A Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly and Amazon bestseller.

The Keeper of Stories meets The Lost Apothecary in this charming bookish novel, which has a dash of romance, a sprinkle of historical fiction, and a lot of magic.

"The thing about books," she said "is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of."

On a quiet street in Dublin, a lost bookshop is waiting to be found…

For too long, Opaline, Martha and Henry have been the side characters in their own lives.

But when a vanishing bookshop casts its spell, these three unsuspecting strangers will discover that their own stories are every bit as extraordinary as the ones found in the pages of their beloved books. And by unlocking the secrets of the shelves, they find themselves transported to a world of wonder… where nothing is as it seems.

Here are some of the recent comments posted about The Lost Bookshop.
You can read the full discussion here, and please do participate if you wish.
Be aware that this discussion will contain spoilers!

As a reader, what do books mean to you? How have books impacted your life? (18 responses)

Books have always been a part of my life for both academic learning and for pleasure. I didn’t become an avid reader until high school but I’ve been reading great books and not so great books for decades. I have insomnia, so I probably read more than the average person. I’... - arlenei

Have you read any of the books referenced or found any new recommendations? (6 responses)

Yes, I had read Flowers in the Attic way back during my high school years. I do own a copy of Never Let Me Go but have not actually read it yet. I do make a point of reading at least one classic a year, just haven't gotten to any of the Brontes. I will be picking up Normal People from the ... - nanette s

Henry observes that "As youngsters, we do it all the time, making new friends ... But when you get older, it feels as though there is so much more on the line." Do you agree with him? (13 responses)

Having moved to 2 new cities in the last 5 years, this 63 year old sure wished it was like the good old days. "Will you be my friend?" "OK" And off to the playground we would go. Now, I feel I have to stick my toe in the water to determine if the relationship requires work... - mb

If you could discover a missing manuscript, what would it be? (16 responses)

I would love to find a manuscript written by Stephen King, or one he had written with his 2 sons, or his wife. I would think it would be worth something to both read and sell - nanette s

In an allegorical sense, what do you think Madame Bowden represents? (20 responses)

I, too, loved the character of Madame Bowden, and I wondered if she was supposed to be the energy of the bookshop in human form. She definitely played the role of Martha's guardian angel. Was she perhaps somehow also the spirit of a never-mentioned daughter of Opaline and Josef? Or the ... - ErinJ

Madame Bowden tells Martha, "Conformity is a death sentence…you must embrace what makes you stand out." Is this always sage advice? (9 responses)

Conformity is not a death sentence unless one conforms to something detrimental, harmful, destructive, malicious, limiting, or obviously false. In that case, conformity becomes very dangerous to the individual and society as a whole. One can conform to a general practice and simultaneously introduce... - lorrained

Madame Bowden tells Martha, "If you’re not scared, then you’re not living." What do you think she means by this statement? (11 responses)

Sometimes you just have to take chances in order to achieve success. That’s life,isn’t it? Most risks are worth taking and if we find they were not, it then becomes a life lesson. You can’t sit and watch the world pass you by..that’s playing it safe. Sometimes what we ... - arlenei

On the birth of his niece, Henry thinks that "... Perhaps this was why people referred to new life as a miracle, because it had the power to change everything." What do you suppose he means? Do you agree? (6 responses)

A birth of a child, or anything (an idea, a relationship, a marriage, etc.), provides the opportunity for growth, change, success, improvement. The success of the outcome will always depend on the mentality and resources of those responsible for the nurturing, and the nature inherent in ... - lorrained

Overall, what do you think of The Lost Bookshop? (no spoilers) (28 responses)

I really really wanted to love this book. It had so much promise! But I agree with the other readers who said it tried to do too many things because in the end there were too many loose threads and too much confusion for me. On the plus side, it has definitely stuck with me and kept me ... - ErinJ

The strange cracks in the basement, which grow into branches, are quite symbolic. What do you think the author's purpose was here? (10 responses)

I agree with the opinions expressed--the tree grows and flourishes as Martha grows and expands her mind and spirit. I think this device was effective and lent interest to the story - rivkahh

There is some serious subject matter in this book. How do you feel these elements were handled? (8 responses)

Both Opaline and Martha were abused. Opaline abusers was her brother and the asylum. Martha suffered domestic abuse. Both situations were depicted realistically and very descriptive. I think the author did an outstanding job portraying both types of abuse - arlenei

Were there any significant plot twists that surprised you? (12 responses)

I was surprised by the revelation of Lyndon's true relationship to Opaline, but I was more surprised by the hint in that scene that perhaps Lyndon & Armand were in cahoots, or at least that they knew each other. The whole Armand subplot was confusing--based on his suspiciously charming ... - ErinJ

Were there scenes that you found were particularly impactful? Were there any lines or passages that stood out to you or that you highlighted? (6 responses)

There were so many lines I noted. Several are mentioned above. I found Opaline’s confrontation with her “ brother” and the result to be quite impactful. When Martha’s husband was dealt with I felt a surge of relief as well as a sense of justice and balance being restored - gerrieb

What did you make of the magical elements in the book? (17 responses)

I generally love magical realism, but I agree with Borntoread and AuADHDlibrarian that the magical elements here weren't always developed well enough. Like, how could the house save Martha from Shane but couldn't protect Opaline from Lyndon? Or, were the house and the bookshop the ... - ErinJ

What has changed for women, as regards opportunities and equality, from Opaline's time to Martha's? What has not changed? (5 responses)

Some things that have changed for women: we aren’t controlled by the males in our lives, we cannot be thrown in asylums on the say so of others, we can control our own money, and we cannot be forced into marriage. Some things that haven’t changed as much as they need to for women&#... - LindaMonaco

What is your assessment of the male characters in the book and how their storylines developed? (9 responses)

Henry was the only male character that wasn’t selfish, mean and unloveable as a character. Martha husband and Opaline’s brother were combative and both exemplified domestic abuse. Didn’t love their characters but played a secondary roles in the story. The asylum doctor ... - arlenei

What is your opinion on intergenerational trauma? (12 responses)

Incidents that affect you can change you and change how you interact with others. So it could affect the way you interact with your children - job

What was your impression of Saint Agnes's and Opaline's experience there? Have you read/seen anything on the topic of asylums before? (17 responses)

The asylum section caused me anxiety. Especially because it was so abused by men who misunderstood strong women. I just tried to read The Woman Who Would Not be Silenced and had to save it for another time because it’s a true story and I need some time between this book and that topic. One ... - Soobie

Why do you think the bookshop appears and disappears to certain people? (11 responses)

I think that the bookshop appears to those who not only can appreciate it and are in tune with it but who are in need of it. It restores hope to those people when they desperately need hope - rivkahh