This was a cozy, magical story about a family of witches that have been cursed to be hunted. In 1692 a witch hides a journal in a bookstore that then vanishes. The majority of the story takes place present day when Dora meets her family and learns of the curse they have been living with since the 16oo's. To break the curse, she must find the vanished bookstore and reveal the secrets from the past.

I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it either. It was just ok for me. I felt like the majority of the story was kind of slow moving but then the climax was short, and it was over. Had a very Hocus Pocus/Practical Magic vibe but felt a bit more YA with the storytelling.

While I did like the narrator and she was good to listen to, one thing that kind of bugged me was there was no English accent for Dora. She is from London and when she first meets someone they even say, "Oh your British!" yet the narrator gave this character no British accent at all. Would have been a nice characteristic to add for her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the audiobook for review!

This was such a great story that elicited a bunch of emotions from me, including anger, fear, and hope. A family of witches, Dora and her two aunts are forced to live each life being hunted by a horrible man. This story follows a couple timelines, primarily 1692 in Salem and present day. Dora is the key to breaking the curse that was put on her and her family, however, she does not remember her past lives. I loved this story because it describes the family as the only witches in Salem, even though many more women were sentenced to death because of men. A man could say the woman was a witch because he was embarrassed and angry that she declined his proposal. I loved the family dynamic and love between these women, and their ties to magic. This was definitely a bit of a cozy fantasy, but it also included some thriller aspects. Such a great read to start the new year!

A magical fantasy that was an absolute delight to listen to. The plot and characters were very interesting and having recently visited Salem, the storyline was a wonderful way to reconnect to the historical significance of the place. Very engaging to listen to and the narrator was perfect. I was torn between a 4 and a 4.5 rating, but since halves are possible, it's a solid four.

This was a fun and cozy witchy read that leans a little more YA. It was easy to keep up with and I really enjoyed the dual timeline and historical elements, along with the descriptions of modern Salem and the pop culture references to Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic. The title of the book throws me off a little because the vanishing bookstore is barely even mentioned or utilized much in the book - I thought it would play a much larger part (plus it never really felt like a bookstore to me). But other than that, this was quite enjoyable!! I will definitely be checking out more from this author.

A 5 -star read! The Vanishing Bookstore is one of those rare books where you don't want to reach the end of the stroy. Repeat read-worthy!

Our past will always haunt us...

This book is proof of that.

It begins in 1692, women are being hunted and killed in witch trials. The English family is targeted and four women are sentenced to death. Right before their deaths the women are cursed- they will have to live their lives over and over, and be hunted by the same man for centuries.

From here we are introduced to several timelines and POVs that weave this story into one.

Present day introduces Dora, the owner of a London flower shop, who has no clue of her family's past, and lives a very simple life.
One day a man enters the shop and nothing is EVER the same. Dora is whisked away to Salem where her family's past (and their shocking PRESENT) is presented to her.
The world building here is done well, slow through the middle, but well. What I loved was all the witchy pop culture humor- when Hocus Pocus is mentioned, I giggled.

I feel a little mystery surrounding the story is good here, don't read too much into the story and you'll enjoy it. I had the opportunity to listen on audio, and the audio version was so enjoyable to listen to.

I loved this audiobook- it was captivating, magical and wow what a great story!!
I loved the mixed eras and learning about the historical element.
It was just brilliant.
I liked the narrator.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Totally enjoyed this one!!

It featured: Love. Family. Friends. Magicks and Familiars…and, a dog! 🐶❤️

Magic. Witches. Salem, MA. Young lovers. Aunts. Mom and daughter… Kind of dual timelines, as the witches have been cursed to live their lives (and die), over and over again by the same wicked man since 1692! 😮😮

This one dragged me in right from the beginning…and I was invested to find out what happens, and why!

Dora is a young girl in 1692. Her aunts and Mom are very involved in her life, and are helpers for the community in that they can make herbal stuff for cures. They are concerned as many woman are being brought up on charges of being witches…and hanged! So they are NOT practicing magic!

Ambrose is a young man who tries desperately to help Dora escape from a horrible future…

Fast forward to current day. Dora is a florist. Her aunt Lenni is very involved in her life…and she seems to have a new admirer…

4 solid stars for me!

#TheVanishingBookstore by #HelenPhifer and narrated nicely by #StephanieCannon.

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #BookoutureAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which is due for release on 1/7/25…So, LOOK 👀 FOR IT IN A FEW DAYS!!


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I got this book on New Year’s Eve from NetGalley for a review before it is published, which is Jan 7.

Fortunately it is a fast paced fantasy about Salem’s witch hunt gone immortal, an enjoyable thrilling read.

1692 in Salem, George becomes the arch nemesis of the English sisters and their niece/daughter Isadora, healers with special powers, when one of them refuses his hand in marriage. He convicts them and some others of witchcraft and kills them. But he is cursed through the trials.

He starts hunting the immortal English women through time for their soul, which Hades the pet crow gets for a reincarnation.

Present day, these women have to face George so they can save their friends and end this cycle. The obstacle, Dora doesn’t remember her past lives.

It is a pretty straightforward plot, no twist or surprises.

I loved the sisters, they are fun characters. Ambrose is like the imaginary boyfriend in inside out animation. George is like a terminator that doesn’t stop, but much nicer.

The bookstore, though is the name of the book is more like a MacGuffin, it is not part of the story. I wish there were more about it. I wanted to know more about the father as well, the handsome powerful wizard who gave the sisters the book.

The narration is very good, I loved the voice and how it changed for every character and crow and how it conveyed the emotions.

I liked this book and would definitely recommend reading it.

Thank you NetGalley and bookouture for the opportunity.

The title got my attention and then give me a family of immortal witches, Salem in 1692, and a friendly crow and I’m going to give it a try.

With a lot of magical fantasy aspects, a hidden bookstore in historical Salem, a mystery, and a love story mixed in this had all the elements for a good story. I did really enjoy the first 65% of this, the history and relationships were done very well. This kinda felt like a mashup of other books I’ve enjoyed like Weyward, Hester, and Practical Magic. But it fell a little flat at the end and I was very confused by the point of the epilogue. Maybe there will be another book that picks up the story but it would be odd and unnecessary in my opinion.

Also, the main character was supposed to be raised in England but had no accent, however the narrator did an English accent for her friend which was very weird. It was fine but not one I’d be recommending the audio of.

Rating: 3.5/5⭐️
Pub day: January 7

Thanks Bookouture Audio for the alc via Netgalley

This story covers 2 different timelines, but about the same people, who are stuck in a tragic loop that can only be broken by a book, that was last hid in vanishing bookstore in 1692, Salem. In present time, Dora needs to work together with her Aunts & her familiar to find a way to survive this time around and free themselves from the clutches of the witch hunter.

Though the overall story was pretty cozy, I didn't really care for the love angle, as I felt there wasn't much depth to their bond, besides being told a few things rather than shown (even the crow had more role to play). I surely enjoyed the aunts as side characters; they were lively, witty, caring, and homely. It was a sweet and sour tale with not a lot of plot twists, so I would recommend this to readers who are looking for a non-complicated book with a smooth narrative.

*** This portion may contain Spoiler ***
There are a few loopholes at the end:
1. How can you not recognize your own familiar... the crow for example, there must be some sort of connection, mistaking him for the dead one?
2. If the bookstore vanishes on its own. How was it still open when she forgot to close it... didn't really understand that part.
3. Why couldn’t the aunts simply use their magic to retrieve the dress from the museum rather than planning a heist around it?

3/5 ⭐️
Genre: Magic, Historical Fiction, Mystery

The Vanishing Bookstore
A spellbinding and unputdownable page-turner
by Helen Phifer
Narrated by Stephanie Cannon

I received an ARC of this audiobook through Netgalley.

This was an enjoyable listen that revolves around a family that is continuously reborn into the same family with the same names.

The premise of the book is great - it is about Salem witches that were in their first life just healers wrongfully hanged as witches. It wasn’t until subsequent lives that they developed magic.

I think this book was lacking in character development.
There are three main sisters, the daughter of one of them, the daughter’s love, a villain, and several friends of the family.

I wanted to connect better to the characters the way that you get to when listening to a romance.

Where were they born?
What are their hobbies? Do they have any talents? Great loves of their many lives? Favorite books? A tale of grief and loss and love and hope? What do their surroundings look like?

There were many scent memories that I really enjoyed and mentions of some flowers and herbs.

But, I only ever came to like the characters. I wasn’t able to relate to them the way I wanted to.

I think if there is a sequel to this book that there is a lot of room to tell each person’s story.

Overall, it was a good listen, and worth the time to read.

The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer is my first book I’ve read by this author. This story has a split timeline in Salem from 1692 to present day. Dora comes to visit Salem from London where she meets her mother and Aunts. This family was accused of being witches and cursed to be hunted by George Corwin and live their lives over and over again until they can break the curse. For his the journal in the vanishing bookstore in 1692. Can she remember where it is? Can she stop the curse plaguing her family?
The narrator Stephanie Cannon did a wonderful job with this book.
Thank you to the author #Helen Phifer, #NetGalley and #Bookouture audio for the Arc read. Publication date is Jan 7 2025

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC! This was a fun, whimsical-style story of a family of witches who are under a curse. It was an easy read, and I enjoyed reading it. Certain portions of the book lagged a little, and other portions that I thought should have played a bigger role were almost mentioned in passing, like finding the bookstore again. And the end seemed abrupt, it wrapped up all the loose threads, but it almost seemed rushed to me. Overall, good for a quick, light fantasy read.

This is the first book of Ms. Phifer's that I have read, and I enjoyed it from start to finish. In this book we get the tale of the English sisters - three sisters that were witches in the late 1600's in Salem Massachusetts. They were cursed and kept coming back to life and finding each other only to have to fight the one that hunted them during their first life - in other words a lot of rinse and repeat for them except that Isadora did not remember her first life or her first love or the location of the magic spell book that would end the curse.

This was a well written story that I enjoyed from the start. It had that Practical Magic feel to it while not being Practical Magic. The characters were well written and relatable in the purpose of their actions. The plot moved along well and kept me interested throughout the telling of this tale.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend this book to others.

Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture Audio and Helen Phifer for the eAudio if The Vanishing Bookstore.
Narrated by Stephanie Cannon

The Vanishing Bookstore is a lovely cosy fantasy and an easy read/listen which is set on two timelines. 1692 and in the midst of the Salem Witch Trails, a small bookstore stands in the vines and a young women is hiding with a linen bound book. In the present day, Dora is reunited with her Mother, only to find a family secret and tha they are in danger,

This is a medium to fast paced read with some wonderful charmingly built characters. It has magic, witches and of course, a villain! . What more could you want! I would have loved more of the character building but there was definitely enough to decide whether you liked them or not and that they felt human.

I have read some of Helen Phifer books which delve into supernatural Thrillers so The Vanishing Bookstore had the same charm and pull. Id love to see more of Dora in the future.

Stephanie Cannon narrated this book and I loved her voice. Her voice really suited this sort of narrative.
4 stars for all review sites

4⭐ (audio) The audio on this was good. I listen to tons of audiobooks, and as long as the narrator doesn't take me out of the story, I'm generally fine. Stephanie Cannon does a nice job.

4⭐ (story) 1692: On the outskirts of Salem, a 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. The bookstore vanishes into thin air…

Present day: 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. 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…’

Desperate not to lose her mother all over again, Dora digs into her family’s mysterious past, and stumbles upon a seemingly impossible secret: the key to their survival is hidden in a bookstore that no one has seen for generations. Losing herself amongst thorny brackens and twisted ferns, Dora eventually finds the path that leads to the bookstore. But someone is watching her. They’ve been waiting for her.

Lovely cozy read. I'll read anything about the Salem witch era and anything to do with bookstores or books, so this was right up my alley! It has just enough of the magical element while still seeming relatable to me. I definitely recommend this if you enjoy books about book, anything to do with Salem, or cozy reads in general. 4⭐

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced audio copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

The Vanishing Bookstore is an entertaining and fast paced read, a blend of magical realism and historical fiction.

I found it to be an easy and enjoyable read, though quite light on details. I loved the setting, and the premise of the family being reborn and pursued over the centuries. I would have loved to learn more about their experiences over time, their relationships and the cultural change they experienced - it would make a great series! Whilst referenced in the title, I also felt the vanishing bookstore was a fairly minor component of the story.

Overall though, this was a fun and relaxing read, and I flew through it. The narration was of great quality, bringing life and emotion to the various characters. 3.5 stars.

Thank you Bookouture Audio for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

3.5⭐️

Well I like this well enough but thought there was a lot missing which prevented me from fully enjoying it enough to round up.

I think my biggest issue was that the “vanishing bookstore” didn’t make an appearance until past the halfway point and it was there for a hot minute. It had no big impact on the story at all which I was looking forward to.

Also while I like YA, I don’t like when a book claims to be an adult book and isn’t especially when the main characters aren’t teens.

I was raised with reviewing the audiobook which the narrator did a fine job and embodied the storytelling very well.


I am thankful to have gotten the ALC for free from Bookouture Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

If you're a fan of witches, adult books that feel like YA, you don't think about the plot as you're progressing and are able to completely suspend disbelief and ignore massive plot holes, this might be a book for you. It just wasn't for me.

There was so much potential, the idea was compelling, and I'll usually give any book about books or about witches a try, but both in one and I'm eager to get my hands on it. There isn't much magic or spells or anything witchy other than a witch hunter, and a surprising cameo in the end from an unexpected ally really threw me off. So while I can see this book would make many readers happy, I was too distracted with questions that were never to be addressed. How? Where? To whom? Why? And without spoiling it I'll just say that if this turns out to be a series, it has a very lot of explaining to do.