me to imagine of every setting and person. The storylines were woven together quite perfectly. Maybe one day I will find a lost bookstore! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Antisemitism, and Death of parent

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War

purplepenning's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Grief

Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Stalking, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Classism

Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent

eloquentmuse's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.5

I enjoyed this book. Listened to it as an audiobook via Hoopla. 

This is a mostly realistic story with fantastical elements. It takes part in two time periods: 1940s with Opaline and modern day with Henry and Martha. 

A mysterious bookshop that appears and disappears as it wills is at the center of everyone’s adventures. A tree is growing at its center. Strange events, “coincidences”, and possible spirits surround this shop. It’s almost as if the bookshop is alive and guiding these people through life and toward fulfillment, wisdom, and love.

This novel has the potential to reach 5 stars for its timeless lessons and relatable characters. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

riverofhorton's review against another edition

I had to stop reading this book. Between the male love interests of both the women being creepy, try-hard incels, and the author telling rather than showing, I just couldn't deal with it. Usually when I DNF, there is a chance I'll return to it in the future, there is no such possibility with this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Antisemitism, Cannibalism, Stalking, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

kaylokay_'s review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

4.0

Absolutely adored this. This brought me back to the feelings I felt during The Echo of Old Books and I loved it. The story felt a bit overly simple at times but was definitely able to reach me emotionally

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Death, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

ak25's review

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

I liked the historical fiction mixed with fantasy/magic in this story. The research portion of the book definitely makes me think of all the questions about authors that I wouldn’t have thought of before. I also liked the parallel timelines a lot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol

Minor: Pregnancy and War

While there are content warnings and I didn’t mark this as dark or emotional because while there were dark and emotional parts, I didn’t feel like the whole book was dark and emotional.

ivi_reads_books's review

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

2.75

Liked the dual timeline but did not understand the attraction between any of the love interests. A lot happens plot-wise in a very short time and it didn't always make sense to me how characters acted. I would have preferred if the author explored the inner workings of the characters more rather stumbling from one tragic event to the next.
If you don't want to read about certain topics consult the trigger warnings as this book is quite dark.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: War