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The Vanishing Bookstore
‘Every story needs a happy ending. And you can’t have yours until you find the bookstore.’
1692. On the outskirts of Salem, a bookstore stands covered in overgrown vines. Inside, a young woman hides a linen-wrapped journal under a loose floorboard and runs away, panicked by the sound of hounds barking in the distance. The bookstore vanishes into thin air…
Present day. Stepping inside a pale-pink house on one of the oldest streets in Salem, Dora can’t believe she’s about to finally meet the mother she thought died tragically when she was just a child. But the excitement is short-lived. Dora’s mother has fear in her eyes, and with a trembling voice she ‘my life is in danger, and now so is yours…’
Desperate not to lose her mother all over again, Dora digs into her family’s mysterious past, and stumbles upon a seemingly impossible the key to their survival is hidden in a bookstore that no one has seen for generations.
Losing herself amongst thorny brackens and twisted ferns, Dora eventually finds the path that leads to the bookstore. But someone is watching her. They’ve been waiting for her.
As she pushes open the beautiful blue door hidden amongst the sharp brambles, and stands in front of rows of crumbling leatherbound books with faded pages, she has no idea of the secrets she is about to uncover. Or that her life is in more danger than ever before…
1692. On the outskirts of Salem, a bookstore stands covered in overgrown vines. Inside, a young woman hides a linen-wrapped journal under a loose floorboard and runs away, panicked by the sound of hounds barking in the distance. The bookstore vanishes into thin air…
Present day. Stepping inside a pale-pink house on one of the oldest streets in Salem, Dora can’t believe she’s about to finally meet the mother she thought died tragically when she was just a child. But the excitement is short-lived. Dora’s mother has fear in her eyes, and with a trembling voice she ‘my life is in danger, and now so is yours…’
Desperate not to lose her mother all over again, Dora digs into her family’s mysterious past, and stumbles upon a seemingly impossible the key to their survival is hidden in a bookstore that no one has seen for generations.
Losing herself amongst thorny brackens and twisted ferns, Dora eventually finds the path that leads to the bookstore. But someone is watching her. They’ve been waiting for her.
As she pushes open the beautiful blue door hidden amongst the sharp brambles, and stands in front of rows of crumbling leatherbound books with faded pages, she has no idea of the secrets she is about to uncover. Or that her life is in more danger than ever before…
312 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2025
2343 people are currently reading
3752 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 625 reviews
January 16, 2025
In a Nutshell: A contemporary fantasy about facing your fears to reach a happy ending. Interesting characters and plot, but somewhat YA in approach. The magic had potential but the logical loopholes were distracting. The titular bookstore is not the central part of the story. You might like the book better if you take off your thinking cap before reading.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Author Helen Phifer is a proficient writer of crime thrillers, police procedurals, and horror. This is her first foray into fantasy. While this book shows glimpses of her talent on the thriller side, the fantasy part could have been finetuned.
Bookish Yays:
🔮 The prologue coming from Salem in 1692, which establishes the foundation for the contemporary events excellently.
🔮 Lucine, Seraphina and Lenora – three sisters with distinct personalities that stay true throughout the plot. I loved how well their character sketching was done. Lenora was my favourite of the trio.
🔮 The male characters. One was a bit too sugary-sweet, but the plot needed that reliable vibe. The antagonist was perfectly creepy!
🔮 Quite a few third-person perspectives but never confusing. Each contains a good mix of thought and plot. I like how well this narrative choice was used. (Those who don’t like multiple character voices might find it bothersome.)
🔮 The portrayal of Salem, both historical and contemporary, is brilliant. Not only is the setting used well in the plot, but it also highlights the insensitivity displayed by those indulging in dark tourism.
🔮 The two non-human characters - Hades and Ophelia. Both were so good! I wish there had been more of Ophelia, but Hades more than made up for it with his *chirpy* personality.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
💫 The pacing gets a bit slow and repetitive in between, but the ending saves the overall average tempo.
💫 There are two threads of suspense. The bookstore one is a bit meh but the character-connected one is intriguing, even if it is more about “how” than “who”.
💫 The romance was a bit too much for my liking. But it doesn’t overpower the core plot especially in the crucial scenes, which is always good.
💫 Two interesting female supporting characters have a good role to play in the initial few chapters. But they are forgotten after a certain point. I’d have loved to know more about their fate later in the story.
💫 I don't want to go into spoilers, so all I'll say about the magical elements is: quite strong in many scenes, needed more detailing in the rest.
💫 There are a couple of chilling scenes but these occur only in the background. We don’t get to see the action on page. This is especially disappointing considering the oeuvre of the author. Her experience in writing crime thrillers shows even in the limited content, so I wish those scenes had more on-page elaboration. This would have been easily possible thanks to the multi-character third-person approach.
Bookish Nays:
🧹 The title – very misleading and totally wrong for the book. The bookstore hardly has any page space. Most of the story is more about Dora and her family and their problems than about the bookstore itself. More importantly, the word “vanishing’ makes it sound like the bookstore appears and disappears regularly throughout the story. Inaccurate!
🧹 Dora's age isn't revealed until well into the second half so it came as a big shock to me that she was in her thirties. She feels too naive for her age, giving the book somewhat YA feels.
🧹 The dialogues are somewhat cheesy at times, further enhancing the YA vibe.
🧹 Quite a few logical loopholes and unanswered queries connected to the fantasy part of the plot.
🧹 I didn’t get the epilogue despite reading it twice! 🤔
🧹 A pedantic complaint, this. But I was peeved by the repeated use of the phrase "the English women". Dora’s family was “English” by name, not by nationality or language. So this recurring method of referring to them created quite some confusion in my head in the initial chapters.
🧹 Another pedantic complaint: There were way too many sorrys and pleases and thank yous in the dialogues. Even when there were no magic words needed and the action was quite high, the characters stopped to exchange such pleasantries. C’mon!
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 8 hrs 12 min, is narrated by Stephanie Cannon. Her voice is very sweet and her enunciation is clear, I give you that. But its dainty timbre doesn’t suit the older characters. Dora’s family is mostly in their sixties, but they sound like they are in their twenties thanks to the narrator’s mellifluous voice. At times, the dialogues require aggressive emotions such as yelling, but her voice stays the same in tone and volume. I think she would make a great narrator for a light romcom or a MG/YA book, but she was not the best choice for this dark-ish story with character perspectives from varied age groups.
The story comes from multiple timelines and characters. The third-person makes character identification easy, but the timeline could be somewhat confusing. So the audiobook isn’t recommendable to audio newbies.
There have been a plethora of titles in the last few years referencing a “lost” book-related idea, one of which was the similar-sounding Evie Woods’ “The Lost Bookshop”. It had been a decent novel, and I was hoping for similar magical vibes from this one. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.
To be clear, this is not a bad book, but it doesn’t fulfil its promise. By leaving many things unexplained and restricting the bookstore to a minimal appearance, the book kept me from reaching greater satisfaction. However, if you can go with the flow and not question anything too much, you might still enjoy this story, especially for its characters.
Recommended to those who enjoy contemporary fantasy with multiple character perspectives, as long as you remember that the bookstore is not the focus of the plot.
3 stars, as my feedback is mostly balanced across the three sections.
My thanks to Bookouture for providing the DRC and ALC of “The Vanishing Bookstore” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Present day, London. Thirty-three-year-old Dora English, a florist, is stunned when her aunt plans a trip to Salem to visit their family. Dora always assumed that the two of them had only each other. Now, she discovers that even her mother, whom she had presumed dead, is alive. But the reunion isn’t a happy one. Dora discovers that her family has been hiding certain secrets from her. The most shocking one is that their survival hinges on finding a bookstore that no one in the family has seen for generations. Now Dora has to do whatever she can to keep her family alive and together.
The story comes to us in the limited third-person perspective of various characters over multiple timelines.
Author Helen Phifer is a proficient writer of crime thrillers, police procedurals, and horror. This is her first foray into fantasy. While this book shows glimpses of her talent on the thriller side, the fantasy part could have been finetuned.
Bookish Yays:
🔮 The prologue coming from Salem in 1692, which establishes the foundation for the contemporary events excellently.
🔮 Lucine, Seraphina and Lenora – three sisters with distinct personalities that stay true throughout the plot. I loved how well their character sketching was done. Lenora was my favourite of the trio.
🔮 The male characters. One was a bit too sugary-sweet, but the plot needed that reliable vibe. The antagonist was perfectly creepy!
🔮 Quite a few third-person perspectives but never confusing. Each contains a good mix of thought and plot. I like how well this narrative choice was used. (Those who don’t like multiple character voices might find it bothersome.)
🔮 The portrayal of Salem, both historical and contemporary, is brilliant. Not only is the setting used well in the plot, but it also highlights the insensitivity displayed by those indulging in dark tourism.
🔮 The two non-human characters - Hades and Ophelia. Both were so good! I wish there had been more of Ophelia, but Hades more than made up for it with his *chirpy* personality.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
💫 The pacing gets a bit slow and repetitive in between, but the ending saves the overall average tempo.
💫 There are two threads of suspense. The bookstore one is a bit meh but the character-connected one is intriguing, even if it is more about “how” than “who”.
💫 The romance was a bit too much for my liking. But it doesn’t overpower the core plot especially in the crucial scenes, which is always good.
💫 Two interesting female supporting characters have a good role to play in the initial few chapters. But they are forgotten after a certain point. I’d have loved to know more about their fate later in the story.
💫 I don't want to go into spoilers, so all I'll say about the magical elements is: quite strong in many scenes, needed more detailing in the rest.
💫 There are a couple of chilling scenes but these occur only in the background. We don’t get to see the action on page. This is especially disappointing considering the oeuvre of the author. Her experience in writing crime thrillers shows even in the limited content, so I wish those scenes had more on-page elaboration. This would have been easily possible thanks to the multi-character third-person approach.
Bookish Nays:
🧹 The title – very misleading and totally wrong for the book. The bookstore hardly has any page space. Most of the story is more about Dora and her family and their problems than about the bookstore itself. More importantly, the word “vanishing’ makes it sound like the bookstore appears and disappears regularly throughout the story. Inaccurate!
🧹 Dora's age isn't revealed until well into the second half so it came as a big shock to me that she was in her thirties. She feels too naive for her age, giving the book somewhat YA feels.
🧹 The dialogues are somewhat cheesy at times, further enhancing the YA vibe.
🧹 Quite a few logical loopholes and unanswered queries connected to the fantasy part of the plot.
🧹 I didn’t get the epilogue despite reading it twice! 🤔
🧹 A pedantic complaint, this. But I was peeved by the repeated use of the phrase "the English women". Dora’s family was “English” by name, not by nationality or language. So this recurring method of referring to them created quite some confusion in my head in the initial chapters.
🧹 Another pedantic complaint: There were way too many sorrys and pleases and thank yous in the dialogues. Even when there were no magic words needed and the action was quite high, the characters stopped to exchange such pleasantries. C’mon!
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 8 hrs 12 min, is narrated by Stephanie Cannon. Her voice is very sweet and her enunciation is clear, I give you that. But its dainty timbre doesn’t suit the older characters. Dora’s family is mostly in their sixties, but they sound like they are in their twenties thanks to the narrator’s mellifluous voice. At times, the dialogues require aggressive emotions such as yelling, but her voice stays the same in tone and volume. I think she would make a great narrator for a light romcom or a MG/YA book, but she was not the best choice for this dark-ish story with character perspectives from varied age groups.
The story comes from multiple timelines and characters. The third-person makes character identification easy, but the timeline could be somewhat confusing. So the audiobook isn’t recommendable to audio newbies.
There have been a plethora of titles in the last few years referencing a “lost” book-related idea, one of which was the similar-sounding Evie Woods’ “The Lost Bookshop”. It had been a decent novel, and I was hoping for similar magical vibes from this one. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.
To be clear, this is not a bad book, but it doesn’t fulfil its promise. By leaving many things unexplained and restricting the bookstore to a minimal appearance, the book kept me from reaching greater satisfaction. However, if you can go with the flow and not question anything too much, you might still enjoy this story, especially for its characters.
Recommended to those who enjoy contemporary fantasy with multiple character perspectives, as long as you remember that the bookstore is not the focus of the plot.
3 stars, as my feedback is mostly balanced across the three sections.
My thanks to Bookouture for providing the DRC and ALC of “The Vanishing Bookstore” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
December 20, 2024
Helen Phifer has crafted a magical and spellbinding tale about a family of women accused of being witches during the Salem Witch Trials. These women have been cursed to live their lives repeatedly while being hunted by the same diabolical man. Phifer enchanted me with Salem, witches, mystery, a hidden bookstore, and a quest for survival!
Salem, 1692
A young woman accused of being a witch hides a journal in a vine covered bookstore and runs. The bookstore mysterious vanishes and is never seen again.
Present Day
Dora (Isadora) meets the mother she thought was dead. With that meeting she also meets her aunts and learns of the curse that has been on their family since 1692. The family of women have been cursed to be hunted over time and through various lives by George Corwin who originally sought their downfall in in 1692.
This book touches on family, family secrets, memory, witches, history, survival, relationships, and being alive. As Dora learns more and begins to remember, the situation becomes more dire as the women once again try to break the curse.
I enjoyed the writing, the vivid descriptions, the dual timelines, the plot, the awakening of memories, the quest to break a curse, the search for a missing bookstore, and the drive to survive. I would put this book in the lighter witch book. Although it deals with the persecution of those accused of being witches, the book is on the lighter side. There is nothing scary or horrific in the book.
Atmospheric, captivating, and magical!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Salem, 1692
A young woman accused of being a witch hides a journal in a vine covered bookstore and runs. The bookstore mysterious vanishes and is never seen again.
Present Day
Dora (Isadora) meets the mother she thought was dead. With that meeting she also meets her aunts and learns of the curse that has been on their family since 1692. The family of women have been cursed to be hunted over time and through various lives by George Corwin who originally sought their downfall in in 1692.
This book touches on family, family secrets, memory, witches, history, survival, relationships, and being alive. As Dora learns more and begins to remember, the situation becomes more dire as the women once again try to break the curse.
I enjoyed the writing, the vivid descriptions, the dual timelines, the plot, the awakening of memories, the quest to break a curse, the search for a missing bookstore, and the drive to survive. I would put this book in the lighter witch book. Although it deals with the persecution of those accused of being witches, the book is on the lighter side. There is nothing scary or horrific in the book.
Atmospheric, captivating, and magical!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
December 22, 2024
I’m always in the mood for a good fantasy read, and this book delivers a fascinating premise! The dual timeline adds such depth to the storyline, plot, and characters, making it both interesting and unique.
I found myself fully engaged throughout, and I appreciated how easy it was to put down and pick back up—perfect for our busy lives! The author’s vivid writing truly brings this atmospheric story to life.
While I was hoping for a touch more magic and a bit more focus on the vanishing bookstore, I still found it to be a very good read. It just fell short of a five-star rating for me.
A big thank you to Bookouture for providing me with this ARC! It’s set to publish on January 07, 2025, and I highly recommend adding it to your TBR and preordering if you can!
As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤
I found myself fully engaged throughout, and I appreciated how easy it was to put down and pick back up—perfect for our busy lives! The author’s vivid writing truly brings this atmospheric story to life.
While I was hoping for a touch more magic and a bit more focus on the vanishing bookstore, I still found it to be a very good read. It just fell short of a five-star rating for me.
A big thank you to Bookouture for providing me with this ARC! It’s set to publish on January 07, 2025, and I highly recommend adding it to your TBR and preordering if you can!
As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤
January 1, 2025
When you combine books, witches, and historical fiction, I'm all in. Such is the case with Helen Phifer's new book, The Vanishing Bookstore. Loved how the past connects to the present, and we're dealt mischievous men who want to hunt down the women who wouldn't fit in their boxes. Terrible POVs but the women win in the end... thus I enjoyed the story's conclusion. Much to applaud. Lots to get sentimental and worried about. And I enjoyed the various generations. Crazy how the past can come back to haunt you too.
January 6, 2025
Dora lived with her Aunt Lenny in London and looked after the florist shop, although their sales weren't the best and they were both worried about the future. But when Lenny offered Dora a holiday in the US, as Lenny had business over there, Dora had her best friend take over for her, and she and Lenny headed for Boston. When the two women arrived in Salem, Dora was shocked. She'd thought it was just Lenny and her, but it turned out she had another aunt, as well as her mother, both living in Salem. But that wasn't all the shocks that Dora was to have. As her memories gradually returned, Dora realised she and her aunts and mother had all been together in Salem back in 1692. She was remembering the terror of being hunted, of them being murdered for being witches - which of course they weren't. And of the different lifetimes they'd all endured, each with the same outcome.
Sephy, Lenny, Lucine and Dora were determined this time things would change. It was up to Dora and Ambrose to find the book she'd hidden all those years ago. But could they do it? The little bookstore had vanished and it needed Dora to make it reappear...
The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer is an intriguing book, and not one I'd been expecting. But I really enjoyed it - I don't mind a bit of magic now and then ;) The four women in the story, were cursed to live their lives over and over, haunted and hunted by an individual who was a nasty piece of work! Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.
Sephy, Lenny, Lucine and Dora were determined this time things would change. It was up to Dora and Ambrose to find the book she'd hidden all those years ago. But could they do it? The little bookstore had vanished and it needed Dora to make it reappear...
The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer is an intriguing book, and not one I'd been expecting. But I really enjoyed it - I don't mind a bit of magic now and then ;) The four women in the story, were cursed to live their lives over and over, haunted and hunted by an individual who was a nasty piece of work! Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.
December 12, 2024
3⭐️✨
I honestly think I went in with a tad too high expectations. I was so excited over my first arc - and I find it really difficult to rate it so low because at the end of the day I’m very grateful I got this book for free, even though I didn’t enjoy it as much.
The plot was truly magnificent, so entertaining and unlike anything I’ve ever read! Honestly the writing style just threw me off, and I kept waiting for the book to end which isn’t a good sign. I really suggest you try it out, but it just wasn’t for me.
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･���✧*:･ﾟ✧
It took me more than an hour to get this goddamn book from netgalley to my ereader, but all the more exciting to read it now. Thankyou netgalley for my first ever arc!🤭💗
I honestly think I went in with a tad too high expectations. I was so excited over my first arc - and I find it really difficult to rate it so low because at the end of the day I’m very grateful I got this book for free, even though I didn’t enjoy it as much.
The plot was truly magnificent, so entertaining and unlike anything I’ve ever read! Honestly the writing style just threw me off, and I kept waiting for the book to end which isn’t a good sign. I really suggest you try it out, but it just wasn’t for me.
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ *:･���✧*:･ﾟ✧
It took me more than an hour to get this goddamn book from netgalley to my ereader, but all the more exciting to read it now. Thankyou netgalley for my first ever arc!🤭💗
January 7, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review. The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer is set to hit the shelves on January 7, 2025.
We are taken back to the Salem witch trials of 1692 where hundreds were persecuted, tortured, and executed. Along with those women were the English women. Isadora English was a little girl when her mother and two aunts were accused of witchcraft. Isadora tried to flee with the help of her best friend, Ambrose, but she decided that she needed to go back to help her family. Unfortunately, All four English women were sentenced to death. But right before they died, they were cursed to live their lives over and over again. The English Women lived many centuries being hunted down by George Corwin. With each life lived they all met the same fate. They hope that they can finally break the curse once and for all.
The author's dedication set the tone for the entire novel, "For every woman, man, and child ever wrongly accused of witchcraft. Your voices will never be silenced."
This was my first novel by Helen and it won't be my last. I loved everything about this book and I didn't want it to end. I grew close to the characters and they will have you rooting for them until the very end. This story is your typical good vs. evil and it's filled with adventure and magical realism.
We are taken back to the Salem witch trials of 1692 where hundreds were persecuted, tortured, and executed. Along with those women were the English women. Isadora English was a little girl when her mother and two aunts were accused of witchcraft. Isadora tried to flee with the help of her best friend, Ambrose, but she decided that she needed to go back to help her family. Unfortunately, All four English women were sentenced to death. But right before they died, they were cursed to live their lives over and over again. The English Women lived many centuries being hunted down by George Corwin. With each life lived they all met the same fate. They hope that they can finally break the curse once and for all.
The author's dedication set the tone for the entire novel, "For every woman, man, and child ever wrongly accused of witchcraft. Your voices will never be silenced."
This was my first novel by Helen and it won't be my last. I loved everything about this book and I didn't want it to end. I grew close to the characters and they will have you rooting for them until the very end. This story is your typical good vs. evil and it's filled with adventure and magical realism.
December 8, 2024
Another great read from this author is that she's one of my favourite authors. It's a great fantasy read.I really enjoy reading her crime reads.set in two different times in 1962 to the present.Dora goes on a trip to the USA with her aunt and meets another aunt she didn't know about.Dora loves working in a flower shop in London but a stranger walks in named George she knew him or did she..who is George? This read is full of witches.. My rating is 3.5 rounded to four. I am looking forward to reading more of her books....
January 19, 2025
This was a really interesting book for someone who went through a Salem Witch Trials phase as a teenager. Taking very real facts, and in some cases people, and working fiction around it is a fine line to follow without falling over. I think this book did a good job of it! The story was fun without being too over the top, it didn't push the facts too much, even with multiple lives and an immortal witch hunter. The hopping back and forth through the timelines was handled well, telling the story without being too confusing, leaving just enough questions needing answered to keep you going. I did find myself somewhat wanting with the explanation of the curse that was the thing that started the whole plot. In fact, I felt that the 'curse' that as referenced many times in the story was kind of forgotten and a completely different explanation was given for what was happening.
I listened to the audiobook of this, and for the most part it was fantastic. The variety of voices was well done, and the narration was clear and even soothing. My main issue is likely a director decision, but it's a big issue that kept bugging me. In this 'lifetime' the FL grew up in London, England from the time she was a few weeks old. A number of times characters remark that she's British, clearly reflecting a British accent, however, and possibly so that the accent didn't change between lifetimes, the character is read with an American accent. It's not a deal breaker, but it was something I found a bit jarring with the text.
All told, I really enjoyed this book, much more than I initially thought I would. I think if I were to pick it up to read again, I'd get the text format to avoid the dissonance of the accent. I listened to this audiobook through NetGalley.
I listened to the audiobook of this, and for the most part it was fantastic. The variety of voices was well done, and the narration was clear and even soothing. My main issue is likely a director decision, but it's a big issue that kept bugging me. In this 'lifetime' the FL grew up in London, England from the time she was a few weeks old. A number of times characters remark that she's British, clearly reflecting a British accent, however, and possibly so that the accent didn't change between lifetimes, the character is read with an American accent. It's not a deal breaker, but it was something I found a bit jarring with the text.
All told, I really enjoyed this book, much more than I initially thought I would. I think if I were to pick it up to read again, I'd get the text format to avoid the dissonance of the accent. I listened to this audiobook through NetGalley.
December 28, 2024
Thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
3.5 * I just loved the idea of this book. A family of witches cursed to live their lives over and over again, unable to clear this curse & move on whilst retaining the memories the past lives have left them with.
All the cosy witch vibes, set in Salem and a dual timeline. What's not to love?
The dual timeline fell a little flat around 50% of the way through the book & the narration became a little stilted too. I did care for the characters, so I continued with the story as I wanted to know the outcome.
I did struggle with our main characters, Dora and Ambrose. Their love is described as one across the ages, but i just couldn't feel that between them? Sure, there was attraction and great respect, but I didn't feel that great love from within these pages.
But, this author seems to have a surefire skill when it comes to descriptions of locations and settings within this book. I was mesmerised by these settings, and I very easily could have become lost i the world of Salem that they describe.
3.5 * I just loved the idea of this book. A family of witches cursed to live their lives over and over again, unable to clear this curse & move on whilst retaining the memories the past lives have left them with.
All the cosy witch vibes, set in Salem and a dual timeline. What's not to love?
The dual timeline fell a little flat around 50% of the way through the book & the narration became a little stilted too. I did care for the characters, so I continued with the story as I wanted to know the outcome.
I did struggle with our main characters, Dora and Ambrose. Their love is described as one across the ages, but i just couldn't feel that between them? Sure, there was attraction and great respect, but I didn't feel that great love from within these pages.
But, this author seems to have a surefire skill when it comes to descriptions of locations and settings within this book. I was mesmerised by these settings, and I very easily could have become lost i the world of Salem that they describe.
December 8, 2024
An entertaining cosy read, written in a voice I found more suitable for young adults than the mature public. The story follows Salem's proclaimed witches in the 1690's and in present day. Yes, they've been around. The characters are nice enough, but highly sensitive. Tears flow freely to the point that it becomes annoying.
Salem town in modern day seems fun though and I enjoyed the witchy stuff.
Then poof! it's over. Lame ending.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
Salem town in modern day seems fun though and I enjoyed the witchy stuff.
Then poof! it's over. Lame ending.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
June 6, 2025
4 ⭐
Is that ending an indication for an upcoming book #2?!
Who was that girl in the epilogue? Surely it wasn't Dora?!
This has been a very intriguing read.
The narrator was great.
The magical story has an amazing atmosphere.
The only little problem for me was that the second half of the books was too rushed.
After 8 lifetimes to simply solve everything that fast and easily when Dora has just rediscovered her past?! Too easy.
Anyway I really enjoyed it 🖤
// Thank you to Netgalley, Helen Phifer and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to an ARC of this in exchange of my honest opinion //
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
Ⓟⓡⓔ—Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ
So excited about this audiobook.
The ingredients:
- Salem
- dual timeline
- witches
- reincarnation
- hunters
- a vanishing bookstore
I'm sold. 🖤
Is that ending an indication for an upcoming book #2?!
Who was that girl in the epilogue? Surely it wasn't Dora?!
This has been a very intriguing read.
The narrator was great.
The magical story has an amazing atmosphere.
The only little problem for me was that the second half of the books was too rushed.
After 8 lifetimes to simply solve everything that fast and easily when Dora has just rediscovered her past?! Too easy.
Anyway I really enjoyed it 🖤
// Thank you to Netgalley, Helen Phifer and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to an ARC of this in exchange of my honest opinion //
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
Ⓟⓡⓔ—Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ
So excited about this audiobook.
The ingredients:
- Salem
- dual timeline
- witches
- reincarnation
- hunters
- a vanishing bookstore
I'm sold. 🖤
December 5, 2024
Oh wow, what a fabulous book. It had witches, mystery and dual timelines plus, a baddie. I loved this book so much it was so intriguing. Highly recommended this one. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
January 3, 2025
"All their gifts and ability to do good in the world hadn't stop them from that treacherous persecution and horrific death from the hangman's noose the first time around."
The English women (sisters Lennie, Sapphy, Lucien and her daughter Isadora) were victims of a vicious Salem witch hunt in 1682 led by the vile George Corwin. George is a judge's nephew and has taken a liking to Lennie much to their horror. When his advances were rejected, it had been the reason which started his wicked persecution of them all. (Power tripping and entitlement issue much?! 🙄)
Fast forward to present day, they have to put an end to the blasted curse gone on far too long. They have to figure out how to stop the vile man from chasing them across all of their lifetimes (already on their 8th!) and stop Dora from dying before she reaches the age of 35. Dora needs to find the vanishing library where they hid her mother's book. A store of happy endings - of stories and instructions.
A nice read if you're in the mood for something lighter, enchanting and atmospheric fantasy / historical fiction and if you don't mind if it reads like YA. It had a lot of pop culture references (Charmed, Hocus Pocus, Practical Magic and also a bit of Sabrina). I like the premise but while some parts were engrossing, others were a bit confusing and underdeveloped. Also, the ending was kind of rushed and I'm not sure if there's a sequel. The audio version is narrated by Stephanie Cannon and enjoyable to listen to. Love how she brought all the characters to life.
3.5✨
My thanks to Bookouture audio for providing an early copy. I received an audio arc for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Expected publication date: Jan. 7, 2025.
The English women (sisters Lennie, Sapphy, Lucien and her daughter Isadora) were victims of a vicious Salem witch hunt in 1682 led by the vile George Corwin. George is a judge's nephew and has taken a liking to Lennie much to their horror. When his advances were rejected, it had been the reason which started his wicked persecution of them all. (Power tripping and entitlement issue much?! 🙄)
Fast forward to present day, they have to put an end to the blasted curse gone on far too long. They have to figure out how to stop the vile man from chasing them across all of their lifetimes (already on their 8th!) and stop Dora from dying before she reaches the age of 35. Dora needs to find the vanishing library where they hid her mother's book. A store of happy endings - of stories and instructions.
A nice read if you're in the mood for something lighter, enchanting and atmospheric fantasy / historical fiction and if you don't mind if it reads like YA. It had a lot of pop culture references (Charmed, Hocus Pocus, Practical Magic and also a bit of Sabrina). I like the premise but while some parts were engrossing, others were a bit confusing and underdeveloped. Also, the ending was kind of rushed and I'm not sure if there's a sequel. The audio version is narrated by Stephanie Cannon and enjoyable to listen to. Love how she brought all the characters to life.
3.5✨
My thanks to Bookouture audio for providing an early copy. I received an audio arc for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Expected publication date: Jan. 7, 2025.
January 19, 2025
The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer was both captivating and magical. What could possibly be any better than a book about witches, a bookstore and a setting of Salem, Massachusetts during the infamous witch trials? The Vanishing Bookstore was written in a dual timeline. Part of it took place in 1692 in Salem when the witch trials occurred. The alternate timeline represented present day in both London, England and later in Salem. Many of the characters were well established and were very much influenced by their circumstances. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated very well by Stephanie Cannon. I enjoyed her presentation of the various characters.
Back in the days of the Salem witch trials, there were three sisters and a young girl who exhibited the powers of healing. A devious and discontented man had accused them of practicing witchcraft and had alerted the authorities. Many were hunting to find them. The young girl knew that she had the responsibility to hide the journal she had been entrusted with if they ever found themselves in these circumstances. She had to protect the journal and keep it out of the wrong hands. The last thing the young woman did before she attempted to escape from those that were hunting her down was to hide the very old and important journal in a bookstore covered with vines. She hid the journal under a loose floorboard and ran for her life.
In present day London, Dora English was the proud owner of a florist shop. Dora was barely making ends meet. She lived with her Aunt Lenny, an accomplished doctor, in her flat. Dora was concerned with the financial difficulties the florist shop was facing. Then one day a man came into her shop in need of floral arrangements for his recently deceased fiancé’s funeral. The man introduced himself as George. Dora thought that there something very familiar about the man but she couldn’t figure out why he looked familiar to her. There was also something alarming about the man as well. His story just didn’t add up. Dora had her defenses up.
Still in present day, Dora’s Aunt Lenny convinced Dora to take a much needed vacation with her to America. They were headed to Salem, Massachusetts. Dora was introduced to an aunt who she had never met and two other people who were very important people in her life. During this trip, Dora was told about a curse that plagued her family for centuries. The only way to end it was to find the journal that had been hidden back in 1692. Would Dora be able to find the bookstore and the journal in time? Could she end the curse on her family?
I don’t read fantasy books that often but I was glad that I chose to listen to the audiobook of The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer. It was about family, friendship, secrets, witches, trust, sisterly relationships, loss, discovery, teaching lessons and important things needed for survival, memories, happiness and a romance that was waiting to be rediscovered. I was impressed with the way this book was written. It drew me in from the beginning. The last third of the book was quite suspenseful. I found myself holding my breath and rooting for Dora to succeed. This was the first book I had the pleasure of reading by this author. She will be on my radar for future books that she writes. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy reading about witches and enjoy a good mystery with some magical elements.
Thank you to Bookouture Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Back in the days of the Salem witch trials, there were three sisters and a young girl who exhibited the powers of healing. A devious and discontented man had accused them of practicing witchcraft and had alerted the authorities. Many were hunting to find them. The young girl knew that she had the responsibility to hide the journal she had been entrusted with if they ever found themselves in these circumstances. She had to protect the journal and keep it out of the wrong hands. The last thing the young woman did before she attempted to escape from those that were hunting her down was to hide the very old and important journal in a bookstore covered with vines. She hid the journal under a loose floorboard and ran for her life.
In present day London, Dora English was the proud owner of a florist shop. Dora was barely making ends meet. She lived with her Aunt Lenny, an accomplished doctor, in her flat. Dora was concerned with the financial difficulties the florist shop was facing. Then one day a man came into her shop in need of floral arrangements for his recently deceased fiancé’s funeral. The man introduced himself as George. Dora thought that there something very familiar about the man but she couldn’t figure out why he looked familiar to her. There was also something alarming about the man as well. His story just didn’t add up. Dora had her defenses up.
Still in present day, Dora’s Aunt Lenny convinced Dora to take a much needed vacation with her to America. They were headed to Salem, Massachusetts. Dora was introduced to an aunt who she had never met and two other people who were very important people in her life. During this trip, Dora was told about a curse that plagued her family for centuries. The only way to end it was to find the journal that had been hidden back in 1692. Would Dora be able to find the bookstore and the journal in time? Could she end the curse on her family?
I don’t read fantasy books that often but I was glad that I chose to listen to the audiobook of The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer. It was about family, friendship, secrets, witches, trust, sisterly relationships, loss, discovery, teaching lessons and important things needed for survival, memories, happiness and a romance that was waiting to be rediscovered. I was impressed with the way this book was written. It drew me in from the beginning. The last third of the book was quite suspenseful. I found myself holding my breath and rooting for Dora to succeed. This was the first book I had the pleasure of reading by this author. She will be on my radar for future books that she writes. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy reading about witches and enjoy a good mystery with some magical elements.
Thank you to Bookouture Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 11, 2025
It's 1692 in the town of Salem and the English sisters have been sent out on an errand of mercy, what they don't realise is that they are in grave danger, one person that does know though is Ambrose Corwin and he rushes to save young Isadora English from the worst fate, as they leave she insists on taking a linen wrapped journal which Ambrose assures her will be safe within his bookstore in the woods, but as soon as they close the door the bookstore vanishes. Fast forward to the present day and Dora is living in London with her Aunt Lenny, when Lenny receives a call from her sister Sephy declaring that Lucine isn't long for this world and they need to return to Salem before it's too late, but will Dora arrive in time to see the mother she thought was already dead, will she regain her memory from her past life to retrieve the book that nobody has seen for centuries and rid Salem once and for all of the evil George Corwin?
The Vanishing Bookstore is the new fantasy novel by Phifer and, I believe, a different genre to what this author normally produces and certainly different to what I would normally read so I began this with some trepidation, but there was no need as I was well and truly hooked. The story is told across two timelines; 1692 where we witness the infamous Salem witch trials and the present day where the sisters and Dora are living their current lives due to a curse bestowed on them centuries ago. This story certainly has it all, it's dark, intriguing, magical and mysterious all rolled into one and the characters are all so endearing (apart from George obviously). There is absolutely nothing I didn't love about this story and I would highly recommend to anyone that likes to lose themselves in a bit of witchcraft and magic. This is a new to me author but what an absolutely banging read to start my Phifer journey with and, with that ending, I hope there's a sequel in the pipeline!
I'd like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.
The Vanishing Bookstore is the new fantasy novel by Phifer and, I believe, a different genre to what this author normally produces and certainly different to what I would normally read so I began this with some trepidation, but there was no need as I was well and truly hooked. The story is told across two timelines; 1692 where we witness the infamous Salem witch trials and the present day where the sisters and Dora are living their current lives due to a curse bestowed on them centuries ago. This story certainly has it all, it's dark, intriguing, magical and mysterious all rolled into one and the characters are all so endearing (apart from George obviously). There is absolutely nothing I didn't love about this story and I would highly recommend to anyone that likes to lose themselves in a bit of witchcraft and magic. This is a new to me author but what an absolutely banging read to start my Phifer journey with and, with that ending, I hope there's a sequel in the pipeline!
I'd like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.
January 9, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for sending me an ARC of this book to read and review.
Helen Phifer's The Vanishing Bookstore promises an intriguing blend of mystery, romance, and magical realism, but ultimately falls short of its potential in several key areas.
We follow the English women, Lenny, Sephy, Lucine and her daughter Dora — witches cursed to face an untimely death at the hands of a witch-hunter who has been terrorizing them for centuries. At the heart of the story is the mysterious bookstore, which is said to have appeared once and never again across all their lifetimes. The bookstore holds a rare, magical book that could help defeat the villain threatening the characters. However, despite its centrality to the plot, the bookstore is barely featured in the novel. In fact, it is only present in a single chapter, and its elusive nature doesn't quite resonate with the urgency that the title suggests. The characters speak of the book’s importance and the challenge of locating it, but when protagonist Dora embarks on her search, she finds the bookstore almost effortlessly. After only a single day of searching, Dora locates the elusive book with minimal struggle, which feels remarkably anticlimactic.
Adding to the disappointment is the rushed romance between Dora and her long-lost love, Ambrose, a connection that spans past lifetimes. Dora's sudden recognition of her forgotten lover feels forced and lacks emotional depth. The transition from strangers to lovers is swift and unconvincing, and what could have been a poignant reunion instead comes across as shallow and rushed. The romantic buildup is more of a checklist than a heartfelt journey, leaving readers with little emotional payoff.
The pacing of the book also undermines its potential. The beginning of the story is slow, bogged down with excessive downtime, and the climactic moments feel compressed into the final pages. Throughout the novel, the characters are pursued by a witch hunter, but this sense of danger never truly materializes. The hunter’s presence lacks urgency, and the stakes don’t feel nearly as high as they should, especially when time is supposedly running out. Dora’s aunts immediately reminded me of Hilda and Zelda from Sabrina the Teenage Witch, which was a pleasant bonus for me, as I’ve always loved the show. However, that’s where the similarities end. Dora, for her part, uncovers everything on her own, and the reasons behind her aunts' failure to provide her with the guidance and knowledge she needs about her magical heritage remain unclear.
Amongst it all, the final battle, unfortunately, also felt extremely underwhelming. It was built up to be the most challenging battle of their lifetimes, one they had lost in every past life, spanning centuries. Yet, it was resolved within a few pages using the same tactics, and with a book they barely consulted.
Which leads to my next perplexing point of why there was a lack of action surrounding the special book they discovered, the one that could supposedly solve all their problems and hold the power to destroy the witch hunter and ultimately break the curse. Despite knowing about the book’s potential, the characters never consulted it or devised any plans around it. Even after discovering the witch hunter was after them, they didn’t seem to take any precautions, and ultimately, they were caught off guard. It’s baffling that they were so unprepared. The sense of urgency just didn’t match the situation.
Another small but befuddling moment where they mention: “The salt Sephy had made was too powerful. They never anticipated it being used against them." Really? They crafted such a potent substance to protect themselves from their enemies but never considered that it could backfire? It struck me as a glaring oversight—especially considering the salt’s immense potency. In the end, they were incapacitated by their own creation. Funny.
One aspect I have to mention as I found it to be extremely puzzling was that Dora is explicitly said several times to possess a unique magical gift tied to flowers and plants, particularly regrowth, but this power never fully comes into play during the plot or the climactic battle. Her magical abilities seem completely irrelevant to the overall narrative. It’s unclear why her connection to plants is even mentioned, especially since it doesn’t provide any advantage in the final confrontation.
One of the aunts also mentions that Dora has a dog that’s always protected her, even if she’s never seen it, much like her crow, which has similarly watched over her. However, I don’t recall any scenes in the novel that hint at this connection in Dora’s everyday life. It would have been a lovely bit of subtle foreshadowing if we had seen these guardians, even in fleeting moments, as part of her mundane world. This could have enhanced the emotional depth of later reunions and the idea of her being watched over by these mysterious, magical forces all her life. Moreover, Dora’s deep connection to her familiar crow, a bond central to her powers, felt hollow when she couldn’t even distinguish him among the other crows. The resolution lacked the intensity or complexity that such a long-standing conflict deserved.
I will say I found myself much more engaged with the scenes set in 1692 during the witch trials, which are only briefly mentioned in the prologue. I truly wish the book had delved deeper into this time period. Instead of relying on info-dumping or summarizing the past events, it would have been far more effective to alternate between timelines, allowing readers to experience the past and present side by side. Ideally, each time Dora regained a memory from her former life, we could have witnessed those moments unfolding in real-time, alongside her. This narrative approach would have not only enriched the emotional depth of the characters but also amplified the intensity of their shared curse—heightening the sense of longing, tragedy, and the desperate yearning for escape.
In sum, The Vanishing Bookstore struggles to balance its narrative elements. The bookstore, a critical piece of the plot, is underutilized, the romance feels unearned, and the pacing is uneven. While the premise holds promise, the execution leaves much to be desired.
Helen Phifer's The Vanishing Bookstore promises an intriguing blend of mystery, romance, and magical realism, but ultimately falls short of its potential in several key areas.
We follow the English women, Lenny, Sephy, Lucine and her daughter Dora — witches cursed to face an untimely death at the hands of a witch-hunter who has been terrorizing them for centuries. At the heart of the story is the mysterious bookstore, which is said to have appeared once and never again across all their lifetimes. The bookstore holds a rare, magical book that could help defeat the villain threatening the characters. However, despite its centrality to the plot, the bookstore is barely featured in the novel. In fact, it is only present in a single chapter, and its elusive nature doesn't quite resonate with the urgency that the title suggests. The characters speak of the book’s importance and the challenge of locating it, but when protagonist Dora embarks on her search, she finds the bookstore almost effortlessly. After only a single day of searching, Dora locates the elusive book with minimal struggle, which feels remarkably anticlimactic.
Adding to the disappointment is the rushed romance between Dora and her long-lost love, Ambrose, a connection that spans past lifetimes. Dora's sudden recognition of her forgotten lover feels forced and lacks emotional depth. The transition from strangers to lovers is swift and unconvincing, and what could have been a poignant reunion instead comes across as shallow and rushed. The romantic buildup is more of a checklist than a heartfelt journey, leaving readers with little emotional payoff.
The pacing of the book also undermines its potential. The beginning of the story is slow, bogged down with excessive downtime, and the climactic moments feel compressed into the final pages. Throughout the novel, the characters are pursued by a witch hunter, but this sense of danger never truly materializes. The hunter’s presence lacks urgency, and the stakes don’t feel nearly as high as they should, especially when time is supposedly running out. Dora’s aunts immediately reminded me of Hilda and Zelda from Sabrina the Teenage Witch, which was a pleasant bonus for me, as I’ve always loved the show. However, that’s where the similarities end. Dora, for her part, uncovers everything on her own, and the reasons behind her aunts' failure to provide her with the guidance and knowledge she needs about her magical heritage remain unclear.
Amongst it all, the final battle, unfortunately, also felt extremely underwhelming. It was built up to be the most challenging battle of their lifetimes, one they had lost in every past life, spanning centuries. Yet, it was resolved within a few pages using the same tactics, and with a book they barely consulted.
Which leads to my next perplexing point of why there was a lack of action surrounding the special book they discovered, the one that could supposedly solve all their problems and hold the power to destroy the witch hunter and ultimately break the curse. Despite knowing about the book’s potential, the characters never consulted it or devised any plans around it. Even after discovering the witch hunter was after them, they didn’t seem to take any precautions, and ultimately, they were caught off guard. It’s baffling that they were so unprepared. The sense of urgency just didn’t match the situation.
Another small but befuddling moment where they mention: “The salt Sephy had made was too powerful. They never anticipated it being used against them." Really? They crafted such a potent substance to protect themselves from their enemies but never considered that it could backfire? It struck me as a glaring oversight—especially considering the salt’s immense potency. In the end, they were incapacitated by their own creation. Funny.
One aspect I have to mention as I found it to be extremely puzzling was that Dora is explicitly said several times to possess a unique magical gift tied to flowers and plants, particularly regrowth, but this power never fully comes into play during the plot or the climactic battle. Her magical abilities seem completely irrelevant to the overall narrative. It’s unclear why her connection to plants is even mentioned, especially since it doesn’t provide any advantage in the final confrontation.
One of the aunts also mentions that Dora has a dog that’s always protected her, even if she’s never seen it, much like her crow, which has similarly watched over her. However, I don’t recall any scenes in the novel that hint at this connection in Dora’s everyday life. It would have been a lovely bit of subtle foreshadowing if we had seen these guardians, even in fleeting moments, as part of her mundane world. This could have enhanced the emotional depth of later reunions and the idea of her being watched over by these mysterious, magical forces all her life. Moreover, Dora’s deep connection to her familiar crow, a bond central to her powers, felt hollow when she couldn’t even distinguish him among the other crows. The resolution lacked the intensity or complexity that such a long-standing conflict deserved.
I will say I found myself much more engaged with the scenes set in 1692 during the witch trials, which are only briefly mentioned in the prologue. I truly wish the book had delved deeper into this time period. Instead of relying on info-dumping or summarizing the past events, it would have been far more effective to alternate between timelines, allowing readers to experience the past and present side by side. Ideally, each time Dora regained a memory from her former life, we could have witnessed those moments unfolding in real-time, alongside her. This narrative approach would have not only enriched the emotional depth of the characters but also amplified the intensity of their shared curse—heightening the sense of longing, tragedy, and the desperate yearning for escape.
In sum, The Vanishing Bookstore struggles to balance its narrative elements. The bookstore, a critical piece of the plot, is underutilized, the romance feels unearned, and the pacing is uneven. While the premise holds promise, the execution leaves much to be desired.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2024
3.5⭐ This plot was so unique and I was definitely entertained. A nice cozy book with a bit of magic. There are two timelines here.
In the past, we were in Salem, MA (1692) where a woman is accused of being a witch. Her and her family are cursed to be hunted. She hides her journal in a bookstore that mysteriously vanishes after.
In the present timeline we have Dora who visits the US from London and meets her family that has been living their lives under this curse. She must figure out how to break the curse by finding this bookstore and revealing these memories and secrets of the past.
I definitely loved the atmospheric description of all the places and all the witchy vibes. I thought the writing felt a bit more YA than I was expecting but overall a very enjoyable read. The ending was a bit of a let down though. I wish there was more to the end.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
In the past, we were in Salem, MA (1692) where a woman is accused of being a witch. Her and her family are cursed to be hunted. She hides her journal in a bookstore that mysteriously vanishes after.
In the present timeline we have Dora who visits the US from London and meets her family that has been living their lives under this curse. She must figure out how to break the curse by finding this bookstore and revealing these memories and secrets of the past.
I definitely loved the atmospheric description of all the places and all the witchy vibes. I thought the writing felt a bit more YA than I was expecting but overall a very enjoyable read. The ending was a bit of a let down though. I wish there was more to the end.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2024
Spellbinding heartstopping page turner and unputdownable.
Oh my i loved reading.
The key to survival is hidden in a bookstore that no one has seen for generations.
1692 to the present day.
Dora English and her tiny flower shop Sugared almond pink shop in London, with her business and her life she always felt a little lost.
Till George Corwin appears she knows him from somewhere.
Her aunt Lenny talks her into taking a holiday with her to Salem town in the states, so leaving her shop in her best friends capable hands she is then introduced to her aunt Sephy and finds her special powers.
You can't have your happy ending till you find the bookstore.
A dynamic book full of witchcraft,healers, magic, and with the language of flowers, Dora has a beautiful gift to do good in the world.
I just loved this book, it has everything.
Enchanting story that is just too good to ever put down.
The vanishing bookstore has been left open, for another story to be told.
Readers will love it.
Oh my i loved reading.
The key to survival is hidden in a bookstore that no one has seen for generations.
1692 to the present day.
Dora English and her tiny flower shop Sugared almond pink shop in London, with her business and her life she always felt a little lost.
Till George Corwin appears she knows him from somewhere.
Her aunt Lenny talks her into taking a holiday with her to Salem town in the states, so leaving her shop in her best friends capable hands she is then introduced to her aunt Sephy and finds her special powers.
You can't have your happy ending till you find the bookstore.
A dynamic book full of witchcraft,healers, magic, and with the language of flowers, Dora has a beautiful gift to do good in the world.
I just loved this book, it has everything.
Enchanting story that is just too good to ever put down.
The vanishing bookstore has been left open, for another story to be told.
Readers will love it.
January 4, 2025
The synopsis of this book hooked me immediately. A magical bookstore lost in time, a centuries-old mystery, and a protagonist uncovering her family's secrets—what’s not to love? Unfortunately, the execution didn’t live up to the promise of its premise.
The story starts strong but as the plot unfolds it’s riddled with inconsistencies and missed opportunities. The most glaring issue is how the main character learns about her history. Rather than unraveling her past through a thrilling journey of discovery, the information is simply handed to her. This lack of intrigue diminishes the emotional impact and suspense.
Some twists left me scratching my head. We’re led to believe certain characters have lived for centuries, yet they fail to figure out seemingly obvious truths? It’s hard to suspend disbelief when the story’s internal logic feels shaky.
That said, I couldn’t put this book down. The writing style is engaging, and the pacing is quick enough to keep the pages turning. While it’s not the deeply immersive tale I had hoped for, it’s an entertaining read for those who can overlook its flaws.
If you’re a fan of books like Practical Magic or A Discovery of Witches, you might still enjoy the atmosphere and premise here. Just don’t expect every thread to be neatly tied up.
Thank you to the publisher for both an advanced readers copy as well as an audio listeners copy.
The story starts strong but as the plot unfolds it’s riddled with inconsistencies and missed opportunities. The most glaring issue is how the main character learns about her history. Rather than unraveling her past through a thrilling journey of discovery, the information is simply handed to her. This lack of intrigue diminishes the emotional impact and suspense.
Some twists left me scratching my head. We’re led to believe certain characters have lived for centuries, yet they fail to figure out seemingly obvious truths? It’s hard to suspend disbelief when the story’s internal logic feels shaky.
That said, I couldn’t put this book down. The writing style is engaging, and the pacing is quick enough to keep the pages turning. While it’s not the deeply immersive tale I had hoped for, it’s an entertaining read for those who can overlook its flaws.
If you’re a fan of books like Practical Magic or A Discovery of Witches, you might still enjoy the atmosphere and premise here. Just don’t expect every thread to be neatly tied up.
Thank you to the publisher for both an advanced readers copy as well as an audio listeners copy.
January 7, 2025
Happy publication day 🥳🎉🍾
This was exactly what I needed today, a really cozy escape into a little fantasy. I escaped to Salem with some new friends.
With a split timeline of modern day and 1800’s, we meet a family of witches, fated to live their lives on repeat for all eternity.
I instantly warmed to and connected with the characters and the storyline, the plot was fantastic and Stephanie Cannon narrated it with such ease.
Warm, endearing, captivating.
Probably more suited to fans of light fantasy, similar to Hocus Pocus or Practical Magic 🪄 I could picture this screen ready, and I even had a soundtrack running through my mind.
I loved it!
Thanks as always to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
This was exactly what I needed today, a really cozy escape into a little fantasy. I escaped to Salem with some new friends.
With a split timeline of modern day and 1800’s, we meet a family of witches, fated to live their lives on repeat for all eternity.
I instantly warmed to and connected with the characters and the storyline, the plot was fantastic and Stephanie Cannon narrated it with such ease.
Warm, endearing, captivating.
Probably more suited to fans of light fantasy, similar to Hocus Pocus or Practical Magic 🪄 I could picture this screen ready, and I even had a soundtrack running through my mind.
I loved it!
Thanks as always to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
January 5, 2025
I fell in love with this book cover and synopsis and felt that it was going to be a great book but it just didn't work for me. I was expecting dual timelines with flashing back between the year 1692 and the present day but it only glances back to 1692 and those times weren't very in-depth chapters. It does mention the Salem Witch Trials but don't be expecting a lot of information about it because there simply isn't much available. I was also expecting a book that centers around a "Vanishing Bookstore" but that was also something that was only glanced upon in the book two times, this was pretty disappointing for me. I had trouble staying interested in the book and overall was quite disappointed, unfortunately.
This book is expected to be published January 7th 2025.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book is expected to be published January 7th 2025.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 22, 2025
✅The Vanishing Bookstore is told in past and present. The past has us learning more about the witch trials of Salem. The present gives us a modern take on witches.
Suspense
Witches
Duel timeline
Secrets
I thought there would be more going on around the bookstore aspect. It is there, though not as much as I thought it would be from the title.
Perfect reading for fans of a story with a magical witchy theme and the Salem witch trials.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Suspense
Witches
Duel timeline
Secrets
I thought there would be more going on around the bookstore aspect. It is there, though not as much as I thought it would be from the title.
Perfect reading for fans of a story with a magical witchy theme and the Salem witch trials.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 15, 2024
This was a DNF at 25%. It was compared to Wayward and The Lost Apothecary both of which I really enjoyed. It didn’t hold my interest and I kept forcing myself to continue reading. I’m sure many will find it enjoyable but it wasn’t for me. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
December 22, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this Arc! (Spoiler free review)
This beautiful story follows Dora. A simple florist who lives with her aunt Lenny in the city of London after her parents presumably die in a tragic accident... or so she thought.
Going on a simple holiday with her aunt to Salem, she is to find out that it isn't really a holiday after all, but a battle that should end once and for all.
She discovers big secrets, and behind those secrets, a curse and a hunter are ready to ruin the family she just found out about. And the key to freeing herself and her family lies in a book hidden in a bookstore no one has seen in years.
DORA🪷
She kinda reminds me of myself, if I'm honest. Sometimes brave, sometimes scared and anxious, but cares about her loved ones more than herself even. And her going from confused and bewildered about her family's magic to being in love with it was fitting to the story.
LENNY, SEPHY & LUCINE🧙♀️
They gave off the powerpuff girls vibes but darker and more witchy?
Sephy being a witchy bubbles, Lenny as a witchy buttercup, and Lucine as witchy blossom (Regarding personalities more than looks).
The bond these three sisters have was beautiful, and sometimes I felt like they were the main characters of the story more than Dora herself.
AMBROSE
I feel like even tho he was hinted at as the one to always help Dora out, she didn't really need that much of his help at the end so I had more expectations from him in a way and I was kinda let down, but I liked his character nonetheless.
Honourable mention:
HADES
Going into this book, I didn't expect to love a pet crow this much, but oh well. I love crows, so seeing a pet crow have that much personality was quite a treat for me.
Overall,
This book was magical and I liked it quite a lot. The last ten chapters felt a bit rushed, in my opinion, as if the author that wrote them isn't the same author who wrote the rest of the book. Regardless, the pacing of the book was mostly perfect, not too slow where it gets boring or too fast where you can't keep up with it)
And the changing setting and shifting between each timeline was something I enjoyed a lot.
4/5⭐️ can't wait to see what else Helen Phifer has to offer!
"One moment there is just you and Lenny against the world, then she brings you here to introduce you to a whole new one with a talking pet crow, a curse on all of our lives and a failing mother you knew nothing about."
This beautiful story follows Dora. A simple florist who lives with her aunt Lenny in the city of London after her parents presumably die in a tragic accident... or so she thought.
Going on a simple holiday with her aunt to Salem, she is to find out that it isn't really a holiday after all, but a battle that should end once and for all.
She discovers big secrets, and behind those secrets, a curse and a hunter are ready to ruin the family she just found out about. And the key to freeing herself and her family lies in a book hidden in a bookstore no one has seen in years.
DORA🪷
She kinda reminds me of myself, if I'm honest. Sometimes brave, sometimes scared and anxious, but cares about her loved ones more than herself even. And her going from confused and bewildered about her family's magic to being in love with it was fitting to the story.
LENNY, SEPHY & LUCINE🧙♀️
They gave off the powerpuff girls vibes but darker and more witchy?
Sephy being a witchy bubbles, Lenny as a witchy buttercup, and Lucine as witchy blossom (Regarding personalities more than looks).
The bond these three sisters have was beautiful, and sometimes I felt like they were the main characters of the story more than Dora herself.
AMBROSE
I feel like even tho he was hinted at as the one to always help Dora out, she didn't really need that much of his help at the end so I had more expectations from him in a way and I was kinda let down, but I liked his character nonetheless.
Honourable mention:
HADES
Going into this book, I didn't expect to love a pet crow this much, but oh well. I love crows, so seeing a pet crow have that much personality was quite a treat for me.
Overall,
This book was magical and I liked it quite a lot. The last ten chapters felt a bit rushed, in my opinion, as if the author that wrote them isn't the same author who wrote the rest of the book. Regardless, the pacing of the book was mostly perfect, not too slow where it gets boring or too fast where you can't keep up with it)
And the changing setting and shifting between each timeline was something I enjoyed a lot.
4/5⭐️ can't wait to see what else Helen Phifer has to offer!
Read
January 11, 2025Dora is certain she knows the ins and outs of her comfortable life as a London florist. Her world orbits around her shop, her best friend, and her aunt, who has raised her since her mother died when Dora was young. After a mysterious man comes into her flower shop, seeming to know her, Dora discovers that everything she thought she knew about her life is wrong. She soon learns from her aunt that a centuries-old-curse has plagued their family since the Salem witch trialsin 1692. This dual-timeline novel flips back and forth between the witch trials and the present day. As the truths of Dora's family emerge, Dora goes on a mission to uncover a vanishing bookstore where she can break the curse.
As a character, Dora feels very young for a 33-year old, but perhaps that is because she has been intentionally sheltered by her aunt. This immaturity gives the novel a bit of a coming of age feel that will resonate with young adult readers. There is a low-key romance included with one closed-door sex scene.
Read this if you like cozy mysteries with a twist of adventure. While it's not dark, it does focus on witchcraft in more than just a historical way, so it's best for readers who are comfortable with that type of content. As such, for many readers, it will make a great seasonal read for fall and Halloween.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, and Helen Phifer for an advance copy for honest review.
As a character, Dora feels very young for a 33-year old, but perhaps that is because she has been intentionally sheltered by her aunt. This immaturity gives the novel a bit of a coming of age feel that will resonate with young adult readers. There is a low-key romance included with one closed-door sex scene.
Read this if you like cozy mysteries with a twist of adventure. While it's not dark, it does focus on witchcraft in more than just a historical way, so it's best for readers who are comfortable with that type of content. As such, for many readers, it will make a great seasonal read for fall and Halloween.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, and Helen Phifer for an advance copy for honest review.
January 2, 2025
Our past will always haunt us...
This book is proof of that.
It begins in 1692, women are being hunted and killed in witch trials. The English family is targeted and four women are sentenced to death. Right before their deaths the women are cursed- they will have to live their lives over and over, and be hunted by the same man for centuries.
From here we are introduced to several timelines and POVs that weave this story into one.
Present day introduces Dora, the owner of a London flower shop, who has no clue of her family's past, and lives a very simple life.
One day a man enters the shop and nothing is EVER the same. Dora is whisked away to Salem where her family's past (and their shocking PRESENT) is presented to her.
The world building here is done well, slow through the middle, but well. What I loved was all the witchy pop culture humor- when Hocus Pocus is mentioned, I giggled.
I feel a little mystery surrounding the story is good here, don't read too much into the story and you'll enjoy it. I had the opportunity to listen on audio, and the audio version was so enjoyable to listen to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the chance to listen and review.
This book is proof of that.
It begins in 1692, women are being hunted and killed in witch trials. The English family is targeted and four women are sentenced to death. Right before their deaths the women are cursed- they will have to live their lives over and over, and be hunted by the same man for centuries.
From here we are introduced to several timelines and POVs that weave this story into one.
Present day introduces Dora, the owner of a London flower shop, who has no clue of her family's past, and lives a very simple life.
One day a man enters the shop and nothing is EVER the same. Dora is whisked away to Salem where her family's past (and their shocking PRESENT) is presented to her.
The world building here is done well, slow through the middle, but well. What I loved was all the witchy pop culture humor- when Hocus Pocus is mentioned, I giggled.
I feel a little mystery surrounding the story is good here, don't read too much into the story and you'll enjoy it. I had the opportunity to listen on audio, and the audio version was so enjoyable to listen to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the chance to listen and review.
January 16, 2025
When I knew Helen Phifer was writing a book based on the Salem Witch Trials I knew I had to pre-order. She has taken 2 of my favourite genres, history and dual timeline, and put them together to create this fantastic read.
Dora English leads a pleasant life, living with her Aunt Lenny and working in her florist shop, but when she announces to Lenny that she's been unsettled by a potential customer, Lenny realises
their former life has come back to haunt them and they must return to Salem where centuries earlier
they were persecuted as witches. Only a lost book
can save them, but will Dora remember her past in
time.
This is a magical read, full of fantasy and mystical. It's very descriptive in the setting. Helen's love of Salem flows through the pages. I didn't want it too end
Dora English leads a pleasant life, living with her Aunt Lenny and working in her florist shop, but when she announces to Lenny that she's been unsettled by a potential customer, Lenny realises
their former life has come back to haunt them and they must return to Salem where centuries earlier
they were persecuted as witches. Only a lost book
can save them, but will Dora remember her past in
time.
This is a magical read, full of fantasy and mystical. It's very descriptive in the setting. Helen's love of Salem flows through the pages. I didn't want it too end
January 7, 2025
I got this book on New Year’s Eve from NetGalley for a review before it is published, which is Jan 7.
Fortunately it is a fast paced fantasy about Salem’s witch hunt gone immortal, an enjoyable thrilling read.
1692 in Salem, George becomes the arch nemesis of the English sisters and their niece/daughter Isadora, healers with special powers, when one of them refuses his hand in marriage. He convicts them and some others of witchcraft and kills them. But he is cursed through the trials.
He starts hunting the immortal English women through time for their soul, which Hades the pet crow gets for a reincarnation.
Present day, these women have to face George so they can save their friends and end this cycle. The obstacle, Dora doesn’t remember her past lives.
It is a pretty straightforward plot, no twist or surprises.
I loved the sisters, they are fun characters. Ambrose is like the imaginary boyfriend in inside out animation. George is like a terminator that doesn’t stop, but much nicer.
The bookstore, though is the name of the book is more like a MacGuffin, it is not part of the story. I wish there were more about it. I wanted to know more about the father as well, the handsome powerful wizard who gave the sisters the book.
The audio narration is very good, I loved the voice and how it changed for every character and crow and how it conveyed the emotions.
I liked this book and would definitely recommend reading it.
Thank you NetGalley and bookouture for the opportunity.
Fortunately it is a fast paced fantasy about Salem’s witch hunt gone immortal, an enjoyable thrilling read.
1692 in Salem, George becomes the arch nemesis of the English sisters and their niece/daughter Isadora, healers with special powers, when one of them refuses his hand in marriage. He convicts them and some others of witchcraft and kills them. But he is cursed through the trials.
He starts hunting the immortal English women through time for their soul, which Hades the pet crow gets for a reincarnation.
Present day, these women have to face George so they can save their friends and end this cycle. The obstacle, Dora doesn’t remember her past lives.
It is a pretty straightforward plot, no twist or surprises.
I loved the sisters, they are fun characters. Ambrose is like the imaginary boyfriend in inside out animation. George is like a terminator that doesn’t stop, but much nicer.
The bookstore, though is the name of the book is more like a MacGuffin, it is not part of the story. I wish there were more about it. I wanted to know more about the father as well, the handsome powerful wizard who gave the sisters the book.
The audio narration is very good, I loved the voice and how it changed for every character and crow and how it conveyed the emotions.
I liked this book and would definitely recommend reading it.
Thank you NetGalley and bookouture for the opportunity.
January 13, 2025
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in the form of an Audiobook. I found the narrator very engaging and enjoyable to listen to. The story felt like a wonderful mix of Practical Magic and The Once and Future Witches. I enjoyed how you got to meet each of the sisters and hear their stories unravel as Dora gained her memories and reclaimed her magic. The symbolism behind the bookstore that stores not only the Grimoire needed to break the curse but all banned books preserved throughout history was a beautiful touch to show that while culture may change stories shouldn’t be destroyed but rather preserved and discussed throughout the ages.
This book felt well paced and very light which made for an enjoyable quick read.
This book felt well paced and very light which made for an enjoyable quick read.
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