What do readers think of The Lamplighter's Bookshop by Sophie Austin? Write your own review.

When I first started the book, I didn't think it was the usual historical novel. But it did hold my interest until the end. I'm really glad I didn't live in the era that the characters in the book did. How women were held back was very frustrating to me.

I really don't think Evelyn's parents were considering her in any of their decisions. although her mother's finally comes around in the end, it doesn't feel right that she had a change of heart. The romance part of the book is frustrating with missed opportunities and assumptions about the other person. I think both Evelyn and her mother should write the father out of their lives.

I know the book isn't suppose to be about the problem and addiction of gambling, but it does show how that personality type very often cannot quit it. The real hero is Mr. Morton when he leaves the bookstore to his nephew and also Evelyn for sending William's manuscript to a publisher. The end felt like a Hallmark movie.

I don't read much historical fiction that takes place in the 1800's but this was a book about books and I couldn't resist it. This is a romance - not just a romance between two people but it's also a romance with books and bookstores.

Evelyn and her mother live in a large manor house in Yorkshire when the bailiff's come and tell them that they must move out immediately and can only take personal belongings. Evelyn's father is a gambler and has lost ownership of their manor home and spent all of his money. They have no other close family and decide that their only choice is to move to York to live with an elderly aunt.

It's apparent at their first meeting that the aunt doesn't want them there and continues to mention their disgrace. Evelyn realizes that it's up to her to make some money to help her family. Her mother thinks that women working is disgraceful so Evelyn has to hide the fact that she has gotten a job at a bookstore. It's a dusty old bookstore that is disorganized and kind of shabby. Just as Evelyn starts enjoying her job and helping to get things organized, the owner's nephew William shows up in need of a job.

He is a writer who is trying to write a book and has told everyone that he has written a book but has some serious writer's block and just can't get the book written. He knows that his uncle will hire him and is very unhappy to find out that Evelyn already has the job that he wanted. So now we have two people both desperately needing this job to survive but the bookstore can only support one of them.

William and Evelyn decide to have a competition over who can sell the most books and the winner will get the job in the bookstore as their reward. The more time they spend together at the bookshop, the more they become interested in each other. Can they break through their distrust of each other ? Can Evelyn become the muse for the book that William has been trying to write? Will they have a happily ever after?

4.0

Status, lies, headstrong…

Evelyn and her mother Cecilia are ejected from their home in York in 1899. The family WAS aristocratic but lost their wealth and status due to reasons I won’t reveal. Without her mother’s knowledge , Evelyn applies for & accepts a job as an assistant at Morton’s Emporium (Bookshop).

A tale of secrets, 2nd chances, miscommunication, trust, success , and family drama.



THOUGHTS:

This book is advertised as historical and romance. I saw some historical as in wardrobe, transportation, cultural norms, and business mentions. I didn’t deem it as totally romance either. (Which is good for me because I don’t intentionally read romance!) I regard this as more of a character-driven fiction book about family drama with a touch of history and romance added to the mix.

My gut reaction to characters:

Evelyn - frank, outspoken / determined
William - mysterious / good intentions?
Cecilia - image-conscious / pushover where husband is concerned

Aunt Clara - crusty / testy
Lady Violet - snooty / hoity - toity / self-important

Supporting cast had a mix of personalities.

Debut book!

Beautiful cover

I enjoyed this book, and initially thought it was above the standard fare, i.e. the sense of the bookshop “helping “ Evelyn; William correcting quotes, and Naomi’s advice from her mother. And who doesn’t enjoy the idea of improving a bookstore? The villain Violet was exquisitely portrayed, and Cecelia and Aunt Clara fit the bill nicely. All in all it was an enjoyable and predictable romance with a spirited heroine and snarly love interest.

Lamplighters bookshop a historical fiction that is set in York in 1899.
After her father abandons the family, Evelyn and her mother Cecelia are evicted from their home and travel to York to live with spinster Aunt Clara.
To help with their financial situation Evelyn applies for an assistant job in a bookshop Since young women were still expected to marry and not work she keeps her job a secret

Evelyn meets William, the bookshop owners nephew, and a romance develops. The secret employment and romance lends depth to the plot

I found the characters whether primary or secondary well developed and the plot was engaging

One aspect that was a disappointment to me was the lack of magic.
Near the beginning the owner of the bookshop tells Evelyn that bookshop has a mind of its own. Also reviews had compared this novel to Lost Bookshop meets The Lost Apothecary. Therefore I was anticipating more magic that never really materialized

I was disappointed that the bookshop in itself did not play a more significant role in the story. It served only as a backdrop and was not really important to the plot. The shop could have been any type of store. I felt the "liar" theme was also a bit overdone to the detriment of deeper plot development. Also, a few plot details were left unexplained. Was Naomi black and therefore seemingly unaccepted somewhat at that time? Morton's love in India is always referred to as "they". Could his love have been a man? This fact is never clarified.