What a welcome surprise this book was. It follows Lara Hope who travels to Lisbon in search of family, at her first port of call she meets a young man Miguel who feels sorry for her and offers assistance should she need. Well this may be divine intervention because she meets up with him in several places! When it becomes apparent that Lara will need to find lodgings, she is delighted when her landlady offers work in her “Tram Stop Bookshop” where all is not as it seems! There are many secrets to uncover, and I enjoyed the way they unravelled encapsulating the war activities along the way.
I recommend this book, you won’t be disappointed.

My favourite character was Lara, for her sense of fun. D section sounded like great workmates.
While it was my first by this author I shall keep an eye for more.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a light easy read, so immersive, you’re drawn right into the story from the start. I couldn’t put it down.
A heartwarming and hopeful wartime story of loss, love and bravery.

Lara, after the death of her father arrives in Lisbon in search of a family she’s never met. As the war storms across Europe, Lara finds solace and belonging in her landlady’s bookshop. But she is soon plunged into a world of mystery and facades, making friends, finding love and meeting royalty along the way.

It’s beautifully written and is exciting and well paced with suspense, romance and historical intrigue. The dual timeline adds depth and the past and present is effortlessly woven together keeping you tuning the pages.
I loved the setting in 1940’s Lisbon in a bookshop full of secrets. It’s vividly described and you can imagine yourself browsing the shelves.
The characters are all well developed and likeable. I particularly liked Lara, who is funny, careless and brave.
An engaging and emotional read. I definitely recommend if you enjoy this genre.
With thanks to #NetGallery #HQ for an arc of #TheBookshopOfSecrets in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 13 February 2025

From the blurb I wanted to read this book but it really was not my cup of tea.

I read a lot of historical fiction often set in WW2 and it’s not uncommon for it to involve the Germans, The Resistance in whichever country and espionage and spying.
But this lacked the grit and downright brutality of living under a Nazi regime.
In fact I thought it almost made a mockery of the times.

It was very frothy and not even a particularly romantic story and unbelievable in parts. I am sure the censor would have dealt with Wilf’s letters in a completely different way.
Would a part time actress really have been able to meet the people she did in the way she did ? (Avoiding a major spoiler there ) even if she was assisting the British Secret Intelligence.

The only partly redeeming factor was that it was set in Lisbon which is a different location and did provide some interesting insight and showed the author had done some research

I did finish the book but only to find out if it improved and how on earth the author tied the ends together.

After her father’s death, Lara heads off to Lisbon in search of any family she may have left there. Things take a turn for the worst when she encounters several problems which lead her to remain in Lisbon. The world then changes as the Second World War takes hold.
Unfortunately I struggled to fully get into this one. None of the characters particularly jumped out at me and the pace was just a little too slow.
I think I was hoping for a little more mystery and suspense as the write up for this book suggested.
If you like war stories, this may be well up your street, but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me.

Lara travels to Portugal to trace her dead mother’s family but finds a new career after the theft of her money and passport leave her destitute. She is recruited by a government dept to feed misinformation to the Nazi war machine. Her life is complicated when she rescues an officer being savagely beaten by his colleagues and then they go on to a mission involving Edward and Wallis Simpson. A frothy story, which was a quick and easy read. One thing really jarred on me though, she received a letter from her cousin who flew planes in the RAF and I don’t believe it would have made it past the censor. But I can forgive that in an entertaining story.

Thank you to HarperCollins for providing me with an advanced readers copy of this via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll be totally honest, I chose this book because it’s set in Lisbon, it’s that simple! Lisbon is a city brimming with life, music and joy, and in this book, secrets!

The cast of characters were all so lovable and rich, I wished I was in the room with them sharing jokes and beers!
The setting felt alive and immersive and the storytelling brought a sense of hope and whimsy to a wartime tale.
I found this totally heartwarming and would recommend anyone read it!

I wanted to love this book because of the content but found it quite slow and almost flippant. I didn’t really care for the characters and wanted much more from the war storyline. I dislike giving negative reviews but this wasn’t for me and I did not finish it. Other readers have loved it though!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A romantic drama set in WW2 Lisbon which played an important role during wartime. I liked the characters and the setting but I wanted there to be a bit more bite to the story and a more sinister narrative.

An interesting novel about the ‘tricks’ which were played on the Germans during the Second World War with a difference because this is about adventures in Lisbon. The characters are well drawn and a sense of life in Lisbon during the early part of the war seems realistic. The tensions created by refugees echoes what is felt today. It is an excellent historical novel.

The title indicates that this is a story centred around a bookshop, and all things bookish....it is not.

I was torn in this one: It is soooo easy to read, which is a skill in itself....but, the content just brushed the surface throughout. Set in the 2nd World War, but seemingly skirting around the edges as if looking in from a 'comfortable and fluffy' distance....I just felt much more could've been made of the location and the period of history. Many thanks to the Publisher, author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Lisbon was a mecca for spies during World War Two. The Bookshop of Secrets gives glimpses into what might have been. The story was a very enjoyable way to explore and learn about the lives of spies and munipulation. I finished the story still thinking about the possiblities that might have been.

Lara left England and travelled to Lisbon in search of family before the war. She didn't find family but she found so much more as she was forced to remain in Lisbon. It is thanks to eavesdropping on Lara's life that the reader witnesses corruption, the challenges of those trying to escape the Nazis, and the trickery practices to share misinformation. The story was page after page of fascinating moments as Lara uses her acting and mimicing talents to aid in the war effort.

It was brilliant how the author used people that we have all heard of to weave a tale of thrills, chills, and suspenseful moments. Ian Fleming plays a role in the story by helping to create the right situation. The Duke and Duchess are tools for the British. All brought more life and more excitement to the story. They made the story even more realistic, more believable. I would love to see more of Lara's adventures.

I don’t tend to read historical novels, but there was something about the synopsis of The Bookshop of secrets that piqued my interest. In Lisbon, a bookshop owner leads a double life and following recent death of her father, Lara finds herself travelling to Lisbon in search of a family she’s never met. Whilst the Second World War rages through Europe, Lara finds solace in the bookshop. But when she witnesses something opening, she realises there is more to the bookshop than simply selling novels. I adored this novel and found it hard to put down. The plot unfolds with ease and you easily warm to the characters. Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.

I had hoped this book would be more serious than it was and probably that is my fault for misreading/misunderstanding the blurb, but I was a bit disappointed by the light hearted take on what was a very serious time during the war.
Having said that the book is well written and I'm sure many people will enjoy it. It has a cast of different but mostly likeable characters and a beautiful setting in neutral wartime Lisbon.
After the death of her father, Lara sets off to find her mother's family in Portugal and due to a series of unfortunate incidents she becomes stranded there for the duration of the war. Regretting she cannot do her part as her friend and cousin she finds herself (again through a series of unexpected incidents) drawn into the world of espionage,
All in all a little too light hearted for me to really enjoy.
With thanks to Netgalley and HQ for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

"The Bookshop of Secrets" by Kerry Barrett is not my usual style of historical fiction but if you are looking for something whimsical and escapist then this book may amuse. Definitely on the lighter end of books set in the Second World War focussing on the "fun" aspects of espionage.

Excellent book which included history about world war two, set in Lisbon. The main character, Lara travels to Lisbon after a death of her father to learn more about her family history, and to meet family members she has never met. The book has quite a few twists in it, which makes you want to know more about Lara, and her encounters from her different jobs which does. I would highly recommend this book.

I found the historical setting of this novel fascinating - I knew very little about Lisbon and the neutral position of Portugal during World War Two.

Lara, in search of her mother’s family, finds herself stuck in Lisbon as the war starts. She finds a job in a local bar and a bookshop and finds herself recruited to help the misinformation campaign against the Nazis.

The novel centres around an eclectic mix of characters and soon immerses the reader in the febrile atmosphere of the time. The stakes are high and the participants amateurs but their impact will be huge.

The characters are inspirational, brave and charming.

One to be recommended.

An interesting story set during WW2 in Lisbon. A family drama with intriguing characters along with an immersive storyline. A slow paced book but it kept me turning the pages nonetheless.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

A beautifully written wartime story that captivated me. Kerry Barrett has created a cast of well developed and likeable characters, and has based their powerful story in Lisbon, a city that remained neutral throughout WWII.

Lara is an actress who heads to Lisbon in the late 1930's, in hope of finding her family, after the death of her father. When she finds they are no longer alive, she is ready to head back home when her wallet and passport are stolen. Stranded with no money, Lara takes up jobs in a bar and in a book shop to save for her return ticket, but before she can travel home, the war breaks out. Lara finds herself unexpectedly drawn into the world of espionage, finding herself digging deep for every ounce of bravery and courage she can muster, and leaning on her acting talents to fool the enemy.

The diverse characters were at once inspirational, brave and often funny. A light element of romance added an additional dimension to the story, without taking away from the seriousness of the grief and loss suffered during the war.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Kerry Barrett and HQ for an ARC in return for an honest review.

When I first read the premise I mistakenly thought that this book would be more mysterious. What it is, is a historical tale set on war torn Europe where the heroine is residing and trying to work.
It was not entirely my cup of tea, I found it slow and somewhat laboured but for many they would enjoy this pace and genre.

I so enjoyed this book which was set in wartime Lisbon. Lovely historical plot, great characters and so well written.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and Publisher HQ Digital for the early read.