A review by theespressoedition
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This book is so incredibly beautiful and creative and honestly, I'm still thinking about it a week after finishing. It really is unlike anything I've ever read before. I appreciate the dual timelines and multiple points of view. It helped me grasp the full story, as well as come up with a few theories of my own as I read.

There was something really interesting about trying to unravel the mystery of Nella and Eliza - through the eyes of Caroline - while simultaneously reading their story as it happened. This is where the audiobook really made it an extra special experience since all three points of view were narrated by different actors. It made the story feel more rounded.

I was really drawn to Caroline. I kept wondering what would happen next in her story, even though Nella and Eliza were sort of the primary subjects. It was so interesting to see how she originally went on her holiday alone to escape her cheating husband and then wound up unraveling this incredible mystery of the lost apothecary. It made me want to make my way to London to discover some of the secret rooms behind rooms!

I look forward to reading this book again in the future and continuing to learn from it. It featured three incredibly fierce women, a heavy dose of mystery, a tiny bit of magical realism, and such beautiful writing!
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