Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

70 reviews

okiecozyreader's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.25

THE LOST BOOKSHOP started off very much like I expected. There is a vanishing bookshop that only a few have seen, and the back story of how the bookshop existed. In the current day, Martha works at Shakespeare and Company and retreats to Dublin after her husband is abusive. There she meets Madame Bowden, who is looking for a housekeeper. Henry is looking to solve the mystery of Emily Brontë’s missing manuscript, and Opaline tells us her story of her bookshop, the men who swindled her and how she persevered.

I loved all the bookish references - the magical bookshop, the Mont Blanc Le Petit Prince pen (which I didn’t know existed, but what a fun surprise p76-77), and all of the books (Normal People by Sally Rooney) and quotes. This book does go to some dark places in the ways that women are treated by men. It took me a while to keep track of who everyone was and how they were related but I was glad I stuck with it. 

“In the story, there was a young woman who came to the library, miles away from her true home. She read a story about a girl who had come to a fork in the road and was so afraid of making the wrong decision that she stayed where she was, huddled in the hollow of a tree. After several days, an old woman came along and told her a riddle. She asked, 'What is something you create, even if you do nothing?' The answer was a choice.
Choosing not to do something was still a choice.” P143

“It is strange how seemingly inconsequential conversations suddenly take on the mantle of fate and destiny when cast in a new light.” P253

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Violence, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse

empheliath's review against another edition

There was SO MUCH violence against women! Domestic violence, women being beaten, imprisoned by hateful family members, kidnapped. I couldn't take it anymore. Book descriptions led me to believe this was a cozy bookshop mystery. If I'd been warned about the violent content I'd never have picked it up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Torture, Abandonment, and Sexism

ivi_reads_books's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

Liked the dual timeline but did not understand the attraction between any of the love interests. A lot happens plot-wise in a very short time and it didn't always make sense to me how characters acted. I would have preferred if the author explored the inner workings of the characters more rather stumbling from one tragic event to the next.
If you don't want to read about certain topics consult the trigger warnings as this book is quite dark.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Sexism, Mental illness, Classism, Pregnancy, Murder, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: War

heathere19's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I like it, but it was not what I was expecting. I think the bookshop that is mentioned in the synopsis is more of a metaphor and theme for the story. It was the backdrop for the real story. But it was a cute little found family historical fiction. The plot gave Kate Morton vibes, but with less flowery language. Still a fun summer read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Misogyny

fancyjess_party's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Child death, Death of parent, Deportation, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Self harm, Grief, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness

kay_chan's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

Based on the synopsis, this book was so disappointing. I was expecting a historical fiction with whimsical elements to it. What I got was 90% women's trauma, a sprinkling of magical element that wasn't explained whatsoever, and a hint of historical element when it pertains to classic books and their authors. 

I almost dnf'd this book three or four times because the topics are dark and not developed well within the characters. It was shock value for me because I wasn't expecting it and even though I managed to finish it to get to the kind of "HEA", I don't think it was worth it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Murder

Moderate: Medical trauma

Minor: War

rosietomyn's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, War, Stalking, and Addiction

roxyrip's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I didn't think I was going to like this book at the beginning as much as I ended up liking it. I loved the duel timeline, the 3 POV's, and most of how it came together in the end. I didn't give 5 stars due to still having a few questions in the end that I would have liked answered.

Who was Madame Bowden? Seemed to indicate the shop/house in some way but there was no other mention of it manifesting like that before. I think this part would have been better in Martha's POV not Henry's.
What's with the mind reading scattered throughout the book? 
What happened when Shane fell down the stairs? 
Why was the bookshop hidden in the first place? 
Did Opaline search for Rose?
How was Opaline able to go back to living in and operating the bookshop after all that time?
How did Opaline's story end? I get that she mostly had a happy ending with Josef but I wanted more info on their life after he came back. 
Did Martha tell her mom about the relation to Opaline, the bookshop and who Opaline was?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Physical abuse

Minor: Suicide and Alcoholism

cloudyishappy's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Physical abuse

jnobrien21's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

The premise of this book seemed cute but I had a hard time following the stories throughout, particularly with two in the present and one in the past. Even then, the two in the present didn't feel like they were set in the present. I also felt like the ending left a lot to be desired.

I don't really understand what was going on with the bookshop, and we were just left hanging without any explanation of who Madame Bowden really was.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Pregnancy, War, and Physical abuse

Minor: Alcoholism