Set across the span of a year from June 1899 - June 1890, we follow headstrong girl Evelyn through turmoil after turmoil. Going from a spoiled bourgeois girl to a woman who understands the importance of money and how to be independent and make her own place in society without worrying about scorn from others. I enjoyed the banter between Evelyn and William, and the setting of the bookshop, but the story was slow to get to the plot actually mentioned in the summary. I didn't understand what I was reading for the first ten chapters. I enjoyed Naomi and Jack, but the other characters just made me annoyed and that led to me not really enjoying this book. It's a decent romance, worth borrowing from a library, or if you are in need of a palate cleanser between heavier materials, but the pace needed work and I found myself getting bored with the descriptions so I just focused on the conversations and towards the end skimmed the last chapters.

I really wanted to love this book, but it didn't quite hit the high notes, but still very enjoyable. Let me explain why.

It's a mixture of genres; it's an historical piece, and there's romance (although at times that felt a little forced), but most importantly, it's about books and a bookshop.

The start was very bewitching and beguiling, I will admit. I was really sucked in to begin with.

I really liked Evelyn as a main character. I love it when female characters are tough in times where t hey should have been subservient. She was loud and honest and she almost had to be the man of the house and I loved her for it. Even more so because she's like a foil to all the traditional elements of the time.

The male characters didn't really gel with me. I know they are of their time, but I didn't get on with any of them for various reasons. For me, this is a woman's story - Evelyn, her mother, her aunt, her friends. The men are almost surplus to requirements, just making the reading a little awkward. Although I will concede that the majority of them did work their way through by the end, but they still didn't match up to the women.

Did I want more about the bookshop given that it's the title? Yes I did. What is there is enjoyable and I liked it, but maybe just a bit more focus on the bookshop, because it isn't introduced to about 1/4 of the way through. Having said that, to contradict myself, I do understand you need some time to build up the character and the story, otherwise you wouldn't care what happened.

I do wonder if there were maybe one too many storylines happening. I didn't dislike that completely because they were all interesting, but I thought if she'd chose a few of them then they may have been developed further, as some felt a bit like skimming the surface.

It was a really lovely ending. Sometimes it can be hard to wrap everything up, and I was worried it'd perhaps fall a bit at the last hurdle, but it was a really pleasing finale. I think the beginning was really good, and the ending; it was just the middle where it sagged a little.

At nearly 370 pages, it's not a short book - not is it overly long - but it flew by and I read it over one evening. This is Sophie's debut, and whilst in my opinion there were some pacing issues, I will definitely look out for her future work. There was even a taster of her next book, The Memory Binder, which sounds enchanting.

It is 1899 and Evelyn Seaton and her mother have been forced to leave their home and move in with Aunt Clara in York.

Due to Evelyn’s father’s gambling debts, they have lost everything … including their status.

When Evelyn flees from a ball after being humiliated by so-called friends, she meets budding writer, William Morton.

After lying to her mother, Evelyn starts to work in a bookshop in York and soon meets up with William again.

This is a beautiful debut from the author and I devoured every word, hungry for more.

The characters made me smile, especially Jack and Naomi. It was hard to like Evelyn’s dad, but I did find myself feeling a little sorry for him.

This is a heartwarming and romantic story, full of mystery and intrigue. A beautifully written tale that brought the stunning city of York to life.

My thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

The writing was good and I ended up getting quite invested in the characters' story. I liked that you got to see the main story from the two main characters' points of view. That gave a well rounded feel to the story. I liked that we got to see what the characters were hiding from one another. That added tension as you weren't sure when or if it would all suddenly come crashing down!

The chapters were fairly long which meant that you got a good chunk of the story before moving on. There was a good pace to the book with some of the chapters being dated which showed the passage of time and kept you moving forward. There was a good flow between the chapters despite the occasional jumps in time.

The characters were good. I enjoyed the mix of personalities and how the characters tried to make things appear differently to what they really were. It highlighted the social difficulties of the time and showed how the rules differed depending on your social class and standing. It was interesting to see the characters get tied up in knots trying to keep their secrets hidden.

Lastly the settings. I enjoyed following the characters around and particularly enjoyed the work that was happening in the bookshop. The descriptions of the settings were light as this was a character focused story. I liked that the bookshop itself was a character in its own right.

Overall an interesting story.

Evelyn Seaton and her mother move to York, to stay with her Great-Aunt Clara after the police evict them from their home in Yorkshire. Lady Cecilia has always made excuses for her husband and her solution to their current problems is for daughter to marry and she doesn’t want to listen when Evelyn points out her reputation is in tatters and due to her father's actions.

Evelyn needs to find a job and she answers an advertisement for an assistant at Morton’s Emporium or The Lamplighter’s Bookshop as it’s known, run by an eccentric elderly gentleman, inside it’s dark, dingy, dusty and packed to the rafters with books, and has odd opening hours.

William Morton is Howard’s nephew, an aspiring writer, he returns from London and his Uncle and friends think he’s sold the rights to his first novel and has he? William isn’t happy Evelyn has taken his job, and he and Evelyn rub each other up the wrong way and they start a competition to improve the shop and it's sales. Both Evelyn and William have problems and secrets, been let down by a parent, it’s made them rather peevish and put up defences.

I received a copy of The Lamplighter's Bookshop from NetGalley and HarperCollins UK in exchange for an honest review. The narrative written by Sophie Austin is a quick and enjoyable historical fiction read for those who enjoy stories set in Victorian England and quaint bookshops.

A tale about breaking down walls people build around their hearts, to be able to rewriting their own story and one they can hopefully share together. Evelyn and William were friends with Naomi and Jack, two likeable souls and they help the couple see sense and so did Uncle Howard. I look forward to reading the authors next book The Memory Binder and four stars for her debut novel and I recommend.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for my pre publication digital copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. I honestly don’t like giving only 3* for a novel, as I know how much work must go into each and everyy one. However, on this occasion I felt I must, as the storyline is just too shallow and not faithful to the historical context, especially with regards to social etiquette around relationships. I wouldn’t have finished the book if I had not been reviewing it, as it as so obvious what was going to happen. There is far too much repetition of words and phrases, and I really hope it will have been much more fully edited before the release date.

This historical fiction romance is a wonderful read full of drama, chemistry and a bookshop!
I adored seeing the characters of Evelyn and William develop and there are some other really amazing characters in Aunt Clara, Mr Morton, Jack and Naomi, all of whom deserve their own books! It was especially a delight to read about York in the Victorian era, and the writing just made me feel enveloped in that place in time. Wonderful, fun and emotional this is a fantastic read

This historical romance was quite sweet and I’ll always admit to enjoying something set somewhere I know, but the characters and plot didn’t stand up to too much scrutiny.

I tend to prefer my historical fiction a little grittier and this was a little too Bridgerton-style historical light for my personal tastes. If that’s your preference then you’ll probably love this book as there are lots of meet-cute moments for the various couples and lots of rogue locks of hair and hearts aflutter.

With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This was just an okay read for me as it wasn’t quite what I was expecting and I did struggle to finish it. I think the problem was I was expecting something more magical and more about a bookshop but that element didn’t materialise and really it felt like a straightforward romance which isn’t my thing. The writing was okay but overall sadly this just wasn’t a read that blew me away and just not not for me although others may like it more as let’s face it we can’t all like the same things!
My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Whilst I enjoyed this, I really did think the bookshop was going to play more of a part in the story. However it's well-written and kept my attention.

This is Sophie Austin's debut novel, set in York at the turn of the 19th century. From the blurb, it wasn't however quite what I expected. The bookshop and its so-called secrets wasn't really central to the plot, which I expected to be more bookish. Instead, I found myself in a Victorian romance (one of my least favourite genres). Evelyn and William, as the central characters left me a bit cold, possibly because of their numerous relationships with others who didn't really contribute to the plot but hindered it. Aunt Clara however, with her solid, no nonsense, down-to-earth wit and advice saved the book for me.

The Lamplighter’s Bookshop was a really enjoyable read. Set in Victorian England, the story follows Evelyn Seaton, a young woman whose life is turned upside down when her father gambles away their fortune. Determined to take control of her life, Evelyn takes a job at a neglected bookshop, where she meets the mysterious and slightly infuriating William Morton.
One of the things I loved about this book was the character development. At first, Evelyn seemed like a bit of a spoiled rich girl, but as the story progressed, she grew into a strong, determined, and relatable character. Her passion for the bookshop and her rivalry with William made for some entertaining moments. The tension between them, both in terms of competition and their slow growing attraction, felt natural despite all the miscommunications along the way.
I found the writing style quite engaging and easy to follow. The author did a great job bringing the historical setting to life, with immersive descriptions of York and the old bookshop that made me feel like I was there. I also quite appreciated how well the constraints on young women at that time were portrayed. Evelyn’s frustration at being expected to behave a certain way made her struggle between duty and ambition feel more real.
However, I was expecting the bookshop to play a bigger role in the story. The title made me think it would have a more magical or mysterious presence, but the story was much more focused on romance and personal growth. Not that it is a bad thing, but I was hoping to know more about the bookshop’s secrets.
Overall, I gave this book 4 stars. It’s well-written, engaging, and has a good mix of romance, history, and personal growth. If you enjoy historical romance with strong female leads and some dose of romance, this is worth a read. I’ll be keeping an eye out for more books from Sophie Austin.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my onw.

I always love a book where the setting is a bookshop. Having grown up as the daughter of a bookshop owner, it feels like coming home. This book didn’t disappoint. Loved it.

A bookishly good read!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a sweet read based in Victorian Times, 1899. Evelyn Seaton finds herself and her Mother, Cecelia, out on the street, after her Father gambled away their fortune. They head to York to stay with Cecelia’s Aunt. Once there, Evelyn’s Mother was keen to keep her daughter in Society, but everything does not go to plan and Evelyn is mocked and taunted at a ball.

When fleeing the ball, she comes across an advert asking for help to work at The Lamplighter’s Bookshop. Evelyn decides to apply, as she wants to find a way to help her Aunt with living expenses. This was without her Mother’s knowledge, as she would not approve.

She also meets William, who believes the job is his. From then on, they embark on a competition of the sale of books, to win a position at the booksellers.

Evelyn and William start as enemies, but romance slowly develops, however has William been honest?

As a debut, this was an easy to read, historical romance. The characters were on the whole likeable, although I didn’t connect with William as a male lead. As a reader I found his lack of honesty, quite frustrating and not understandable.

I also found it confusing to include an element of magical realism early in the book, which never developed or came to a noticeable conclusion. I do feel that more could have been made of this and was a wasted opportunity.

All in all, I would recommend for a quick, easy read. 3 Stars.

The blur attracted me straight away with its plot but i have to admit it wasn't what I thought. I had a really hard time getting into it and was nearly a dnf for me but I powered through. This book might be for others but it wasn't for me.

If you are a Bridgerton fan, you will love this historical romantic novel.
If I am honest, when I started this book, I wasn't feeling it. It didn't catch my interest, and I kept putting it down. However, I am so glad I didn't give up on this charming book. It's definitely a book that reminds us about hope and being strong. That life gives us curve balls, but its how we deal with them and who we have around us that matter.
As the story evolves, you grow to love the main character, Evelyn. After the family home and all their things are taken and her dad fled to London, Evelyn and her mom have no choice but to move to Yorkshire to live with her great aunt. Once there, Evelyn takes things into her own hands and gets a secret job in bookshop after persuading the owner. It is here that the story really comes alive, and you won't want to put this book down!
I hope there is a sequel planned @SophieAustin!
Thank you, @NetGalley_UK and @HarperCollinsUk, for this advanced copy.

This romance novel is well written but not what I was expecting. The title and the cover led me to believe that the bookshop would be a main character rather than just one of the various places in which the story is set. Evelyn seemed far too modern for a late Victorian miss; she came across as way ahead of the suffragist movment which was only just getting started in any significant way. Too many 'bending the rules'. And too many occassions when the weak William and the strong Evelyin misunderstood each other. The book just didn't flow well enough for me and I was ready to ditch it at 75%. But I am sure readers who weren't expecting a tale about a bookshop will enjoy the book.

With thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

I loved this story so much, it made me smile and feel happy and warm and I hope that Evelyn and William, and their friends and family of course, truly live the life they deserve

Set in York in the late 1800’s. A quaint story or a family falling from grace which caused them to reinvent their lives. In doing so it was quite a journey for all the characters.

Although the end was predictable it was a lovely, easy read. Not particularly historically accurate and perhaps it needed more descriptions of the era in which it was written.

A quirky novel set at the end of the 19th century in York. A mother and daughter fall from grace due to no fault of their own. They have to relocate, and find they have become the mockery of Society. The daughter, Evelyn, does not want to sit around moping and decides to secretly find herself a job in a neglected bookshop, most unsuitable for somebody of her social standing.
The story is centred around family and newfound friends, fierce loyalty, lies, and romance. Highly enjoyable, though I found the opening chapter a little tedious. Persevere and you will have an enjoyable and evocative read.