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badmom 's review for:
The Lost Bookshop
by Evie Woods
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Fascinating story idea - past & present timelines overlapping in mysterious ways, with elements of fantasy + magical realism, mixing in some literary history - but there are too many backstories and starkly traumatic side plots + disconnected characters that unfortunately muddle the focus. Multiple narrators are useful but their voices are almost interchangeable with simplistic voices and observations, so their personalities feel wooden & bland. Some of the timelines and perspective jumps are confusing and fall flat with the lack of accuracy and/or explanation.
Overall the concept is promising but the execution felt pedestrian & disappointing.
Overall the concept is promising but the execution felt pedestrian & disappointing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Child death, Death, Sexism, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War
Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, Grief, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting