The Vanishing Bookstore is a story about a family of witches from Salem who have been cursed to constantly reincarnate and their lives to end in the same way every time. The only thing that can save them all is a journal hidden under a floorboard inside the “Vanishing bookstore” and Dora is the key to find it.

At first glance this book appears to be a cosy whimsical story about a bookstore and witchcraft, however, even though there are many cosy elements, it is much more serious and engaging than expected.

Two things attracted me to this book : the mysterious vanishing bookstore and the fact that it is about witches. Dora’s family of witches featured heavily in the story and I was pleased with that. But the bookstore itself did not feature as much. It indeed vanished 👀 So the anticipation of finding the bookstore was there through the story, but I got so engrossed in Dora’s family history that even forgot about it at some point🤭
The author perfectly blended cosy aspects like talking animals, a dash of romance, and the mysterious bookstore with serious subjects like the witch trials.

Talking of animals or familiars, there is a pet crow called Hades, I mean how amazing is that? I have a crow lamp in my room and I’m going to call him Hades now. Thank you Helen Phifer! 💕

Overall, an intriguing concept for lovers of witchy books.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher, and author for this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Vanishing Bookstore is like a real life Hocus Pocus but where the Sanderson Sisters were good witches. This was a cute witchy read that tracks Dora and she tries to find a book that will fix everything. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

This book gripped me from the first chapter, wanting to know more about the History of Dora and her family, how everyone intertwined over the years. The mysterious memories she was having getting unlocked in each chapter. Not often do I go the supernatural route but this book pulls you in and has you believing in magic and the power of love.

Publication date: 7th January, 2025
Read dates: 19th December 2024 – 8th January

Full of magic, reincarnation, and reunited family. A story of strong women who transcend centuries to fight for their freedom and lives.

Surrounded by magic, spells and mixing up spells with remedies, this story is moving between two different eras, the era of Salem hangings and nowadays where witches are just a symbol in Halloween.
The main idea of the story is unique, where witches live many lives, but the style of writing needed to be more interesting, the book is good but lacked fascination.
Overall it is still a good recommendation for witches' fans.

I absolutely loved it, but I'm also a bit conflicted about this book.

The premise of this novel is fantastic! I loved the characters, the setting (Salem rules!), and the suspenseful moments were awesome. Phifer did a great job of weaving historical events into the present, which I really enjoyed. Especially how Corwin went from being a witch hunter in 1692 to a cold-blooded, misogynist killer in the present. Her interpretations are well-planned and executed, making for a great book.

However, I struggled with the pacing. The beginning was strong, but the middle chapters dragged with repetitive paragraphs. The ending felt rushed, with too much happening at once: a major death in the family, finding a hidden book, establishing a love interest, Dora's magical abilities, a brutal assault, and a manic murderer. It was overwhelming, and I think the story would have been better with more careful editing. Some parts, like Dora's obsession with an old dress leading to a museum heist, felt a bit silly.

But enough about the negatives. "The Vanishing Bookstore" has a lot of good qualities, and I enjoyed the story. It's clear that the author drew inspiration from historical events and witchy movies like "Practical Magic" and "Hocus Pocus." This is a great book for those who love reading about magic, Salem, and the witch trials.

A really intriguing, well told book.

Florist Dora finds her world turned upside down when she discovers the truth about herself. Whisked off to Salem, she finds herself embroiled in a plot to stop a centuries old curse.

Very readable and page turning, I found the juxtaposition of the different worlds, girl about town modern day London, 17th century Salem and the supernatural element jarring until I'd settled into the book but I couldn't wait to find out what happened. It's a sort of mixture between Hocus Pocus and Charmed. Loved the descriptions of modern day Salem and it's made me want to visit even more.

Recommended. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advance copy.

3.5 stars rounding up.

If you love a cozy witchy historical fantasy or want a YA more fantasy version of Weyward this is for you! This book has generations of witches through time from 1690s to today and their journey throughout time. With multiple timelines you find yourself piecing together the curse that has plagued this family of witches and why they are forced to live life over and over until hunted down by a horrible witch hunter. Our FMC Isadora owns a flower shop and is blissfully unaware of her tragic past and inconceivable future. But when her aunt asks her to go on a vacation to Salem with her, she’s plunged in a strangely familiar place and her witchy ancestry and that she’s the key to break this curse on her family. Unsure what to believe she struggles with what she’s learning but time is ticking as the hunter is working on finding them. Can she find what her family needs to break the curse!?

I had a pretty great time reading The Vanishing Bookstore. I got YA fantasy Weyward vibes - generations of witches with curses and a horrible man they must embrace their ‚witchiness‘ to overcome!

I do wish the ending wasn’t as rushed I had just got invested in what would happen and it was over. I feel like the beginning was a bit too drawn out and suddenly the climax of the book came and went. I would have liked to see more learning or training so that the ending wasn’t a bit more believable. It was hard to comprehend a new witch who just came into her magic (with fuzzy memories) and that same day goes up against a witch hunter that has been using magic and stealing souls for hundreds of years have a 5minute confrontation/fight….

I received a free copy of this book via Net Galley and am voluntarily leaving a review

I read along while listening to the audiobook and enjoyed the story although it isn’t the genre I typically read. I loved the close bond of the sisters and their niece over the centuries.

Thank you to netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance copy to read.

I am already a hufe Helen Phifer fan, so I was extremely excited to have the opportunity to read this.

It's a super cosy witchy read, full of mystery and great characters. I love the historical elemental and the flashbacks to life in the 1600s. It's a very practical magic meets hocus pocus vibe. I can imagine it being a huge hit, particularly in autumn.

The characters are well written and sweet, as to be expected from Phifer. The book has great pacing and an easy to follow story.

If you are looking for something witchy to read, I would give this a go.

The Vanishing Bookstore is a story of Salem, witches and reincarnation.

Isadora. “Dora” English owns a flower shop in London and lives with her Aunt Lenora “Lenny” who has raised her from an infant. While working at her shop a strange man named George Corwin comes in looking for a bouquet for his girlfriend’s funeral, or so he says. There is something off about him that Dora cannot place. Then her aunt tells her that she has a business trip planned in Salem Massachusetts and asks Dora to come with her. Dora agrees and they fly to Salem, where Dora finds out that she has another aunt Seraphina, and her mother Lucine whom she had been told was dead. Then Dora discovers that this is not the 1st life she and her aunts and mother have lived. They lived in Salem in 1692 during the infamous witch trials where they were healers with a touch of magic and fell victim to the madness. They have been cursed to live their lives over and over while being chased through time by George Corwin, the sheriff in 1692 who arrested and hung them. He has chased them through time trying over and over to capture their souls as he did the other accused witches. Lucince was given a book of magic by her lover, Dora’s father and in 1692 Dora hid the book in the shed that her love, Ambrose Corwin had in the woods. Ambrose’s bookstore was a place where he hid books that the puritan elders would have confiscated. Lenny and Seraphina are sure that if they can find the book, they can defeat George and have peace to live their final life. With a race against time Dora must find the courage and magic within herself to save herself, her aunts and Ambrose.

The story was a quick read and I loved the descriptions of Salem and some of the history of the witch trials. I enjoyed how with each life the Englishh sisters and Dora never lost their humanity. If you like Practical Magic and Hocus Pocus this is the book for you.

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

What a ride with lots of surprises. I wasn’t expecting this book to be…well, what it was…but it was fascinating and full of tension. The ending was intense! This is quite the departure from Helen Phifer’s usual police procedurals, but the writing is first-rate. (It’s hard to review this one without giving away key surprises!)

Thank you to Bookouture, Netgalley, and the author, Helen Phifer, for early access to this latest entry in this intriguing series.

Although magic and witches are not of great interest to me, I was lured in to reading this book by the title.
But I'm quite glad I did read it, as the historical element made the book interesting to me.
For those who do like magic and witches, I'm sure this would be great read!

would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this amazing book

if you are into witches and witch hunters with a touch of magic then this is the book for you oh and did i say that most of the book is based in salem

its about a family of sisters who help heal that are one day accused of being witches and they are all hanged.....

but the storyline is so much more and as you read it there is more information and rather than give the whole plot away its best that you read it for yourself....

you wont be disappointed at all... its the stuff of legends and will grip you so that you cant put the book down at all and it will stay with you for a few days after....

cant wait for the next book from this author

If you enjoyed Heartless Hunter you will definitely love this.
I was immediately hooked to the characters and plot of this book. 1600s? Salem? Witch trials? Bookstore? Sign me up! The descriptions were so vivid that I actually felt like I stepped inside the novel. I particularly enjoyed the setting and atmosphere that was set up by the author. The twists were exciting.
My only issue with reading this was that sometimes the dialogue was a bit stiff and unnatural that it would take me out of the story.

I had such a hard time getting into this book unfortunately. The synopsis sounded right up my alley with mysterious bookstores, witches, family bonds, etc. But the story didn't keep me interested, and I tried both reading and listening to the book. I felt very little connection to the characters and although there was a lot of descriptive writing, I felt like I was often told instead of shown. I also wish there would have been more on the bookstore itself. However, this would be a perfect read for someone that likes a blend of historical fiction and a touch of fantasy!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this title.

Thanks to Netgalley & Bookouture for the ARC of this book.

I've a read a lot of Helen Phifer's crime books, so was curious to try something a little different. Especially with the title. However, I would have liked a more about the Vanishing Bookstore than what was in the book. The mentions of it seemed a bit rushed and that it wasn't given the importance I expected.

Dual timeline set in 1692 and present day, we follow the story of Dora, her mum and 2 aunts. In 1692 they are persecuted by witch hunters - which leads to them being cursed to constantly relive their lives. Will this lifetime be the one when they can finally break the curse?

The descriptions, especially of Salem were good, I could really picture the setting. And I did like all the witchy vibes. It's not too dark despite the witch hunting. At times there could have been more depth and emotion with some of the characters and some parts felt a little rushed.

Overall a good storyline, I liked the magic and dual timeline, but some parts did leave me wanting a bit more.

I very much enjoyed reading this witchy book. I am always drawn to books in this genre which I enjoy, but what I particularly liked about this book was that it was a more light hearted version. Moving between Salem USA and London Uk in timelines of 1692 to present day, with a few mentions of past lives in between. This was fun.
I warmed to the family of ladies immediately, known as the English sisters.
The writing was very descriptive and detailed, and although I have never visited Salem I felt like I did in the book, in my armchair travelling.
The end left me speculating if there may be another book to follow regarding the vanishing bookstore? I wonder if there are more magical stories to come out of it? I hope so.
I look forward to reading more books from the author Helen Phifer.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

The premise of this book hooked me immediately -- an old bookstore (that vanishes!), a family saga that covers multiple centuries, the historical element of the Salem witch trials -- what's not to love? I loved the dual timeline. In the end, this was an okay-good read for me, though many would love it. I tend to enjoy historical fiction more than fantasy/magic, and though this is billed as both, the historical part didn't grab me as much as I anticipated. Overall, this would be a great read for someone who loves fantasy/magic/witches.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and author Helen Phifer for the complimentary advance copy! It was my pleasure to write this candid review.

This book is the perfect comfort read! It’s nice to watch the FMC grow and develop through the story.

With elements of:
Witchcraft
Family love
Reincarnation
Love
Enemies
Grief
Hope
Murder

It has enough to keep you hooked and want more.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read this before it was released.