The Lost Bookshop

Rating Description:

1.0 - DNF/Despise

1.5 - Almost DNFed and wish I had

2.0 - Almost DNFed but had redeeming qualities/just boring

2.5 - Alright with lots of notes

3.0 - Alright with notes but I'm not raving about it

3.5 - Technically good but I'm not raving about it

4.0 - Love but with notes

4.5 - Love it so much I want to highlight the book but still with notes

5.0 - Love it so much I want to highlight the book and notes are very positive

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Family drama, bad romance, and underwhelming magical realism.

This was another book that had more than 1 story going on. But just like with Magpie Murders, I wished they just stuck with one. Maybe if the author focused on just 1 story, they could have made it more interesting. Unfortunately, that was not what happened. In my humble opinion, I ended up reading 2 unenjoyable stories for the price of 1. And I want a fucking refund.

While Opaline’s story dealt with a lot of interesting topics (forced arrangement marriage, sexism, abuse in asylums, forced adoption), those were not the topics I expected here. It’s not that I’m opposed to reading about those topics, but I have to be in the right mood to read heavy topics.

Martha and Henry’s current day story was boring. Disappointing given how this was the part with the magical realism elements. A good chunk of it was about their “relationship”. I put that in quotes because I am unconvinced those 2 fell in love. I mean, I guess they can. But maaaan, both were so uninteresting. It’s like 2 soggy pieces of white bread getting together.

Also, the title of this book is “The Lost Bookshop” but if they were honest, this book should be called “The Lost Bookshop Owner”.

Not all was bad, I appreciated the prose.

I am on the fence about DNFing this book. I don’t want to be a quitter but at 66% of this book, I kind of no longer care about the ending.

Updated:

I did finish this book.

After much thought, I thought that Opaline's story is ok. The end to her arc had somewhat redeemed this whole thing.

Martha's story was still boring though.

I would have enjoyed this more if they just stuck with Opaline.