This is the first book I have read by this author, and I want to try more because of this story! Dora became a character that I could easily resonate with, and it was like you could feel the love and trust and familial longing with the English sisters. This story was not only heart warming, but also gives you some of the details of the Salem Witch trials that real people actually endured, making the heart break for the lost souls. It also shows how good a strong family bond can bring you together under any circumstances, and how life can be too short to not go for the things that make you happy or to be authentically you. It also shows you that not only family bond, but the love for a person can last and survive any obstacle thrown your way. I found this book to be eye opening, heart warming, as well as a little bit mysterious and I would definitely recommend it.

I loved, loved, loved the idea behind this one- a magical bookstore and a lead who is trying to uncover family secrets. What should've been an exciting read, I feel like I dragged my feet through majority of the chapters. There was so many missed opportunities to add suspense, deeper characters, and more engaging history. I genuinely thought Helen Phifer's writing style was wonderful and was the most redeeming factor in the book. I just left like I was left wanting so much more from this one, and it wasn't there.

Overall this book was entertaining, way lighter than I expected but had its dark elements.

The story is about a witch family who are all cursed to live out similar lifetimes on repeat with cruel fates, meanwhile hunted by a (cursed as well) witch hunter. The concept is really good, we get multiple POVs so everything becomes clear regarding the trouble they are in real quick.

My main concern was the pacing of the story. It starts out slower, with glimpses from the past, which is great because we get a detailed picture about what happened during the English women's first lifetime. We get to see the betrayal and horror they lived through, and it becomes obvious that their fate (AKA the witch hunter) catches up to them again in their present life. At this point, the pacing gets faster and I have ambivalent feelings about this.
On one hand, I really felt the urgency of everything they did, I almost heard the ticking of the clock and counted down the days with them. On the other hand, with this quick pacing the story didn't have the opportunity to truly reach its potential. For me, at least. There was no time to really feel the tension of some situations, to really play out some key points or grieve over something that happened. Again, I understand the other side and there was an underlying tension throughout the story which (in a good way!) grated on my nerves, but for me, it could've been more.

The FMC, Dora, was a bit childish IMO, despite being 33. She was mainly indecisive and she had a hero complex. Ambrose, the MMC was a secondary character. I'm all girlpower and feminism, but honestly his only role in the story was owning the bookstore, I don't know, I didn't really feel him. Dora's aunts on the other hand were strong and capable figures with funny moments. They tried their best and wanted to guide Dora, meanwhile living through their own personal hell.

I'm unsure about the meaning of the epilogue, maybe it hints about a sequel. I was curious about the "new" chapter of the English women's lives after the curse is broken, maybe they will return in a new book sometime and we get some glimpses :)

All in all, it was an entertaining story, thank you for the publisher and the author for the eARC and the opportunity!

Helen Phifer’s The Vanishing Bookstore is a thrilling and atmospheric mystery that seamlessly blends the charm of a quaint bookstore with the chilling intrigue of a small-town disappearance. This book delivers an irresistible combination of twists, suspense, and emotional depth, making it a standout read for mystery lovers and fans of gripping, character-driven storytelling.
The protagonist is compelling, driven by a mix of personal stakes and a determination to uncover the truth. Their journey is as much about solving the mystery as it is about grappling with their own past and forging new connections.
The supporting characters adds richness to the story, from the enigmatic townsfolk to the bookstore itself, which feels like a character in its own right. Their interactions are authentic and often poignant, adding layers of complexity to the central mystery.
The book’s atmosphere throughout is amazing. The descriptions of the vanishing bookstore are both eerie and enchanting, capturing the allure of books and the creeping unease of something amiss. Helen Phifer paints a vivid picture of the town and its surroundings, immersing readers in its quiet beauty and shadowy secrets.
The Vanishing Bookstore is an engrossing mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. With its compelling characters, richly drawn setting, and expertly crafted twists, it’s a book that will appeal to both seasoned mystery readers and newcomers to the genre. Helen Phifer has created a story that is equal parts chilling and heartwarming—a true page-turner that lingers in the mind long after the final chapter.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Helen Phifer for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Good narration, and voices could differentiate different characters. Enchanting relaxing voice to listen to. As listening to audiobook and read. Enjoyed the story, reminded me slightly of charmed. Wish there was abit more info on past lives and the magic side but would recommend!

Fantasy, even fantasy light, isn’t normally my choice of genre, but there was something about the cover and description that grabbed me. I wouldn’t describe this as a cozy fantasy, but it is on the tame side of world building and situations.

I loved that there was history of the Salem Witch trials tucked away inside Dora’s story. I’ve always been fascinated by this period. It did take me a little while to connect to the story, but once I did I was hooked. For me the romance was a little secondary. I wasn’t really feeling the years of love between the two, but that might be an author choice due to their circumstances. But I wanted to know all there was about the time loop and the family history.

A little bit of magic, a fight for life and some really great characters made this an enjoyable read. I was really a fan of the side characters in addition to the main ones. I was rooting for Dora and her aunt’s and their quest to overcome their curse and escape what might be their fate. This one really lived up to the cover and the description.

Stephanie Cannon Did a great job bringing the suspense and magic to life. She voice matched the aura of the book and was delightful to listen to.

What a great read! I enjoyed how the story moved forwards and backwards in time. This is more than just a time-travel book and I really enjoyed the premise of past lives and memories. I didn't like that it left things hanging for a second title, but I'm a stickler for "the end" in books that don't specifically say series. At any rate, it was atmospheric and I enjoyed it very much!

Really not sure what to make of this book. I was invested in it enough to read it through to the end, but not sure I really enjoyed it. The setting of Salem is great, as is the dual timeline but something was missing for me.

2.5 rounded up to 3

Thanks must go to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

First off, I appreciate NetGalley and Bookoutore for allowing me to receive this ARC. That being said, I DNF’ed this book. I made it 55% of the way through and could not go any further. I tried going back every so often and still could not make myself read it even though I very much wanted too. I know the book released over a week ago but still want to give my review as promised in exchange for the book.


The few chapters of the book were a little confusing to me. Just the way some of the conversations were going I had to go back pages even chapters to figure out who was talking and what was going on. Not a huge issue, I honestly think it was just me.


The dual timeline made sense in the beginning but as the story progressed the flashbacks to the 1600’s made no sense and didn’t help the story line at all.

I feel like the title of the book is misleading. One, when I think vanishing, I think dissappear, gone, something magical happened. No, they just can’t remember where it’s at. Two, the bookstore is barely mentioned. The book is all about the English women. Which the book being about the women isn’t the issue, it’s with the title not being representative of the story.

I felt like there was no chemistry between any of the characters. I know in the beginning some of the was because she couldn’t remember who some of them were but even when she started to remember it was just blah.

I honestly just believe it was a me thing. I’m the problem not the book. So, thank you again for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

Rating: 3.25-3.5/5 ⭐

Review:
✨️Thank you to Bookouture & NetGalley for this ARC! This review is voluntarily written by me.
✨This story is a mix of historical fiction, women’s fiction and fantasy that is showcased in two timelines: 1692 and the present day. But, the majority of the story is in the present day.
✨In terms of reading experience, the story hooked me to keep reading, but not enough to make me truly excited to know what happened next. I think that the plot that made me keep going.
✨I’m okay with the writing style, but I’m not interested enough with all the characters. I also do not know exactly why that happened. The characters themselves are okay, but I’m the one that did not really feel them.
✨I’m not sure if this book will get any sequel or not, but (spoiler alert), I like the bit that mentioned there are people like Dora in other places too. That’s interesting.
✨In terms of knowledge, I got to know more about the witch-hunting that happened in Salem. I don’t learn about the event at school, hence it is interesting reading the description and author’s note about the event.
✨I would say this story may interest readers who like reading dual or multiple timeline stories. For me, dual timelines did make this story clearer.

The Vanishing Bookstore is a tale about a family of blood witches who are striving to break their family curse but in order to do so, they must face the memories of their past and rediscover who they are truly meant to be.

With dual (sometimes multiple) timelines that spanned from 1692 to present day, we meet a family of witches who are plagued by a curse that they have tried desperately to sever for over three hundred years. The plot drew me in but I found myself asking, “but wait…?” multiple times as some of the finer details contradicted each other. Some parts felt very rushed but others were descriptive and made me feel like I was in the woods in Salem experiencing the words on the page in real time.

I would rate this one at 3.5 stars because it really was a cute, quick read! It would be perfect for anyone who enjoys reads about family, good vs. evil, and all things witchy.

The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer and narrated by Stephanie Cannon was an excellent audiobook. This audiobook/book is a fantasy mystical read and I loved it from start to finish. It is set in two different times in 1962 to the present, with great characters.

In 1692 and on the outskirts of Salem, a old bookstore stands covered in overgrown vines. Inside, a young woman hides a linen-wrapped journal under a loose floorboard and runs away, panicked by the sound of hounds barking in the distance. Then, the bookstore vanishes into thin air…

Now, in the present day, and stepping inside a pale-pink house on one of the oldest streets in Salem, Dora can’t believe she’s about to finally meet the mother she thought died tragically when she was just a child. But the excitement is short-lived. When Dora’s mother has fear in her eyes, and with a trembling voice she whispers: ‘my life is in danger, and now so is yours…’

WoW.............This book was full of twists and turns throughout and I loved it. The Vanishing Bookshop was so magical I ended up listening to it most of the day

I highly recommend this book.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture and Bookouture audio for my ARC.

I thought this was a very wholesome read. If you enjoy reading about the Salem Witch Trials or anything about witches, then you’ll enjoy this. The characters were likable and easy to root for. It was well-written and strengthened my desire to visit Salem!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC! *The Vanishing Bookstore* by Helen Phifer is a captivating mystery that seamlessly blends intrigue with the charm of a small-town setting. The plot revolves around a haunting disappearance that keeps readers guessing until the very end. Phifer’s vivid descriptions and well-drawn characters make the story come alive, especially the enigmatic bookstore at the heart of the tale. This book is a must-read for fans of atmospheric mysteries with a touch of suspenseful allure.

The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer

5*

Helen has done an amazing job of weaving truth with fantasy to create this masterpiece of a book.
I really enjoyed this tale of a family of resilient witch members that have one agenda... Revenge.

Strong family connections plays a huge part whilst Dora one of the witches really shines through in this story while being fiesty and never giving up. There are some other very fun and influential characters that pop up through the book who you learn to love as well. Hades is especially a favourite of mine.

Themes of finding ones true self, death, witches, witch trials and most importantly hope and love.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing the ARC of an honest review.

In a Nutshell: A contemporary fantasy about facing your fears to reach a happy ending. Interesting characters and plot, but somewhat YA in approach. The magic had potential but the logical loopholes were distracting. The titular bookstore is not the central part of the story. You might like the book better if you take off your thinking cap before reading.

Plot Preview:
Present day, London. Thirty-three-year-old Dora English, a florist, is stunned when her aunt plans a trip to Salem to visit their family. Dora always assumed that the two of them had only each other. Now, she discovers that even her mother, whom she had presumed dead, is alive. But the reunion isn’t a happy one. Dora discovers that her family has been hiding certain secrets from her. The most shocking one is that their survival hinges on finding a bookstore that no one in the family has seen for generations. Now Dora has to do whatever she can to keep her family alive and together.
The story comes to us in the limited third-person perspective of various characters over multiple timelines.


Author Helen Phifer is a proficient writer of crime thrillers, police procedurals, and horror. This is her first foray into fantasy. While this book shows glimpses of her talent on the thriller side, the fantasy part could have been finetuned.

Bookish Yays:
🔮 The prologue coming from Salem in 1692, which establishes the foundation for the contemporary events excellently.
🔮 Lucine, Seraphina and Lenora – three sisters with distinct personalities that stay true throughout the plot. I loved how well their character sketching was done. Lenora was my favourite of the trio.
🔮 The male characters. One was a bit too sugary-sweet, but the plot needed that reliable vibe. The antagonist was perfectly creepy!
🔮 Quite a few third-person perspectives but never confusing. Each contains a good mix of thought and plot. I like how well this narrative choice was used. (Those who don’t like multiple character voices might find it bothersome.)
🔮 The portrayal of Salem, both historical and contemporary, is brilliant. Not only is the setting used well in the plot, but it also highlights the insensitivity displayed by those indulging in dark tourism.
🔮 The two non-human characters - Hades and Ophelia. Both were so good! I wish there had been more of Ophelia, but Hades more than made up for it with his *chirpy* personality.

Bookish Mixed Bags:
💫 The pacing gets a bit slow and repetitive in between, but the ending saves the overall average tempo.
💫 There are two threads of suspense. The bookstore one is a bit meh but the character-connected one is intriguing, even if it is more about “how” than “who”.
💫 The romance was a bit too much for my liking. But it doesn’t overpower the core plot especially in the crucial scenes, which is always good.
💫 Two interesting female supporting characters have a good role to play in the initial few chapters. But they are forgotten after a certain point. I’d have loved to know more about their fate later in the story.
💫 There are a couple of chilling scenes but these occur only in the background. We don’t get to see the action on page. This is especially disappointing considering the oeuvre of the author. Her experience in writing crime thrillers shows even in the limited content, so I wish those scenes had more on-page elaboration. This would have been easily possible thanks to the multi-character third-person approach.

Bookish Nays:
🧹 The title – very misleading and totally wrong for the book. The bookstore hardly has any page space. Most of the story is more about Dora and her family and their problems than about the bookstore itself. More importantly, the word “vanishing’ makes it sound like the bookstore appears and disappears regularly throughout the story. Inaccurate!
🧹 Dora's age isn't revealed until well into the second half so it came as a big shock to me that she was in her thirties. She feels too naive for her age, giving the book somewhat YA feels.
🧹 The dialogues are somewhat cheesy at times, further enhancing the YA vibe.
🧹 Quite a few logical loopholes and unanswered queries connected to the fantasy part of the plot.
🧹 I didn’t get the epilogue despite reading it twice! 🤔
🧹 A pedantic complaint, this. But I was peeved by the repeated use of the phrase "the English women". Dora’s family was “English” by name, not by nationality or language. So this recurring method of referring to them created quite some confusion in my head in the initial chapters.
🧹 Another pedantic complaint: There were way too many sorrys and pleases and thank yous in the dialogues. Even when there were no magic words needed and the action was quite high, the characters stopped to exchange such pleasantries. C’mon!


There have been a plethora of titles in the last few year referencing a “lost” something, one of which was Evie Woods’ “The Lost Bookshop”. It had been a decent novel, and I was hoping for similar magical vibes from this one. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.

To be clear, this isn’t not a bad book, but it doesn’t fulfil its promise. By leaving many things unexplained and restricting the bookstore to a minimal appearance, the book kept me from reaching greater satisfaction. However, if you can go with the flow and not question anything too much, you might still enjoy this story, especially for its characters.

Recommended to those who enjoy contemporary fantasy with multiple character perspectives, as long as you remember that the bookstore is not the focus of the plot.

3 stars, as my feedback is mostly balanced across the three sections.

My thanks to Bookouture for providing the DRC and ALC of “The Vanishing Bookstore” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I have enjoyed Phifer's thrillers for a long time, but as soon as I saw the cover, I was in.
Then I saw it was set in 1692 in Salem, and I was ready for it. A witchy read.
Then I saw there was a dual timeline, and I was obsessed.
This was so entertaining. The audiobook narrated by Stephanie Cannon was fabulous. It was just what I needed to start the year of my reading.
Some authors change genres, and have excelled, and Phifer has certainly added herself to this list. Cannot wait to read more from the author, whatever genre is next.
There was mystery, magic and SO much more.

This book was a change of pace for this author, who usually writes thrillers! I really enjoyed it :)

Dora is a woman who lives with her aunt Lenny in London, and she runs a flower shop. One day, a man comes into the flower shop and although he is charming and wears expensive cologne, her instincts tell her that something is wrong.

Lenny and Dora head off to Salem, where Dora meets her aunts Lucine and Sephy for the first time. Gradually, her past is revealed to her, by way of her aunts stories and her own memories which are starting to come through. She realises the danger they are all in and if they are to fight this threat, she needs the book - but the book is in the bookstore which has been hidden for centuries......

I enjoyed this story very much. The story of the Salem witch trials is woven into the novel as well, but in a secondary way, in terms of there not being any horror or scary passages regarding this awful phase of Salem's history.

Dora is a lovely character and her friendship/romance with Ambrose is very sweet :)

All in all, I think this was a great read although it felt like it needed a bit more depth. Can't quite put my finger on it though. So, for that reason, I am giving it a 4.5 stars out of 5 :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

The Vanishing Bookstore
By: Helen Phifer

5 Stars

I love anything and everything to do with Salem, and this book was just up my alley. It was magical and full of both danger and drama. It surrounded the English sisters who have lived many lifetimes because of a curse they have yet to break. Together, they work to beat a curse that has left them near powerless, until now.

I loved this story from the title to the context to the amazing and epic characters. This story was fantasy and magic from page one, wrapped in a dark and twisted history. I loved Dora and all the aunts. I found a special place for Hades because I love birds and have 3.
This book really brought Salem to life. It was descriptive, historical, and mysterious. It brought a traumatic time in history to life and made it artful and informative. I can't leave and not mention the ending that was neat and seemed to be leading into another story, maybe? I really hope so.


*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews

The Vanishing Bookstore delivers a lovely cozy fantasy with a higher stakes plot that felt at odds with the softer writing style.

There's nothing inherently wrong with this story, the characters and atmosphere are easy to fall in love with. Fans of Phifers past works will feel at home within these pages. Unfortunately, for my personal tastes, the plot itself felt sinister and dark while the writing felt sweet and whimsical. The juxtaposition made the overall story feel off kilter for me.

The narration on the other hand was really well done, and I think in the end, the nuance and depiction that the narrator brought to the story was what kept me engaged throughout.