Reviews with content warning for Dementia - The Lost and Found Bookshop

A sweet, yet predictable, light romance novel about a woman who inherits her mother’s bookstore and the care of her grandfather, changing her life. Everything just kind of came together too easily.

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spellygirl's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful relaxing sad medium-paced

5.0

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kelly_e's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted 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

3.5

Title: The Lost and Found Bookshop
Author: Susan Wiggs
Series: Bella Vista Chronicles #3
Genre: Women's Fiction
Rating: 3.5
Pub Date: July 7 2020

T H R E E • W O R D S

Sweet • Predictable • Uplifting

📖 S Y N O P S I S

In the wake of a tragic accident, Natalie is left to pick up the pieces when she inherits a charming bookshop, and becomes the caretaker for her grandfather struggling with dementia. Hoping to sell the shop in order to pay for his care, she's shocked to learn her grandfather owns the building and refuses to sell.

In desperate need of some TLC, Natalie hires Peach to help with building repairs that will unearth artifacts and a truth about her family's past. It is Peach's daughter, Dorothy, that connects her with Trevor Dashwood, the handsome and best selling author who takes an interest in the bookshop. A story of books, family, self-discovery and hope.

💭 T H O U G H T S

The Lost and Found Bookshop was my first Susan Wiggs novel and I am here for the magical bookshop setting! Despite its financial troubles the shop felt so charming, cozy and homey. Additionally the cast of characters just felt so genuine and sincere. I was definitely rooting for Natalie to be able to save the shop, and was a tad disappointed to not find out the fate in the end. I absolutely adored Grandy and Dorothy. Dorothy was a ray of sunshine and Natalie's connection with her grandfather was so endearing. The historical mystery surrounding the building and bookshop were so intriguing and I kind of wanted more from that storyline.

What I didn't like was the Trevor Dashwood portion of the story. It just felt completely unnecessary to me and I'd have liked more focus on the history plotline. In general, the romance in this one just felt rushed and/or unrealistic. And I took issue particularly with how the aspect of grief was handled in relation to her boyfriend. It felt completely glossed over and unimportant, which didn't sit right for me.

Overall, the setting and plot line were enjoyable but it tried to pack too much into one novel (romance, mystery, history), and that detracted from each subplot. I enjoyed that the romance took a back seat, but everything wrapped up a little too quickly. I'll probably check out more Susan Wiggs in the future, when I need something light-hearted but I won't be rushing to add more to my TBR.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• book lovers
• Susan Wiggs fans

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"I’ve always believed there’s something magical about a book. A bundle of paper and ink that can change your life."

"You’re never alone when you’re reading a book"

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