The Lamplighters bookshop is in York but should be called the forgotten bookshop.
Evelyn Seaton answers an advertisement for an assistant and meets William Morton. Both have secrets and as these secrets are revealed they need each other.

3 Stars
One Liner: Nice enough but too much drama
1899, York
Evelyn Seaton needs to find a way out of their financial situation. She finds an advertisement for an assistant in a little bookshop. She just wants a job and to keep people away from her personal life.
William Morton is an aspiring writer with secrets of his own. Turns out, Evelyn and William’s paths are destined to keep converging. However, the way to the future is filled with secrets and lies they need to sort out.
The story comes in the third-person POV of Evelyn and William.

My Thoughts:
This is yet another case of falling for the cover and ending up with a mixed read. Sigh!
The first 2-3 chapters were terrific. They establish the FMC’s current situation, her family, and her character attributes. It’s easy to empathize with her and root for her to handle the situation.
The said bookshop doesn’t appear for a while, so when it was first mentioned, I was truly excited. However, it is just one of the places where the story takes place. Yes, it has more importance but would it have been different if books were replaced by something else? Only a little!
The side characters come in all types. My favorites have to the aunt and Naomi. Both are quite different but the kind we need around us.
Despite being a romance, the book is more of a family drama. That’s still okay. We can’t really separate family from individuals, right?
However, my major issue is with the MMC. It’s good to have a guy with flaws. But I couldn’t find anything worthy of him to be a hero. Getting support from others and having someone else literally step in and save the guy from trouble are different. Also, there isn’t anything enterprising about him.
Of course, the FMC is a bit better but all those lies, omissions, secrets, and whatnot made me dizzy. Angst is nice but not when it is unnecessary for the plot. All they needed was a proper conversation which eventually happened (after I got bored).
While I enjoyed the writing initially, it got a bit too excessive at times. This affected the pace along with all that miscommunication. The book would have been better with some experienced developmental editing to get rid of (some of) the fluff.
Also, there’s a mention of possibly something magical about the bookshop but we never know what it is. Was that element removed at some point? If yes, then I have to say it’s a bad decision. Removing the unwanted drama and keeping the bookshop parts would been a better choice.
The ending is nice but by then I was glad to reach that point. I do like how it presented the attitude and snobbery of the ton as well as the importance of having a title.

To summarize, The Lamplighter’s Bookshop has a worthy premise that got lost in too much drama. It reads like a debut book and would have benefited from strict editing.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for this eCopy to review

I just finished reading The Lamplighter’s Bookshop by Sophie Austin, and it was an absolute delight! Set in the historic city of York in 1899, the story follows Evelyn Seaton, who takes up a job at a forgotten bookshop. The bookshop, filled with secrets and mysteries, becomes the backdrop for Evelyn's journey of self-discovery and healing.

The characters are wonderfully crafted, especially Evelyn and the enigmatic William Morton, an aspiring writer with secrets of his own. Their interactions are both heart warming and intriguing, adding depth to the narrative. Austin's writing is beautifully descriptive, making the setting come alive and immersing you in the Victorian era.

What I loved most about this book was the blend of romance, mystery, and historical fiction. The plot is engaging, and the pacing keeps you hooked from start to finish. It's a perfect read for anyone who loves stories about books, secrets, and finding courage in unexpected places.

Overall, The Lamplighter’s Bookshop is a charming and immersive read that I highly recommend.

A Charming Romance Set in 19th Century York

Evelyn Seaton’s life as she knows it is over. Her father, a baron, has lost her family’s fortune and run off to London; Evelyn and her mother are forced to give up their large house and staff and turn to the only family they have left. This leads them to York and Aunt Clara, who is used to living alone and doesn’t particularly want company. But in 1899, options for women were limited; you were either supposed to get married…or go to work, something Evelyn’s status-obsessed mother couldn’t bear to admit. Evelyn doesn’t agree though—so when she spots an advertisement for an assistant at a local bookshop, she sees it as her ticket to freedom.

Morton’s Emporium—known locally by its previous name, The Lamplighter’s Bookshop—is old and dusty, run by a kind gentleman named Mr Morton. He’s not particularly concerned with bringing in new customers and thus isn’t impressed by Evelyn’s ideas of increasing sales, at least at first. But when his nephew returns from London to reclaim his job at the shop, Mr Morton offers them a deal: He only needs one assistant, so whoever can sell the most books by Christmas can stay.

Mr Morton’s nephew in question is William, an aspiring author who’s handsome and charming but often prickly when it comes to Evelyn. He has a fervent need to prove his place in the world, which often means spinning stories of his own to keep up appearances. So it stands to reason that Evelyn, a determined young woman who’s always honest, would ruffle some feathers. The question is, are the sparks flying between them merely competitive anger or perhaps something more?

‘The following week, they began to catalogue the books, which sparked an unexpectedly heated argument as to how the philosophy section should be sorted (‘Evelyn! I am telling you. All the philosophers worth reading go by first name alone!’)’
The Lamplighter’s Bookshop is an enchanting tale of desire: for romance, for a better life, for finding one’s place in the world. The descriptions are vivid and inviting, whisking you away to 19th-century England—an exciting time for a nation on the cusp of change—and you can feel the fresh breeze of possibility blowing through the narrative. The novel deftly uses the era’s societal structures to create tension and a catalyst for the characters’ emotional journeys. Their motivations feel real and grounded, even when they make the wrong decisions. When torn between what is expected and what they want most, the internal conflicts are as delicious as they are devastating.

Pages and chapters fly by as you settle into the streets of York alongside Evelyn; it’s impressive how she tackles her struggles head-on instead of waiting for someone to save her. You’ll even grow to be proud of her as she navigates the often treacherous path between her old life and her new reality. And watching Evelyn fall in love with her newfound independence is almost as thrilling as watching her fall for William.

Evelyn and Will’s romance is sweet and warm with a little kick to it; their entertaining back-and-forth banter contrasts well with their wonderfully kind friends Naomi and Jack, who are simply head over heels for one another. It’s set in the Victorian era so the romance is rather innocent but it matches the tone of the novel (plus, there are still a few swoon-worthy moments). Both Will and Evelyn hold themselves back at times, afraid of what others might say, but their character arcs are multi-faceted so they don’t just grow in matters of the heart. Through the other older adults in their lives, they learn the price of love and how not choosing is still a choice in itself. The emotional depth is touching and hits when you least expect it.

The writing is sharp and fluid, keeping the pacing smooth, while the dialogue suits the timeframe. One aspect I wish was explored more is the magic of the bookshop; it’s hinted that this place has a mind of its own but then it’s never fully realized. However, that is a small wish as the magic of the story really lies in the characters’ emotional transformations, while the bookshop provides a cozy backdrop that intertwines their lives.

The Lamplighter’s Bookshop is a lovely historical romance that will capture both your heart and your imagination; whether you’ve walked the streets of York or you’re merely visiting through the page, its old-timey charm will call your name.

What a great read of life and the problems faced by some families, when things go wrong. Set in the Victorian era, things that we just accept today would have been greatly frowned upon then. Lucky for us, the main character is a feisty young lady who knows what she wants from life - and that appears to be ’not to conform’.
She embarks on a path that is frowned upon by her mother, when she finds out but will this stop her? There could be great happiness waiting for her if she’s brave enough to take it.
I loved it for all that’s going on, for all she wants from life and how she found real friendships to guide her through.

There were aspects of this book which I really liked. I felt it had some pearls of wisdom about success and failure, and the need for a woman to be independent of a man. I mainly liked Evelyn, who was plucky and determined, and who did her best to be truthful but ended up forced to go against her principles. I felt she continued the lie for longer than was plausible for her character - she’d been set up as someone who was honest to a fault, even at the risk of causing upset, so her behaviour in deceiving her mother seemed anachronistic.
Lady Violet was a bizarre character, almost as if the author felt there should be a villain, and so concocted one without really thinking through what might feel realistic.
Aunt Clara, on the other hand, was a delight. I’d happily read a book about her.
The central romance left me a little flat. It had some sweet moments, but I’m afraid the hero never convinced me that he was worthy of our heroine.
I enjoyed the writing most of the time, but there were a few aspects where I felt things didn’t quite fit the period, causing some jarring moments. As a fan of historical fiction, it’s really important to me that characters and plot should feel authentic and not like 21st century devices shoehorned into a period setting.
Overall this story was a mixed bag - more good than bad, enjoyable in the main, but I couldn’t really say I loved it.
I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it.

This is a great debut novel which I thoroughly enjoyed. It is set in beautiful York enriched with wonderful characters.
It’s an easy historical romantic read which also includes a bookshop. What’s not to like. The cover of this book really had me hooked to begin reading.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

This is such a wonderful book to settle down with. It is a mix of those wonderful classical fiction and romance stories but written in a very easy-to-read style.

When Evelyn Seaton and her Mother suddenly find themselves out of their home they seek refuge with an Aunt. This is not something that Evelyn's mother is happy about, she has always been about her status in society and how she came from nothing and married a Baron, she has spent years cultivating her friends. But these friends suddenly disappear. Her wish is for her daughter to find someone to marry to help them reclaim their status.

Evelyn is of a different opinion, she is a bluntly spoken young woman and decides that she can do more than just become a wife and so when she ends up working in a bookshop run by Mr Morton. He did have the help of his nephew until he went to London to become a writer.

The story is fabulous and it was so easy to get to grips with the characters, their stories, how they interact and who they are and their relationships or friendships with others. The author creates such a tangled web of lies and deceit as those with secrets try to hide them, after all, it would be very seemly to have all your dirty washing aired out for all to see!

As I read I was not aware of what the secrets were, some things were alluded to but the main core was kept hidden until much later in the book. Working and keeping it from her mother makes life tricky for Evelyn, especially as William has returned from London and wants to take his job in the bookshop back. Let us say they don't hit it off straight away. They do manage an amicable arrangement concerning work.

This is such a wonderful book and is one for those who like historical fiction, romance and the lifestyle of 1899. With plenty of secrets, suspicion, opinions and social status. I adored everything about this book and I would definitely recommend it.

First can I say how stunning the front cover art is.
This is a debut historical romance for Sophie, set in York which is one of my favourite cities in the UK. It follows Evelyn who finds herself and her mother homeless after her father gambled away a fortune. They find themselves in York, staying with her Aunt Clara. Evelyn’s mother is desperate to keep her daughter in society but the plan fails when Evelyn is mocked at the ball. She flees the ball and find herself applying to The Lamplighter’s Bookshop and in competition with Williams for the position.
I did enjoy the story between Evelyn and William, I was hoping the bookshop played an even bigger part to the storyline, I was wanting secrets held within the bookshop to be prevalent which wasn’t the case.
Aunt Clara was such a standout, I could literally visualise her giving her no nonsense advice which made me giggle.
Thank you NetGalley, Sophie Austin and HarperCollins for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

When people arrive to repose the house Evelyn and her mother live in, they think it’s a mistake, surely her absent father would soon sort out the misunderstanding.
They move to stay with an aunt and Evelyn quickly works out what is going on and what she must do to help herself as well as her mother.

What follows is a lovely tale of self preservation, making new friends, finding your own way in life and not sticking to what is deemed your station.
This book is set in the late 1800 but in some ways it did feel more modern than that.

I loved the way the characters developed, how the plots brought them together and also pushed them apart.

This was really well written and I felt myself become fully submerged within the tale. I don’t normally turn to historic fiction, but really did enjoy this one.

My favourite character has to be aunt Clara. I love her humour, her forthrightness and how she is an integral part of this story.

All in all a great read.

"The Lamplighter's Bookshop" is a feel-good Victorian romance set in York. Evelyn Seaton was born to a privileged background, but when the bailiffs come knocking at their door she and her mother have to move out of their large house. Evelyn's mother is distraught by the whole situation as she had fought her way up from the workhouse to become a Lady. However, Lord Seaton is missing in London and not communicating with his family to let them know what is going on.

Evelyn decides that she will need to work to help support them as they are lodging with a kindly, but not particularly wealthy, aunt. By chance, Evelyn finds an advert for a position at a bookshop, formerly known as the Lamplighter's Bookshop.

This is an enjoyable period romance with some great characters and moral lessons.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a really absorbing read, that centred around Evelyn as she faces living a very different life after her father loses all their money. The privileged lifestyle is gone overnight, so her and her mother are forced to move to York to live with her Aunt and start over.

And that's when she stumbles across an advert asking for help at a nearby bookshop and the mysterious Mr Morton enters her life. He is very set in his ways so they do clash to begin with but it's interesting to see how their dynamics change as she grows in confidence and really throws herself into the job.

It's a very different way of life for her in York but she adapts quite well and it's very interesting to see how those who used to be in her life now treat her, now she doesn't have money. It shows up that divide that was prevalent the time.

it's quite an inspiring read t o see her turns things around for herself and the people she meets along the way add to her journey and I found myself immersed in that world and enjoyed it!

I was drawn to this book by the beautiful cover, the bookshop theme and the York setting. I found the story quite slow to get into and I would have liked more about the bookshop. Not a gripping tale but if you are looking for an easy to read romance this might fit the bill. A promising debut.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Lamplighter's Bookshop is a disorganised muddle of a shop in late 1800s York. Evelyn Seaton, a down on her luck ex debutante has had to leave her glitzy life behind her as a result of her father's poor financial choices and is now living with her mother and eccentric Aunt Clara while the women scheme to improve their circumstances. Evelyn, however, has other plans. She demands a job in the bookshop. Problems arise when the owner of the shop's nephew returns to take said job.

I'm very torn on this one. While it's set in the late 1800s, it really doesn't feel like it. The characters speak and behave very modernly and, on occasion, very contradictory. But then on the other hand, you can really feel the relationships between the characters and the drama in the plot worked well. Definitely an author to watch!

A mum and daughter have to leave their own after it is repossessed. A story of how the daughter tried to build a new life in York all,the while being talked about because of the sins of her father. She meets a new friend and starts to build new relationships when her father comes home and tries to derail her.

Was attracted to this title because it was set in York in the late 1800s and set in a Bookshop. I liked the descriptive writing, especially of the bookshop itself - how it was overflowing with books and organised in a strange way that only the owner knew where everything was. I am not into romance but I liked how Evelyn took her future into her own hands.
I loved Great-Aunt Clara - she added much humour to the story.
Three and a half stars for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Sophie Austin/HarperCollins UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Lamplighter’s Bookshop by Sophie Austin provides a lighthearted escape into the quaint world of books and bookstores. The setting is charming and the characters are endearing, making it an enjoyable read.

However, the plot unfolds with gentle twists and turns that may come across as predictable. Still enjoyable.

Overall, The Lamplighter’s Bookshop is a cosy read perfect for a relaxing evening, but it may not leave a lasting impression.

Enjoyed reading. Took a while to get into the story but then the pages flew by. A reminder of how self made people were never accepted by the old money families.

It was an overall good story and romance, but there's a few things that made me hard to reach over 3 stars.

The story was interesting. I really enjoyed the different plots but mostly the morality about lies, on the reasons they can be made up, and the fact that there are people who can really change if given a second chance, while others can't. The difference between true excuses, and finding excuses. I also loved the bookshop side of the plot, especially with uncle Howie being actually cute with his story, and what became of the bookshop and overall Evelyn trying hard to make a living by herself.

However, the story took too long to pick up (took some time to finally meet William), and the multiple plots went there and nowhere at the same time so it made the story long, and sometimes bland. Evelyn isn't a very touching character, and she hasn't really changed much. There were only three characters that I really enjoyed and they were all side characters as Auntie Clara, Jack and Naomi, as they were the only ones being honestly from beginning to start.

I don't like the idea of giving books a 3-star rating. I truly appreciate the time and effort that everyone involved in the process puts in. However, this book just didn’t resonate with me. The cover is absolutely beautiful, and that was what initially drew me in. But as I read, I struggled to connect with the main characters and the plot. It wasn’t what I expected. I was hoping for a mystical story with hidden 'depth', but instead, it felt more like a Bridgerton-ish love story, which isn’t really my thing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.