A review by badmom
The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

emotional informative mysterious medium-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

3.0

Fascinating story idea - past & present timelines overlapping in mysterious ways, with elements of fantasy + magical realism, mixing in some literary history - but there are too many backstories and starkly traumatic side plots + disconnected characters that unfortunately muddle the focus. Multiple narrators are useful but their voices are almost interchangeable with simplistic voices and observations, so their personalities feel wooden & bland. Some of the timelines and perspective jumps are confusing and fall flat with the lack of accuracy and/or explanation. 
Overall the concept is promising but the execution felt pedestrian & disappointing. 
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