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dani__gomezz's review
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed this read! It’s fun and thought provoking, yet still a relatively light read. I loved the characters, especially Nella and Caroline. The parallels between timelines were really fun. I did not love the dialogue because it was kind of clunky, but the prose was light and very enjoyable and engaging.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Sexual violence, Self harm, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Emotional abuse
ballousclues's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - phenomenal. highly recommend to all
My friend recommended this book to me recently since she read it and loved it. I didn't expect to fall in love with the story like I did. This book does an excellent job of reminding us that sitting in our own discontent doesn't do anything to aid us and that sometimes a leap of faith is necessary. The book follows the parallel lives of women in two different time periods and draws light to the similar stories they are writing. The story heavily focuses on character development and has a clear plot. The book was an easy read for me and the writing was well done. I could see there being a second book! It would be fun to get a bit of a follow up on Caroline through a bonus chapter or something.
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SPOILER
Like I said, I didn't expect to love this story as much as I did. It made my heart very happy that Eliza's potion worked as she had intended for it too and that she was able to share her success with Mr. Pepper. I like that the book leaned heavily into "we are all writing our own story" and that if we settle into our own discontent, we can't be surprised when it comes around to bite us. I love that the book allowed for Eliza, and maybe Nella, to continue on with their lives and gain a better hand in life from their run in with the law. I also really liked how the book talked about Caroline's toxic relationship. I think many folks have had a partner that has threatened, or attempted, suicide as a way to gain control in the relationship. I appreciated the message that you are more than what you may give yourself credit for and it's never too late to pursue your passions.
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SPOILER
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Miscarriage, Abortion, Infidelity, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Chronic illness, Infertility, Cancer, Vomit, and Grief
This book heavily talks about the inability to conceive, or successfully carry a child to full term. The book also talks about infidelity and the fallout from cheating in a relationship. I would pass a word of caution to anyone who has strong grief around children or the concept of pregnancy.shugentobler's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault
ethiriel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Suicide attempt
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
moon_peach's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
You follow 3 women (1 being a girl) and their stories. They have all been hurt by men in some way.
Nella being betrayed by her lover begins creating poisons for any woman that is betrayed.
Eliza is a 12 year old sent by her employer to obtain a poison for her husband. We pretty quickly discover he'd been lusting over her.
Finally Caroline discovers her husband's infidelity just days before their 10 yr anniversary. She takes what should have been an couple's vacation to London where she starts to unravel the mysteries behind a vial she finds that leads her to the "lost apothecary"
There's a couple twists in the book that are shocking and satisfying.
Nella being betrayed by her lover begins creating poisons for any woman that is betrayed.
Eliza is a 12 year old sent by her employer to obtain a poison for her husband. We pretty quickly discover he'd been lusting over her.
Finally Caroline discovers her husband's infidelity just days before their 10 yr anniversary. She takes what should have been an couple's vacation to London where she starts to unravel the mysteries behind a vial she finds that leads her to the "lost apothecary"
There's a couple twists in the book that are shocking and satisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Vomit, and Death
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
bookishalice's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved the concept of it. Regular women forgotten by time. Female relationships lost in time and never documented. The loss of yourself in what you think you're 'supposed to be'.
Brilliantly executed and with such multidimensional characters, definitely one I'll be recommending!
Brilliantly executed and with such multidimensional characters, definitely one I'll be recommending!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Miscarriage
freetobme's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Enjoyable, quick read. I had no issue following the stories from the 3 characters. I didn’t appreciate that magic potions were glorified, nor the making and disguising of poisons.
However, in the end the apothecary has a change of heart and stops making and dispensing poisons.
I did find several sentences and paragraphs to record and reflect on.
I did find several sentences and paragraphs to record and reflect on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Alcohol, Death, Child death, Death of parent, Classism, Medical content, Sexual assault, Grief, Miscarriage, and Abandonment
Minor: Blood
sarahbryant717's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Three women who on the surface don’t appear to have much in common, but when you look closely, you see that they have more in common that what you think.
This book takes place in London in two separate timelines—late 18th century and current time.
In the late 1700’s, Nella has a hidden apothecary shop where she tends to the needs of women—from cures for menstrual cramps to poisons to get rid of a chewing husband. Nella fiercely protects her clients’ secrets while keeping her work a secret. One day Nella meets an unlikely ally—12 year old Eliza, a servant who arrives at Nella’s shop to pick up a poison for her mistress. Eliza is intrigued by Nella and the “magic” she creates and wants to learn as much as she can from Nella.
In the present day, Caroline arrives in London on a solo trip that was originally meant to be an anniversary trip with her husband. Caroline is on a search to find herself and to figure out what she wants out of her crumbling marriage. Caroline finds an old bottle with a mysterious etching and her self searching evolves to a search for the origins of this hidden treasure.
I enjoyed the dual storylines and since the timeline and characters were so different, it was easy to keep track of what was going on in the story. The characters were well written and were all strong women that you wanted to root for. I would definitely recommend this book and give it 4.5 stars.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Murder, Misogyny, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, and Death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Classism, and Infertility
lacecarol's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Murder
I'm glad I read this book because it was a nice change from what I usually read- it was just kind of slow and not much happened for what I was expecting it to be. Didn't dislike it but won't reread it.asanders88's review
adventurous
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I'm not sure why I let this book sit on a shelf for so long! The twists and turns at the end had me captivated!
The story follows a centuries ago apothecary full of poisons and secrets and the clues she left behind for a present-day woman, going through her own struggles, to find.
While I did find the book a little slow in the middle, the ending more than made up for it!
The story follows a centuries ago apothecary full of poisons and secrets and the clues she left behind for a present-day woman, going through her own struggles, to find.
While I did find the book a little slow in the middle, the ending more than made up for it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Suicide, Death of parent, Infertility, Medical trauma, Child death, Infidelity, and Death