Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this ARC audiobook for review. This was an interesting read that bounces back and forth in time between present day and 1692 Salem, Mass. and a woman named Dora. She is about to meet her mother who she was told died when she was young. But now Dora is about to learn a lot more about her family and her history than she ever thought possible. I read this book in a day. It was great as an audiobook and it was my first Helen Phifer book, but will not be my last.

Wonderfully written and the narrator did an amazing job bringing the story to life. A family of witches are hunted thru all their life times and killed before they’re 35 by a witch hunt that has a vendetta against them, but each time they start over their life they have to regain their memories.

I loved this book. It was such a good story about witches, powers, and a witch hunter. It had all the feels and all the things I love in a good book. I laughed in places and cried in others. I rooted for the three witches to prevail. This author did a fantastic job of capturing my attention and keeping it until the very last word. The narrators were great. It was so easy to listen too.

Dora lives with her aunt in London and owns a flower shop. She loves flowers and does good with this shop. When a stranger comes in and says he is looking for something for his deceased girlfriend little does Dora know that her life is about to change. And quickly.

Dora and Lenny leave London to go back to Salem, MA. Dora has no idea what she's in for when they get there. Or the secrets that will be revealed to her. Lenny, Sephy, and Lucine are sisters. All are witches who have lived many lifetimes. Over and over. Dora has lived many lifetimes also but does not remember it. These women have been cursed with living their lives over and over. Seeing each other die and grieving. It's time to put a stop to it.

Told from different timelines and filled with magic. A curse was cast on the women and on a couple of men. They live forever, over and over again. You can feel the tension and the laughter both. The love of this family of witches. The hate from the witch hunter. The love of one man for one woman. The power of setting things right. I loved reading this book. It was such a good one. Each character was lovable, except Corwin that is. When Dora realizes that one of her "aunts" is really her mother she has mixed emotions. Anger of course for being lied to. But also excitement for getting to see her mother again.

What was done to women back in the 1600s was horrible. Being accused of witchcraft and killed. If you crossed a man he could call you a witch and have you taken. Have you hanged. You get a feel for what happened to the English sisters. What the people in this town did to them.

I loved it. The dual timelines were perfect. The different points of view were great. This book was just the best. So enjoyable.

Thank you #NetGalley, #Bookouture, #bookoutureaudio, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Five stars.

I was lucky enough to get hold of this book as an audio with net shelf before publication date and really enjoyed it. It reminded me of practical magic, bewitched and Sabrina the teenage witch style of magic that is relatively light hearted and nothing too complicated unlike some other books I’ve read that included magic. The characters were likeable and the bond between them seemed genuine and not too far fetched, it was perhaps a little predictable in the way that some romance are boy meets girl happy ever after, but enjoyable regardless. I especially enjoyed the side character Hades and found some parts humorous. The audible narrator was pleasant to listen too and I was able to listen at a reasonable pace. I would happily listen to other books by this author having now read this and feel the title and book cover is reflective of the novel.

I'm new to the magic realism genre and this one was a very interesting one with rich history of witchcraft and generational knowledge.
I really liked the concept of rebirths as the same people and how the English sisters and Dora have been fighting the witch hunter through the ages. This was a captivating read and I finished it in one sitting. The narration was very immersive and transported me into the world of the story - London and then, Salem, of old and new.
I love the note the story ended in, with a possibility of a sequel. Would love to read more of this world.

This was an adorable, witchy story full of family backstory and some historical drama. The narrator was fabulous and everything was intertwined so well. I was hooked from the beginning and loved Dora so much. Thank you for the ALC of this lovely story!

I read this in one sitting. I will be thinking about this book for a long time. I am a big fan of The Crucible and the history of the Salem Witch Trials, so the concept of persecuted witches returning for centuries afterwards, just to meet the same fate at the hands of the same man feels like it was made just for me.

This book was emotional and addictive and I am truly astounded at how it has three and four star reviews. It earned every single one of the five stars I gave it. It is going to stick with me for a while. It is rare that I want physical copies of audiobooks for my trophy shelf, but that's exactly what I want from this book.

It says something really special about the author when I am absolutely terrified to read anything else they've written because I can't bear the thought that their other work might not compare. So you tell me- is Helen Phifer a literary genius or were we gifted with one perfect book?

It's always just been Dora and her aunt Lenny against the world in london. When Lennys sister falls ill- she has one last wish to bring Dora home to Salem Massachusetts. Arriving in Salem Dora learns she has an entire family of witches and they need her help to stop a curse that has been affecting their family for centuries. i love love loved this book and enjoyed it so much.

This was such a great cozy read. Witches, familiars, and a guy that can't handle being told no.

The narrator did a great job. Very easy to follow at an increased speed.

The only thing I didn't like was how the friends storyline was kind of forgotten. It felt like that plot point could've been done differently or just left out completely.

This was exactly what I needed today, a really cozy escape into a little fantasy. I escaped to Salem with some new friends.

With a split timeline of modern day and 1800’s, we meet a family of witches, fated to live their lives on repeat for all eternity.

I instantly warmed to and connected with the characters and the storyline, the plot was fantastic and Stephanie Cannon narrated it with such ease.

Warm, endearing, captivating.

Probably more suited to fans of light fantasy, similar to Hocus Pocus or Practical Magic 🪄 I could picture this screen ready, and I even had a soundtrack running through my mind.

I loved it!

Thanks as always to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

This was an enjoyable light read. I enjoyed the characters, but struggled with the magic. I felt there were several things like selective memory and slipping in an out of older or newer language patterns that just were t explained well. The main romantic relationship could also have been given a few more pages of development.

I liked the idea of this book but the execution fell short for me.

I don’t know if it’s because I switched to audio half way through but the first half really dragged setting up the conflict while the second half, the actual conflict, flew by.
The aunts did an absolutely atrocious job explaining their history to Dora which is completely confounding because their lives quite literally depend on it. It’s also baffling to me why they chose for Lenny to move with Dora to London when they could’ve skipped all of the dead parents trauma by simply letting her very alive mother do that instead. What was the purpose?

I also want to take a second to say that Dora got over the actual death of her mom VERY quickly and the rest of the book unfolded in a flash too. It was like once we got to the conflict, the author was just checking off boxes. Mom died, check. Fall in love, check. Find book, check. Defeat villain, check.

This is obviously minor but the author referenced Hocus Pocus a bunch of times which felt heavy handed considering there are dozens of witch movies out there to choose from. Some of them are even set in Salem. Just saying.

The narrator though did a really excellent job.

The Vanishing Bookstore was like stepping into a world where mystery and magic collide. I didn’t know what to expect when I started but it totally pulled me in. Helen Phifer crafts a story that’s mix with mystery, danger, and just the right touch of magic. The dual timelines between 1692 Salem and the present day add depth and intrigue, with historical suspense and modern-day drama.

Dora’s journey to uncover her family’s secrets and the role of the elusive bookstore kept me hooked the entire time. The vivid descriptions of the overgrown vines, the hidden journal, and the mysterious blue door painted such an enchanting picture.

The narrator deserves a special shoutout for bringing this story to life with such nuance and emotion. It’s one of those performances that elevates the story to a whole new level. If you love magical realism with a touch of suspense, The Vanishing Bookstore is a must-listen/read. It’s perfect for fans of Practical Magic and The Lost Apothecary. I highly recommend it!

✨📚 Book Review – 4 Stars 📚✨
The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re drawn to mystical, magical tales with a dark twist, The Vanishing Bookstore will captivate you from the very first page. Helen Phifer has crafted a spellbinding story that masterfully intertwines history, mystery, and supernatural elements – perfect for young adult readers and beyond.

This haunting narrative follows a family of women cursed during the Salem Witch Trials, destined to relive their lives while being relentlessly hunted by a sinister and malevolent force. Phifer’s rich storytelling breathes life into Salem’s hidden corners, forgotten bookstores, and long-buried secrets that refuse to stay hidden.

I’m always eager for magical stories done well – and this is one of the better ones. Through a dual timeline, we are transported between 1692 Salem and the present day, where Dora unearths a hidden past and a mysterious bookstore that may hold the key to her survival. The pacing is spot on – I found myself flying through the chapters, eager to unravel each twist, yet wishing the story would linger a little longer.

My only critique? I longed for more time in the Vanishing Bookstore itself. However, I appreciate how the door has been left open for a potential sequel – and I’ll be first in line for it.

A captivating blend of history, magic, and intrigue. Highly recommend!

I don't know what else to say except I absolutely love this! The narration is great and the story was really brought to life. I cannot recommend this book and audio enough!

Oh I did not enjoy this writing style at all, which is a shame as the story itself is up my alley.

It starts off with a young women who's part of a family of wise women being chased for witchcraft in Salem and hiding her family's book of magic then jumps to present with a florist with some uncanny abilities herself but is missing a connection.

The plot is fine, but there's soooo much telling instead of showing, even for unnecessary things that it was a drag to get through.