2.5 Stars Rounded Up

I loved the premise for this one, but sadly the execution was extremely lacking.

I was looking forward to a book about a family of witches running from a witch hunter across time and reincarnation. I was looking forward to how a vanishing bookstore played into the story and how it kept them safe. Instead I was disappointed by the choppy story provided here.

There is SO much telling and retelling in this novel. Instead of weaving the historical lifetimes into the narrative there is a massive info dump in the beginning. Then this info dump is repeated several times by characters TELLING the main character the history instead of her remembering it herself. It wasn’t subtle at all. Honestly, the constant telling and retelling kept taking me out of the story.

The characters felt so flat. I never felt like I got to know any of them. They were basic witches who copied “witch traits” from famous movies. Dora, the main character, grew up in London in this lifetime, but doesn’t speak like she is from England. This is especially obvious when she starts to speak in Old English when she gets her memories back.

I don’t feel like the why/how of the reincarnation was explained well. I still don’t understand why the aunts are reincarnated with their memories while Dora was not. I am also not clear as to why/how Ambrose was included in the curse and was also able to keep his memories.

For me the ending was very anticlimactic and felt rushed. We had all this build up for it to be over so quickly. The epilogue was jarring and disjointed. I wanted to know how the characters were going to move forward after it was over and instead we are shifted to a brand new character.

Overall, I felt the title is misleading as the “vanishing bookstore” is barely a part of the story and the description is almost a summary instead of a lead in.

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

The narrator Stephanie Cannon was excellent.

I highly recommend this book.

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

I really enjoyed this audiobook, though was mildly distracted by the lack of English accent for some of the character's from the narrator (especially Dora, the main character!); however, it did not spoil my listen (read) as I was thoroughly captivated by the story.

This book transitions between two timelines, almost seamlessly by the end. Inspired by the Salem witches, it really reminded me of the language used by Arthur Miller in 'The Crucible,' when the timeline is in the 1600's, but the events are modernised and narrated perfectly in the future 2020's timeline. Dora and her family died as a result of the Salem witch trials, but just before they die, a curse placed on their 'murderer' means that they have lived multiple lives - always with the same result!

This is story which is trying to outwit their murderer and in the modern timeline, Dora has grown up in London with her Aunt Lenny and has no idea of her other lives or her links (and family) in Salem. Dora needs her knowledge of life as a witch to be reawakened in order to locate a magic book which she hid in a bookstore in 1692 and has never been able to find in any of her other lives. With each rebirth, George Corwin, their enemy gets stronger and the sisters' ability to fight him is weakened.

Dora seems quite naive as a character until her magic comes back to her and then she is brave, fiery and fiesty. I enjoyed the characterisation in this book and was totally invested in the story and how it would end. Helen Phifer is an author I will look out for and eagerly await future books.

Helen Phifer’s The Vanishing Bookstore is a captivating tale that beautifully blends historical fiction with elements of mystery and romance. As someone new to the genre, I was completely drawn in by the richness of the characters and the intricacy of the plot.

The story’s ability to transition seamlessly between timelines kept me engaged without confusion—a testament to Phifer’s skillful storytelling. Dora is a remarkable protagonist whose resilience and strength shine through every page. Equally compelling is Ambrose, whose unwavering love for Dora adds depth and passion to the narrative. Their connection felt palpable, and it made me root for them throughout.

With its well-crafted characters, emotional depth, and seamless time jumps, The Vanishing Bookstore has made me a newfound fan of historical fiction. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a powerful and engrossing read.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook in return for an honest and unbiased review.

The twist and creativity on the original Salem Witch Trials was a great premise for The Vanishing Bookstore – but to be frank… that is where it ended.
Salem witches being reborn every time they are murdered by a witch hunter. A main character who has no interesting or redeeming qualities. Forced familiarity between characters. This was not my favorite. The narrator voiced the main character as this birdy, meek, and clueless girl… and she is supposed to save her family? Not buying it. The relationships felt forced, and the loss of memory felt like an easy way out of developing character relationships. The plot felt messy, and the dialogue felt over-compensating. I almost did not finish this book; I am sorry to say. The idea was solid, but the execution did not do it for me.


Content Warning: death, physical beating, death of an animal

Would I Recommend: I could see this being a great book for middle-grade (minus the sex scene) and for those who want something light with a sparkling flavored water amount of flavor.

1 Star

Note to author - a psychiatric hold in MA state consists of UP TO 72 hours for evaluation - not a minimum of 48 hours.

Book Review here:
https://www.netgalley.com/book/514436/review/679839

🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 8 hrs 12 min, is narrated by Stephanie Cannon. Her voice is very sweet and her enunciation is clear, I give you that. But its dainty timbre doesn’t suit the older characters. Dora’s family is mostly in their sixties, but they sound like they are in their twenties thanks to the narrator’s mellifluous voice. At times, the dialogues require aggressive emotions such as yelling, but her voice stays the same in tone and volume. I think she would make a great narrator for a light romcom or a MG/YA book, but she was not the best choice for this dark-ish story with character perspectives from varied age groups.
The story comes from multiple timelines and characters. The third-person makes character identification easy, but the timeline could be somewhat confusing. So the audiobook isn’t recommendable to audio newbies.

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.

Thank you Netgalley for this outstanding audiobook!!

This is my first book of hers and definitely won't be last !
The world building, the dual timeline, the family bond and the story written to perfection 🤍
The most interesting and noteworthy point of the book was how lovingly and very sweetly the family took care of dora, and slowly helped her to regain her memory. Her mother and aunts are the sweetest souls!! I enjoyed dora's character the most and the entire plot with witches was a perfect blend to the entire story!! Loved the narration a lot!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice rating: 🌶️/5

First of all, thank you NetGalley and the author for allowing me access to this book in exchange for a review. Of course my review is always non-biased regardless of how I acquired the book.
This was a very cute cozy fantasy full of witches and magic. I really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed the storyline. My only complaint is that, with the narration, it was sometimes hard to follow the story without pretty distinct voice differences between the characters. Nonetheless, I still really enjoyed the book and would 100% recommend it to others but perhaps the kindle version instead. 💕💕💕

This was kind of a fun little palate cleanser. It is definitely inspired by Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic. It was enjoyable, but some of the events were just too tied up in a neat little bow for me. There wasn't a ton of conflict. If you need something short and simple, this would be for you.

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.

Where to begin: Flat characters, uneven pacing, unrealistic and often corny dialog, no sense of urgency when lives are supposedly at stake and major plot holes. This book badly needed an editor! The romance between Dora and the "love of her life" was just awkward, I actually rolled my eyes in many scenes between them. The vanishing bookstore from the title was really only in one small scene, and Dora found it fairly easily. I expected so much more about this bookstore. The build-up to the battle of good vs evil was so anticlimactic, and Dora didn't even really consult this book she had apparently needed to find. I just didn't get it. Granted this is not my usual genre, but wow, it was a slog to finish and even then I skimmed the last 25% of the book .

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced audiobook. All options are my own.

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.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I really liked this book. Dora is working in her Aunt Lenny's flower shop when a man comes in asking to place an order for flowers that are out of season for his supposed girlfriend's funeral. What Dora doesn't know is she has history with this man but it is from back in the 1600s.....what? Yes this is a great store that involves dual timelines and witches what could be better than that? Enjoy!!!

Brief overview: After a strange interaction in her flower shop, Dora's aunt convinces her to go on a trip to Salem, where she beings to discover long-kept family secrets.

My thoughts: This reminded me a lot of Addie LaRue and June Farrow. Fantastic book for some good old fashioned "good for her" type revenge. The animal sidekicks in this book were top notch! My small note regarding the audiobook would be that the voice the narrator does the represent the man is comical, he's supposed to be an attractive man but the voice fits an octogenarian.

Overall a fun read with a great ending!

The Vanishing bookstore follows the English witches as they battle a Salem-era curse, but will they get it right this time around? This intriguing premise ultimately falls short of its potential to be a great book.

I really enjoyed the narrator of this book. I found her normal accent easy to understand and very clear. She does do a few different accents to distinguish different characters which helps to identify who's speaking. However, I was a little confused as to why Dora (the main character) doesn't have an English accent when she supposedly grew up in England? The narrator gives Dora's friend an English accent so not sure why she didn’t for Dora.

The story itself follows Dora's journey in the past and present to regain her memories and find out if they can break the curse set on them in Salem many years ago. Unfortunately, the title itself is deceptive, as the bookstore, though central to the plot, remains a mystery. I was eager to delve deeper into its magic and purpose, but wasn’t given enough details to really understand why the Bookstore exists or the mechanics behind it - a great shame!

The splits between past and present were done well and easy to follow, I enjoyed the different insights they provided. However there wasn’t really any explanation of the real workings of the bookstore or the curse. While we were technically given a reason for the curse fairly late on in the book, no explanation of how the reincarnations have been working over all the years, why is Ambrose also being reincarnated? A lot of unanswered questions and felt almost like a section was removed to make the book shorter.

Dora, despite being 33, often comes across as overly naive and very young. Her character does develop, but personally I found it was far too late in the book for me to have formed a connection. The aunts with their intriguing personalities aren't given many pages, leaving most of their stories unexplored. I did think they were more interesting characters and their very different personalities were portrayed well.

If you're looking for an easy cosy read, a classic good vs. evil conflict with some magic sprinkled in and you don't mind that it reads like YA, then this is for you. 3.5 🌟 rounded up to 4

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in the form of an Audiobook. I found the narrator very engaging and enjoyable to listen to. The story felt like a wonderful mix of Practical Magic and The Once and Future Witches. I enjoyed how you got to meet each of the sisters and hear their stories unravel as Dora gained her memories and reclaimed her magic. The symbolism behind the bookstore that stores not only the Grimoire needed to break the curse but all banned books preserved throughout history was a beautiful touch to show that while culture may change stories shouldn’t be destroyed but rather preserved and discussed throughout the ages.

This book felt well paced and very light which made for an enjoyable quick read.

Dora English feels like something is missing from her life but can’t quite figure out what it is. When her beloved Aunt Lenny invites her to the United States for a work conference, Dora’s life is turned upside down.

In an unexpected twist, Dora uncovers hidden truths about her heritage, her identity, and even her own heart. As she begins to piece together her past, she finds herself in the midst of a dangerous situation with someone intent on ending her life. With time running out, Dora must navigate a labyrinth of secrets while discovering what truly matters.

The suspense and tension build as the plot unfolds, keeping you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. The blend of mystery, personal growth, and romance makes "The Vanishing Bookstore" a compelling and unforgettable read. I couldn't put this book down and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a gripping story with heart.

This book wants to be Practical Magic, and while it has the right setting with Salem, Massachusetts, it fell short with characters and plot. We follow Dora, who has uncovered a secret that sends her on a quest to break the curse that has plagued her family for centuries. She's joined by her eccentric aunts and a bland love interest. The plot is poorly paced: we're constantly told how dire the situation is (a friend's life is imminent peril!), yet the characters never act with a sense of urgency that is commensurate with the stakes. Multiple times they take breaks in the middle of what should be action montages to have drinks and reminisce, to grab some tea, to hookup, etc. There's a heist side quest. And once the conflicts do occur, they are summarily resolved with little difficulty. The aunts are off-brand versions of Aunt Jet and Aunt Frances. The villain is a cartoon. The love interest just exists; there's no development of their relationship. Dora shows a remarkable lack of curiosity about herself and her family history, even after discovering this big secret. Everything just sort of happens to her. The audiobook narration detracted from the experience, too. Dora is read with a vapidity that, when combined with descriptions of her wide eyes and slack jaw (perhaps intended to convey a sense of childlike wonder at her new life), made Dora seem a bit too young, too naive. Also, the narrator uses an American accent, but on at least two occasions, Dora meets strangers who remark on her Britishness. It was distracting.

2.5/5 stars

I received this audiobook free from Bookouture Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to get to read The Vanishing Bookstore! I loved this book the whole way through! I really enjoyed the relationship between the sisters and the relationship Dora had with her aunts. I do wish I got to see Dora more with her mother as well or at least see her past memories/lives she had with her mom so I could see their relationship more. I liked how this book took you from past to present with their multiple lives as cursed Salem witches and the cute talking bird was a bonus! The narrator for the audiobook did such an amazing job with grabbing your attention and voicing each character. If you like witches, a witch hunter, curses, reborn witches and a love story then I think you’ll love The Vanishing Bookstore as much as I loved it!📚⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is my first book from this author and I was impressed. I enjoy historical fiction and some fantasy, so this was right up my alley. The dual timeline aspect was a bit confusing at times but I liked the perspectives it gave. The character development was good and I found myself not wanting to turn it off! Overall, I think this was a good intro to the author and I would read more in the future!