I really enjoyed this book. It's a great story. My only slight criticism is that I wanted the bookshop itself to have a bigger character part, I feel that was overlooked. Really loved it though.

The Lamplighter's Bookshop is a historical romance set in late 19th-century York, following main character Evelyn, a strong and resilient young girl within high society whose life gets turned upside down in a matter of minutes. Determined to make a better life for her and her mother, she gets herself a job at a bookshop, where she finds herself falling in love with aspiring writer William Morton, who lives somewhat of a pretend life. The story brings up realistic topics of abandonment, pressure to succeed, and the fear of being shunned by society back in the late 1800s.

This is a different style of historical fiction for me, but I really enjoyed the read. I loved the beginning of the book, you get to know the characters quite well, which allowed me to resonate and sympathise with their emotions throughout. I do feel that the story was quite fast paced and there were some scenes I felt deserved more pages, more detail and more emotion, but I think this was due to the 4 different plots going on at the same time.
Personally for me, I would have loved more detail in the drama with Lady Violet, rather than the other love story between Jack and Naomi, as we already have one love story happening.

I rate this 3.75 stars rounded up to 4. The writing and attention to detail regarding setting was great, character development was nicely written, and the general storyline is unique.

This is a mesmerizing tale of secrets, resilience, and unexpected connections, set against the evocative backdrop of a shadowy, forgotten bookshop in York. The story follows Evelyn Seaton, whose life takes a dramatic turn after a police visit upends her world, forcing her to confront family losses and societal expectations.

Evelyn’s journey to rebuild her life leads her to a job at the mysterious Lamplighter’s Bookshop, where she encounters William Morton, an aspiring writer harboring his own hidden past. Their relationship unfolds tenderly amidst the dusty bookshelves, as both grapple with vulnerabilities and slowly dismantle the walls they’ve built around their hearts.

Austin’s prose deftly captures the historical atmosphere and emotional depth of the story, creating a rich tapestry of heartbreak, resilience, and hope. The characters are complex and compelling, particularly Evelyn, whose strength and determination shine throughout.

This blend of historical fiction and romance feels both timeless and refreshing, drawing readers into a world where every book tells a story and every heart holds a secret. The narrative's mix of mystery and emotional discovery makes it an engrossing read for those who love stories about self-discovery and love found in unexpected places.

This is a beautifully written, heartwarming novel that will captivate fans of historical fiction and romantic tales with a touch of mystery.

A romantic historical fiction. This was a real cover choice for me. I found it hard to keep up with the characters and struggled with this book. Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy

Evelyn Seaton is from an aristocratic family but is forced on her journey to find herself . Finding herself at her Aunt Clara’s she seeks a position at The Lamplighter’s Bookshop in York she acquires an assistant position here on answering the advertisement.Here she meets aspiring writer William Morton.They both have their secrets but when hers come crumbling down ,it’s William that she’s found.to turn to. A profound story set at the end of an era 1800’s into the new century 1900 Victorian England . There’s a lot of merits to this story and I like what the authors have given us . There is however room for expansion and exploration.

I wasn’t expecting this book to be a Victorian romance the title didn’t give me that impression I wouldn’t normally read historical novels but I was very surprised with this one and really enjoyed it throughout The two main characters Evelyn and William came to life for me whilst I was reading their story Thankyou to net galley and the publishers for enabling to read this early .

I really loved this book and the character of Evelyn. A late night knock at the door from the Police changes Evelyn’s life in ways she never would have thought. The short comings of her Father resulting in losing her family home young Evelyn’s world is rocked and from that brings strength and resilience. Moving to her elderly Aunts with her mother and 2 suitcases the fall from society is a shock to Evelyn but it was a place she never really fitted anyway. A late night encounter with a man in a fight over a carriage comes back into her world in an unexpected way and their worlds just seem to collide together. Many barriers are over come but love and honesty win out. Beautiful read with excellent captivating storyline and characters.

What a wonderful story…..devoured it in one day! can Evelyn and William find the courage to write the next chapter of their story? I love this genre and found this to be one of the best books I have read in a while. I was kept guessing throughout, never quite sure which way the story would go until the end. Absolutely brilliant read

I really enjoyed this book about Evelynn who falls on hard times in 19th Century York. She is forced to move from her home with her mother to her aunt's house when her farther leaves them behind to work in London. Evelynn finds herself a job in a bookshop but is soon embroiled with the owners nephew who, for his own reasons, needs the job too. This results in a roller coaster relationship for Evelynn and Will. I enjoyed the characters although the end is perhaps a little predictable. Nice easy read though and one I would recommend. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

What a lovely storyline, lovely characters a good strong book that kept me reading when I should have been sleeping ! Will look for more by this author.
My thanks as always to Netgalley and to the Publisher HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | HarperCollins for the excellent early read

This is the first book i have read by this author and thoughly enjoyed it.
Not only because it was a set in the 19th century it was set around the city of York that i no well.

Evelyn seaton applies for a job in the lamplighters bookshop when her aristocratic father gambles all there money and family home away in Riccal.
Evelyn and her mother move to the only family member they have left in York.

As this is a debut novel one can forgive the fact that it is less than perfect, but this novel really doesn't live up to it's initial promise I am sorry to say.
Characters are too sketchily drawn and too many plots are added into the mix and then left leading nowhere very much at all.
On the plus side:
Sophie admittedly paints a very atmospheric picture of York at the turn of the nineteenth century and her depiction of an acid tongued and vituperative upper class is vivid. Through this she elicits a great deal of sympathy for Evelyn, whose refusal to succumb to late Victorian mores leaves her open to sneers and snubs from those in her social circle.
By way of contrast she introduces a pair of young working class lovers meeting for idyllic picnic scenes hose developing romance runs alongside the main plot line of Evelyn and William with their tortuous secrets, secrets they keep from one another, their friends and their families.
William's uncle and Evelyn's aunt are two fairly minor characters in whom I was almost more interested than the leading pair of characters, Aunt Clara in particular who Sophie brings to life very well with a leavening of humour which makes her stand out far more than her role in the plotline would lead you to expect.
This isn't a bad novel, in fact there are glimmers of a very good story in the pages, but it isn't a really good novel either. I am sure Sophie Austin will continue to hone her craft as time goes on and her second book will build on the first one's mistakes and not repeat them.
Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for an earc of this title

If you love stories set in the past with a mix of mystery, family drama, and romance then I feel that The Lamplighter’s Bookshop is the perfect read for you! We follow Evelyn Seaton finds herself having to move to York where she takes a job at a forgotten bookshop and meets William Morton, a writer.

The descriptions of the old bookshop and Victorian York are so vivid that you feel like you're there. The romance is slow and sweet, but the book also focuses on Evelyn’s bravery and her determination to create her own future.

This book is perfect for readers who enjoyed Evie Woods’ The Lost Bookshop and The Story Collector - two books that I adored.

The Lamplighter’s Bookshop by Sophie Austin is a captivating historical romance set in the late 19th century.

The story follows Evelyn Seaton, who answers an advertisement for an assistant at a forgotten bookshop in York. As she navigates the shadowy aisles of the bookshop, she meets the enigmatic and prickly William Morton, an aspiring writer with secrets of his own.

The novel beautifully explores themes of love, secrets, and personal growth as Evelyn and William's lives come together. Perfect for lovers of historical romance.

Based in the late 19th century, this is an intriguing tale of coping with social change. The daughter of a privileged couple ( although the mother was only that through marriage) finds herself moving from London to York with her mother to stay with an aunt because her father’s gambling has destroyed their social as well as financial status. She gets a job in a book seller but dare not tell her mother. When her mother’s snobbish friends see her there, their social status is destroyed even further. There are two young men around but the one she prefers also has secrets. The love part of the story is well written as it goes through various traumas. Eventually, the job in the bookseller’s becomes her future and as it is reinvented. The name is changed back to its old one, thus the book’s title. This is a carefully told story-well there are actually several stories woven together. It is also a revealing description of social levels of the past and what you can and cannot do if you want to maintain your status. I enjoyed it for many reasons and recommend it.

A light, enjoyable romance set in the confines of Victorian society where class is everything. Evelyn has fallen on hard times but she has the grit and determination to pull herself up and find a delightful bookshop as a bonus.

I enjoyed reading this novel. It's a mix of historical novel and romance, which is not a common choice for me.

The history is centered around the end of the 1800s and beginning of the 1900s. This was the time when young women from well connected families were presented to the royal family to make their formal debut to society. Evelyn, the main character, has done this but then life takes an unexpected turn and she finds herself in York living with Aunt Clara.

I really enjoyed the story of Evelyn and her quiet determination to take control of her life and 'do something'. The history is mainly the backdrop to the timeline, without anything particularly interrupting the storyline. The romance and family drama become the main themes. I thought the history and the setting in York could have been explored more - it's all very gentle and not challenging to read.

I loved the bookshop and was reminded of 'The Lost Bookshop' by Evie Woods. There is a suggestion, when first introduced to the bookshop, of something 'other worldly', but I felt as though this theme was dropped and not really explored further. But this doesn't detract from the novel overall. It's a very enjoyable, easy read and I would definitely look at other books by this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Set in the late 19th century, this is the story of Evelyn Seaton, whose wealthy family loses everything and they move in with her grumpy great aunt in York. Forbidden from working due to her previous position in society, Evelyn none the less starts to work in a bookshop where she meets the owners nephew, William Morton, am author recently arrived from London. They find each other infuriating but working together brings them closer.

Some of Evelyn's previous contacts in society would love to see her fall further and she is blackmailed into various actions she will regret taking. Meanwhile, William keeps up the pretence that he's a successful author whilst keeping his own secrets.

This is a lovely cosy story, very atmospheric and I would love a sequel to see what happens next to these characters!

This was a fabulous read, it caught me attention straight away and I got really immersed in the story. Vivid and well researched it really gave me an insight to life in those days before electricity, cars and gas central heating. I loved the mystery in it and wanted to find out why Lizzie died twice. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This book didn’t know what it wanted to be, all the characters were awful and it was way longer than needed.
Harper Collins is a huge publishing house, you’re telling me they could not splurge for a developmental editor? I mean did they waste all their money on this lovely cover and then say ‘romance readers don’t care about plot anyway’.
This was disappointing. I took a big long break from debut novels because of books like this. This author seemed to have all the ideas but no solid grasp of the historical romance genre and its conventions and no understanding on how to story plan and properly pace a novel.

I’m going to just list what was wrong with this, I don’t have the time or energy to go into detail.


>Every single person in this book is awful. They all lied and were nasty hypocrites. If this were a historical fiction or soap opera, I could have forgiven it, but this is posted as a historical romance and there were no redeeming qualities to the main characters. Am I supposed to root for them?

>The abuse of similes to describe mundane things was a crime. (You can always tell when an author is trying too hard and not edited properly when they use many, many ridiculous similes)

>The first two chapters of this had promise but then it fell apart. There were too many plot threads and the centre storyline of the bookshop was lost and never recovered.

>I cannot emphasize enough how much this book needed edited. I don’t mean proofread, the spelling and grammar were exceptional, but this needed a strict editor who could refocus the story and remove all the fat.

>The language was trying to be rich and poetic but descended into self-indulgent and prose-heavy. I think this author could have promise but I return to the need for editing and not being afraid to remove all the superfluous descriptions. We get descriptive sentences of characters all the way into the last chapters. Characters who have been part of the story from the beginning.

> This had no romance or relationship building to speak of. I had to check with my buddy reader ( 🫶 to Dab) to make sure this was actually listed as a romance. There was nothing romantic about it. They were barely together and none of their rivalry was explored. This likely was because of all the other characters and plot threads, there was not enough focus on them. Evelyn was constantly dealing with her family drama, her drama with Nathaniel, her fight with Lady Violet and her money troubles. She was hardly with William. The main conventions of a book listed as a romance is that the relationship between the two main characters is the FOCUS of the plot. Otherwise it’s just a secondary plot line and we need to list this as historical fiction. Perhaps it’s meant to be listed that way but on goodreads and NetGalley and in the blurb it’s marketed as romance.

>Lastly, the hero in this was an absolute dud. He was lazy, soft, immature, stupid, deceitful and sweaty all the time. He had no courage and a weak character. Again, had this not been romance, it would have been fine, but in romance we need a hero who we can root for, who we want the heroine to end up with. Honestly,I thought Evelyn would have been better off without him. I could only see misery for her for the rest of her life.