Platform: Audiobook

The Vanishing Bookstore is nothing short of magical, it created a dynamic story that I never wanted to end. I thoroughly enjoyed the reimagined story from the witch trials. I could see how it would be hard for others to hold empathy for Dora, but I felt her confused and childlike reactions were valid for her situation. Although the ending was a little lackluster for me, the epilogue really pulled through in how I *personally* wanted the story to continue. As far as some holes, I feel like her friends were almost forgotten, and the title is not the central point of this specific book. Overall, I would re-read and buy the physical copy for my library.

***This review was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.***

This did take me a good while to get into. I did find the narrator very grating, especially with the pronunciation of “herb” as “erb” repeatedly, and the accents were also not good. I am very pleased that the “cockney” lady did not appear much as I laughed out loud….

The story is very “twee” and “gentle”, if you like cozy really really cozy then this is for you, but again, I found it annoying sweet. That being said, I did want to know what happened, and once I had accepted the style of the story, I did enjoy it, and the ending was great.

Overall, this narrator is not for me, the story I think would have held better with maybe different voices?

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer! The story had a lot of elements I enjoy—strong women characters, a compelling family dynamic, and just the right touch of magic. It’s the kind of book that gives off Practical Magic vibes, so if you’re a fan of that, you’ll probably enjoy it.

it definitely kept my interest, and I appreciated the mix of mystery and family drama. The women in this story really carried the narrative, and I enjoyed seeing how their relationships evolved as the plot unfolded.

I listened to an advance audiobook copy and want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity. The narration was well done and made for an enjoyable listening experience.

The Vanishing Bookstore was absolutely captivating and I felt, unique. The story line of Salem witches continuing to live lives to break a curse was very interesting.

This book combined all my favorite things from watches, found family, reunited love, and books. But barely on the books.

I wish the epilogue was actually about the English family or what Dora was up to? Even like going back to the U.K. to clean up the mess there? Nothing. It sets up maybe for a second book but??? I like the ending but the epilogue fell very short.

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 heart warming—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 ALC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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

The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer was both captivating and magical. What could possibly be any better than a book about witches, a bookstore and a setting of Salem, Massachusetts during the infamous witch trials? The Vanishing Bookstore was written in a dual timeline. Part of it took place in 1692 in Salem when the witch trials occurred. The alternate timeline represented present day in both London, England and later in Salem. Many of the characters were well established and were very much influenced by their circumstances. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated very well by Stephanie Cannon. I enjoyed her presentation of the various characters.

Back in the days of the Salem witch trials, there were three sisters and a young girl who exhibited the powers of healing. A devious and discontented man had accused them of practicing witchcraft and had alerted the authorities. Many were hunting to find them. The young girl knew that she had the responsibility to hide the journal she had been entrusted with if they ever found themselves in these circumstances. She had to protect the journal and keep it out of the wrong hands. The last thing the young woman did before she attempted to escape from those that were hunting her down was to hide the very old and important journal in a bookstore covered with vines. She hid the journal under a loose floorboard and ran for her life.

In present day London, Dora English was the proud owner of a florist shop. Dora was barely making ends meet. She lived with her Aunt Lenny, an accomplished doctor, in her flat. Dora was concerned with the financial difficulties the florist shop was facing. Then one day a man came into her shop in need of floral arrangements for his recently deceased fiancé’s funeral. The man introduced himself as George. Dora thought that there something very familiar about the man but she couldn’t figure out why he looked familiar to her. There was also something alarming about the man as well. His story just didn’t add up. Dora had her defenses up.

Still in present day, Dora’s Aunt Lenny convinced Dora to take a much needed vacation with her to America. They were headed to Salem, Massachusetts. Dora was introduced to an aunt who she had never met and two other people who were very important people in her life. During this trip, Dora was told about a curse that plagued her family for centuries. The only way to end it was to find the journal that had been hidden back in 1692. Would Dora be able to find the bookstore and the journal in time? Could she end the curse on her family?

I don’t read fantasy books that often but I was glad that I chose to listen to the audiobook of The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer. It was about family, friendship, secrets, witches, trust, sisterly relationships, loss, discovery, teaching lessons and important things needed for survival, memories, happiness and a romance that was waiting to be rediscovered. I was impressed with the way this book was written. It drew me in from the beginning. The last third of the book was quite suspenseful. I found myself holding my breath and rooting for Dora to succeed. This was the first book I had the pleasure of reading by this author. She will be on my radar for future books that she writes. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy reading about witches and enjoy a good mystery with some magical elements.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a really interesting book for someone who went through a Salem Witch Trials phase as a teenager. Taking very real facts, and in some cases people, and working fiction around it is a fine line to follow without falling over. I think this book did a good job of it! The story was fun without being too over the top, it didn't push the facts too much, even with multiple lives and an immortal witch hunter. The hopping back and forth through the timelines was handled well, telling the story without being too confusing, leaving just enough questions needing answered to keep you going. I did find myself somewhat wanting with the explanation of the curse that was the thing that started the whole plot. In fact, I felt that the 'curse' that as referenced many times in the story was kind of forgotten and a completely different explanation was given for what was happening.

I listened to the audiobook of this, and for the most part it was fantastic. The variety of voices was well done, and the narration was clear and even soothing. My main issue is likely a director decision, but it's a big issue that kept bugging me. In this 'lifetime' the FL grew up in London, England from the time she was a few weeks old. A number of times characters remark that she's British, clearly reflecting a British accent, however, and possibly so that the accent didn't change between lifetimes, the character is read with an American accent. It's not a deal breaker, but it was something I found a bit jarring with the text.

All told, I really enjoyed this book, much more than I initially thought I would. I think if I were to pick it up to read again, I'd get the text format to avoid the dissonance of the accent. I listened to this audiobook through NetGalley.

⭐️⭐️💫 rounded down to ⭐️⭐️

I honestly had higher hopes for this story of Salem, Mass and witches and witch hunters. For Salem Witch trials fanatics this could be great. Here’s what brought it down for me. I thought that it was unnecessarily long (for not really that long of a book). The actual story could have been told in 200 pages or less. The lengthiness of it was in areas that took a long time to develop were important to the story, but they were overdeveloped where I felt that the important parts to the story were rushed through. Plus, a little bit of Hocus Pocus references were fun, but in this book overdone to the point that it started to feel silly and comical.

So, in the end did I like the story? Yes, I liked the concept and the characters, but the detractors for me built more and more as the story went on.

@netgalley
#netgalley
#netgalleyreader
#netgalleyreviewer
#netgalleyarc
#readmorebooks
#readmorebooksbywomen
#readersofinstagram
#bookstagram
#bookstagrammer
#bookish
#mybookishlife
#wearebookish
#lovereading
#alwaysreading
#readinggoals
#readin2025
#goodreads
#audiobook

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.

Well the title and synopsis of this book are very misleading, while it did have a vanishing bookstore, it was in no way the centre of the story.

Dora is a witch in Salem and meets her mother whom she thought was dead, their lives are in danger and she must dig into her past and untangle secrets of her family to save themselves.

Very little happens for about 75% of this story and finally when an event occurred, it was very glanced over and over with quick smart. I also thought Dora our main character was a teenager and when it was revealed that she was actually 33, I was shook - her character is so very immature and I was not a fan.

Lots of things just felt off and I was left underwhelmed upon finishing.

Thank-you NetGalley, Bookouture Audio and Helen for this Audio Advanced Readers Copy, in exchange for an honest review.

This book had a good plot. There were some bits that I thought were going to be a bit predictable, and they were a complete surprise. I thought the suspense was unexpected, but overall, it was good. I really liked how timeless the storyline was and that it was easy to follow. I really appreciated the geographic nods and multiple real locations mentioned. I would have liked for Ambrose to have a bit more interaction with Dora.

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. 💕💕💕