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!

This is the first book from this author, and fantasy isn’t one of my ‘go too’ genres, but I do love historical fiction which is what drew me too it…. Aswell as the fabulous title and stunning book cover!
I have enjoyed this audiobook and found it an easy listen. I did have to re listen to a few chapters throughout but I think this is more down to me possibly missing that the timeline had changed, as it does have a dual timeline.
This book has some very likeable, and loyal characters which I felt drew me in even more to their journey’s throughout the book.
Overall an enjoyable introduction to this authors work.

Dora is certain she knows the ins and outs of her comfortable life as a London florist. Her world orbits around her shop, her best friend, and her aunt, who has raised her since her mother died when Dora was young. After a mysterious man comes into her flower shop, seeming to know her, Dora discovers that everything she thought she knew about her life is wrong. She soon learns from her aunt that a centuries-old-curse has plagued their family since the Salem witch trialsin 1692. This dual-timeline novel flips back and forth between the witch trials and the present day. As the truths of Dora's family emerge, Dora goes on a mission to uncover a vanishing bookstore where she can break the curse.

As a character, Dora feels very young for a 33-year old, but perhaps that is because she has been intentionally sheltered by her aunt. This immaturity gives the novel a bit of a coming of age feel that will resonate with young adult readers. There is a low-key romance included with one closed-door sex scene.

Read this if you like cozy mysteries with a twist of adventure. While it's not dark, it does focus on witchcraft in more than just a historical way, so it's best for readers who are comfortable with that type of content. As such, for many readers, it will make a great seasonal read for fall and Halloween.

I could not put this down! Witches, bookstores and women kicking ass, what's not to love! I flew through this. i hate to sound cliché but if you love Charmed or Practical Magic, you'll love this. It gives off the same vibes.

Dora believes she lives a normal life running her flower shop in London with her aunt Lenny, but her life turns upside down when they take a trip to Salem, Massachusetts together. Dora learns the truth about her family’s history and works with them to end the curse set upon them once and for all.

Based on the beautiful cover and title of this book, I expected the plot to revolve more around a vanishing bookstore than it really did. I enjoyed the flashbacks to 1692 Salem, but these moments were few and far between. The present day storyline lacked a little something but I can’t place my finger on what it is. I just wasn’t completely immersed in the plot, I didn’t feel fully connected to the characters, the relationship between Dora and Ambrose didn’t feel as “tale as old as time” as it was described to be, and 33-year-old Dora felt more like a 21-year-old coming of age character than a grown adult most of the time. Overall, the story started off very promising, but it lost its luster halfway through. I pushed through and made it to the end because I was interested enough to see how it would play out, but the ending left something to be desired. If you enjoy historical fiction and you’re looking for a simple read you’ll probably like this one.

Helen Phifer’s The Vanishing Bookstore is a captivating journey where mystery, magic, and the power of books collide. From the very first page, this cursed witches novel hooks you with its intriguing premise, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end. The story centers around a seemingly ordinary bookstore that harbors a hidden, almost mystical secret—one that ties 17th-century Salem to the present in unexpected, fantastical ways. Told via dual timelines 1692 in storied Salem, MA— A bookstore mysteriously vanishes, never to be seen again. - And Phifer effortlessly blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, pulling readers into an enigmatic world where the past lingers in every shadow, and every book holds a key to an ancient mystery. Though the book shines with its magical premise and suspenseful narrative, the character of Dora, a woman in her 30s, feels somewhat out of sync with the novel’s tone, which often reads like a young adult or coming-of-age story. While Dora’s journey is compelling, the more youthful undertones may leave some readers feeling slightly disconnected from her experiences. The novel explores rich themes of loss, love, and the profound impact literature can have on our lives. The bookstore, a central figure in the narrative, becomes a powerful metaphor for the way stories shape our destinies and preserve memories across time. Phifer’s evocative writing draws parallels between the magic of books and the enduring power of the past to shape our present. For fans of Practical Magic, Hocus Pocus, or the storied history of Salem, Massachusetts—including its infamous witch trials—this book is a must-read. If you love tales that combine mystery, magic, and a hint of the supernatural, The Vanishing Bookstore will captivate you. The Vanishing Bookstore is set to hit the shelves on January 7, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this enchanting novel.

It's a great witchy read. That's an interesting reincarnation plotline. The MFC had a cute romance with the MMC, loved how their love surpassed time!

Such a lovely narrator for this audiobook, which is such a great bonus to a wonderful book! Follows a family of witches who keep living new lives after death since Salem, trying to break the curse that haunts them. Very reminiscent of Weyward. Very good!

Who doesn't love and book that combines witches, books, and historical fiction. The Vanishing Bookstore does it all, past meeting present.